Yesterday’s House committee assault-round of questioning established very little.

We were pretty much left with a few truths we know coming in:

• Roger Clemens’s story is shaky, and hard to believe.
• Brian McNamee’s story is shaky, but easier to believe than Clemens’s.
• Republicans dislike Democrats; Democrats dislike Republicans.

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform took the two former pals to task, ripping each man’s credibility, motives and inconsistencies.

At times, the questioning turned all-out assault, ranging from light –

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) came down on Clemens the hardest, finishing off with the following declaration:

“It’s hard to believe you, sir, I hate to say that. You’re one of my heroes. But it’s hard to believe.”

… to the more personal –

Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) told McNamee:

“You’re here under oath, and yet we have lie after lie after lie after lie!”

Clemens and McNamee responded quite differently to what turned out more to be more of a reprimanding than an inquiry.

While Clemens got defensive, slightly poetic and loud when backed into a corner, McNamee began speaking softly, more reserved and appeared to be hurt by the 4 1/2 hour session. It may be safe to say that the House oversight committee “wore the breaks off” these two fellas.

The session concluded with committee chairman Henry A. Waxman (D-Ca.) banging his gavel and quieting Clemens, who was getting a bit testy as they disputed whether Clemens interfered with a potential witness, his former nanny, as the committee inquired whether he attended a party hosted by former teammate Jose Canseco years ago. Little clarity was reached in this matter.

In the background, 6-foot-6 tall IRS agent Jeff Novitzky paid close attention. He already used McNamee as an asset to the Clemens investigation. Now, he may be forced to look further into whether Clemens perjured himself.

For as much trouble as athletes and trainers are getting into these days, can anybody definitively say that human growth hormone (HGH) is more deadly than cigarettes or alcohol? Shoot studies my way as you find them.

What best describes the situation of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in sports is the famous saying:

“We fear that which we do not know.”

In PEDs ignorance, there is no bliss. Only constant finger-pointing and reprimand after reprimand until the full circle/process/circus has gone its course.

Can there really be a true winner when the smoke finally clears?