Whether he was convincing probably depended on what you believed in the first place, but one thing is certain: The 60 Minutes interview - like the Mitchell Report - isn't likely to provide anyone any closure.
It all seemed pretty simple a couple of weeks ago. Clemens said he didn't do it and lawyer Rusty Hardin announced that he would hire private investigators to examine some of the findings in the Mitchell Report. They even got some help when the infamous Jason Grimsley affidavit was made public and discredited earlier reports of Clemens' involvement.
Everything was going just fine until Congress reversed field and decided it would question some players at next week's hearing. The original plan was only to give Mitchell a new platform to discuss the scandal and summon baseball commissioner Bud Selig and union director Donald Fehr for another in a long series of congressional tongue-lashings.
Now, Clemens might have to testify under oath, which will be fine if he's telling the truth, but becomes very problematic if he has even a minor steroid indiscretion that he wants to hide.
If that's the case, it's hard to imagine his high-priced counsel letting him get into a situation where he would be tempted to stretch the truth or forced to dissemble, so it will be interesting to see whether he agrees to show up at all. Clemens previously committed to play as a celebrity in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., starting Jan. 16, the day the House committee has invited him, former teammate Andy Pettitte and McNamee to testify.
Hardin said Friday that Clemens would be willing to answer questions under oath "if schedules and other commitments can accommodate the committee on that date."
Lest anyone forget, former Oriole Rafael Palmeiro tried to dodge the March 17, 2005, hearing because it was his wife's birthday but complied when the committee sent out subpoenas.
Clemens has not been subpoenaed, but that could change if he tells the committee he'll be playing golf that day.
peter.schmuck@baltsun.com
Listen to Peter Schmuck on WBAL (1090 AM) at noon most Saturdays and Sundays.
