Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Roger Clemens Acquitted
Old 06-18-2012, 10:49 PM   #1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
haha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hooverville
Posts: 22,983
Roger Clemens Acquitted

The travesty that was Clemens trial for lying to the government is over and Clemens found not guilty.

I guess our govt was tired of wasting money in all its tried and true ways, and thought they might like to try something new.

Ha
__________________
"As a general rule, the more dangerous or inappropriate a conversation, the more interesting it is."-Scott Adams
haha is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 06-19-2012, 06:55 AM   #2
gone traveling
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: DFW
Posts: 7,586
We'll the gummit ain't much good for anything other than the frivalous.

Anyway, regardless of this verdict, I suspect Clemens will not make it in to the Hall anytime soon.
eytonxav is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2012, 07:00 AM   #3
Moderator Emeritus
W2R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,473
I don't follow professional sports, so actually I had no idea who Roger Clemens was. I Googled him, found out that he is (or was?) a baseball player, and read a few articles about the trial. From what I read, I gather justice was served.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.

Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
W2R is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2012, 09:47 AM   #4
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17,203
Quote:
Originally Posted by DFW_M5 View Post
We'll the gummit ain't much good for anything other than the frivalous.

Anyway, regardless of this verdict, I suspect Clemens will not make it in to the Hall anytime soon.

I do not think he will get in on his first try.... but he will get in sooner rather than later... I say within 5 years...
Texas Proud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2012, 10:49 AM   #5
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
RunningBum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 13,202
Quote:
Originally Posted by W2R View Post
I don't follow professional sports, so actually I had no idea who Roger Clemens was. I Googled him, found out that he is (or was?) a baseball player, and read a few articles about the trial. From what I read, I gather justice was served.
Depends on what you call justice. I think he probably took steroids and/or other performance enhancing drugs. I'm not sure baseball even had rules against it during most of his playing career. I don't think congress should have gotten involved in the first place. But if he was doing them, he lied to congress about it, which is pretty serious. But, the case against him was weak with a pretty questionable witness testifying against him, and I don't think they should've wasted the time and money to go after him with such a poor case. Same story with Barry Bonds.
RunningBum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2012, 10:59 AM   #6
gone traveling
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: DFW
Posts: 7,586
To get in the hall, it requires 75% of the vote. I don't think Mark McQuire was ever named in the Mitchell report, but IIRC he still hasn't made it after numerous tries. Sosa and Bonds will also be on the ballot this time around. It will be interesting to see what happens.

Personally, I feel their records are tainted and desipte how great they were as ball players, it tends to diminish the accomplishment of those that got there legally (and I mean the players of yesteryear).
eytonxav is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2012, 11:03 AM   #7
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17,203
Quote:
Originally Posted by RunningBum View Post
Depends on what you call justice. I think he probably took steroids and/or other performance enhancing drugs. I'm not sure baseball even had rules against it during most of his playing career. I don't think congress should have gotten involved in the first place. But if he was doing them, he lied to congress about it, which is pretty serious. But, the case against him was weak with a pretty questionable witness testifying against him, and I don't think they should've wasted the time and money to go after him with such a poor case. Same story with Barry Bonds.

I think there is more evidence that Bonds took steroids than Clements... heck, just looking at Bonds is enough evidence...

Agree that congress should have not gotten involved.... but I also think that if you testify under oath you should be very careful if you tell a lie...

The evidence against Clements is very weak IMO.... I still tend to think he did not take them, but not by a lot... if there were more or stronger evidence I would not hesitate to change my opinion...
Texas Proud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2012, 11:20 AM   #8
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
easysurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,130
I can practically hear the phone ringing now.

Lance Armstrong to Roger Clemmens: Roger, who's your lawyer?
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
easysurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2012, 11:25 AM   #9
Moderator Emeritus
M Paquette's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Portland
Posts: 4,946
Remember, he wasn't charged with using steroids. He was charged with obstructing and lying to Congress, a crime which is commonly found among Congresscritters themselves, as spending a morning watching CSPAN will reveal.

So, was the prosecution of the wanton crime of annoying Congresscritters worth the enormous cost, enough to cover almost 10% of the cost overrun on a F-22 Raptor?
M Paquette is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2012, 11:32 AM   #10
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
easysurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,130
Quote:
Originally Posted by DFW_M5 View Post
To get in the hall, it requires 75% of the vote. I don't think Mark McQuire was ever named in the Mitchell report, but IIRC he still hasn't made it after numerous tries. Sosa and Bonds will also be on the ballot this time around. It will be interesting to see what happens.

Personally, I feel their records are tainted and desipte how great they were as ball players, it tends to diminish the accomplishment of those that got there legally (and I mean the players of yesteryear).
I was listening to this sports talk show this morning and the question came up, should he (and others like Bonds, McGwire, Sosa etc) be in the hall. One commentators view was to put them in, but to tell the story. The story of the steriod era. For example, a hall of fame plaque would read something like: Sammy Sosa, lead the Cubs with all time team home runs, (even more than Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks). Sosa had over 60 home runs in two seasons, but was suspected being scamin' Sammy Sosa instead of slamin' Sammy Sosa.
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
easysurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2012, 04:33 PM   #11
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Koolau's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Leeward Oahu
Posts: 17,794
As Ray Donovan so famously asked after his acquittal on fraud (et. Al.) charges: "Which office do I go to to get my reputation back?" Had this been me (or most of us on this forum) we would also be asking "Where do I go to get my money back?" Even if you "win" , you lose. I've seen estimates that Clemens spent $3,000,000 on his defense. Since the gummint has all the power, I think they should pay when they lose (loser pays). In fact, in many cases, "criminals" convicted often have to pay costs as well as their own defense costs. Maybe it's just me, but it seems kind of unfair (even if you are a "rich" athlete) that you have to spend a ton of money to fight a gummint with limitless funds (and the ability to "influence" witnesses with "get-out-of-jail-free" cards). I
__________________
Ko'olau's Law -

