Is Roger Clemens going to weasel out of giving a deposition to Congress? After boldly proclaiming his eagerness to go to Washington to tell the truth, this backpedaling would undermine his aggressive PR campaign.

Among those not convinced of Clemens’ innocence: Former big league star Dale Murphy.

“I’m not a lawyer or anything, but I think he’s getting kind of weird advice,” Murphy told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “These press conferences he’s doing, the taped phone conversations his responses to some of the questions — it’s all been pretty strange. It hasn’t changed my opinion of anything.”

And his opinion is . . .

“If you’re asking me if I think Clemens took steroids or something — yes, I think he took them,” Murphy said. “I don’t have any proof. I’m just giving you my opinion, and that’s my opinion. I’m like everybody else. This isn’t a court of law. I don’t see all the evidence. Why would Brian McNamee just throw [Andy] Pettitte and Clemens out there? What does he have to benefit from it?

“The advice some of these guys are getting, to not admit anything, I don’t get it. Why don’t you say you made a mistake and then move on? Guys like Clemens can help us solve the problem. Is the punishment strong enough? Is the testing too weak? Guys like Clemens understand the temptations athletes have and why they make mistakes. It doesn’t minimize that it was the wrong thing to do. But if [Mark] McGwire came out and said, ‘I got caught up in everything. I did something I shouldn’t have done,’ it would help a lot. To me, not talking is just counterproductive to trying to maintaining your stature.”

Hear, hear.

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while old friends Curtis Joseph and Mike Keenan get reacquainted:

• Will Scott Rolen need some help lugging all his baggage through customs?
• When Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett interviews for the Ravens and Falcons coaching jobs this week, will anybody ask him about his tattered protection schemes against the Giants?
• Is it too late for the Illini to swap one of their many big guys for a top-notch guard?

REELING IN ANOTHER CHEATER

Scientists determined that Oscar Pistorius had an unfair competitive edge over other runners. SI.com explains:

“Track and field’s governing body ruled Monday he is ineligible to compete this summer in Beijing — or any other sanctioned able-bodied competitions — because his ‘Cheetah’ racing blades are ‘technical aids’ that give him a clear advantage.”

These technical aids are also called “artificial legs” – which Pistorius needs to get around. He was born without fibulas and his lower legs where amputated when he was young.

Thank goodness the IAAF stepped in. There is no telling how many runners would have chopped off their lower legs and gone with these racing blades to enhance their speed.

COME ON, IT’S JUST BLOODSHED

Robby Gordon was disappointed when terrorist gun play forced the cancellation of the Dakar Rally.

“Let’s put this in perspective,” Gordon told USA Today. “I’m pretty sure in L.A. we kill 11 a night on the streets — stabbed, shot, beat up, murdered.”

(That must be some gang Gordon runs with!)

QUIPS ‘R US

Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:

Mark Kriegel, FoxSports.com: “Kind of bummed that they postponed the hearings in Washington. I mean, Clemens-McNamee was shaping up to be the best Capitol Hill showdown since Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas.”

Carol Slezak, Chicago Sun-Times: “On Monday, the St. Louis Cardinals finalized a deal for third baseman Troy Glaus, who allegedly was the recipient of multiple shipments of steroids in 2003 and 2004. Where’s the outrage? On Monday, the Milwaukee Brewers finalized their $7 million deal with free agent outfielder Mike Cameron, despite the fact that he has twice tested positive for a banned stimulant. Where’s the furor? The Kansas City Royals signed outfielder Jose Guillen, who had admitted to purchasing human growth hormone in the past, to a three-year, $36 million dollar contract in December. Where’s the outcry?”

Greg Cote, Miami Herald: “North Carolina, Memphis and Kansas have been 1-2-3 in men’s college basketball for six consecutive weeks. Bor-ing! Where’s the Appalachian State football team when you need it?”

Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle: “Michael Vick, serving a 23-month prison sentence, will enroll in a drug-treatment program that can reduce the sentence of nonviolent offenders by as much as one year. Our family dog Petey just asked me to explain to him the part about ‘nonviolent offenders.’”

Dwight Perry, Seattle Times: “Cesar Izturis’ contract with the St. Louis Cardinals pays the infielder $50,000 if he is named most valuable player of the league division series but, as Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times pointed out, ‘There is no MVP award in the division series.’ Designated hitters, realizing they’ve been duped, immediately demanded redress for their Gold Glove incentive clauses.”

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: “Florida Coach Urban Meyer says he wants the Gators to become ‘The New England Patriots of college football.’ Step No. 1: Start cheating.”

Dan Bickley, Arizona Republic: “Last year, it was the bobbled snap on a game-winning field goal. This year, it’s the Jessica Simpson fiasco. Tony Romo is sure the drama king, isn’t he?”

Randy Galloway, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: “So much for the bye-week blessing, so much for the stupid Wade Phillips gloating over the 13-win regular season. It’s all as worthless and meaningless as any of those dozen Pro Bowl frauds who can beach it up in Honolulu next month. One January game, and gone. That’s the memory of these Cowboys, and nowhere in the long history of the franchise has there been such a devastating playoff ouster. The Arizona Cardinals thing in ‘98 was bad, but that Cowboys team wasn’t a No. 1 seed nor an odds-on favorite to make the Super Bowl.”

MEGAPHONE

“I just got off the shower, washed it off. I washed it right off on that shower. Got to forget about that one. That was bad.”

Pistons guard Chauncey Billups, after an 89-65 loss to the hapless Knicks.