Clemens testifies behind closed doors

Baseball Betting Lines

02/05/2008 - Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Seven-time Cy Young Award-winner Roger Clemens arrived on Capitol Hill Tuesday and gave private, sworn testimony to deny that he ever used performance-enhancing drugs.

Wearing a pinstripe gray suit and accompanied by two attorneys, Clemens went behind closed doors to testify to congressional lawyers one day after Yankee teammate and good friend Andy Pettitte testified for over two hours. Clemens' session at the offices of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. lasted just over five hours.

He made a short statement after exiting the meeting.

"I just want to thank the committee, the staff that I just met with," Clemens said. "They were very courteous. It was great to be able to tell them what I've been saying all along -- that I never used steroids or (human) growth hormone. I look forward to being here, I guess, in this room next week."

Last Monday, Clemens' agent released a 44-page statistical report to rebut allegations that the pitcher's career had a resurgence after he was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs. Randy Hendricks and two associates at his law firm issued the report in hopes of explaining Clemens' unique career arc, and to refute allegations in Major League Baseball's Mitchell report.

George Mitchell, the former Senate majority leader and director of the Boston Red Sox, was hired by MLB to investigate steroid use in the game. Mitchell reported that Brian McNamee, a former personal trainer of Clemens, claimed he injected the pitcher with steroids and human growth hormone at least 16 times between 1998 and 2001. McNamee is scheduled to testify on Thursday.

Kirk Radomski, a former batboy and clubhouse employee for the New York Mets, is scheduled to testify next Tuesday. Radomski pleaded guilty in United States district court to money laundering and illegal distribution of anabolic steroids and HGH to several major leaguers. He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

Former Yankee Chuck Knoblauch, whose name appeared in the Mitchell Report, testified under oath to the committee staff lawyers last Friday.

The private testimony is leading up to next Wednesday's public hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Clemens has consistently denied taking any performance enhancing drugs, but his career did seem to take an upturn during the time frame McNamee claims he was injecting the pitcher with illegal substances.

Clemens was 192-111 with the Boston Red Sox from 1984 through 1996, winning three Cy Youngs and a Most Valuable Player award, but the fireballer went just 40-39 in his last four seasons with the club, sparking then general manager Dan Duquette to say Clemens was in the "twilight of his career."

Clemens said that the only thing McNamee ever injected into him was a pain- killer called lidocaine and the Vitamin B-12. He said he never used steroids and disagrees with the use of it, saying that it is just a "quick fix."

Instead, the pitcher went on to compile a 162-73 record in stints with Toronto, the New York Yankees and Houston, winning four Cy Youngs in the process.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has also scheduled a hearing for next Tuesday entitled "Myths and Facts About Human Growth Hormone, B-12, and Other Substances." The committee will have medical experts on hand to testify about the nature of some of the substances with the idea for the public to understand if the claims of those having positive health impacts are fact or myth.

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2007 NFL Football Betting Preview


“You play to win the game!”

Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.

The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.

The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.

Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?

Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.

New York Giants betting lines

Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.

Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.

Dallas Cowboys betting lines

Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.

The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.

Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.

Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.

Oakland Raiders betting lines

This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.

First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”

The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. 

Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.

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