What Did You Say?
2008-01-08 17:52:02
By:
Gene Bromberg
The biggest story in sports right now is a he-said/he-said dispute between Roger Clemens and his former personal trainer Brian McNamee. McNamee told investigators that he injected steroids and human growth hormone into Clemens, an allegation rejected by the otherwise-sure-to-be Hall-of-Famer, who said it was merely B-12 and lidocaine. I don't know about you, but before a pal injects something into my buttocks, I make DAMN SURE I know what's in the syringe. That policy got me through college--it should've been good enough for Roger Clemens.
(I should stop right here and say that I have NEVER had anything injected into my posterior. Well, I did once, when I had poison ivy all over my face and needed a prednisone injection in my backside to keep me from looking even more like the Elephant Man. Did I mention that the shot was administered by a physician's assistant who was one of the Ten Most Beautiful Girls I"ve Seen In My Life? Yeah, that was a BAD day).
Clemens and McNamee have traded allegations and lawsuits the last few days, and Roger went on
60 Minutes the other day to categorically deny that he ever took performance-enhancing drugs. His close friend and teammate Andy Pettite has already admitted to taking HGH--is Clemens telling the truth?
That question is open to interpretation, and
one person with an opinion is Joe Navarro, a former FBI agent and expert on non-verbal communication who wrote
"Read 'Em And Reap", a well-received book on poker tells that was promoted by Phil Hellmuth. According to Navarro's analysis of Clemens' performance on
60 Minutes, it's possible that the "Rocket" wasn't telling the whole truth. From his wandering eyes to his pursing lips, Clemens didn't look like a man comfortable with what he was saying to Mike Wallace. "That's indicative of deception, that's indicative of stress," Navarro said.
However, and it's a big HOWEVER in neon capital letters (sorry, don't know where the neon button is), Navarro said that his analysis might not be exactly correct:
Even the most skilled body-language experts are right in only about half of all cases, he said, and investigators often study body language to decide when to dig deeper. It is not evidence that someone has committed wrongdoing; Clemens might have been showing stress from defending against potentially career-killing allegations. "He clearly shows signs of distress, but we don't know why he's being distressed," Navarro said.
So when Roger Clemens says that he never used HGH, his discomfiture may mean that he's lying...or that he's really ticked off that his name is being dragged through the mud. Likewise, when you're at the poker table and the guy across from you is trembling, it could mean that he's bluffing...or that he has the stone-cold nuts and he's PRAYING that you call. Before you commit to a position, it helps to have as much information as possible. No doubt we'll learn more about Roger Clemens' alleged drug use in the coming weeks, and no doubt you'll learn more about your opponents at the poker table with prolonged study and careful thought. In both cases, it's wise not to assume the best (or the worst) without proper consideration.
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