Rafael Palmeiro

Like a lot of people, I have been engaging in the discussion over Rafael Palmeiro's failed drug test. I seem to be the only person in this country who is willing to give Palmeiro the benefit of the doubt - at least until I get more information.

The latest revelation in the story is that the steroid that he tested positive for, stanozolol, is one of the most easily detected steroids out there.

One of the common refrains in the discussion over Palmeiro is this -- "It doesn't make sense".

As in, "It doesn't make sense why someone who advocated zero tolerance over steroids, someone who campaigned to educate children against steroid use, someone who testified before Congress that they never used steroids, someone who was due to reach 3,000 hits this season -- it doesn't make sense why this person would deliberately put steroids into their body."

They're right. It doesn't make sense. Unless, of course, Palmeiro is telling the truth. Than it all makes sense. Palmeiro says that he does not know how the steroids got into his body.

If he took a non-banned supplement that had been contaminated with stanozolol, that would be enough.

I'm not so disturbed at the failed drug test as I am by the reaction of the public to the failed drug test. I thought that this was America -- the land where you were innocent until proven guilty. A drug test in and of itself does not prove guilt -- especially when Palmeiro denies wrongdoing and the medical panel felt that there was enough evidence that Palmeiro did not ingest steroids deliberately that they triggered the appeals process.

I believe that what is happening is that all of the resentment that has built up over the last 15 years as obviously juiced players -- McGwire, Bonds, Giambi, Caminiti -- have put up inflated numbers. Everyone knew that steroids were playing a huge role in the game, but since no one was being held accountable, the resentment just kept building.

Now there is an outlet -- a star player who tested positive. And this star player is now receiving the scorn and derision that he did not earn -- other players earned it.

Palmeiro, unfortunately, is the one who has to bear the burden of this scorn.

I'm open minded. If Palmeiro comes out with a crackpot defense, or if MLB puts out enough information that it's obvious that Palmeiro was lying, I will no longer defend him. But until I get all the facts, I will defend Palmeiro.

Just as I wish someone would defend me if I were ever in a situation beyond my control.