Clemens and McNamee Have Odd Phone Conversation

This is a bizarre turn of events.

According to Newsday, Roger Clemens and his former trainee turned stoolpigeon, Brian McNamee spoke via telephone on Friday evening.

From Newsday:

In a surprising twist to their public war of words, Roger Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, spoke by telephone Friday night, Newsday has learned. It was their first contact since the Mitchell Report was released Dec. 13, and a person close to the situation described the hourlong conversation between the longtime friends as "emotional."

It is unclear whether Clemens or McNamee initiated the call, and attempts to reach representatives for both of them Saturday night were unsuccessful. Clemens and McNamee have been friends since 1998, when the two were together on the Blue Jays, and it was Clemens who got McNamee hired by the Yankees after he was obtained from Toronto at the start of the 1999 season.

But in the wake of the Mitchell Report and McNamee's damaging testimony, those years together ultimately may tear down Clemens and his Hall of Fame resume. Clemens has vehemently denied McNamee's allegations that the trainer injected him with steroids -- he'll do so again tonight on "60 Minutes" -- and the two sides threatened to sue each other last week in what is likely to be an ongoing legal battle.

Despite Friday's "invitation" to appear in front of the House Committe on Oversight and Government Reform on Jan. 16, there's no guarantee Clemens will make that date. Clemens' lawyer, Rusty Hardin, indicated Friday that Clemens has to check his schedule. One person familiar with the legal implications suggested yesterday that Clemens might file a lawsuit against McNamee before then, with the hope it would excuse him from the hearings.

Wonder what they talked about . . . I believe the conversation could have gone something like this:

Rocket: I'll give you $18 million if you retract your testimony.

McNamee: Do I get the "family first" clause included in my contract?

Rocket: Sure, but don't rub it in on the rest of your [legal] team. And of course the money is pro-rated per appearance.

McNamee: Deal.

Click!