The Post has dueling articles today with former Major Leaguer C.J. Nitkowski defending McNamee and Rohan Baichu, a massage therapist for the Astros, slamming him.

"My concern is that the image of Mac is one of a steroid pusher and supplier," Nitkowski, who played in Japan last season, said in an e-mail. "That couldn't be further from the truth." ...

"I certainly believe Mac," he said. "He had no reason to lie. He would not make things up to stay out of jail. He would only tell the truth."

Meanwhile, Baichu believes that McNamee is lying out of jealousy, tied to Clemens winning the 2004 Cy Young, after he had left McNamee. "He is a piece of [bleep]. First of all, he is an alcoholic. He is a troubled soul and has got so many demons in his closets. He has a lot of problems in his life," Baichu told the Post.