Palmeiro suspended

[Phlegm]

Rafael Palmeiro suspended for 10 games after testing positive for banned substance.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2121659

[Xaiveir]

Hmmmmm

Congratulations on getting your 3,000 hit, we have a shrine in Cooperstowne waiting for you...............wait a minute....what is this in your pee?!?!?!?!?!

[The Kizzy]

I don't think that he shouldg et that shrine if he tested positive. All of his accomplishments weren't directly from hard work and sweat, it was because he took a drug to make him better. He should get fired if you ask me.

[Phlegm]

He should get fired if you ask me.

Sorry, he unionized.

[The Kizzy]

So what is the message we are sending out to kids? It's okay to make millions through a lie as long as you are in a union? Thats ridiculous. Perhaps his union should have stricter guidelines.

[Phlegm]

I guess you never try to fire someone who is in a union regardless of the profession.

[The Kizzy]

Even if they are doing something illegal?
They can fire them, even if they are in a union, they just need tohave a sit down. I've been fired from a union job before. It was about 10 years ago though.

[Phlegm]

The process of firing someone who is in a union is a long and frustrating one.

[Xaiveir]

Palmiero is denying that he every intentionally used steroids.

[The Kizzy]

Oh, I slipped, tripped and that syringe full of steroids accidently found its way into a vein.

[Xaiveir]

There is alot more ways of taking a steroid than just a syringe.

[The Kizzy]

yes, yes I know. Its called making a funny. I made one. hehe.

I have lost respect for this player.

Let me ask you a question X, do you or have you ever taken steroids? If the answer is truly no, then doesn't it bother you? You are pretty good at baseball yes? And a pretty big guy?

[Xaiveir]

I know, i was laughing....i meant to add a smiley face after my last post.

There is 2 for good measure.

Now have I lost respect ......not yet. There are alot of legal substances out there that can test you possitive for steroids. Depending on the findings of the investigation, will determine how i feel about Palmiero. If indeed there is no doubt that it was steroids, yes i will lose alot of respect for him.

Personally i have never ever ever ever taken steroids (let alone never tried weed, coke etc). My belief was if you cannot do it naturally (play baseball), then dont fucking play. Ive had steroids offered to me when i played in California, but i didnt need/want them. My playing weight when i was a professional was 210 at 6'2. I had a crazy work out schedule, and spent countless hours in the batting cages and fielding drills to get where i was. The only "substance" i took in baseball was Flintstones Chewable Vitamins (still do! ).

I believe steroids do less for baseball than any sport, but that doesnt mean they are acceptable. Its a shame the generation of baseball that i grew up with is going to be known as the steroid generation.

It bothers me a great deal about Palmiero especially because of the way his career has gone. But im not going to jump on anyones case until it truly is known if it was steroids (again there are other things that will cause you to test positive for steroids). As it stands right now, i dont think he actually took steroids.

Now after the investigation, if it turns out he did yeah i dont think he should go to the hall.

[Xaiveir]

Thank you very much for joining me on this call today. I am saddened that we are here to address this issue, but because of the importance of it, I feel the need to make a brief statement and address your questions. At the outset, let me say that under the rules of the basic agreement and the order of the independent arbitrator, there is an order of confidentiality governing the specifics of this case. I will attempt to state as much as I can and be as forthright as possible, but there will be issues I can't address based on orders imposed on me by the basic agreement and the arbitration process.

I am here to make it very clear that I have never intentionally used steroids. Never. Ever. Period.

When I found out that I failed a test under the new drug policy, I filed a grievance and challenged the suspension on the basis that I have never intentionally taken a banned substance. Ultimately, although I never intentionally put a banned substance into my body - the independent arbitrator ruled that I had to be suspended under the terms of the program.

I am sure you will ask how I tested positive for a banned substance. As I look back, I don't have a specific answer to give. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to explain to the arbitrator how the banned substance entered my body. The arbitrator did not find that I used a banned substance intentionally - in fact, he said he found my testimony to be compelling - but he ruled that I could not meet the heavy burden imposed on players who test positive under the new drug policy.

I accept this punishment and want to address it publicly. I want to apologize to MLB, the Baltimore Orioles organization, my teammates, and most of all, my fans. Given my role with the No Tolerance Committee and my relationships with Congress, I feel the need to communicate a serious message to my fellow players and to kids everywhere. All of us have to be responsible and exercise extreme care in what we put in our body. I hope that all MLB players and kids will learn from what has happened to me. I have never intentionally used a banned substance, but I unfortunately wasn't careful enough.

I take my role as a professional athlete seriously. I love baseball and have great respect for all of the players who played before me. I have always done my best to live each day in ways that would make my family proud. Everything I have accomplished is the result of hard work and dedication to being the best possible player I can be.

I feel terrible that this has happened, but I think there is something to be gained from it. If my situation results in the education of current and future players about the dangers of taking anything without a prescription from a licensed physician -- that is a positive. At the end of the day, it is important for all players to understand the risk of contamination and to be very careful about what they put in their body.

