Several weeks ago, I wrote that Rafael Palmeiro was a Hall of Famer. This was based on his 3,000 hits and nearly 600 homers over his long career. Fast-forward to August and I have to issue an apology. With the news of Palmeiro testing positive for steroids and having to serve a 10-game suspension, his career will now be scrutinized forever in a negative light. You might remember back to March 17th when he told a Congressional Subcommittee that he never used steroids. ?Let me start by telling you this: I have never used steroids. Period,? Palmeiro told the committee. ?I don't know how to say it any more clearly than that. Never.? He lied and I believed him. I made a mistake and I am sorry. Wait, why am I apologizing? I was not the one suspended by Major League Baseball for using an illegal substance. I will go on the record that I am open to a steroids test if necessary to prove my innocence. Give me the cup and I will provide the evidence. Palmeiro just went from a Hall of Famer to the Hall of Liars. Writers will now never vote him into the Hall of Fame. Just like Pete Rose, he will be forever remembered for his denial and lying about his use of an illegal substance. Palmeiro is the first big name to be suspended under the steroid policy of Major League Baseball. Devil Ray outfielder Alex Sanchez sat out the first 10 games of the season but doesn?t bring the same cache as Palmeiro. But Palmeiro might want to call Rose to see what his next career move should be. Rose has made a living of being the guy so close to the Hall of Fame yet so far away. I can picture it now, Rose and Palmeiro signing autographs in Cooperstown the last weekend of July. Coming soon to a location near you, ?The Gambler and the Juicer World Tour.? Palmeiro could sign autographs with a hypodermic needle. Palmeiro has now guaranteed himself that he will never been voted into the Hall of Fame by the writers. Since there were so many writers that said that they would not vote him, now the rest have a solid reason to follow them and not vote for him either. He has the numbers for the Hall of Fame but obviously not the brain.