Roger Clemens

Roger Clemens' indictment might signal the beginning of the end for the Rocket.

Quite frankly, the only thing most people have to say is, "Why?"

Why couldn't Clemens just admit he was wrong like Andy Pettitte and Alex Rodriguez? Why couldn't he just take it like a man and let the truth humble him just a little bit?

Simply put, Clemens couldn't or wouldn't because he has a God complex unlike many we have ever seen.

Of course, that complex is also part of what made him so great as a player.

The great Roman orator and senator Cicero famously noted in 44 BC that those who wish to function in government and watch over the affairs of the public should remember two things.

What exactly was Roger Clemens thinking when he testified and told a fib to Congress in Capital Hill? As much as we want to believe that the Steroid Era has suddenly vanished, we’ll never forget all his rehearsed and inglorious lies, inexplicably and simply covering the truth and denied confessing of his wrongdoings.

Geraldo Rivera appeared on the O'Reilly Show yesterday comparing Roger Clemens attorney with the attorney for Mark McGwire. Geraldo's position was that Rusty Hardin, Clemens' attorney, should be disbarred for allowing his client to testify. He said that Hardin is responsible for Clemens' federal indictment yesterday for allegedly lying to Congress.

Roger Clemens was indicted on federal perjury charges yesterday.  Since, and even before his retirement, rumors swirled that one of the best right handed pitchers of all-time had been a user of performance enhancing drugs.  The numbers are there for induction to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, but should the rumors of steroid use axe his chance at baseball immortality?  Let's look at the numbers.

The big news that broke yesterday was the indictment of former Major League Baseball All-Star pitcher Roger Clemens.

Clemens, currently embroiled in the biggest of all scandals left over from the Steroid Era, was indicted on six different counts, including 15 allegations of "different statements," all tied to obstruction of Congress.

These indictments will one way or another be the end of the road for Clemens. He will either, somehow, vindicate himself and overcome the charges or be found guilty of the charges and face a lengthy prison sentence.

After months of speculation, Roger Clemens has been officially indicted on 15 separate counts of lying to Congress and interfering with a congressional investigation.

This new legal story has now officially provided everyone a new reason to dislike Clemens.

Clemens' trial, which won't begin for at least a year, is sure to cost thousands of dollars in taxpayer money to fund the federal prosecution's exhibition in lesson teaching.

Given the number of superstars who used performance-enhancing drugs to bolster their statistics, you can almost chalk up this era as one of the many situations that cause people to make wrong choices.

People abuse alcohol, people, commit crimes, cheat on their spouses, and cheat to improve performance.

Oh, Roger.

Love him or hate him, the news that Roger Clemens is being (it is hard to even type it out) indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of making false statements to Congress about his use of performance-enhancing drugs is down-right depressing.

There was a time when the baseball viewing public was being forced to ask themselves:

"Could Roger Clemens be ready to surpass Walter Johnson as the greatest pitcher of all time?"

Former pitching great Roger Clemens has been indicted by a grand jury for lying under oath and not admitting that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

But Clemens, if guilty, would certainly not be the only baseball player to present false truths to the public. The fact that it was done while under oath during grand jury testimony is what makes it so reprehensible and a potential crime, but still, that doesn't make the other nine of these lies any less damaging.