Polk's and Clark's responses to Palmeiro's suspension....
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 7:26 am
August 2, 2005
'I'm in a quandary,' MSU baseball coach says
By Ian R. Rapoport
irapopor@clarionledger.com
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball coach Ron Polk was giving two players a tour Monday of the indoor practice facility called the Rafael Palmeiro Center.
The $3.8 million building was made possible by a major gift from Palmeiro, the former Bulldogs and current Baltimore Orioles star.
Under that roof, which casts a shadow as long as Palmeiro's storied career, Polk was asked by one player if he had heard the news. Did he know that Palmeiro was suspended 10 days by Major League Baseball for failing a drug test?
Polk's response: "No way."
Many across the country probably reacted the same way after learning Palmeiro had become the seventh and most high-profile player to test positive in baseball's new drug-testing program. But Polk, who has maintained a close relationship with Palmeiro for more than 24 years, didn't take long to support Palmeiro's denial.
File photo/The Associated Press
Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig (left) and former player Jose Canseco listen during a March hearing in Washington on steroids in pro baseball.
"I've always believed in Rafael Palmeiro and I continue to believe him," said Polk, who coached Palmeiro from 1982-85. "Maybe there was a mistake. Maybe there were traces of a prescription drug he was taking. I don't know. I'm in a quandary like everybody else."
Before he was taken in the first round of the MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs in 1985, Palmeiro enjoyed a highly decorated career at Mississippi State. In 1984, he became the Southeastern Conference's first triple crown winner, leading the SEC in home runs (29), RBIs (94) and average (.415). He was a three-time All-American, leading the Bulldogs to the 1985 College World Series.
It was just five months ago that Palmeiro pointed his finger at a congressional panel and emphatically said, "I have never used steroids. Period."
It was just two weeks ago that ESPN offered live cut-aways to Palmeiro's at-bats as he joined Henry Aaron, Willie Mays, and Eddie Murray as the only players to have reached 3,000 hits and 500 home runs.
Palmeiro has long been considered a classy portrait of a major leaguer, with that sweet lefty swing and a steely resolve to keep plugging away that kept him off the disabled list in each of his 20 seasons. He has been a fan favorite wherever he's gone.
Templeton
His suspension Monday left many shaken.
"I was shocked," said Mississippi State athletic director Larry Templeton, who cautioned against making a definitive judgment because the full facts aren't in yet. "We want to support Raffy as he goes through this."
There had been questions about Palmeiro since former teammate Jose Canseco identified him as a steroid user in his personal memoir Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big. The two were teammates at the Texas Rangers in 1992 and 1993.
"Not long after I got (to Texas), I sat down with Rafael Palmeiro, Juan Gonzalez and Ivan Rodriguez and educated them about steroids," Canseco wrote on page 133 of his book. "Soon I was injecting all three of them ... until they became more familiar with how to use a needle and were able to do it themselves."
Statistical evidence from Palmeiro's career may add credence to Canseco's claims. Through 1992, the most home runs he had hit in a year was 26. He never had more than 89 RBIs. In 1993, he had career highs with 37 home runs, 105 RBIs, and a .554 slugging percentage.
While some were incredulous about the suspension, one former teammate wasn't.
"I don't really get surprised about any of this stuff going on with baseball now," said Will Clark, the six-time MLB all-star who played with Palmeiro at MSU. "The game has changed. Instead of out-thinking the opposition, guys want to out-muscle them."
Clark said the only performance-enhancing substance he took was "Coors Light-ostene."
When he heard the news, Clark immediately flashed back to Palmeiro's testimony to Congress.
"Wasn't it just a few months ago that he was testifying, saying he didn't do steroids?" asked Clark, who said he hasn't spoken with Palmeiro in about five years. "Now, not only does he face a suspension, but perjury issues as well."
Clark was asked if he believed Palmeiro's testimony.
"Next question," he said, laughing.
There are more questions. How does the news affect Palmeiro's legacy as a Mississippi State Bulldog? It doesn't, according to Polk.
Asked if the school should take Palmeiro's name off the indoor practice facility, Polk said: "Absolutely not."
Polk said he'd be "shocked" if Palmeiro used drugs while at Mississippi State. "Of course, I'd be shocked if he did it now," Polk said. "I'm a Rafael Palmeiro fan. Not only for what he did for us as a player, but also as a person and an alumnus."
Still, news of the steroids figure to hurt his legacy as a professional.
