McNamee focuses on vocation

It was a far cry from working with millionaire athletes at Yankee Stadium, but trainer Brian McNamee insisted Saturday that he was happy putting on a free baseball clinic for about 40 kids from ages 6-16 at Long Island Sports Complex in Freeport. As part of the deal, he handed out free copies of his new training guide "How to Make a Champion."

There was no mention of Roger Clemens or steroids, and when approached later by a reporter to discuss those subjects, McNamee politely declined. "I have to stay clear of it," McNamee said. "I'm under a gag order. It's best to stay away from it with what's going on."

What's going on is the upcoming perjury trial this summer for former Yankees pitcher Clemens. McNamee, who once served as Clemens' personal trainer and later implicated him in baseball's Mitchell Report as having used steroids and human growth hormone, is expected to be the star witness. McNamee also has his own defamation suit against Clemens.

But McNamee was more interested Saturday in helping a bunch of kids.

"My main concern is focusing on training kids, working on my career," he said. "I think I have a valuable thing to teach these kids as far as baseball and conditioning.

"I train when I can, and I'm promoting the book. I promote the Sports Complex here to see if I can get clients, but it's more legwork than anything. It's not like it was."

McNamee is available to work with professional athletes, but he has found it rewarding to work with kids as the two hours of attention he gave Saturday's group demonstrated. McNamee said that he received an excited call recently from C.W. Post player Joe Mare, who got his first two hits after recovering from a serious car accident three years ago.

"He shouldn't even be alive," McNamee said. "That's rewarding."