The Rocket Dropped From The Docket

Former major league pitcher Roger (“the Rocket”) Clemens struck out with a federal appeals court earlier this week in Houston. The court refused to reinstate a defamation suit that Clemens had filed against his former personal trainer Brian McNamee. McNamee claims to have injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormones. The trial court had originally tossed the suit because it held that it lacked jurisdiction over McNamee. McNamee is not a Texas resident, and he made the comments in New York. Clemens argued that the Texas court could hear the case because McNamee had visited Texas a number of times and because he knew the comments would harm Clemens’ reputation in Texas. The court of appeals disagreed. No word yet on Clemens’ next move, but it looks like he won’t have home field advantage.