Palmeiro, Clinton, and A Tolerant Society

If you asked me seven years ago what my favorite sport was, I would have without hesitation said baseball. I loved the sport. It didn't matter what game it was on television, I was watching it. If I could, I would watch two games a day. I could name you every player on every team. I could ramble stats with the best of them. I was a baseball nerd, and I was proud of it.

Today, I rank baseball just ahead of bowling. I have lost all interest in the game. It isn't the game I used to love. I have no desire to watch one team with a 100 million dollar payroll play another team with a 20 million dollar payroll. However, I will go and watch little league every now and then.

Everyone in the free world knows baseball has a steroid problem. Earlier this year, congress demanded that a handful of ball players come in and answer some real tough question about steroids. One of the players asked to come in was Rafael Palmeiro. Palmeiro was mentioned in a book by Jose Conseco as someone who took steroids. Mr. Palmeiro sat in front of congress, wagged his finger, and declared boldly that he never took steroids. And I believed Him!

I guess I was gullible. I believed Rafael Palmeiro over Jose Conseco. Let's face it, I figured if Rafael Palmeiro was willing to stand before the world and do commercials as a Viagra user; why would he lie about steroids?

Anyway, now that we know that Palmeiro was juiced like an orange, I believe he is doing a terrible job in dealing with the situation. When I saw Palmeiro wag his finger, I remembered another man that wagged his finger and said he didn't do something that he did. President Clinton did the exact same thing as Rafael Palmeiro. However, he got away with it. I think Palmeiro needs to follow the Clinton example, or this event is going to destroy him. So Palmeiro needs to get a "WWCD" bracelet, and be a good disciple.

So how would our former president deal with this situation?

First, Palmeiro must realize that our society does not want anyone to take full responsibility for what they do. Our society wants you to admit to it, but not take responsibility for it. Palmeiro should first say, "I indeed did take steroids." He then needs to go on about how he was trying to protect his family from this problem, and then ask for forgiveness.

Second, Palmeiro must find several people to spread the blame. There are people in this world that are easy to demonize. President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky blamed it on Linda Tripp. Now blaming someone else will alienate some people, but it will give your supporters a person to point their fingers at. The news media will pick up on this, and they will do their best to make it a story. I think Palmeiro should blame Conseco. This just makes since.

Finally, make it into a conspiracy. Baseball is just out to get you. Palmeiro could claim that his Latin heritage is the reason all of this is taking place. Turn the tables on your accusers, and make it personal. The media loves a good fight, and you will begin to get the press on your side.

However, the last thing that Rafael Palmeiro wants to do is be honorable. Our society is not used to people with integrity. Owning up to this, will ruin Palmeiro. As of right now, Palmeiro is running from it. Our society will let him get away with this for now, but soon they will expect some tears. And if Rafael Palmeiro cries, all will soon be forgotten.