What a shame is all I can say about this. Here is a guy that was on a list with only four other guys and now we know how he did it....with steroids. The excuses that come out of his mouth are not even close to believable. He should never, ever make it into the hall of fame now, even though before this he was a lock to enter. He now joins the list of asshole steroid users who are ruining the game of baseball.
Published - Aug 02 2005 10:15AM EDT || AP
When Rafael Palmeiro became the fourth player in major league history to collect 3,000 hits and 500 home runs, his status as a future member of the Hall of Fame seemed somewhat secure. That topic is again open for discussion, along with a new one: Palmeiro's credibility.
Five months after telling Congress he never used steroids, Palmeiro on Monday received a 10-day suspension from Major League Baseball after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
The players' association challenged the positive test in secret proceedings, and the penalty was held in abeyance until arbitrator Shyam Das decided Monday not to overturn it.
No longer able to deny using steroids, Palmeiro insisted he ingested a banned substance by accident.
"When I testified in front of Congress, I know that I was testifying under oath and I told the truth," the Baltimore Orioles' first baseman said during a telephone conference call. "Today I am telling the truth again that I did not do this intentionally or knowingly."
Palmeiro's peers could only hope he was being honest.
"I don't know what he's been taking, but personally I don't think he's taken anything illegally," Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle said. "I don't think he's ever taken steroids or anything illegally to help himself to play."
That opinion was shared by White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.
"It's a shame," Guillen said. "If he did it, and a mistake was made, I don't have anything bad to say about Raffy. Raffy's a great player."
Certainly, the numbers Palmeiro has put up are a testament to his greatness. On July 15, he joined Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray as the only players with 3,000 hits and 500 homers.
Published - Aug 02 2005 10:15AM EDT || AP
When Rafael Palmeiro became the fourth player in major league history to collect 3,000 hits and 500 home runs, his status as a future member of the Hall of Fame seemed somewhat secure. That topic is again open for discussion, along with a new one: Palmeiro's credibility.
Five months after telling Congress he never used steroids, Palmeiro on Monday received a 10-day suspension from Major League Baseball after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
The players' association challenged the positive test in secret proceedings, and the penalty was held in abeyance until arbitrator Shyam Das decided Monday not to overturn it.
No longer able to deny using steroids, Palmeiro insisted he ingested a banned substance by accident.
"When I testified in front of Congress, I know that I was testifying under oath and I told the truth," the Baltimore Orioles' first baseman said during a telephone conference call. "Today I am telling the truth again that I did not do this intentionally or knowingly."
Palmeiro's peers could only hope he was being honest.
"I don't know what he's been taking, but personally I don't think he's taken anything illegally," Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle said. "I don't think he's ever taken steroids or anything illegally to help himself to play."
That opinion was shared by White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.
"It's a shame," Guillen said. "If he did it, and a mistake was made, I don't have anything bad to say about Raffy. Raffy's a great player."
Certainly, the numbers Palmeiro has put up are a testament to his greatness. On July 15, he joined Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray as the only players with 3,000 hits and 500 homers.