McNamee hired at Baseball Plus in Freeport

Brian McNamee, the government's star witness in the Roger Clemens perjury trial, has been hired as the general manager and head trainer of Baseball Plus, a baseball training complex in Freeport, according to owner Steve Diamond. It is McNamee's first job in the sports fitness field since the Mitchell Report was published in December 2007.

McNamee, who was Clemens' personal trainer and testified before Congress three years ago that he injected the former Yankees pitcher with steroids and human growth hormone, was hired last week.

Seated behind a desk in his new office Thursday night, McNamee said he was "shocked" when he received the job offer. He described his search for work as an athletic trainer these last few years as "tough," saying people too often "wanted to see me, meet me, talk to me, but obviously couldn't hire me."

The former strength coach for the Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays said he worried "every day" that he wouldn't get another job because of his past, but he insisted he never blamed those who kept turning him away. He said if he was an employer, he probably would have done the same.

"Who wants that on their business?" he said. "It's my own fault."

Diamond said he hired McNamee because he proved he was qualified during several free clinics for kids in recent months.

"Occasionally you'll get someone saying, 'Why him?' " Diamond said, "and I just say he's got great skills."

Clemens is facing charges of perjury, making false statements and obstruction of Congress. The trial is scheduled to resume in April. McNamee declined to comment regarding Clemens, citing the judge's gag order in the case.

But if the subject of steroids comes up with the people he trains, McNamee said he will not shy away from talking about his past. "I made mistakes and I learned from them," he said. "I think it's a valuable lesson and I'd rather give my experiences to help people than not."

McNamee said his salary at the gym will be based on a percentage of the revenue that he produces as a trainer.

"I don't mind that," McNamee said. "I wish Major League Baseball and professional sports were like that. If you produce, you get paid."