The significance of Rafael Palmeiro

[CEDeoudes59]

The significance of Rafael Palmeiro with the average guy.

Just last week, Baltimore Orioles’ first basemen and community legend Rafael Palmeiro tested positive for the steroidal compound known as Winstrol (stanazol). Most people were shocked that Mr. Palmeiro tested positive after his testimony before Congress. Predictably, that which followed, was the typical media character assassination of Palmeiro. Within an hour, he was declared a liar, cheater, juicehead and bad person. All of his accomplishments were either put into question or completely dismissed in the minds of the media elite.

Now, never mind Palmeiro’s impressive (hall of fame) major league baseball career.

Never mind Palmeiro’s contributions to the communities of Arlington and Baltimore.

Never mind his larger than life legacy and hope he brings the children who are enslaved in Cuba by the ultra-liberal Fidel Castro.

And Never mind Rafael Palmeiro’s highly active role in the Make-A-Wish Foundation for underprivileged children.

Palmeiro is a cheater and a liar.

We must thank the media watchdog for setting the story straight after all these years of believing Palmeiro was in fact, ‘a good person’ when behind closed doors he was a roid-raging psychopath.

That sits just dandy with the pencil-necks in Congress, the meekly paid muck-rakers in journalism, and the testosterone-void girlie men who have never been to a baseball game.

But maybe…

Just maybe your average guy might think to himself and for himself and say: Wait, maybe steroids aren’t for bad people? Rafael Palmeiro isn’t a bad guy. No way – I don’t care what Michael Wilbon says.

I can’t defend Palmeiro’s treason. But I can defend him as a human being.

Steroids were designated as a class three narcotic as part of legislation in the 1990s. The United States government treats them along the lines with hardcore narcotics such as cocaine, morphine and heroin. Based on absolutely no data, a senator from Wisconsin determined (in 2005) that 1 of every 6 male high school students has either experimented with steroids or is currently using them. Based on the perception of steroids, certainly 1 in 6 high school students will be dropping dead shortly. Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling estimated over 60% of all major league baseball players were taking steroids and had been since the mid 80s. Based on the perception of steroids, any day now, we should expect over 60% of the players in the 1980s era to crumble up and die.

Yet, to date, there has not been a single death directly linked to steroid use or even steroid abuse.

The perception still remains that ‘steroids are for bad people’.

Now, either Mr. Palmeiro is in-fact a bad person.

Or the anti-steroid hype is incorrect and Rafael Palmeiro isn’t a bad person.

Back in the year 2000 when Schilling valiantly first brought the steroid issue to the forefront, I named two names of players that I guaranteed used anabolics. Matt Williams and Jay Bell of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Bell hit nearly 40 homeruns in 1999 and Williams hit 35 homeruns along his 142 RBIs. I told one of my best friends’ and future ivy-league graduate of my postulate. He reaped the benefits of Bell and Williams on his Smallworld fantasy baseball team the year before. He dismissed my charges simply by saying, “Matt Williams is not a bad person. There is no chance.”

Still to this day, mainly because of media misinformation and lies, steroid use assumes negative character traits.

But I believe with the recent ‘bust’ of Rafael Palmeiro, your average guy isn’t about to throw Palmeiro and his career in the toilet with the likes of a cocaine, methamphetamine, and steroid abuser like Ken Caminiti.

They aren’t about to add Palmeiro to the list of ‘bad people’.

The ‘shock’ that American golden boy Mark McGwire ‘may have’ used steroids in his record setting campaign should be another sledgehammer to the perception that anabolics are only for bad people. I don’t believe anyone considers McGwire a bad person.

A cheater? Depends on what your definition is.

I’m no liberal, but the media has given McGwire a free pass because he is white and considered ‘a good person’. No one in the media has pursued Mcgwire beyond the congressional hearing.

The targets have been Balco bad boys: Bonds, Giambi and Sheffield. In that order. None of the three had a particularly shinning image before the media onslaught. Certainly they fit the description of bad guys and steroids.

Rafael Palmeiro, in my opinion, breaks this stereotype down.

He was not born in America but he is one of us.

I believe your average person is starting to realize how widespread steroid use really is.

If one assumes this to be true – perhaps he too is assuming that the dangers in responsible steroid use are highly exaggerated.

I believe the smoke is beginning to clear – albeit slowly.

Trust your instincts and not the government.

Remember the same government swore there were weapons of mass destruction pointed at your house.

[CEDeoudes59]

average guys using steroids? not just psychopaths...
no way.

[Matthew D]

Nice piece of writing there CED

[CEDeoudes59]

i liked it, i didn't write it though!

[Beelzebub]

good read. where'd you find it?

[Nullifidian]

It's a good read, but I have a strong feeling the average Joe is FAR more likely to think something like this:

"Wow, Palmeiro used to be such a good guy, why'd he go and become such a scumbag and use steroids? Oh well, he's a piece of **** now as far as I'm concerned because everyone knows steroids are the devil. Now I'll get back to eating this Big Mac, smoking this pack of Camels, and drinking this Coors Light."

