Tale of Two Friends: Will Andy Hurt Roger?

Feb. 12, 2008 — -- In the epic battle to defend his reputation, it looks like Roger Clemens has as much to fear from his friend as he does from his foe.

The pitching legend goes to Capitol Hill on Wednesday morning to give a sworn deposition about performance-enhancing drugs.

Missing from the room will be Andy Pettitte, Clemens' longtime teammate and pal, who asked to be excused from the hearing, a request that was granted by the committee.

Baseball observers immediately suspected that Pettitte didn't want to face his buddy, especially since his affidavit reportedly contradicts Clemens, who has emphatically denied using drugs.

Parts of Pettitte's deposition are expected to be read at the hearing, and, according to several reports, Clemens' longtime friend gave Congress some seemingly damning testimony about him.

Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., told Newsday that at least one part of Pettitte's affidavit could be damaging to Clemens' case, because it supports what former New York Yankees trainer Brian McNamee told Congress.

Newsday, citing unnamed sources, said that McNamee told investigators that Pettitte asked him during a workout session, "How come you don't give me the stuff you give Roger?" McNamee reportedly replied, "Because it's illegal."

Clemens has insisted that his friend's recollection of the incident is incorrect. And sources close to Davis told ESPN.com that the congressman was misquoted in the Newsday story.

Pettitte's affidavit also claims that Clemens talked to him in 1999 or 2000 about using human growth hormones, when the two were teammates on the Yankees, The Associated Press reported today.

Despite those claims, Pettitte might also not be a strong witness for those hoping to nail Clemens as a baseball cheater.

Sources tell ESPN.com's TJ Quinn that, while Pettitte's account of some events doesn't square with Clemens' version, Pettitte also contradicted himself several times in his affidavit.

That, presumably, makes him a less reliable witness, which may be why Congress gave Pettitte an intentional walk.

Today, Clemens continued his concerted mission to save his reputation. So far, he has met with more than half of the 41 members of the committee.

Asked how his day was going, Clemens gave reporters a one-word response: "Great."

His lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said Clemens aims to answer every question and be up front in his explanation, contrasting it with the infamous 2005 Congressional hearings, at which Mark McGwire's testimony was considered evasive.

"He wasn't gonna parse his words or be careful about what he said," Hardin told ABC News' Matthew B. Jaffe. "He'd answer any question they had, that if they wanted him to give some thought to things they wanted to ask him, they could be assured he would answer them."

Clemens also has to be worried about the scandal affecting his bottom line. At a recent sports memorabilia auction, his game-worn jersey from the 2000 World Series fetched less than half its estimated sale price.

Adding to the spectacle is the drama of a friendship being tested in front of the eyes of the world. Clemens and Pettitte, who both grew up in Texas, and attended San Jacinto Junior College, work out, play golf, vacation, shoot pool and even room together on occasion.

Ironically, Clemens once credited Pettitte with introducing him to working out.

"There was a day when I didn't know what a workout was, and I'd be sitting there, eating a pizza, and Andy would come by and say, 'why don't you put that down and come on and work out with me?'" Clemens told the National Post in 2004.

The two men both used trainer McNamee, the main witness against them.

Pettitte has admitted that McNamee eventually gave him shots of human growth hormone, according to the Mitchell Report on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.

While some mutual friends told ABCNews.com that the men remain in touch, they acknowledge that the case has taken a toll.

The situation represents a classic struggle between loyalty and honesty in bastions of brotherhood, like sports teams, police units and fraternities.

"The real story is, the folks on the Hill recognized something exceptional about this male friendship," said Jack Dash Harris, professor of sociology at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. "It's stunning that they would excuse [Pettitte] because he doesn't want to hurt his friend."

The steroids investigation has captivated the public, because it's a classic quandary experienced by friends.

"It's a tragedy that one has to say something that may damage the other," said Harris. "It's about brotherhood. The struggle between loyalty and the truth. That's the dilemma — you close ranks or you tell the truth."