Roger Clemens apologizes for 'mistakes in personal life'
BASEBALL
The pitcher says the apology has nothing to do with steroids or HGH, but a public relations expert questions whether it might have been wiser to remain silent.
Roger Clemens spoke up Monday, but Hollywood's go-to guy for crisis communications said Clemens might have been better advised to keep quiet.
"Sometimes you're better off saying nothing than making a statement that raises more questions than it answers," said Michael Sitrick, whose Los Angeles public relations firm has provided crisis management for such celebrities as Halle Berry, Kelsey Grammer and Rush Limbaugh.
The New York Daily News linked Clemens last week to affairs with what the newspaper called "a bevy of beauties," including country singer Mindy McCready and Paulette Dean Daly, ex-wife of golfer John Daly.
In his statement, Clemens said he had "made mistakes in my personal life for which I am sorry."
The FBI is investigating whether Clemens lied when he testified before Congress that he never had used steroids or human growth hormone. Clemens has sued his former trainer, Brian McNamee -- who says he injected the pitcher with both substances -- for defamation.
"I believe my personal life has nothing to do with the accusations of steroid and HGH use," Clemens said. "I have already made clear that I did not use them."
Yet McNamee's lawyers have made clear they plan to depose women linked to Clemens, to ask whether he might have told them of any drug use, in the same way Pettitte told congressional investigators that Clemens told him of drug use.
In his suit, Clemens argued that McNamee's allegations had damaged his "good reputation." In turn, McNamee's lawyers also plan to investigate information they believe could counter that claim of "good reputation."
When the Daily News first linked Clemens to McCready, saying the two had first met when she was 15 and carried on a "decade-long affair," Clemens attorney Rusty Hardin said the singer was a family friend but said the pitcher "never had a sexual relationship with her."
McCready confirmed the affair the next day. She did not say when the affair started, but the Daily News said the relationship did not turn romantic until years later, after McCready "became a country singing star."
"I have been accused of an improper relationship with a fifteen year old girl. Nothing could be further from the truth," Clemens said in his statement. "This relationship has been twisted and distorted far beyond reality."
Clemens said the series of stories "contain many false accusations and mistakes" but did not specify any others. He did not deny any of the alleged affairs.
