Brian McNamee was in the Long Island office he works in when word came over CNN that the government would indict Roger Clemens for perjury.

The entire office began clapping, and for the first time in 2 1/2 years, McNamee could breathe a little bit easier.

"I've told the truth all along," McNamee told the Daily News Thursday night. "It was an unfortunate situation, but I just told the truth."

Thursday's development was a long way from May of 2007, when McNamee's world was officially turned upside down. Right in the middle of Clemens' '07 return to the Yankees, while McNamee was helping the Rocket train in Lexington, Ky., McNamee received a call from then-IRS agent Jeff Novitzky while shopping at Dick's Sporting Goods.

It was the beginning of McNamee's involvement with the government's sprawling steroid probe. Over the rest of 2007, McNamee met with former senator George Mitchell's investigators three times in connection with Mitchell's own investigation into performance-enhancing drug use in baseball. The Mitchell Report triggered a congressional hearing and Thursday's indictment.

Mark Paoletta, who was part of McNamee's legal team leading up to the February 2008 congressional appearance, told The News Thursday that McNamee's testimony went a long way toward bolstering his credibility.

"For Brian, to get him ready to testify, it was important to walk him through his story, grill him on his recollections, and make sure he was credible. Before the committee, Brian stayed focused on the relevant events involving Roger Clemens - most importantly when and how he injected Clemens - and gave clear and crisp answers," said Paoletta. "Brian stepped up to the challenge, did a great job. And that's why he is not facing a perjury indictment."

McNamee praised his lawyers' work, telling The News, "My attorneys did their due diligence all along. They're doing it the right way."

The personal toll on McNamee, however, has been vast. The legal bills to defend a defamation suit Clemens filed against him in January of 2008 have mounted and he has had trouble finding work as a trainer. He recently began working in a Long Island office.

"Brian told the truth. He did what he was supposed to do, and he went through hell for it," said McNamee's friend Kirk Radomski, the former Mets clubhouse attendant who supplied steroids to ballplayers.

Radomski said McNamee angered investigators by holding back information about Clemens in a misguided attempt to protect his former client. Clemens, Radomski said, repaid the favor by sending private detectives to dig up dirt on McNamee and attacking him in interviews as unstable.

"People say he was a rat, but he tried to protect Clemens," Radomski added. "He wasn't going to lie for Clemens and risk going to jail, but he wasn't going to tell them everything he knew until Clemens attacked him. I'm glad for Brian. He can get on with his life. It's been very difficult for him to have this hanging over his head."

Brian McNamee was in the Long Island office he works in when word came over CNN that the government would indict Roger Clemens for perjury.

The entire office began clapping, and for the first time in 2 1/2 years, McNamee could breathe a little bit easier.

"I've told the truth all along," McNamee told the Daily News Thursday night. "It was an unfortunate situation, but I just told the truth."

Thursday's development was a long way from May of 2007, when McNamee's world was officially turned upside down. Right in the middle of Clemens' '07 return to the Yankees, while McNamee was helping the Rocket train in Lexington, Ky., McNamee received a call from then-IRS agent Jeff Novitzky while shopping at Dick's Sporting Goods.

It was the beginning of McNamee's involvement with the government's sprawling steroid probe. Over the rest of 2007, McNamee met with former senator George Mitchell's investigators three times in connection with Mitchell's own investigation into performance-enhancing drug use in baseball. The Mitchell Report triggered a congressional hearing and Thursday's indictment.

Mark Paoletta, who was part of McNamee's legal team leading up to the February 2008 congressional appearance, told The News Thursday that McNamee's testimony went a long way toward bolstering his credibility.

"For Brian, to get him ready to testify, it was important to walk him through his story, grill him on his recollections, and make sure he was credible. Before the committee, Brian stayed focused on the relevant events involving Roger Clemens - most importantly when and how he injected Clemens - and gave clear and crisp answers," said Paoletta. "Brian stepped up to the challenge, did a great job. And that's why he is not facing a perjury indictment."

McNamee praised his lawyers' work, telling The News, "My attorneys did their due diligence all along. They're doing it the right way."

The personal toll on McNamee, however, has been vast. The legal bills to defend a defamation suit Clemens filed against him in January of 2008 have mounted and he has had trouble finding work as a trainer. He recently began working in a Long Island office.

"Brian told the truth. He did what he was supposed to do, and he went through hell for it," said McNamee's friend Kirk Radomski, the former Mets clubhouse attendant who supplied steroids to ballplayers.

Radomski said McNamee angered investigators by holding back information about Clemens in a misguided attempt to protect his former client. Clemens, Radomski said, repaid the favor by sending private detectives to dig up dirt on McNamee and attacking him in interviews as unstable.

"People say he was a rat, but he tried to protect Clemens," Radomski added. "He wasn't going to lie for Clemens and risk going to jail, but he wasn't going to tell them everything he knew until Clemens attacked him. I'm glad for Brian. He can get on with his life. It's been very difficult for him to have this hanging over his head."

UFC veteran and current Bellator lightweight Roger Huerta beat down a man during a weekend street fight in Austin, Texas after the man sucker punched a woman during a scuffle.

In a video released by TMZ, Huerta confronts the man for knocking the woman down with a punch to the head and ends with Huerta leaving the man beaten on the ground.

No charges have been filed.

UFC veteran and current Bellator lightweight Roger Huerta beat down a man during a weekend street fight in Austin, Texas after the man sucker punched a woman during a scuffle.

