Manny Ramirez returned to the Dodgers' lineup last night after a 50-game suspension, and the response was overwhelming. Fans were actually cheering for him. The road boos Barry Bonds and many others linked to steroid usage just weren't there.

It's sickening to see such a response. Not because Ramirez didn't deserve it, but because it showed those fans are either hypocrites or morons. It's a shame they fall under those labels, but this isn't a false dichotomy.

True baseball fans don't want to see baseball ruined by steroids. We already have the all-time home runs record ruined by steroid usage, as well as the single-season record. And now we have someone suspended for using illegal substances being openly cheered.

True, Ramirez wasn't suspended for anabolic steroids. But he did use something that was illegal according to baseball rules and hinted strongly at steroid usage.

Let's not forget what a clubhouse cancer Ramirez is.

In his final days with the Red Sox, he sat because of injuries MRI scans couldn't bring up. And then he goes on to hit near .400 with the Dodgers, never going on the disabled list or sitting an extended period of time with knee trouble.

If you don't realize it by now, Ramirez was just lying so the Red Sox would trade him. It was part of his ploy to escape the two, $20 million options he had for the next two seasons. This would allow him to renegotiate a new contract.

And that leads us to another point. Ramirez only cares about money. There were reports floating around that he was looking for a four-year deal worth in the neighborhood of $100 million during the 2008 season. And he certainly wasn't going to get that by having the Red Sox exercise those options in his contract. He would've only gotten $40 million. Poor thing.

Ramirez is the perfect example of overpaid, spoiled athlete in that he hustles when he wants to. He's loafed to first base on groundouts countless times. It appears he's made no effort to become a stronger player in the field. Who knows how many boneheaded plays he's made out there?

It's time for the media, the fans and everyone else to keep giving Ramirez second chances and more opportunities. Why not treat him for whom he actually is -- the perfect example of a spoiled, overpaid Major Leaguer who is a cheat?

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