Clemens' Trial and Other Sports Figures Legal Problems

Roger Clemens is in deep trouble... how much we have yet to see but his case in Washington D.C. began last week with jury selections and continued this week with Clemens' attorney's trying to figure out how to defend Clemens against his charges of lying to Congress by questioning if the lawmakers' investigation into whether he used performance-enhancing drugs was in fact proper. This seems to be a stretch but from what we've learned so far it may in fact work for Clemens. Clemens  originally had to defend himself against his former trainer, Brian McNamee, who had accused Clemens of using steroids and human growth hormones that he injected the pitcher with himself. Clemens denied those allegations and has been charged with perjury, false statements and obstruction of Congress. The obstruction count charges Clemens with making 15 false or misleading statements to the committee, including his repeated denials he didn't take performance-enhancing drugs during his 24-season career in Major League Baseball. (ESPN.com)

Clemens Taking the Oath (chuckgallagher.wordpress.com)

The Mitchell report was released in December 2007 and named Clemens and 85 other current and former ballplayers as using drugs. Clemens denied the allegations and Butler pointed out that leaders of the House committee said they needed to investigate Clemens' denials to determine what weight to give the Mitchell report and its recommendations.(ESPN.com)

These types of trials are very interesting for the sports fans, we've seen many sports figures in the last few years have legal issues.

-Plaxico Burress' self-inflicted gunshot wound in a NYC club
-Ben Roethlisberger's numerous sexual assault allegations
-Adam "Pacman" Jones' many, many legal troubles
-Michael Vick's dog-fighting charges and conviction
-Ray Lewis was charged with murder but not convicted
-OJ Simpson was charged with murder but not convicted
-Jose Canseco charged with lying to Congress but recanted and admitted steroid use

Why must all these athletes disappoint the regular sports fan? Why do I pay to see criminals play a game I love? All these cases have different effects on the sports and their fans but all have damaged and tainted the sport in some way or another.

Biggest Winner of the Night: Robinson Cano, 2nd baseman of the New York Yankees out-slugged the competition in the Home Run Derby last night by smacking 12 home runs in the finals against Adrian Gonzalez smacking monster home run after monster home run in Arizona. He tied Gonzalez with 20 home runs in the first two rounds and defeated sluggers like Jose Bautista and Prince Fielder in the competition.

Robinson Cano with his Trophy (ctpost.com)

Biggest Loser of the Night: Kurt Rambis. Rambis, the coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves was finally fired today (Tuesday) after being dragged around by David Kahn and the T-Wolves front office for a few months.