For the past year-plus, Ryan Braun has defended his name to the public and to his friends. Braun has gone on and on about that fact that he never took performance enhancing drugs. In fact, Braun said he “would bet his life” that a substance never entered his body.
“I am a victim of a process that completely broke down and failed in a way that it applied to me in this case,” Braun said in a press conference held last February. Braun was so much of a victim that on Monday, he and the MLB agreed on a 65-game suspension (the rest of the season) for his ties to Biogenesis, the company that allegedly provided supplements to numerous players.
Along with Braun, players such as Alex Rodriguez, Gio Gonzalez, Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta, Bartolo Colon and more have been named as clients in the Biogenesis scandal, if you will. So far, Braun is the first player on the list to be suspended, but you can bet that he wont’ be the last.
Braun has been ripped by the media, no wait, he’s been annihilated by the media and his image will never recover. Braun continued to defend his “innocence” up until last month when he said the truth has not changed. Well Ryan, it looks like it has. Braun deserves to be embarrassed and ashamed. He lied to his family, his friends and his teammates. Braun just continued the lies throughout the investigation.
From his February 2012 press conference:
“I tried to handle the whole situation with honor, with integrity, with class, with dignity and with professionalism because that’s who I am and how I lived my life.
“I would bet my life that this substance never entered my body at any point.
“I have always stood up for what is right. Today is about everybody who has ever been wrongly accused and everybody who has ever had to stand up for what is actually right.
“I will continue to take the high road because that’s who I am and that’s the way that I’ve lived my life. We won because the truth was on my side. The truth is always relevant and, at the end of the day, the truth prevailed.
“I am a victim of a process that completely broke down and failed in a way that it applied to me in this case.
“The system in the way that it was applied to me in this case was fatally flawed.
“If I had done this intentionally or unintentionally, I’d the first one to step up and say that I did it.”
From February 2013:
“During the course of preparing for my successful appeal last year, my attorneys, who were previously familiar with Tony Bosch, used him as a consultant. More specifically, he answered questions about T/E ratio and possibilities of tampering with samples.
“There was a dispute over compensation for Bosch’s work, which is why my lawyer and I are listed under ‘moneys owed’ and not on any other list.
“I have nothing to hide and have never had any other relationship with Bosch.
“I will fully cooperate with any inquiry into this matter.”
June 2013:
“I’ve already addressed everything related to the Miami situation. I addressed it in spring training. I will not make any further statements about it. The truth has not changed.
“I don’t know the specifics of the story that came out today. I’ve already addressed it, I’ve already commented on it and I’ll say nothing further about it. I hope that you guys can respect that.”
Not only does Braun look like a complete idiot, but he makes others look that way as well. Take Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers.
So are you still planning on paying your $4.5 million salary, Aaron? #PonyUp
To me, Braun got off easy. Being suspended 65 games without pay isn’t what the MLB suggested, as they said it would be the rest of the year no matter what. If the league really wanted to hurt Braun, they would’ve waited until next year to suspend him the entire season. In a year where the Brewers are out of contention, the suspension does nothing to the team. Out of all of the players named, Braun’s sentence will be the lightest. Rodriguez’s should be the longest and honestly, kicking him out of the league for life would be the suspension I would be looking for. If it came to that, though, I would throw Braun out as well. Remember, the player’s union said they won’t defend anyone with association to steroid clinics.
Oh, and losing a little over $3 million this year won’t hurt him. He’s guaranteed to make $113 million through 2020. If you want Braun to “hurt” from this suspension, hit his pocket book.
If all stays as is, Braun will be back next season and will have to put up with boo’s from the crowd at every single stadium he goes to. He will hear “cheater” and the “sterrrr-oidddds” chant. So you’re telling me somethings don’t change? In the end, Braun cashed in on his PED use and was willing to tarnish his image to cash in on millions.
I guess cheaters can win.
