Clay tosses a soft ball at Clemens
When Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire appeared before a Congressional panel investigating steroid use in baseball, U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay’s pointed questioning provoked the signature moment of the session - and perhaps the reason the former first baseman is not in the Hall of Fame.
“I’m not here to talk about the past,” McGwire said in 2005.
But in today’s hearing featuring superstar hurler Roger Clemens, Clay threw out a much easier pitch.
After Clemens recalled his tough path to baseball greatness - “You can tell your boys I did it the right way,” he told Clay - Clay passed on a question from colleague Michael Capuano, whose district includes Boston, where Clemens began his career.
“What uniform are you going to wear to the Hall of Fame?” Clay asked.
Clemens avoided making a response — glibly suggesting that he did not hear the question – and, in doing so, ducked one of few the softballs he’s seen all morning.
I knew we could on Lazy Clay to do something. The bar is so low we are just greatful he shows up sometimes.
Yes, that’s what the voters in the 1st District expect from their Congressman!
I’m so glad we are spending our time and money on steroids in baseball, instead of stupid things like Iraq and lealthcare and the recession.
I am shamed that our Congress is spending valuable time on these hearings. This issue belongs on supermarket tabloids and decent people can ignore the sorted doings of a few millionaires.
Lacy Clay and Henry Waxman should remember why they were elected and stop participating in this farce.
I agree that this issue is a bit of a farce, but what does everyone think about the NFL situation and “SpyGate”? Is that a farce, or is this something legit that needs to be addressed? If so, why is it different than this? Don’t both involve teams and players flying in the face of their sports’ basic principles? Cheating? Lying? CHEATING??
I do think that this is bigger than just Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. This should really be about the game’s integrity and really putting their antitrust waivers on thin ice.
I too, think that there are better things that our elected officials could be doing with their time.
However, when you consider that both the NFL and MLB are really just huge corporations that have anti-trust exemptions, then you can see why Congress wants to stick their nose in the business.
““What uniform are you going to wear to the Hall of Fame?” Clay asked.”
Are you kidding me? I was at work, so I didnt get to watch this stupid waste of time, not that I would have anyway, but that is the question Lacky Clay asked? The same douchebag who bragged in a district mailer that he supported impeaching the VP couldnt have his staff come up with a better question than that? On any given day, it is hard to find the dimmest person in politics, luckily, we have Lacky Clay who is always dim and always at the bottom.
Clemens is lying garbage. They should indict him for perjury but none of those fawning dolts conducting the hearings want anything more than to be buddy-buddy with the “Rocket”. It’s sickening and disgusting just as Clemens is as a person.
OMG it just dawned on me- Clay is a superdelegate- and that thought in itself is disenfranchising!
Lacy Clay. Russ Carnahan. Matt Blunt. Francis Slay. The copy is never as good as the original.
Lacky should be proud, Wizbanblog named him “knucklehead of the day” I would just award him “The biggest Douche in the Universe” award.
For those of you who seem to believe this steroid issue in baseball is a waste of time for our Congress to investigate, let me remind you: MLB is a $6 Billion industry annually. That’s billion with a capital B. Over 50,000,000 went to MLB ballparks last year. Additonally MLB enjoys the benfits of an anti trusty exemption courtesy of and granted by our federal government over 85 years ago. Do you how many other industries have such status? I don’t, but probably none. So wake up, this is important. It’s big business and kids that have been emulating these players are doing incredible damage to their bodies, and in some cases, have died.
Brock Landers
I saw a clip of Lacy Clay on the evening news. I have to agree with previous posts. He is embarassing.
Can anyone explain his success in continually getting re-elected?
Brock (#12)-
I think steroid use is important to BASEBALL, not to CONGRESS. Baseball needs to handle this problem and if it doesn’t, people need to stop going to the parks.
I cant believe no one else has pointed this out. Players going into the HOF dont get to choose what caps their plaque will have. Since one player a few years ago decided to put out a bidding war for his, the Hall has taken away that right and decided for them. Jeez how could a fawning fan such as Lacy not know this. So much for being a baseball fan in a baseball city.
I remember a few years ago, Roger Clemens was pitching and the baseball bat splintered and landed near the mound….Clemens pick up the splintered piece of wood and hurled in back at the hitter…….In hindsight, it was obvious Roid Rage.
I don’t blame Lacy for throwing softballs.
Congress getting involved is justfied. Last I checked, the airwaves that baseball and football are broadcast over are under control of the FCC. Unfortunately, this has absolutely nothing to do with why Congress is getting involved. It’s plain old grand standing and it’s pretty pathetic.
How come that District can’t find a better person to send to Washington? Come on, community, step up!!
Lacy Clay talked tough before the hearings, but rolled over like a little puppy waiting for a belly rub. It was embarrassing, to say the least.