Roger Clemens' opening statement before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government:

Chairman Waxman and Members of the Committee:
Thank you for inviting me to be here today. Before I begin, I
would like to express my sincere condolences to the family and
friends of Representative Tom Lantos. I did not know Congressman
Lantos, but I have learned about him in preparation for my
appearance before this Committee. I understand that he was a
Holocaust survivor and that he lived a life full of courage,
conviction and accomplishment. I know that his passing is a
heartfelt loss to this Committee and our country.
I appreciate the opportunity to tell this Committee and the
public - under oath - what I have been saying all along: I have
never used steroids, human growth hormone, or any other type of
illegal performance enhancing drugs. I think these types of drugs
should play no role in athletics at any level, and I fully support
Senator Mitchell's conclusions that steroids have no place in
baseball. However, I take great issue with the report's allegation
that I used these substances. Let me be clear again: I did not.
I have tried to model my baseball career, and indeed my entire
life, on the premise that "your body is your temple." The
suggestion that I would use steroids or other illegal drugs is
totally incompatible with who I am and what I stand for. I have
worked hard to succeed at every level. I have given speeches to
young people all over the country about the dangers of taking
shortcuts to reach your goals. Steroids are a dangerous shortcut. I
have made no secret about my feelings on this subject, and I
practice what I preach.
I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. I was not
born with a silver spoon in my mouth. My stepfather died when I was
a young boy. I was raised by a hardworking mother and grandmother
who took care of and provided for six children. My mother was a
wonderful woman who sacrificed her own needs for the needs of her
children. My mother worked several jobs to make sure that I always
had new sporting equipment, even though she often went without new
clothes. My mother insisted that I attend college, despite that
fact that professional baseball teams approached me after high
school.
My mother nurtured my interest in sports, including baseball,
from a very young age. She taught me through her example that hard
work and determination were the only ways to be successful and
reach goals. Shortcuts were never an option. It probably comes as
no surprise that I firmly believe that much of what I have
accomplished would not have been possible without the valuable
lessons instilled in me by my mother and grandmother.
I have not gotten to where I am today by accident. My hard work
and dedication were instrumental to me achieving many career goals.
The awards, accomplishments, and milestones I have achieved during
my career have been fully documented by the media and I will not
repeat them here. I will say, however, that none of these
accomplishments came easily and none of them came in a bottle of
steroids or human growth hormone.
I cherish my major league baseball experience, but I have always
said that baseball is what I do; it is not who I am. Anyone who has
spent time around me knows that my family is and has always been my
top priority. My wife, Debbie, and my sons - Koby, Kory, Kacy, and
Kody - mean more to me than anything in this world. Having said
that, baseball has definitely provided me with significant
opportunities off the field.
I have had the privilege and honor to visit our troops in
Kuwait, Qatar, and Afghanistan and salute them as our nation's true
role models. Through the work of my foundation, I have had many
chances to influence special needs youngsters. I have had many
chances to influence young athletes who have just begun to
experience the value and challenges of working with a team to
achieve a common goal. These experiences mean as much to me, if not
more, than anything I ever accomplished on the field.
Over the course of my career, I have had the opportunity to work
with many trainers, chiropractors, physical therapists and other
professionals to try to educate myself and to use the knowledge
they had to keep my body in the best shape it could possibly be.
Brian McNamee was one of the many people I met and worked with
during my career.
I met McNamee while playing for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998. I
trusted him, put my faith in him, and brought him around my family
and my children. I treated him just like I have done others I have
met in my life; like family. There were times over the years in
which I wondered about what kind of person he was and what he was
doing when he was not around me. I questioned McNamee about these
things, and at the end of the day, I was willing to take him at his
word and give him the benefit of the doubt.
McNamee was good at what he did - helping me exercise, diet, and
stay in shape. We shared an interest in grueling, military-style
workouts, but I never asked him nor did he ever give me steroids or
human growth hormone. I had no idea that this man would exploit the
trust I gave him to try to save his own skin by making up lies that
have devastated me and my family.
I am a positive person and enjoy doing things for others. I am
not just a ballplayer; I am a human being. As I said before,
baseball is what I do; it is not who I am. I played the game
because of my love and respect for it, and I pride myself as an
example for kids, my own as well as others. I have always tried to
help anyone who crossed my path who was in need.
But here we are now, with me being accused of using steroids and
cheating the game of baseball. If I am guilty of anything, it is of
being too trusting of others; wanting to see the best in everyone;
and being nice to everyone. If I am considered to be ignorant
because of that, then so be it.
I have chosen to live my life with a positive attitude. Yet I am
accused of being a criminal and I am not supposed to be angry about
that?
If I keep my emotions in check, then I am accused of not caring.
When I kept quiet at the advice of my attorney until he could
find out why in the world I was being accused of these things, I
was accused of having something to hide, so I am guilty.
When I did speak out, I was accused of protesting too much, so I
am guilty.
People who make false accusations should not be allowed to
define another person's life. I have freely and without question
shared the talents God gave me with children, young and old, and
will continue to do so. I have been blessed with a will and heart
that carry me on in life. I have had thousands of calls and e-mails
from friends, working partners, teammates, fans, and men that have
held the highest office in our country telling me to stand strong.
These words are very welcomed during some very tough times for my
family and me.
Do I think steroids are good for helping someone's performance?
No. In fact, I think they are detrimental. Should there be more
extensive testing? Yes. I think whatever is necessary for everyone
involved to satisfy themselves that it is not going on, should be
done.
At the end of the day, I have been accused of doing something
that I did not do.
I have been asked to prove that I did not do it. How in the
world can I prove a negative?
No matter what we discuss here today, I am never going to have
my name restored. I know that a lot of people want me to say that I
have taken steroids and be done with it.
But I cannot in good conscience admit to doing something that I
did not do; even if it would be easier to do so. That is not the
type of person I am. Instead, I will try to set the record
straight, and I will do so directly to Congress and under oath. I
have been told that by doing this, I am subjecting myself to
possible criminal prosecution. I know that some people will still
think I am lying no matter what I say or do. And I know that
because I've said that I didn't take steroids, it will look like an
attack on Senator Mitchell's report. I am not saying Senator
Mitchell's report is entirely wrong and I am not trying to convince
those who have already made up their minds based only on an
allegation.
For those with an open mind, however, I am saying that Brian
McNamee's statements about me are wrong. Once again, I never took
steroids or human growth hormone.