Dear Roger Clemens,
↵Just to clarify, when we fans rhapsodize about how much we admire the perseverance and dedication displayed by athletes in the face of adversity, which we frequently do, we're talking about stuff like Carnell "Cadillac" Williams coming back from not one but TWO devastating knee injuries.
↵We're not talking about OJ Simpson's refusal to take responsibility for his actions even as he sits in a jail cell, a convicted felon.
↵We're not talking about Pete Rose's portrayal of himself as the innocent victim of a malicious smear campaign by a vindictive commissioner as he continued his high profile gambling and waited for just the right book deal to come along.
↵We're not talking about Mark McGwire making a statement by saying nothing until the heat died down enough for him to land a gig back in baseball again.
↵Those are actually examples of the opposite of what we as fans admire about athletes. And whether or not we all believe that athletes have a duty to serve as role models, none of us appreciates being lied to.
↵Just something for you to keep in mind before you have your day in court.
↵Thanks.