This suspension is going to be incredibly difficult for me, my wife and my 2 boys. Over the next week and a half, I am going to spend time with my family. I am going to come back and will be as determined as ever to help the Orioles win this pennant race that we are in. We have worked very hard to be in a position to bring our fans a title, and I will not let this be a distraction.

Finally, I would like to thank Commissioner Selig and Mr. Angelos for their strong words of encouragement. I had the opportunity to speak with both of them and I am extremely appreciative of their support and friendship.

Statement from Peter Angelos
Orioles Owner

I am truly saddened by today's events. I have known Rafael Palmeiro for many years. He is a fine person, a great player and a true asset to his community. I know from personal experience that his accomplishments are due to hard work and his dedication to the game.

I know that Rafael will accept the penalty under Baseball's important Drug Policy and that he will return to be a productive member of the Orioles.

Statement from Mike Flanagan
Orioles Vice President/Baseball Operations

I am obviously disappointed to hear the news of this suspension. Raffy has been a friend of mine for many years. He is one of the most dedicated and hard-working players in baseball. I know he would not violate the rules intentionally. I look forward to his return. We will surely miss him and his contribution to the club.

[Tadpole]

On the same day Palmeiro is suspended Bonds says he will not be playing in the 2005 season...I know they do different drug tests, but isn't this a coincidence.

Maybe he wasn't really injured this season, maybe it was something else that had to get out of his system...

[Arlos]

Bonds has already been tested this season, earlier on, and passed.

-Arlos

[Harrison]

I could give two shits less if entertainers (what I consider pro sports players) take steroids as long as I am entertained.

[Mop]

for once i agree with harrison that being said lets clear a few things up, now dont get me wrong I do believe he took steriods- I don't care and you think because Barry bonds took roids kids will ? are you on a fucking crusade against Linsdey Lohans of the world being rail thin and doing cocain?

back to my point:

Banned substance could be lots of things, actually the protien powder I use sold in Gnc has 2 banned substances according to MLB . they are not steriods. More often than not it's players not knowing what is in the supplement package ( protien/energy bars, protien drinks, energy drinks, ect. ) that gets them in the most trouble. Don't get me wrong for 5 million a year I wouldnt even drink coffee to make sure my shit was strait but regaurdless there are many ways to fail that test. he actually failed the test in April..that is how long this has been dragged out and how much MLB and MLBPA believe him that he did not take steriods.

Along with that this has been since the begining of the season, the Arbitrator believe's him but he still has to serve the suspension -- the fucking lawyer that is suspending him thinks that he did not take steriods. Due to the rules he still has to serve a suspension.


in closing Kizzy you are an idiot.

[Lyion]

Bonds has already been tested this season, earlier on, and passed.

It's easy to test and pass if you aren't playing. Bonds is a roids puppy, through and through.
In his defense, many, many other players were roid bandits and it was the norm.

The situation with Palmiero is a bit comical. If you make 10 million a year and just went to a congressional hearing talking about controlled substances after being implicated, you should be smart enough to realize what you can and cannot put in your body. Was it a very iffy deal? Sure. Was it completely his fault for not paying attention to what he is putting in his body? Yep.

If young players believe roids are a ticket to the millions and MLB then they'll take it in a heartbeat. It was in the past and they're trying to address it now, which is a smart thing to do since baseball has become tarnished.

[The Kizzy]

I don't like Lindsay Lohan either.

[The Kizzy]

I believe that if you are going to make it into the major league or the NBA or the NFL or the NHL any other major sport, then you should do it on talent alone. No "I didn't know I was taking steroids" Nothing. Hard work and determination should be rewarded. If that makes me an idiot, then I can live with myself.

[Lyion]

I believe that if you are going to make it into the major league or the NBA or the NFL or the NHL any other major sport, then you should do it on talent alone.

I think what Mop was referring to is the fact MLB went from no testing to completely over the top, silly testing Kizz.

Think of it as your job due to pressure institutes a drug testing policy, and you test positive because you had coffee that morning. That is obviously not what they were looking for, and they are punishing you for the system being flawed, versus actual results.

The funny thing is human growth hormomes are still undetectable, and there are others that people will still use.

[The Kizzy]

I can agree to that Lyion.

[Jimmy Durante]

I'm sure you've heard stories of someone chowing down on poppy seed bagels, and subsequently testing postive for opiates.

[Mop]

Do you understand baseball at all Kizzy and the complexity that is involved in hitting a baseball/ It is arguable that it is the hardest thing to do in sports for one - if you think he didnt make it to the majors on talent then you truely are an idiot talking out of your ass like usual.

Outside of that if you had read my entire posts- there are lots of banned substances that can be found in everyday supplements. some of which are listed as "natural".

what is your view on asthma medicine ? do you think one with exercise induced asthma should be aloud to take medication? did you know that some over the counter asthma meds have banned substances in them (by mlb rules)?

How about protien supplements they should not be allowed to take them because the MLB list is so long yet so vague on some things that you really should stay away from all protien supplements.

You are very niave to think that he got 3000 hits because of steriods - since you are a sheep and get all of your info off the 10 sec blurb on tv I would like to ask you to stfu about shit you dont know about.