Knoblauch says 'nothing to hide' from steroids probe

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Chuck Knoblauch, in his first public comments since the Mitchell report was released Dec. 13, said in a newspaper interview published Friday that he was not angry about being named in the report.

The former New York Yankees infielder, one of three players, along with ex-teammates Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte, invited to testify Feb. 13 before a congressional committee, did not, however, acknowledge the report's contention he used performance-enhancing drugs.

"I have nothing to defend," Knoblauch told The New York Times. "I have nothing to hide at the same time."

Knoblauch, 39, dubbed the report on doping in baseball "crazy" and "interesting" and expressed bewilderment at his inclusion in the report given that he's been retired for five years.

"I've got nothing to do with any of that, I mean, any baseball," said Knoblauch, who stopped playing in 2002. "And I don't want anything to do with baseball."

Asked if he resented being thrust back into the spotlight, Knoblauch said: "No. One of my strongest characteristics is not really caring what people think. I'm living my life. It's not going to change my life one way or the other. You know, I'm not trying to get in the Hall of Fame. I got one vote though."

Clemens' former trainer, Brain McNamee, told Mitchell he acquired human growth hormone from former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski for Knoblauch in 2001, and that he injected the 1991 AL Rookie of the Year and four-time All-Star with it.

McNamee's claims about Clemens were the most striking part of the Mitchell report. He told Mitchell he injected Clemens with steroids in 1998 while they were with Toronto, and with steroids and HGH in 2000 and 2001 while with New York.

In the pitcher's interview with CBS's "60 Minutes" on Sunday, Clemens admitted he was injected by McNamee but with painkillers and vitamin B-12 -- not performance-enhancing drugs. Clemens also told CBS that McNamee's accusation was "ridiculous" and said he "never" used banned substances.

Pettitte, meanwhile, acknowledged McNamee injected him with HGH twice while the pitcher was recovering from an injury. The 35-year-old left-hander recently put off retirement and agreed to a $16 million, one-year contract to play for the Yankees next season.

Knoblauch, who shares Clemens and Pettitte's agents, Randy and Alan Hendricks, was asked Jan. 4 to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. That hearing was postponed Wednesday from Jan. 16 until Feb. 13, allowing lawmakers to take depositions from the witnesses, gather other evidence and coordinate their investigation with the Justice Department.

"I read my name in the paper and see it on the news, but I haven't heard a word," Knoblauch said in reference to the fact that no one from the congressional panel has formally contacted him yet. "I'm supposed to be somewhere, but I haven't been told where to be."

When asked if he will show up for the hearing to tell his side of the story, Knoblauch told the Times: "Yeah, if I have to do that, then what are you going to do?"

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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