Rafael Palmeiro's got pretty big balls for a steroid cheat.

[Neurotik]

@Ellis Dee

I really don’t understand the outcry about steroids, or the HOF issue, or any of it.

Well, I think the steroids issue has more of the “What about the children?” aspect to it. Plus, with their constant reference in Olympic doping scandals, there is a public perception that steroids is serious cheating whereas a spitball and greenies is more cheating in the “wink and a nod” sense - if you get my distinction.

Plus, unlike really any other sport, the baseball Hall of Fame is actually considered hallowed and having someone inducted is considered a relatively serious issue.

[Philster]

The Winstrol that many athletes take is intended for vetinary use. I guess he accidentally backed into a needle when he took his thoroughbred to the race- track doctor.

:eek:

[plnnr]

@jrfranchi

I think he is guilty as hell, but where is the proof he lied to congress?

     Umm, I don't want to dissuade you, I think it would be wonderful if they have enough to charge him with Perjury before Senate or some such crime. 

Just after the Giambi fiasco with no way to get out the contract, I figure the Player Associations lawyers will find several holes in the evidence and prevent charges against him.

In March he testified, under oath, that he had never used steroids. According to the Washington Post today, a source close to the investigation says the the positive test happened in May. Also according to the Post, some forms of steroids remain detectable long after ingestion.

As you might expect, an investigation into whether he lied to Congress has been opened and may be referred to the Justice Department.

[Philster]

Injectable steroids can be detected for 2-4 week easily. I wouldn’t be surpised if it were 4-8 weeks.

[Neurotik]

@Philster

Injectable steroids can be detected for 2-4 week easily. I wouldn’t be surpised if it were 4-8 weeks.

Winstrol can be detected 3 weeks following usage for the oral version and 2 months for the injected version.

[lieu]

@Superdude

And, apparently, did Sandberg’s wife -day in and day out - while Raffy was a Cub.

I hadn’t heard this but a subsequent Google search finds widespread discussion of the accusation.

So right when Palmeiro is caught for an indisgression that’ll probably keep him out of the HoF, the guy who’s wife Palmeiro committed a previous indiscretion with get’s elected into it?

Wow, talk about timely karma bitin’ you on the ass.

[Stringer]

@brianjedi

Blame the players’ union for that one. Bud “Everyone’s Bitch” Selig wants a first offense to be 50 games, a second 100 games and a third a lifetime ban. This might be the high-profile incident that gives him his wish.

Selig spent a decade turning a blind eye to the steroid problem, and only proposed those punishments to keep Congress off his back (since he couldn’t appear soft on substance abuse.) He knew the players’ union would never concede to them, so he got to look like the good guy without the consequences of long-term suspensions.

@The Weird One

Damn, now I have to reconsider my opinion of Selig as one of the great modern asshats.

You don’t have to reconsider a thing. Selig’s asshatery is well-established.

[SlyFrog]

@brickbacon

This guy is fucking unbelievable. But here’s the best part of the article.

President Bush – who owned the Texas Rangers while Palmeiro played for the team – called Palmeiro a friend'' in a round-table interview with reporters from several Texas newspapers. He’s testified in public, and I believe him,’’ Bush added

Fucking priceless.

I don’t know, it seems as though Bush has two types of criminals; the ones who lie publicly and on the national stage that he knows personally and therefore stands behind, and the ones that he doesn’t know and therefore executes.

[RickJay]

@jrfranchi

Joe Jackson was not and “out and out crook”
He hit great and fielded well in the series. He gave back or did not take the money. Pick on Cicotte or someone else from the BlackSox. Shoeless Joe was guilty of not exposing the his friends more than being a crook.

Well, did he give it back or not take it? You seem a little confused there.

I hate to get back into this because we’ve been over it before, but here are the actual facts:

1. Jackson agreed to lose the World Series on purpose.
2. Jackson took $5000 to do so, given to him personally by Chick Gandil, who came to his hotel room in Cincinnati and dropped it on Jackson’s bed. He kept it, and did not give it back.
3. We know these things because Jackson said so, in court, under oath, and others corroborated his testimony.

Those are simply not disputable facts. He participated in the Series fix and he took money. When he did not get more money he actually bitched about it because he felt he was owed more.

That he hit .375 in the Series - though curiously he didn’t hit so well in the games the Black Sox were actually trying to throw - is irrelevant (I see no reason to think his fielding was spectacular, and in fact some have claimed he did not hustle.) But his fielding’s irrelevant too. He took the money, took part in the conspiracy, and so he cannot be trusted.

To bring this back to Palmiero, same problem. Some have argued that there’s little evidence steroids help baseball players. I happen to agree that the evidence isn’t clear that steroids do help you hit home runs, or hit in general. But frankly, it doesn’t matter if the 'roids helped Palmiero hit one homer or a hundred homers; the problem he faces is that his integrity’s shot.

(I should stress that I don’t think 'roiding is on the same level as throwing games for money.)

[What_Exit]

@RickJay

Well, did he give it back or not take it? You seem a little confused there.

I hate to get back into this because we’ve been over it before, but here are the actual facts:

1. Jackson agreed to lose the World Series on purpose.
2. Jackson took $5000 to do so, given to him personally by Chick Gandil, who came to his hotel room in Cincinnati and dropped it on Jackson’s bed. He kept it, and did not give it back.
3. We know these things because Jackson said so, in court, under oath, and others corroborated his testimony.

Those are simply not disputable facts. He participated in the Series fix and he took money. When he did not get more money he actually bitched about it because he felt he was owed more.

That he hit .375 in the Series - though curiously he didn’t hit so well in the games the Black Sox were actually trying to throw - is irrelevant (I see no reason to think his fielding was spectacular, and in fact some have claimed he did not hustle.) But his fielding’s irrelevant too. He took the money, took part in the conspiracy, and so he cannot be trusted.
…

I hate to get into this but:
They disagree with you: http://www.chicagohs.org/history/blacksox/joe.html
Here’s his confession: http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/blacksox/shoelessjoe.pdf
I just read through the 29 pages and you’re right. He is an admitted crook. This is what I love about this board and the power of Google. I just had a lifelong belief smashed to pieces. :eek:
I left my first finding in as I found it first and was planning to site it as a counter to your argument. :smack:

[Superdude]

@lieu

I hadn’t heard this but a subsequent Google search finds widespread discussion of the accusation.

So right when Palmeiro is caught for an indisgression that’ll probably keep him out of the HoF, the guy who’s wife Palmeiro committed a previous indiscretion with get’s elected into it?

Wow, talk about timely karma bitin’ you on the ass.

My understanding is that his “acheivements off the field” caused Sandberg to say, “either he goes or I do.” Since the Cubs had Mark Grace also, they traded Palmeiro.