Clemens Has Hit The Point Of No Return

TAMPA - Marion Jones, former Olympian, fallen angel, received six months prison time Friday for lying in two federal grand jury investigations.

This is what needs to happen to make the cheating stop.

Feds will eventually measure Barry Bonds for a cell.

Can Roger Clemens warming in the pen - the state pen - be far behind?

By the way, there are apparently more taped telephone conversations, you know, other than the one Clemens recorded when he received a call from his former trainer, Brian McNamee. Oh, Roger, you sneaky Pete.

The Tribune has obtained a reported copy of a reported conversation between Clemens and Pizza World, a reported food establishment near Clemens' Texas home.

Clemens: "Hello?"

Pizza World: "Roger, this is Spider at Pizza World. I reached out to you because, well, it's not good."

Clemens: "So much of it is untrue that it's just tearing everybody apart."

Pizza World: "The pain this is causing you ... I wrote the wrong order down. I thought you said half sausage, half steroids. I'll go to jail for you, Roger. What do you want?"

The Harder They Fall

Clemens withstood "60 Minutes" and Mike Wallace, 89, whose long and distinguished career began when he got an exclusive with Spartacus.

Iron Mike fastballs were reduced to softballs.

Clemens said he never took HGH, testosterone or anabolic steroids.

"Swear?" Wallace said.

"Swear," Clemens said.

Well, that wraps that up.

Clemens also said he would have spoken with former senator George Mitchell if he'd known his name came up in Mitchell's investigation.

Right - and USF's Ben Moffitt did his own homework.

Clemens' campaign to save his seven-time Cy Young butt is in full swing, complete with defiant news conference and defamation suit against McNamee, who apparently told law enforcement he gave Clemens steroids injections.

Rajah has officially passed the point of no return.

Big Boy better be on the level, because if he isn't, he'll fall further than even Jones, who went from Olympics darling to flying pig to crying game.

Well, the real deal is on the way.

Next month, Clemens will get his chance to lay it - or lie it - on the line when he goes before Congress. It doesn't look as if he'll be granted immunity for testifying.

That would mean jail time if he commits perjury.

We dare you to lie, Roger, we dare you.

'A Worldwide Lie'

At his news conference earlier this week, Clemens told baseball writers with Hall of Fame votes to keep their votes, he could not care less.

They didn't need to be told.

Just look at the latest voting for the Hall.

Mark McGwire fell well short of the votes necessary for induction. In fact, he received about as many votes as he did last year, his first year of Hall eligibility. Clemens will face that fight.

Remember the last time ballplayers testified before Congress? In 2005, Rafael Palmeiro pointed his finger and denied using drugs. Five months later, he was suspended after failing a doping test.

Marion Jones cried Friday as she addressed the judge.

The judge's response before sentencing:

"This was a worldwide lie."

It needed to happen.

On deck, Barry Bonds.

Warming up, Roger Clemens.

There's no turning back, Rajah.

Tape that message on your telephone.