Roger Clemens reportedly arrived early for his arraignment in Washington, DC on Monday. Perhaps he was hoping to push up the time of his court appearance scheduled for 2 pm EDT. He’s got places to go and people to see, don’t you know? After his arraignment he is reportedly taking a private jet with wife Debbie in tow and traveling to Myrtle Beach, SC.

There, he and Debbie are expected to participate in a Golf.com amateur tournament.

Arrangements are already in place for him to arrive late and play his round with an event official to make sure he scores his round in an ethical manner. The tournament is accommodating him because they understand his previous engagement today is difficult, sometimes impossible to reschedule.

Clemens will stand up in U.S. Federal District in front of Judge Reggie Walton and take a plea. He can waive the reading of the charges against him to make it a more speedy process. They consist of six felony counts of perjury, making false statements and obstruction of Congress, all arising out of his 2008 testimony in front of a Congressional committee.

To help Roger fight the charges as he has sworn to do, The Rocket added a major player to his legal team. Michael Attanasio, a former federal prosecutor turned private trial lawyer will stand by his side. Rusty Hardin, the good old boy lawyer who managed the process that landed Clemens where he is today has not been dismissed. If he had a shred of feeling left for his client he would bow out and let the big dog maneuver the rest of the way.

Attanasio, whose time as a federal prosecutor was served in DC, knows his way around the place. He may still have friends in that local office but at the very least, he understands the process. Attanasio is not there to engage in a plea bargain negotiation because there is not one available any longer. That ship sailed after the indictment was made public. It will be Attanasio’s job to assure his client that he can produce either a not guilty verdict or a hung jury.

He is expected to issue multiple subpoenas for an obscene amount of relevant documents and to make life miserable for those that will testify against Clemens. That’s his job now and for his work he will be paid a pretty penny. But money is not the issue here; it’s all about keeping Roger Clemens out of prison. For that, Roger Clemens will spend his last dime, not that he will have to.

If he’s still being chauffeured to high profile golf tournaments, he’s still got some folks who think he’s a sympathetic figure and will pay him appearance fees.

Hit ‘em straight Roger.

Used with permission of the author.

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles. 

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