As former teammate Bobby Thigpen said earlier this year: "Even if he's innocent, it's too late."
'I'm in a quandary,' MSU baseball coach says
By Ian R. Rapoport
irapopor@clarionledger.com
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball coach Ron Polk was giving two players a tour Monday of the indoor practice facility called the Rafael Palmeiro Center.
The $3.8 million building was made possible by a major gift from Palmeiro, the former Bulldogs and current Baltimore Orioles star.
Under that roof, which casts a shadow as long as Palmeiro's storied career, Polk was asked by one player if he had heard the news. Did he know that Palmeiro was suspended 10 days by Major League Baseball for failing a drug test?
Polk's response: "No way."
Many across the country probably reacted the same way after learning Palmeiro had become the seventh and most high-profile player to test positive in baseball's new drug-testing program. But Polk, who has maintained a close relationship with Palmeiro for more than 24 years, didn't take long to support Palmeiro's denial.
File photo/The Associated Press
Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig (left) and former player Jose Canseco listen during a March hearing in Washington on steroids in pro baseball.
"I've always believed in Rafael Palmeiro and I continue to believe him," said Polk, who coached Palmeiro from 1982-85. "Maybe there was a mistake. Maybe there were traces of a prescription drug he was taking. I don't know. I'm in a quandary like everybody else."
Before he was taken in the first round of the MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs in 1985, Palmeiro enjoyed a highly decorated career at Mississippi State. In 1984, he became the Southeastern Conference's first triple crown winner, leading the SEC in home runs (29), RBIs (94) and average (.415). He was a three-time All-American, leading the Bulldogs to the 1985 College World Series.
It was just five months ago that Palmeiro pointed his finger at a congressional panel and emphatically said, "I have never used steroids. Period."
It was just two weeks ago that ESPN offered live cut-aways to Palmeiro's at-bats as he joined Henry Aaron, Willie Mays, and Eddie Murray as the only players to have reached 3,000 hits and 500 home runs.
Palmeiro has long been considered a classy portrait of a major leaguer, with that sweet lefty swing and a steely resolve to keep plugging away that kept him off the disabled list in each of his 20 seasons. He has been a fan favorite wherever he's gone.
Templeton
His suspension Monday left many shaken.
"I was shocked," said Mississippi State athletic director Larry Templeton, who cautioned against making a definitive judgment because the full facts aren't in yet. "We want to support Raffy as he goes through this."
There had been questions about Palmeiro since former teammate Jose Canseco identified him as a steroid user in his personal memoir Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big. The two were teammates at the Texas Rangers in 1992 and 1993.
"Not long after I got (to Texas), I sat down with Rafael Palmeiro, Juan Gonzalez and Ivan Rodriguez and educated them about steroids," Canseco wrote on page 133 of his book. "Soon I was injecting all three of them ... until they became more familiar with how to use a needle and were able to do it themselves."
Statistical evidence from Palmeiro's career may add credence to Canseco's claims. Through 1992, the most home runs he had hit in a year was 26. He never had more than 89 RBIs. In 1993, he had career highs with 37 home runs, 105 RBIs, and a .554 slugging percentage.
While some were incredulous about the suspension, one former teammate wasn't.
"I don't really get surprised about any of this stuff going on with baseball now," said Will Clark, the six-time MLB all-star who played with Palmeiro at MSU. "The game has changed. Instead of out-thinking the opposition, guys want to out-muscle them."
Clark said the only performance-enhancing substance he took was "Coors Light-ostene."
When he heard the news, Clark immediately flashed back to Palmeiro's testimony to Congress.
"Wasn't it just a few months ago that he was testifying, saying he didn't do steroids?" asked Clark, who said he hasn't spoken with Palmeiro in about five years. "Now, not only does he face a suspension, but perjury issues as well."
Clark was asked if he believed Palmeiro's testimony.
"Next question," he said, laughing.
There are more questions. How does the news affect Palmeiro's legacy as a Mississippi State Bulldog? It doesn't, according to Polk.
Asked if the school should take Palmeiro's name off the indoor practice facility, Polk said: "Absolutely not."
Polk said he'd be "shocked" if Palmeiro used drugs while at Mississippi State. "Of course, I'd be shocked if he did it now," Polk said. "I'm a Rafael Palmeiro fan. Not only for what he did for us as a player, but also as a person and an alumnus."
Still, news of the steroids figure to hurt his legacy as a professional.
As former teammate Bobby Thigpen said earlier this year: "Even if he's innocent, it's too late."
