First posted on Monday, Aug. 1

First, I'm physically sick and disgusted that this has happened. I've defended the players from Day One, and I feel embarrassed and cheated that Rafael Palmeiro has gotten caught using a banned substance.

The fact that he was so adamant in front of Congress that he never used steroids makes it even worse. Now he has the nerve to say he wasn't careful enough and didn't intentionally take them. Why do you need to be careful if you've never taken anything illegal?

I am sick that ANY player needs to cheat to play the game of baseball. Now the rest of the players and former players have to try and defend the sport because someone is so selfish and greedy.

I have a lot more feeling on this subject because anytime Palmeiro's name came up I was one of his biggest backers. I was always telling people, 'Look at this guy, he's got these great numbers and he's not as big as some of the other players, he's not a hulking guy.' What is really perplexing is that the players who have the most to lose and the least to gain should be the most careful.

If you really want forgiveness, don't stand behind the players' union - come out and be a man the way you were back in March.

One last thing: When Jose Canseco's book came out, Rafael Palmeiro was one of the only players who was going to sue Canseco over what was in the book. Now we know why he never did.

I and many other baseball fans feel very foolish today. To not be fighting mad that you came up positive... if it were my name, no union or lawyer could make me keep quiet about it.