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Rocker: I Failed Steroids Test

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A Tribune staff, wire report

Published: February 12, 2008

ATLANTA - John Rocker claims he flunked a drug test ordered by Major League Baseball in 2000 and that he, Alex Rodriguez and other Texas Rangers were advised by management and union doctors following a spring training lecture on how to effectively use steroids.

"Bud Selig knew in the year 2000 John Rocker was taking the juice," the former pitcher said Monday of the baseball commissioner on Atlanta radio station 680. "Didn't do anything about it."

Rocker was suspended for the first 14 days of the 2000 season by Selig for making insensitive racial and ethnic remarks.

Rocker said that doctors from management and the players' association, following a 2002 spring training talk with the Rangers about steroids and other topics, pulled himself, A-Rod, Rafael Palmeiro and Ivan Rodriguez aside.

"Look guys, if you take one kind of steroid, you don't triple stack them and take them 10 months out of the year like Lyle Alzado did," Rocker said the doctors told them. "If you do it responsibly, it's not going to hurt you."

Rocker did not identify the doctors.

Pettitte, Knoblauch Dropped From Clemens Hearing

WASHINGTON - Roger Clemens and his accuser, Brian McNamee, will be the main witnesses at a House hearing on the Mitchell Report after Andy Pettitte and two others originally invited to testify were told Monday night they don't need to show up.

Former Yankee Chuck Knoblauch and steroids dealer Kirk Radomski also were dropped from the witness list for Wednesday's public session. One new witness was added Monday night: a member of the staff that worked with former Senate majority leader George Mitchell to produce December's report on drugs in baseball.

But all attention will be focused on Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, and McNamee, his former personal trainer, who alleged he injected the pitcher with performance-enhancing drugs.

"I guess it's showtime, isn't it?" Clemens' lead lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said in a telephone interview.

McNamee said in the Mitchell Report that he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone at least 16 times in 1998, 2000 and 2001. Clemens' denials of those allegations drew the attention of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Pettitte, a pitcher for the Yankees, gave a sworn deposition to committee lawyers last week, as did Clemens and McNamee. Knoblauch, a former major-leaguer who was a Yankees teammate of Clemens and Pettitte, was interviewed by committee staff earlier, while Radomski had been scheduled for a pre-hearing meeting with the committee today.

All five originally were invited to testify Wednesday.

"Mr. Knoblauch and Mr. Pettitte answered all the Committee's questions and their testimony at the hearing is not needed," committee chairman Henry Waxman and ranking Republican Tom Davis said in a statement. "Mr. Clemens and Mr. McNamee have also cooperated with the Committee in its investigation."

Pettitte's request to be excused was first reported by The New York Times on its Web site.

Pettitte's attorney, Jay Reisinger, declined to comment after the announcement, while a lawyer for Radomski did not immediately return a phone message left at his office Monday night.

Asked about the change, Knoblauch's attorney, Diana Marshall, said: "I'm not disappointed. I know Chuck is not disappointed."

LUNCHEON MOVED: Today's Clearwater and St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce luncheon, which will feature several Rays officials and players, has been moved to Tropicana Field.

The 11:30 a.m. event was supposed to be held at Progress Energy Park but was moved indoors because rain is in the forecast.

PADRES: Shortstop Khalil Greene finalized an $11 million, two-year deal.

ROCKIES: Third baseman Garrett Atkins agreed to a one-year contract worth $4,387,500.

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