Manny Ramirez was a bigger cheater than we thought

Exactly one year ago, Manny Ramirez's arrival here left Los Angeles breathless.

Today, lips pursed at another shameful revelation, those breaths are being held.

Today, the celebratory thump-thump-thump has been replaced by an ominous tick-tick-tick.

What in the name of chorionic gonadotropin is going to happen with this guy next?

Is the taint that Ramirez and David Ortiz just brought to two of the most celebrated World Series titles in recent history going to spread to these Dodgers?

With Thursday's news that both men flunked steroid tests in 2003, the 2004 and 2007 World Series championships won by the Boston Red Sox must be considered fraudulent.

Will Ramirez eventually bring that same stain to a potential championship team here? Has that spill already occurred?

Even if Ramirez gets through this season without further suspension, it will not be without further suspense, everyone waiting for the other needle to drop, for the next explosion of deceit and delusion.

Tick-tick-tick.

Once the guy was suspended in May for 50 games for violating baseball's drug policy, I knew he had probably been dirty for most of his career, and so did you.

You cheering Dodgers fans talked repeatedly about forgiving a man for his one mistake, but, c'mon, you knew this was not only one mistake.

You Dodgers officials talked about the honor he showed in admitting his bad judgment, but, of course, you knew, this was about a career of bad judgment.

Turns out, this guy has probably been juicing for at least the last decade, which is why, this spring, he was busted for using a female fertility drug to restore his manliness. When it comes to long-term steroid use, everything shrinks but the homers.

At least now, from Mannywood to the executive offices, nobody can ever say this guy has never failed a drug test, OK?

The question now is, will he fail one again? Is he clean now? Can the unselfish Dodgers avoid being dragged down by any further selfishness?

I have assumed that since Ramirez was out of baseball for 50 games and probably being tested every 50 minutes, he is currently clean. I am assuming that his Bobblebomb home run was real. I am guessing that they can get through the season without further signs of cheating.

But as Thursday's news proved, who knows?

Upon Ramirez's return to the Dodgers in San Diego earlier this month, I asked the first question, wondering when he started using steroids and when he stopped.