So I am reading in the Book of Mark, chapter 11 (read it here), about the pointed exchange between Christ and his adversaries within the Jewish establishment. They attempt to trap Christ with a cunning question, but Christ responds to a question with an even more cunning queston. At the end of this face-off, we learn a number of things. One of which is that if man doesn’t face truth in the face, regardless of how much it may sting, the alternative is a life of helplessness. The chief priests didn’t want to confront the truth about Jesus for fear of any number of outcomes. In the end, they were left trying to find another way to cast him in a negative light. This tension continues in the Bible until Christ is crucified. It appeared to be the easiest way to eradicate the truth, but we know that truth will ultimately win out!
I am a huge baseball fan. Today’s hearings in Washington D.C. over Major League Baseball’s steroid use, though silly given what other issues our elected officials could be addressing, totaly undergird what the Bible had to say in the above passage.
You have a very popular man in Roger Clemens trying his best not to face the truth. I guess I am casting a guilty plea with that statement, but it sure is hard to believe him. Why? You can watch him twist and wriggle to the point that he is so involved that he will probably become helpless in this matter. Will he admit steroid usage? I don’t know, but the no matter what the outcome he is tarnished. I am not saying that if he admitted to as much that he would be much better off, but I do know this. His buddy Andy Pettite did tell the truth and he doesn’t have to sit in front of Congress and his countrymen wriggling helplessly as he attempts to dodge the truth. I am sure Mr. Pettite is embarassed, but that sting is much more less than what Mr. Clemens is facing due to his apparent avoidance of the truth.
I have enclosed a quote from a famous baseball writer’s blog (Jayson Stark) as he obvserved today’s proceedings. I actually caught this particular exchange on TV at lunch and I am glad that someone else out there caught the magnitude of this one congressman’s observation on this whole mess. It was certainly damning.
2:49 p.m. ET
Back came Rep. Elijah Cummings to crystallize why Clemens is in such an impossible spot, as convincing as he sounded at times Wednesday.“If I walked in here,” Cummings told Clemens, “and it was even-steven, you and Mr. McNamee, I must admit that the person I believe most (pause) is Mr. Pettitte.” Cummings then laid it all out, almost exactly as he’d done hours earlier. “When Mr. McNamee gave his testimony about Knoblauch and Pettitte, those allegations turned out to be true,” Cummings went on. “But for some reason, … when it comes to you, it’s a whole ‘nother thing. … How do you explain this?” Clemens then insisted one more time that Pettitte had “misheard” him. Cummings wasn’t buying it. “I’ve listened to you very carefully,” Cummings said. “And I take you at your word. And you’re telling me that Andy Pettitte is an honest man, and his credibility is pretty much impeccable. … You said you were misunderstood. But all I’m saying is, it’s hard to believe. It’s hard to believe your story. “I hate to say that,” Cummings concluded. “You’re one of my heores. But it’s hard to believe you.” Rep. Elijah Cummings, ladies and gentlemen. The most powerful voice in this hearing, by far.
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