In a video released by TMZ, Huerta confronts the man for knocking the woman down with a punch to the head and ends with Huerta leaving the man beaten on the ground.

No charges have been filed.

Roger Federer defeated Andy Murray to win the Australian Open today for his record 16th major title, extending Britain’s 74-year wait for a men’s Grand Slam champion.

The top-seeded Swiss won his fourth Australian Open crown, beating the fifth-seeded Murray 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11) at Melbourne Park. Federer saved five set points in the last set before overcoming Murray.

“I’m over the moon winning this again,” Federer said after accepting the championship trophy. “It’s also very special, the first Grand Slam as a father.”

Federer becomes the fifth man to win at least four titles at the season’s first major. Australian Roy Emerson won six titles at his home Grand Slam in the 1960s. American Andre Agassi and Australians Ken Rosewall and Jack Crawford won four each.

The 28-year-old Federer had 46 winners and 42 unforced errors in the match. Murray had 29 winners and 36 unforced errors.

Murray hit a backhand into the net to end the match. Federer screamed “YEAH!” and thrust his arms in the air.

Federer had two service breaks in a sweaty first set played in 76 percent humidity. The roof over Rod Laver Arena was mostly closed because the forecast called for showers.

Federer broke Murray’s serve in the third game of the second set and had little trouble on his own serve, ending the set with a forehand volley winner.

Murray, rubbing his right leg after points early in the third set, took a 5-2 lead before Federer responded by winning three straight games and eventually forcing a tiebreaker.

Recovery

A year ago, Federer was reduced to tears in Melbourne following his five-set loss to Rafael Nadal in the 2009 final.

“I can cry like Roger,” Murray said at the trophy ceremony, becoming emotional. “It’s just a shame I can’t play like him.”

Murray, 22, was trying to become the first British man to win one of the sport’s four major championships since Fred Perry captured the U.S. National Championships in 1936.

“I got great support back home the past couple of weeks,” Murray said. “Sorry I couldn’t do it for you tonight.”

The victory earned Federer A$2.1 million ($1.86 million). Murray takes home half of that in defeat.

Today’s win is Federer’s first major title since becoming a father. After breaking Pete Sampras’s record by winning his 15th major last July at Wimbledon, Federer became the father of twin girls with his wife, Mirka.

Federer’s path to the final wasn’t easy. It took him four sets against Igor Andreev of Russia to reach the second round, the first time in the last 25 Grand Slam openers he hadn’t won in straight sets.

In the quarterfinals, Federer fought back from a set and a break down to overcome Nikolay Davydenko of Russia.

Murray dropped only one set in six matches leading up to the final. He lost the first set to Croatia’s Marin Cilic in the semifinals.

Murray came into the final with a 6-4 career mark against Federer. The only time they had met in a Grand Slam tournament was at the 2008 U.S. Open, where Federer won in straight sets.

Roger Federer defeated Andy Murray to win the Australian Open today for his record 16th major title, extending Britain’s 74-year wait for a men’s Grand Slam champion.

The top-seeded Swiss won his fourth Australian Open crown, beating the fifth-seeded Murray 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11) at Melbourne Park. Federer saved five set points in the last set before overcoming Murray.

“I’m over the moon winning this again,” Federer said after accepting the championship trophy. “It’s also very special, the first Grand Slam as a father.”

Federer becomes the fifth man to win at least four titles at the season’s first major. Australian Roy Emerson won six titles at his home Grand Slam in the 1960s. American Andre Agassi and Australians Ken Rosewall and Jack Crawford won four each.

The 28-year-old Federer had 46 winners and 42 unforced errors in the match. Murray had 29 winners and 36 unforced errors.

Murray hit a backhand into the net to end the match. Federer screamed “YEAH!” and thrust his arms in the air.

Federer had two service breaks in a sweaty first set played in 76 percent humidity. The roof over Rod Laver Arena was mostly closed because the forecast called for showers.

Federer broke Murray’s serve in the third game of the second set and had little trouble on his own serve, ending the set with a forehand volley winner.

Murray, rubbing his right leg after points early in the third set, took a 5-2 lead before Federer responded by winning three straight games and eventually forcing a tiebreaker.

Recovery

A year ago, Federer was reduced to tears in Melbourne following his five-set loss to Rafael Nadal in the 2009 final.

“I can cry like Roger,” Murray said at the trophy ceremony, becoming emotional. “It’s just a shame I can’t play like him.”

Murray, 22, was trying to become the first British man to win one of the sport’s four major championships since Fred Perry captured the U.S. National Championships in 1936.

“I got great support back home the past couple of weeks,” Murray said. “Sorry I couldn’t do it for you tonight.”

The victory earned Federer A$2.1 million ($1.86 million). Murray takes home half of that in defeat.

Today’s win is Federer’s first major title since becoming a father. After breaking Pete Sampras’s record by winning his 15th major last July at Wimbledon, Federer became the father of twin girls with his wife, Mirka.

Federer’s path to the final wasn’t easy. It took him four sets against Igor Andreev of Russia to reach the second round, the first time in the last 25 Grand Slam openers he hadn’t won in straight sets.

In the quarterfinals, Federer fought back from a set and a break down to overcome Nikolay Davydenko of Russia.

Murray dropped only one set in six matches leading up to the final. He lost the first set to Croatia’s Marin Cilic in the semifinals.

Murray came into the final with a 6-4 career mark against Federer. The only time they had met in a Grand Slam tournament was at the 2008 U.S. Open, where Federer won in straight sets.