Clemens, Pettitte, ex-trainer McNamee asked to testify to Congress

Roger Clemens, his pal Andy Pettitte and their former trainer, Brian McNamee, were among five people asked Friday to testify before a House panel looking into the Mitchell Report on drugs in baseball, nearly three years after the same committee heard from sluggers Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro.

Also invited to appear before the House Oversight Committee on Jan. 16 were ex-Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski, whose allegations were central to the findings released last month by former Senate majority leader George Mitchell, and former major leaguer Chuck Knoblauch.

The most anticipated witness would be Clemens.

"Roger is willing to answer questions, including those posed to him while under oath," said Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin. "We hope to determine shortly if schedules and other commitments can accommodate the committee on that date."

McNamee has said he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone; Clemens has denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

Although no one had agreed to show up for the hearing as of Friday, the committee's announcement listed Clemens and others under the heading, "Witnesses will include."

Said the committee's minority staff director, David Marin: "We always presume that invited witnesses will appear."

That session will take place one day after Congress is to hear testimony from Mitchell, along with baseball commissioner Bud Selig and union leader Donald Fehr.

"The original hearing was called to examine the Mitchell recommendations and findings. The committee has decided to hold a second day of hearings for the very same reason -- to invite people with varying perspectives on the Mitchell Report to shed further light on it," Marin said.

This is the group of lawmakers that convened the March 2005 hearing where McGwire refused to answer questions about whether he used steroids, repeatedly saying, "I'm not here to talk about the past." Sosa testified that day he never knowingly used illegal performance-enhancing drugs. Palmeiro pointed his finger for emphasis and declared: "I have never used steroids. Period." He was suspended by baseball later that year after testing positive for a steroid.

Clemens, who ranks eighth in major league history with 354 career wins, and McNamee, a former strength coach for the Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays, have engaged in a public game of he-said, he-said -- although neither has spoken under oath about the matter.

"Congress is asking him to appear. In all likelihood, he will certainly appear," said Richard Emery, one of McNamee's lawyers.

Congress has now spent several years looking into the steroid situation in baseball and I think enough is enough. Being a nation with many serious issues facing us I think Congress would be better served to focus on issues that have more of an impact on our lives. At what point do you think Congress should lay this whole investigation to rest? Should Congress even be devoting time to this issue in the first place?