Anything which can be used can be misused. Anything which can be misused will be.
Koolau is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2012, 05:37 PM   #12
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Naples
Posts: 2,179
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koolau View Post
As Ray Donovan so famously asked after his acquittal on fraud (et. Al.) charges: "Which office do I go to to get my reputation back?" Had this been me (or most of us on this forum) we would also be asking "Where do I go to get my money back?" Even if you "win" , you lose. I've seen estimates that Clemens spent $3,000,000 on his defense. Since the gummint has all the power, I think they should pay when they lose (loser pays). In fact, in many cases, "criminals" convicted often have to pay costs as well as their own defense costs. Maybe it's just me, but it seems kind of unfair (even if you are a "rich" athlete) that you have to spend a ton of money to fight a gummint with limitless funds (and the ability to "influence" witnesses with "get-out-of-jail-free" cards). I
I agree 100%. You lose, you pay the fees.
JOHNNIE36 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2012, 07:26 PM   #13
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
nun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,872
The way I see it Clemens is guilty of doping, but there simply wasn't enough evidence to prove it or that he lied to Congress. So the justice system worked well, but I have no respect for Clemens. The same goes for Lance Armstrong. I don't believe there's ever been a TdF winner who didn't dope, Lance was a great rider and he had a team that helped him dope better than anyone too.
__________________
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

Current AA: 75% Equity Funds / 15% Bonds / 5% Stable Value /2% Cash / 3% TIAA Traditional
Retired Mar 2014 at age 52, target WR: 0.0%,
Income from pension and rent
nun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2012, 07:35 PM   #14
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
haha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hooverville
Posts: 22,983
Quote:
Originally Posted by nun View Post
The way I see it Clemens is guilty of doping, but there simply wasn't enough evidence to prove it or that he lied to Congress. So the justice system worked well, but I have no respect for Clemens.
He told the congressmen that he did not use roids. The jury heard all the evidence that our government could come up with to try to convict him of lying to government-(ie. saying he did not use roids when he in fact did), and the jury decided that they did not have enough evidence to convict him on any counts of lying to government.

So what do you know that the jury did not know, to say that he is guilty of doping? The logic trail would suggest that the worst that can be said is "I don't know."

Seems to me we should drop all this dope consciousness. There is a lot of money involved, and a lot of pressure, and a lot of attitude. Why not accept that athletes dope, musicians take drugs, actors get body surgery, and everyone photoshops their photos. If we want non-doped baseball, we can go watch our kids or grandkids play T-ball. Once something is ruined, it's ruined. I no longer have much interest in sports, who wants to watch these often chemically created multimillionaires with terrible personalities mess around on the field or court? I still like sports bars, and Reno during some tournements, but it is basically over.

Ha
__________________
"As a general rule, the more dangerous or inappropriate a conversation, the more interesting it is."-Scott Adams
haha is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-20-2012, 05:26 AM   #15
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
nun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,872
Quote:
Originally Posted by haha View Post

So what do you know that the jury did not know, to say that he is guilty of doping? The logic trail would suggest that the worst that can be said is "I don't know."
I have the evidence of my eyes and the tail end of his career. I would not have convicted Clemens on the evidence I heard that was given in the courtroom, but that doesn't change my opinion that he doped to extend his career.
__________________
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

Current AA: 75% Equity Funds / 15% Bonds / 5% Stable Value /2% Cash / 3% TIAA Traditional
Retired Mar 2014 at age 52, target WR: 0.0%,
Income from pension and rent
nun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-20-2012, 06:50 AM   #16
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,362
While the country goes down the rat-hole with real problems, our esteemed distracted Congress/government spends millions and millions prosecuting such non-events...and then can't even get a conviction!!

John Edwards, Clemens...these clowns couldn't convict Charles Manson.
__________________
Living well is the best revenge!
Retired @ 52 in 2005
marko is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-20-2012, 09:58 AM   #17
Administrator
MichaelB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,586
One positive thing about government - no matter what the complaint, we can always blame it.

I didn't follow the case and don't know the people involved, so my view is that our judicial system still works well and the burden of proof is a high hurdle that we appreciate much more when personally involved.
MichaelB is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2012, 08:29 AM   #18
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
easysurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,130
Lance Armstrong...

Lance Armstrong: Enough Is Enough, Won't Fight Doping Charges | wltx.com

I really don't know what to believe. If I was clean, I may have approached things the same way and say "enough is enough", take the titles back.
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
easysurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2012, 10:46 AM   #19
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
mickeyd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: South Texas~29N/98W Just West of Woman Hollering Creek
Posts: 6,671
He's back...

Quote:
Roger Clemens raved about all the fun he had pitching at age 50 and putting smiles on the faces of Sugar Land baseball fans.
Still, it wasn't enough to set his mind on a major league comeback - at least not yet.
''No,'' Clemens said. ''I've had success before at that level and other things. Again, it's a great deal of work and I'm not thinking that at this point.''
Pitching for the first time in five years, Clemens tossed 3 1-3 scoreless innings Saturday night for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League.
Roger Clemens back on the mound at age 50 - Yahoo! Sports
__________________
Part-Owner of Texas

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. Groucho Marx

In dire need of: faster horses, younger woman, older whiskey, more money.
mickeyd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2012, 11:34 AM   #20
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
growing_older's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,657
I saw reports that he pitched reasonably well. Does he expect that becoming the oldest currently active professional baseball player and pitching like kids half his age will improve his case that he didn't use performance enhancing drugs?
growing_older is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:24 PM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.