• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, February 21, 2008

After last week's high-profile hearing on Capitol Hill about his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs, Roger Clemens has pulled out of an ESPN-sponsored event at Disney World later this month. The withdrawal comes after Clemens indicated he would go forward with the paid promotional appearance only days before the contentious hearing.

 An ESPN representative wrote in an e-mail that the network did not ask Clemens to withdraw, but it did inform him that it intended to cover his appearance as a news story.

"It was his decision, although we pointed out both the potential disruption to the events, given the press scrutiny, and ESPN's interest in treating his participation as a newsworthy event including appropriate questioning about the issues," the e-mail said.

Clemens notified ESPN of the decision some time in the last 24 hours regarding "ESPN The Weekend," where he was to serve as a headliner Feb. 29-March 2. Leading sports stars make appearances on live ESPN broadcasts--where Clemens could have been interviewed--and participate in motorcades and other public events while at Disney.

"I have been looking forward to 'ESPN the Weekend,'" Clemens said in a statement released by ESPN. "Given some strong feelings in some circles today, I believe my current participation could be a distraction. The event should be an occasion for fun by all, and I want that to be the case for everyone involved--so I will not be coming at this point in time, but I look forward to participating in some future event."

Until yesterday morning to promote the event, Clemens' photo--showing him with his arm around a Disney character--was posted on an ESPN Web site. But by the afternoon, it was scratched out.

Clemens attending a "family-friendly" event could stand in sharp contrast to some of the issues regarding not only his alleged use of steroids and human growth hormone, but the admission by his wife last week that she was injected with HGH.

ESPN representative Josh Krulewitz said: "We understand and respect [Clemens'] decision."

Clemens' withdrawal--after the pitcher has been publicly defiant in pleading his innocence--may signal that he's taking a new PR tack, perhaps similar to what former baseball star Mark McGwire did after he testified before Congress. McGwire left the impression with some that he had abused steroids. Since then, he has largely retreated from the public stage. Clemens' value as an endorser continues to be in question with the steroids charges swirling and now the ESPN withdrawal.

Clemens' involvement with "ESPN The Weekend" has been a tangled one since the Mitchell Report alleging that he used steroids was released in December. ESPN pulled a humorous promotional spot plugging Clemens' participation, but did not ask him to withdraw from the event. The pitcher then informed the network in mid-February of his intention to attend, before exiting this week.

"ESPN The Weekend" is sponsored by Dick's Sporting Goods.