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What will be the outcome of the Roger Clemens trial?

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Tribune Co. writers share their thoughts on the Roger Clemens trial. Check back for more responses throughout the day. Weigh in by leaving a comment of your own.

Steve Gould, Baltimore Sun

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Everything could change once Roger Clemens’ trial begins, but as of now, it appears the former pitching great is in trouble.

I’m no attorney, but the strategy of the defense -- to argue that Clemens’ former trainer, Brian McNamee, made up allegations of injecting the pitcher with performance-enhancing drugs to protect his job and/or help him with his own legal issues -- seems fundamentally flawed.

Andy Pettitte, Chuck Knoblauch and Mike Stanton have admitted receiving PEDs from McNamee. Why would McNamee have chosen to blackmail Clemens instead of his ex-Yankees teammates if Clemens hadn’t also gotten drugs from the trainer?

McNamee’s track record is far from squeaky clean, and it’s up to the 12 people in the jury box to decide Clemens’ guilt or innocence, but the big right-hander looks to be facing a hitter’s count.

Keith Groller, Allentown Morning Call

On the surface, it seems like the Rocketman would need the Casey Anthony jury to escape this jam. Common sense indicates that Clemens, like so many others fingered in the Mitchell Report, took steroids to lengthen his career. Even Clemens’ best friend, Pettitte, admitted to dabbling with chemical fastballs.

So Clemens, a fiercely proud man in danger of having his Hall of Fame credentials tarnished, defied Congress and lied to lawmakers in 2008. Slam dunk perjury, right?

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But if the much more despised Barry Bonds could get off with a mere slap on the wrist, Clemens has a great chance of not getting nicked at all. You’re dealing with the sleazy McNamee as the central witness and the ever-bungling U.S. House of Representatives as the prosecution.

Clemens might have had a harder time beating the Kansas City Royals than he will beating these charges.

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