[ShadowOne]

I don't think people are generally thinking, "oh, steroids are bad for your health so anyone who takes them is a 'bad' person." I believe athletes who use steroids aren't trashed simply for steroid use in and of itself, but typically are trashed for the lack of integrity aspect in knowingly breaking the rules of his/her sport.

[AldrichAStern]

There is a definite difference between using steroids for recreational/cosmetic use, and using it deceitfully to get ahead of someone in competition... The latter makes someone a cheater. I cannot believe that the argue article uses that face that the media overhyes the dangers of steroids as a point for people like Palmeiro, Bonds, and McGuire. That has nothing to do with the issue of ethical integrity.

[David Dunn]

Maybe OT, but I can't quite seem to get out of my mind the fact that Giambi (and Canseco) is the only one that has admitted using. Mistakes, poor judgement, cheating or lying. The character of the man is in the way he responds when found out. I have issue with Palmeiro beyond the use of AAS. Giambi has been able to make some of us see beyond his AAS issue. JMHO. Go Yankees!

[Iron Warrior]

Very good piece of work. I'm forwarding that in an e-mail to everyone I know. BTW, I like how the media seems to forget all the charitable work he has done.

[CEDeoudes59]

Okay, I'll step up...

I wrote it...

I thought some of the political rhetoric might have been over the top, so I didn't want to offend anyone.

thanks for your comments!
D59

[kwyckemynd00]

Okay, I'll step up...

I wrote it...

I thought some of the political rhetoric might have been over the top, so I didn't want to offend anyone.

thanks for your comments!
D59

I knew you wrote it after I read this: "I’m no liberal, but the media has given McGwire a free pass because he is white and considered ‘a good person’. No one in the media has pursued Mcgwire beyond the congressional hearing."

Great postin'

[Watcher]

Wow, what an awesome write up!!! There were so many great points made in there!!

[CEDeoudes59]

I knew you wrote it after I read this: "I’m no liberal, but the media has given McGwire a free pass because he is white and considered ‘a good person’. No one in the media has pursued Mcgwire beyond the congressional hearing."

Great postin'

thanks everyone, thanks kwycke
I can put together decent sentences so long as I have spell check and time

whoops I have a grammar mistake in that paragraph...

[natedogg]

thanks everyone, thanks kwycke
I can put together decent sentences so long as I have spell check and time

whoops I have a grammar mistake in that paragraph...

Good write up. No wonder you have a D in English, you were too busy writing this. Get back to work!!!

[CEDeoudes59]

crap i just deleted it!
ill repost.

[CEDeoudes59]

If one assumes this to be true – perhaps he too is assuming that the dangers in responsible steroid use are highly exaggerated.

Exaggerated just like the dangers of marijuana. I’m sure you’ve seen the commercials that seemingly link marijuana to auto accidents, crimes and death.


this was for my friends in our fantasy baseball league, which im in 2nd - not 6th like the AM league - some of them are/were your typical drinking/smoking former frat types. I think they can begin to relate. its baby steps if nothing else
with that said, most of the population has no business even considering steroid use

[Mass_69]

Very good writing/read, indeed. You had me with the exception of "the media has given McGwire a free pass because he is white and considered ‘a good person’. No one in the media has pursued Mcgwire beyond the congressional hearing."

I think Big Mac was the primary "target" in the Congressional Witch-Hunt, and the media & MLB gave him the shaft. I could care less what he was taking during '98, MLB owes him & Sosa for restoring "America's Past Time." It was sad to see the man that carried the sport on his shoulders after the last strike have to cowar with his tail between his legs as he's surrounded by pitch-forks and torches. Just another victim of the Anti-Testosterone, p*ssy attitude that's shoved down our throats everyday on the television, radio, & newspaper.

But back to Palmeiro, I still think something smells fishy about these test results. Maybe my judgement is clouded as I have been a Palmeiro fan since 1990 (he should have won the MVP in '99, damnit!). I just find it very hard to believe that he would test positive for Winny. I myself have never taken Winstrol, but I know that it is one of the easiest roids to detect in a test. I would think that after the implementation of a tougher testing policy and risk of public knowledge, it would be outright crazy for someone, that has been finger-pointed as a user and under the spotlight of Congress, to use something like Winny...

Just my opinion.

[CEDeoudes59]

good points, I believe the media worked with McGwire on the andro 'story'. Bonds had already broken Macs record for the **** hit the fan so to speak. Mark McGwire was called before congress after 2-3 years of retirement mainly because Jose Canseco is a big mouth.

i guess my point is, Bonds' record was more in question - and McGwire former record sort of slid under the rug.

[CEDeoudes59]

for those who don't know: Canseco believes Mark McGwire planted the bottle of andro in his locker. Staged an interview, let the media find it, and apoligized for it. This totally diverted the subject of steroids.

And it worked.

I told my friends, McGwire used steroids - they said, no he used andro. McGwire was very smart if that's the truth, actually he's very smart regardless to deflect the question. He always used the media to his advantage. Either way, he's not a bad guy.

when people ask me, "hey man, your huge, what are you doing?"

they actually mean, "hey man, your huge, what are you taking?"

if I just give them a 1 or 2 word answer, and name a dietary supplement - the entire issue is resolved.