Many of you have asked me over the past several days, in private, if I believe Roger Clemens.
The first time I had ever heard Roger Clemens name was last week: I kid you not. I am not a pro-sport enthusiast for many reasons, but that is an entirely different topic. While I had heard of the Mitchell report, I didn’t pay much attention to it. Steroids in sports are no surprise.
Anyway, one reader asked me to watch a clip about Roger Clemens online at CBS last week, and then I saw the full Roger Clemens interview this past Sunday on CBS 60 Minutes.
When I watched the interview, while I didn’t see any indications of deception, I didn’t get a positive feeling that, boy, this guy is honest. What I got out of the 60 Minutes interview with Clemens was simply that he was angry, upset, frustrated and stressed out, but there was nothing more conclusive in the interview.
Clearly, Clemens could be frustrated, angry and annoyed that the truth came out equally as much as he could be that someone is lying about him using steroids.
Read moreWorse, since Clemens is exceptionally wealthy, one of the richest athletes in North America, he may feel a superiority and power with his financial status, and believe that he can overcome anything. I do detect an arrogance.
This, I fear, could impact his demeanor, beliefs and feelings about what he can and cannot do–what he can get away with. It could diminish his “fear” if he was lying as he has the power and connections to make things happen, and that, in turn, could effect the clues that leak and indicate deception. Read more about high-stake lies here.
Clemens high-stakes scenario is not as high-stakes when you factor in the power of money, influence and status. If Clemens or the Clemens camp can pressure McNamee, or offer him something under the table (or others for the matter), it can have major impact to these allegations. He knows it, you know it, and I know it. Money buys many things. And if McNamee is as desperate as he sounds, will we ever know the truth? If Clemens camp discredits McNamee, and McNamee falsely fesses that he made it all up (hypothetically), who will believe whom?
That gives me pause in watching for clues to deception in this scenario, and makes me question the efficacy of it all with the uber-rich. Maybe that is why I have been hesitant to give opinions on big pro athletes.
It’s certainly not black and white. There will be cases where power and influence are weaker, and the effects won’t be the same, but it is something to consider when power, influence, status, and money are equally strong. If the baseball industry as a whole were steadfast against steroids, that would change things but we are not dealing with an industry that is. None of the players are willing to denounce others if they use steroids.
There is a known problem with steroids within the industry, and yet we still allow the industry to self-police, if I understand it correctly, which makes absolutely no sense. This is a business where billions of dollars are generated, and one that keeps a large group of people “uber” wealthy. There are plenty of people here who would have reason to fight and support Clemens, regardless of what the truth is.
To expect one to cut off his own foot in the name of morality isn’t likely to happen anytime soon. What industry is going to cut off a billion dollar money generator, and admit to their advantage? Be reasonable.
Furthermore, these powerhouses have the funds, and connections to do what they have done before, to create undetectable drugs. It’s big business. Why on earth would they stop when the public keeps swarming to them despite all the allegations?
With that, while I have a suspicion in this circumstance, power, money, influence and status all can impact the clues I see, rendering them less effective and less trusthworthy. Furthermore, Clemens has an industry that has every reason to want to fight for Clemens, regardless of the truth, which further complicates this situation.
I hope you appreciate my sincere honesty to refrain from an opinion on Roger Clemens.
