Clemens hearing leaves fans unconvinced

New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte stands in an elevator on Capitol Hill in Washington in this Monday, Feb. 4, 2008 file photo, after he was deposed before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Pettitte's lawyer has been in discussions with congressional staff to have the pitcher dropped from the witness list at a House committee hearing about Roger Clemens scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 13. (AP Photos/Susan Walsh, File)

NEW YORK—Watching as the spectacle between pitcher Roger Clemens and his former trainer Brian McNamee played out on TV, Shaun McMenamey had no doubt who was telling the truth about whether the Cy Young Award winner had used drugs.

"I believe McNamee, it just seems like he's more credible," said McMenamey, of Wilton, Conn. As for Clemens, "he's a little too adamant about being not guilty."

He wasn't the only one who thought so. Watching Wednesday's congressional hearing on Capital Hill at the ESPNZone in Times Square, Adam Goldenberg and William Ashley both were convinced of Clemens' guilt.

"I believe McNamee," said Goldenberg of Westchester. "Why would he lie about Clemens and tell the truth about everybody else?"

Ashley agreed. "The man knows whether or not he injected another man with a substance," the 37-year-old Manhattanite said.

Judy Kides wasn't convinced. The Sayreville, N.J., resident said she would have to see some definitive evidence before she believed Clemens had used either steroids or human growth hormone, as McNamee said he did in December's Mitchell Report.

"Right now, there's a he said, he said," she said. "I think he's innocent unless there's a needle that shows his DNA or something."

Others said that no matter who was telling the truth, the hearing itself was a pointless production.

"It's a waste of taxpayers' money," said George Radwill, of Milford, Conn., at the ESPNZone to celebrate his birthday with his family. He didn't think the hearing would lead to any substantive changes in the sport.

Eric Kritzler, on 33rd Street, thought the issue of drug use was important, but wondered whether Capital Hill was the place to be dealing with it.

"I agree people can't lie. I agree situations shouldn't get this large," he said. "But I think we have significant issues going on here, and now we're talking about steroids in Congress? I think it's the wrong venue."

Goldenberg agreed. "Why are they having this whole dog and pony show?" he asked.

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Associated Press Video Journalist Ted Shaffrey contributed to this report.