Keyboard Quarterbacks

Dear Rocket,

Please be telling the truth about all this steroid stuff, Roger.

Not so much for the sake of your reputation or the reputation of the game and all that, but rather to help fans restore their faith in athletes speaking out to the media.

The court of public opinion is already way too slanted toward negativity when it comes to believing what people say. We're guilty until proven innocent in that court, regardless of what the constitution says about that in the real court system. Nick Saban didn't help matters. Neither did Herm Edwards. Most other things athletes say are tough to believe.

But, Rocket, here's hoping you're telling the truth. You've been on YouTube, "60 Minutes" and Monday's press conference denying all the allegations in the Mitchell Report. With each statement, you've been more and more adamant about your non-use of steroids and HGH.

The lidocaine and vitamin B-12 shots may be true, but Rafael Palmeiro made that tough to believe. Again, we're hoping you're telling the truth, just to restore our faith in athletes telling the truth. I don't know how you do it, though, short of Brian McNamee admitting he lied.

The way the media is now, it'll convict Rocket at every turn as a way of making up for looking the other way all those years ago Jose Canseco started this whole thing. Clemens is paying for the sins of all the others, since he's the biggest name in the Mitchell Report and the only one to refute it.

Of course, there's a good chance that McNamee did tell the truth. There's also a chance he lied. We're hoping he lied.

However you do it, Roger, just prove yourself truthful in this matter. It will be tough, simply because of the way human nature is. But, Rocket, find a way to make us all believe what athletes say again.

Best,
Mark La Monica
Keyboard Quarterback