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Today's hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform was mostly about the interaction between Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee. It is safe to say that we are no further from knowing the truth today than we were yesterday. What should be of interest is the depositions provided by witnesses that did not testify publicly today. One of those depositions is a phone interview with trainer, Scott Shannon, a trainer for the Blue Jays during the time that McNamee claims he injected Clemens with Winstrol, a steroid. Today, we heard that there were discrepancies regarding an abcess on Clemens' buttocks, which McNamee claims came from injecting Clemens too quickly with the Winstrol. With the depostiion of Shannon available, we are providing the section within that conflicts with McNamee's testimony (Select Read More to see the Q&A with committee investigators)
Q: I am going to move specifically to Roger Clemens. Did
you ever provide any medications for Mr. Clemens?
A Um, well, going back 10 years, I would think at some
point doctors may have ordered some NSAIDS or
anti-inflammatories at some point. Specific dates are --
just because it was such a prevalent medication for the
doctor to prescribe, I would say that there probably wasn't
too many players during the course of the year that the
doctors didn't prescribe some anti-inflammatories for, so
Roger probably fit into that same group of, at some point,
having some anti-inflammatories during the course of the
year.
I don't remember if I gave it to Roger or Tommy did or
even if he did have any. But I'm just saying that chances
are that he probably did get some anti-inflammatories at
some ponit during the course of year.
Q And are you aware if Mr. Clemens ever received any
injectable medications, B-12 or lidocaine injections?
A Sorry, I don't know.
Q You don't know at all. And you had never provided
him with any injectable medications?
A No.
Q Okay. Have you ever provided a lidocaine injection
for any players?
A No, sir.
Q Are you aware of any trainers who have injected
lidocaine in any player during your years with the Blue Jays
or in your time as a medical trainer?
A I have never seen it with the Blue Jays in the minor
leagues. It was something that the doctors always took care
of. It was never anything that a trainer would go near,
other than just getting it out the cabinet for the doctor
and putting it away after they were done. That would be the
extent of our involvement.
Q With regard to Mr. Clemens, are you aware of any
problems that Mr. Clemens might have had with regard to
lower back pain?
A No, I am not.
Q And what about problems with joint pain?
A Again, I'm sorry, I don't remember specific injuries
from my head. I just don't remember Roger being in the
training room other than pretty much the days he would -- he
worked hard and did his stuff and the day -- kind of the
day, the day he threw his pen, and the day he threw his
side, and the day he pitched in a game was pretty much the
only days he came in and got anything from myself.
Q Okay. Are you aware of an injury to Mr. Clemens'
buttocks that occurred while Mr. Clemens was a member of the
Blue Jays?
A No, I'm not.
Q Not at all? No contusions or soft skin infections
of any kind?
A No. I can't remember Roger ever being treated for
anything that resembled some kind of abscess or anything
around his buttocks area.
Q If I describe it as a "palpable mass," does that
ring any bells or does that bring back any memories?
A It doesn't, actually, Brian. Again, I never treated
Roger for anything that was closely related to his buttocks.
Q Okay. I know you have probably seen some of the
press reports; we have seen them here, as well. But the
committee has also learned that Mr. Clemens received
treatment for his soreness, and it was described as a
contusion or a palpable mass on his buttocks. This was in
July or August of 1998, while a member of the Blue Jays. We
have also learned that the cause of the palpable mass was
described as a B-12 shot that was given to Clemens by Dr.
Taylor.
Q: Are you aware of this incident at all?
A No, I am not, Brian. Sorry.
Q Okay. I had asked you this before, but I will ask
again. Are you aware of any athlete, any member of the Blue
Jays or any athlete that you've seen or treated in your
career that suffered from this kind of complication due to a
B-12 shot in the buttocks?
A I haven't personally ever treated anybody. Again,
in the minor leagues, it's not something that they do. If
ever -- I don't remember players getting B-12 in the minor
leagues. And I don't remember us, at the big league level,
ever treating anybody with what would have amounted to a
mass from getting a B-12 shot. So I guess I would have to
say no.
Q Okay. Is it possible that this injury could have
been caused by an injection of steroids?
A That's not my expertise, so I can't really respond
to that.
Q Can I ask you if you've ever seen this kind of an
injury, not necessarily caused by B-12 or caused by anything
in particular? Have you ever seen this kind of an injury, a
palpable mass in the buttocks? Have you ever seen this kind
of injury in a player?
A I have. And I have seen perianal cysts which are
kind of -- I mean, anatomically, it is not the prettiest
area to go in. It is between kind of your rectum and your
balls, I guess -- sorry, testicles. And I've treated
players for those before, but it wasn't for an injection.
It was more irritation, either from sweating a lot and just
getting some glands filled up with sweat and then it just
erupted. But that is the only thing that I've ever seen
close to the buttocks area where there was a palpable mass
and there was like an infestation of puss, I guess, is the
word I'll use.
Q All right. So it sounds like I guess -- would it be
fair to say that, if Clemens had this kind of a palpable
mass, that it would be something you would remember?
A I would say so, Brian.
Q Okay. Good. All right.
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