Live-blogging the Clemen's Hearing

9:00 - So I'm here, sitting at the TV, ready to hear what Roger has to say for himself. I'm pretty tired of all of this, so I'm pretty happy that this will probably be the last time (if only in front of Congress) that we have to hear about it. I don't expect that anything ground-shaking will come from today, but it'll be interesting to watch Roger Clemens fold in on his wife (what woman takes HGH anyway?) and try to refrain from jumping over the table and beating McNamee with his own show.

9:28 - So after a solid half-hour, we are yet to hear anyone but Waxman talk. The suits have to have their turn first, I suppose. He's pretty much just gone over the case in general, explained both sides stories and Pettitte's affidavit. One important thing from the opening statements: it is clear that Clemens is fighting an uphill battle. Multiple times, Waxman referred to the Mitchell Report as "credible" and he went on and on about how honorable the honest people involved are. So I think Roger is gonna lost, regardless of what he says. Unless, I guess, he stands up and just admits to it. Does anyone really think he didn't do it? Does anyone really care?

9:31 - At least Waxman is done. Now, on to Tom Davis, who is waxing philosophical. More praise for Mitchell, who is definitely getting "props" from his "homies". He is talking about the fairness for Clemens to face his accuser. I bet McNamee never thought it would go this far. Does the right to face witnesses against you apply to non-judicial settings? I know they have that right in court, but in public? I don't know. I guess Congress can subpoena pretty much whoever they want.

9:38 - Good ol' Rog is up first. He's licking his lips like a fucking lizard. First, build up himself as an upstanding guy, talk about how he's worked hard, took McNamee in to his family. He seems pretty pissed. His speech is rehearsed, but he seems pretty fired up. Maybe we will get to see a punching match. God, I'd love that.

9:40 - I'm gonna go pick up the girlfriend from school, and listen to the hearing on Sirius Radio, and report back when I return. I'll give my report back on Clemens testimony when I get back.

10:01 - OK, I'm back. McNamee ended at 9:48 and I'll write about that in a second, but at 9:50, the committee started questioning Clemens. Its fairly obvious that the committee thinks Clemens is lying, because they are HAMMERING him on inconsistencies with Pettitte's testimony. They are bringing in Pettitte's wife's testimony, too. Clemens is SO lying! He's basically saying that both Pettitte and his wife "misunderstood" what he was talking about, or that they were talking about some TV show about HGH and reversing aging, or something. Clemens can't even keep his own stories straight.

As far as McNamee goes, he comes across as a slimeball but as someone who is telling the truth, at least to me. He has a thick NY accent, and he seemed nervous, but he has a pretty strong case that 2 of 3 people he said did steroids admitted to it. Why would he bring in Clemens if he didnt do it? Just to fuck him? It makes no sense.

10:05 - Now its time for McNamee's questions. He's asking him about the phone call that seemed like Clemens called him out for lying. He is getting pushed for why he didn't give the syringes and gauze until after the phone call, but he doesn't really have a good answer. He said in his statement that he was pissed after the phone call and thats why he turned the stuff in.

10:13 - Now they are talking about the Canseco barbecue. McNamee's testimony is completely inconsistent with everyone else's memory about that day. McNamee is trying to say that its really not that important in the scheme of Clemens using steroids, which is true. He described an incident with a baby running towards a pool to prove that he remembers Roger being there. Now they are trying to tell what Clemens tee-time was on the day, since Roger says he was playing golf that day. Its turning into a discussion of details that really don't do anything to prove or disprove steroid use. Its completely devolved into a he said-he said, and frankly its a little tiring. Little boring.

10:19 - Injected B12? Clemens just admitted that he takes B12 in tablet form, so why would he decide to take it in the ass? I mean, besides the fact that he plays for the Yankees! OOH SNAP.

10:26 - Clemens just got bungholed into an inconsistency about his conversations with McNamee about HGH. Clemens said early in his deposition that he had NEVER talked about HGH, and then later remembered talking twice to him about his wife's use. Clemens is trying to say that he thought the question was about HIS use, but the Massachusetts congressman isn't letting him off the hook at all. So in consecutive questions, they have successfully shown that both McNamee and Clemens has serious credibility issues. Awesome.

10:34 - McNamee questioned about the gauze. This Indiana congressman is asking good questions. He says that he kept stuff from Clemens and Knobloch (spelled his name wrong, I know). The congressman keeps on and on about why he would keep it, even saying "my goodness" to one of the answers. My girlfriend commented that "this guy is really going after him", which is true. He basically called McNamee out as a liar, and really hurt his credibility.

10:40 - Dan Burton is tearing McNamee up. "Lie after lie after lie!" I think the problem is that McNamee made a TON of inconsistent statements early on in the investigation to keep from getting Clemens in trouble. So everything he said early on is a lie. Brittany says "This guy must be a pretty big Roger Clemens fan." Yes. I agree. Wow. He said that Clemens should be jailed if he's lying, but there is no evidence of that so far.

10:48 - This boring Massachusetts stooge is going on and on about an MRI that Clemens got taken when he had a "strained glut" (read: hurt ass). The doctors report basically said that the injury he saw was not really consistent with B12 and more consistent with steroids. Clemens lawyer was all worked up about something, and the chairman pretty much shot him down. Apparently lawyers cant talk directly to the congressmen, so they told that little twerp to shut his mouth. Clemens is weaseling around the issue, but it seems like kindof a detail that this congressman jumped on, and I dont think itll be a terribly big issue in the long run.

11:18 - Sorry, folks. I lost track of this crap. It got boring and they're both lying. I got distracted and now I'm lost. Peace out.