Braun latest scoundrel to lie about PEDs

Published 11:32 pm Tuesday, July 23, 2013

By Travis Yoesting

File-Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun reacts after striking out after pinch hitting during the 11th inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Sunday, July 21, 2013, in Milwaukee. Braun, a former National League MVP, has been suspended without pay for the rest of the season and admitted he "made mistakes" in violating Major League Baseball's drug policies. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig announced the penalty Monday and released a statement by the Milwaukee Brewers slugger, who said: "I am not perfect. I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions." (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

You’re not surprised, are you?

Don’t tell me you can’t believe that he lied.

Is it possible people are still falling for this?

In 2011 MVP Ryan Braun tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, only getting off on a technicality.

In a press conference the following spring, he vehemently denied ever taking any sort of illegal drugs — and people bought it.



But now, after being connected to the Biogenesis of America clinic, Braun has (somewhat) come clean, admitting to “mistakes” and hoping to move on — after a 65-game suspension.

Simply put, Braun is the a Lance Armstrong of baseball.

These cheats deny, deny, deny until they can deny no longer, then offer a mea culpa and hope they can be forgiven.

I, for one, won’t be forgiving such disgusting rogues. If I had my way, they’d be out of sports completely.

Not that I believed them in the first place. I remember watching live as Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Rafael Palmeiro refuted claims of steroid use in a congressional hearing in 2005.

Remember Palmeiro’s finger wag during his denial? The whole thing was laughable.

I bet Braun watched video of that hearing before his little spiel to the media in 2012. Funny though now that he’s supposedly telling the truth, all we get is a press release.

All these frauds have embarrassed themselves, their families and the game. But I doubt any of them care, because they’ve already swindled their way to more money that most of us will make in five lifetimes.

And that’s part of the reason why I’ll never respect or forgive these charlatans.

I have little patience for those who can’t obey the rules. People who speed excessively should lose their licenses and those who drive drunk should be thrown in jail.

Braun, Armstrong and everyone else of their ilk are just another iteration of the maniac driving 95 mph down the highway — someone knowingly breaking the rules to try to get ahead.

Braun didn’t follow the rules, so he should, and will, be out of baseball. Unfortunately, he’ll just return next year and continue to make millions, just like that speeder will be back pushing the petal to the metal the next time he or she’s driving.

Maybe they’ll get caught again, maybe not.

To them it doesn’t matter.

To me, they should be out of the game completely — without pay.