Mitchell: Names had to come out

Steroid investigator was prepared for denials but says every effort was made to find truth.

NEW YORK - George Mitchell insisted naming names was the right decision and said he was prepared for pitcher Roger Clemens and other players to deny they used performance-enhancing drugs.

"We made every effort to establish the truthfulness of the information that we received," baseball's steroids investigator said Friday during an interview with the Associated Press at his law office. "Several of the witnesses were interviewed in the presence of federal law enforcement agents who informed the witnesses that if they made false statements they would subject themselves to possible criminal jeopardy. So there was very strong incentives to tell the truth."

A day after Mitchell issued a searing report that implicated Clemens, seven former MVPs and more than 80 players in all, President Bush said he had been "troubled by the steroid allegations."

Mitchell said he included in his report nearly all those who were implicated in his investigation. Players largely declined to interview with Mitchell.

"There were two players whose names I did not publish because the allegations occurred after the time that they had left baseball," he said.

Although he received cooperation from the Justice Department, Mitchell said he did not obtain evidence from the Albany, N.Y., district attorney, who has been investigating a drug ring that sold to players. He also said he never got complete copies of sworn statements by IRS special agent Jeff Novitzky that implicated players but were released with the names blacked out.

Because it was a private inquiry, Mitchell said he did not think a standard of evidence was necessary. "It is not a judicial proceeding. It is not a trial," he said. "But it doesn't make any difference what standard or what court you're in: direct, personal, eyewitness testimony, it is the principal form of evidence in most proceedings."

Much of his evidence came from former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski and former Yankees strength coach Brian McNamee, who said he witnessed use by Clemens and Andy Pettitte.

Clemens' lawyer denied the accusations against the seven-time Cy Young winner, whose Hall of Fame chances might have been damaged. Pettitte's agent, Randy Hendricks, has advised his client not to comment.

The Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association may rescind its invitation to Clemens to speak at the organization's state convention Jan. 12. According to the organization's Web site, the title of the speech is: "My Vigorous Workout, How I Played So Long."

Meanwhile, commissioner Bud Selig hasn't ruled out discipline for active players, but that process likely will go into next year. Several congressmen have called for new hearings.

But the public reaction could mostly be described as indifference. Cubs fan Mike O'Malley was certain Thursday would be a significant day in baseball history. But hours after the report came out, he was no longer so sure. "It's such an old story, and it's been so drawn out," O'Malley said Thursday night watching the NFL at a Chicago bar. "At the end of the day, I'm kind of surprised I'm this indifferent."

"You have to remember," said Eric Bronson, a sociology professor at Quinnipiac University who teaches Sociology of Sport, "professional sports are more along the lines of entertainment than anything else right now. We're looking at sport as entertainment rather than sport as sport or competition."

FAST FACTS

Who is Mitchell?

George Mitchell, 74, became MLB's steroids investigator in March 2006. He was Senate majority leader from 1989 to 1995, afterward helping broker a 1998 peace agreement in Northern Ireland. He has been a director of the Red Sox since 2002, served as chairman of Walt Disney Co. and is partner in DLA Piper, the law firm that headed the investigation. His next big task: starting treatment for prostate cancer, an illness he made public in August.

[Last modified December 14, 2007, 23:30:11]