It was reported over the weekend that Brian McNamee met with Jim Murray from Hendricks Sports Management over concern that Roger Clemens would have lingering substances in his body when MLB began steroid testing that year. McNamee referenced the meeting with Murray in the now famous 17-minute tapped phone conversation with Clemens. From the audio:

Clemens: The other thing is, I don’t know how many months ago it was, I asked you, you know, I didn’t know who this cat was in the New York Mets - this guy.

McNamee: I told your guys, man. I told (Jim) Murray, I told him his name. I told Murray.

Clemens: I asked you point blank, I said, do you know who this cat is when we were working. I said there’s some rumblings about some guys with the Mets. Do you know who this guy is? You told me no.

McNamee: You know what, I would have told you yes. If you told me, if I remember that, if you told me that, I would have told you yes.

Clemens: I asked you point blank. Randy and them all called me to ask. Said who -

McNamee: I told Jim Murray, I told Jim Murray. I told him. I told him. I sat down with him in Starbucks on the corner where you used to live and I told him the guy’s name. And I told him please don’t tell Roger yet, but to be careful, but no. If you had asked me, I would have told you that. If you remember, if you remember, I was trying to get with you to talk with you. I was reaching out to you.

Clemens: Brother -

McNamee: I didn’t want Kenny around -

Clemens: You were a foot in front of me doing ab work.

McNamee: All right, then, you know what, then I messed up. I should have done. But you know what, if I had remembered that, then I would have told you. I would have told. Like I told - I told Jim Murray his name. I told him to be careful.

Clemens: Again, Jimmy has never told me.

McNamee: He sat down writing on the stupid yellow pad. He took notes. And he said he spoke to Randy. And he said he’s covered. And I said, all right, well, don’t tell Roger because I don’t want to mess up -

Clemens: Nobody said a word to me, just like everything else.

McNamee: Well, I’m telling you the truth. I met with Jimmy in ‘04, and I told him. I said Jimmy, I just wanted to give you guys a heads up because you better have some information. I’d rather you be prepared than unprepared. And he took all these notes and (unintelligible)

If McNamee can somehow corroborate his story about Jimmy and Starbucks, Clemens is toast. The fact that he mentioned a location and a “stupid yellow pad” is even more intriguing. The more we learn, the more I question why the Clemens camp played went public with this audio tape. Maybe they assummed that McNamee was also recording it and would eventually publicize it as well.

Of course Hardin and the Hendricks boys vehemently deny any conversation between Murray and McNamee. Is it possible that Murray kept the meeting secret in order to protect the agency and ensure another high-dollar contract for Clemens?