Rafael Palmeiro tests positive for steroids

WFAN | 08/01/05

[nypokerface]

Just heard this on the radio. This guy went before Congress and denied he took steroids. What was he thinking? He has a year left in career and he doesn't stop using it. This will probably takes him out of the Hall of Fame.

[dead]

[ValenB4]

Because Canseco wasn't given immunity in his testimony, Palmeiro knew that he wouldn't be able to say anything and was, therefore, free to adamently deny everything. It's pretty easy to play to the crowd when the accuser is forced into silence.

[oh8eleven]

Dancing right back to the playoffs!

[GraniteStateConservative]

BUSH KNEW !!!!!!!!!

Raffy gave $4000 to Bush for the 04 campaign, also.

---

Bush Calls With His Best Wishes

By Jorge Arangure Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, July 17, 2005; Page E08

SEATTLE, July 16 -- Rafael Palmeiro's 3,000th hit elicited an unexpected honor: a phone call from President Bush. Palmeiro received a call from the president at approximately 2 p.m. Eastern time. The two spoke for about five minutes.

"It's a great honor," Palmeiro said. "We had a nice conversation. He was very proud for me to reach that milestone."

Palmeiro and Bush have been friends since the 1990s, when the president was owner of the Texas Rangers. Aside from the phone call, Palmeiro and his family were invited to dinner at the White House.

"It was very nice of him to take the time to call me," Palmeiro said. "That means a lot to me."

One part of Palmeiro's historic night won't return with him to Baltimore. The Orioles' first baseman sent the bat he used to record his 3,000th hit to the Hall of Fame. Palmeiro kept every other bit of memorabilia from that night.

[ValenB4]

Obviously not all of his HRs are illegitimate. But its impossible to quantify. Regardless, I don't think he's a Hall of Famer anyway.

[JohnnyZ]

ROFL!

[MinorityRepublican]

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro will be suspended by Major League Baseball for violating the league's steroids policy, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney has confirmed with a league source. Palmeiro, who recently got his 3,000th career hit, was noted for his emotional denial of steroid use before a Congressional panel in March, would be the latest player suspended under the league's new drug policy. The image of Palmeiro taking a sweet swing from the left side of the plate has been replaced in some minds by the sight of him testifying before a House committee investigating steroids in baseball. The hearing included testimony from Jose Canseco, who in his book cited Palmeiro and several other players as steroid users. Palmeiro emphatically denies using the performance-enhancing drug, but the Baltimore Orioles' first baseman can't deny how perceptions have changed. "In my opinion, everyone that plays baseball in this era has been tainted," Palmeiro said during spring training. "Not just the people that he has named in the book, I think this whole era over the last 10, 15 or 20 years has been tainted. Regardless of whether you did or you didn't do anything, this whole era will have that label."

-ESPN

[OrioleFan]

agreed.

[Not A Snowbird]

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball today announced that Rafael Palmeiro of the Baltimore Orioles has been suspended for 10 days, effective today, for violation of Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

This is all MLB.com has to say. A bit cryptic.

[TheOtherOne]

Palmeiro's statement before Congress read as follows: "Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. My name is Rafael Palmeiro and I am a professional baseball player. I'll be brief in my remarks today. Let me start by telling you this: I have never used steroids. Period. I don't know how to say it any more clearly than that. Never. The reference to me in Mr. Canseco's book is absolutely false. I am against the use of steroids. I don't think athletes should use steroids and I don't think our kids should use them. That point of view is one, unfortunately, that is not shared by our former colleague, Jose Canseco. Mr. Canseco is an unashamed advocate for increased steroid use by all athletes."

When do they charge him for lying to Congress?

[Publius Valerius]

Regardless, I don't think he's a Hall of Famer anyway.

3000 hits and 500 home runs. Are you serious?

[GraniteStateConservative]

Bush will pardon him in 2009.

[TheOtherOne]

Bush will pardon him in 2009.

I guess a few years after that he'll be on ESPN with a show called "Sports Stories".

[raccoonradio]

Raffi, Raffi, Raffi, we thought we knew ya...

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

Rafael Palmeiro tests positive for steroids

Are they positive all that Viagra he takes didn't give the test a false reading?

[Tall_Texan]

Would you say the same for Bob Dole?

Dole was worse, IMO. A senate majority leader and presidential candidate should have more sense and discretion than a jock.

It was politcal hari kari.

[Trajan88]

The Os are in melt-down mode - Lee Mazilli and Peter Angelos must really be hot.

Next thing you hear: Sammy will be found corking his bat... AGAIN. No "lumber company" for you Sammy Sooser.

Go Yankees.

Trajan88

[arbusto99]

To be technical, you can't prove that he lied to Congress. He said he hadn't taken them, which could be true. For all we know, he took them for the first time two months ago.

Now, do I THINK he just started? No. But in order to prove he lied, you'd have to have proof that he had taken them prior to testifying. And that would be difficult, short of videotape of him in a Rangers uniform shooting up.

[ValenB4]

Getting to those numbers shouldn't make it automatic in this offensive era. Especially if it turns out he cheated.