The truth is the truth. It is what it is.

OK, so the Clemens clusterfuck might be slightly more interesting than I'd previously thought, but not by much. The phone call between him and McNamee from last Friday (linked here through the Fan590) is at least interesting in the fact that it reveals some serious sexual tension. I think at one point McNamee offered to have Roger's babies. But that's cool... that's cool. Uh... I mean, if they want to.

Anyway, since I'll never get them back for myself, let me at least save you twenty minutes. The only interesting part of the tape as it relates to the allegations was the one time McNamee stopped acting like a doormat and said, "The truth is the truth. It is what it is." Shockingly, Clemens let that statement pass without comment (or maybe he talked over it-- same difference).

Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman came quickly with the first public comments from McNamee since the Mitchell Report, which is also worth a read. In it, and without the presence of the man he betrayed looming over his shoulder, McNamee appears far more assured of himself-- almost as assured as Clemens sounded when he ended today's press conference with fury over how he "doesn't give a rat's ass" about the Hall of Fame.

But quite honestly, their little public dance is just worthless bullshit. However this charming little soap opera plays itself out, it's not going to convince me that Clemens' Astros hats were about twelve sizes bigger than his Red Sox ones for any reason other than what I already figure. Wilner weighed in today with a pretty good assessment along those lines. I mean, it's completely crazy to lose sight of the mountain of circumstantial evidence just because Clemens is standing in front of it being angry and defiant.

My favourite take, though, was from the Globe's Stephen Brunt, who nailed it as usual.

"Consider this," Brunt began. "Sunday night, the sports viewing public didn't even have to change the channel, going directly from the end of the Tennessee Titans-San Diego Chargers playoff game to 60 Minutes for the much-anticipated Roger Clemens sit-down with Mike Wallace.

"That Chargers' victory featured, among others, Shawne Merriman, San Diego's spectacular linebacker, who last year finished third in voting for the best defensive player in the NFL — quite the accomplishment, since he missed four games because of suspension after testing positive for the steroid nandrolone."

Hall of Shame -- Zinger!
On the Fan590's Prime Time Sports this evening, Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun explained that he didn't cast a Hall of Fame ballot for Mark McGwire and his 12th all time OPS+ (ahead of DiMaggio, Mays and Aaron, to name a few).

This wasn't because of steroids, he said, but because McGwire didn't get enough hits in his career.

McGwire, by the way, is 35th all time in walks-- ahead of recent Hall of Famers like Dave Winfield and Cal Ripken, despite literally playing 1000 fewer games.

I think I'm stealing this thought from Keith Law's defense of Tim Raines, but basically Bob Elliott is saying that he doesn't like how McGwire got on base. I'm not sure exactly what the difference between a walk and a single is, but apparently in Bob Elliott's eyes (though he's hardly the only one), it's as gigantic as Roger Clemens' hat.

Elliott also says he's voting for Jack Morris-- which I guess I can understand for sentimental reasons-- and Dale Murphy. Dale Murphy?!!?!?

Uh... turning to other insane things in the Toronto Sun, apparently 75% of their readers are not concerned by the fact that it was 15C today. In Canada. In the middle of January. (You might have to click the link for the archive if it's no longer the 7th.)

That's a real collection of winners you've hauled in for yourselves there, Sun. Be proud.

Quickly
Ever wanted to get a rise out of Jeff Blair? Try calling him bitter. (Oh, and thanks for reading, and for the link, Jeff!)

According to some fine work by John Walsh of America's Most Wanted the Hardball Times, Alex Rios has been arrested for executing several members of a rival drug cartel the fourth best arm in the majors among right fielders.

Vernon Wells is the guy who played Bennett in Commando 21st among CFs.

This afternoon the Jays signed former Devil Rays shitballer Shawn Camp to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training for no apparent reason.

This hour's laughable BlueJays.com headline: "Morris, Stottlemyre to learn Hall fate Tuesday." Fuck off! Do we really need to pretend that Stottlemyre is anything more than an oversight on the part of whoever puts together the ballot?