Looks like things are going pretty well for Jose Canseco these
days. Not so much for his ex-buddy Rafael Palmeiro, who became the
most high-profile athlete in baseball to receive a suspension for
violating MLB’s steroid policy on Monday.
Looks like things are going pretty well for Jose Canseco these days. Not so much for his ex-buddy Rafael Palmeiro, who became the most high-profile athlete in baseball to receive a suspension for violating MLB’s steroid policy on Monday.
In his book, which I’m seriously considering reading given these new developments, Canseco alleges that he turned Palmeiro on to steroids when the two became teammates in Texas in the 90’s.
I have to admit, when I watched Palmeiro, along with a host of past and present baseball greats, speak before that congressional panel on the steroid problem in March, I was impressed with the way the Orioles’ first baseman handled himself. While Mark McGwire came off like a total clown, Palmeiro looked pretty convincing as he firmly pointed his finger at those members of Congress and said, “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.”
Whoops.
Raffy’s drug test came back dirty, that much we know for sure. Now the question is: Do we buy Palmeiro’s assertion that he “unknowingly” took steroids?
I love this defense. If there’s anybody out there who believes that a professional athlete, one who has been in the game for 20 years, doesn’t know exactly what is going into his body at all times, give me a call. I’ve got a 20-year old sports car that I’d love to sell you. It’s got 140,000 miles on it but it runs like it’s brand new, really.
Wait a minute. It looks like there is somebody out there willing to give Palmeiro the benefit of the doubt. President George Bush, one-time owner of the Texas Rangers, wasted no time in coming to his old pal’s defense.
“Rafael Palmeiro is a friend. He testified in public and I believe him.”
Well, if he testified in PUBLIC… guess you can’t argue with that. We all know that politicians and athletes alike never tell lies. Maybe Bush is right. Forget that 10-game suspension and continue keeping Palmeiro’s seat in Cooperstown warm until he’s eligible. It’s also probably best not to ponder Palmeiro’s statistical spike shortly after the arrival of Canseco in Texas.
I mean, the guy says he didn’t do it (intentionally) and the president believes him. What more do you want?
Also:
Former Colorado Avalanche center Peter Forsberg, one of the best players in the game today, just signed a deal with Philadelphia to become the second high-profile player to leave my favorite team in 48 hours.
It’s official, I’m beginning to hate hockey.
Joshua Staloch is the sports editor at the Hollister Free Lance. E-mail him at js******@fr***********.com
