What We've Learned From Ryan Braun

In the fragile, ritualistic world that is the world of baseball, cheaters are nothing new. From Bonds to McGwire to Sosa to Rodriguez. They have come and gone some of them with larger home run numbers and hat sizes than others, but all cheaters none the less. And now in the middle of the 2013 season we have a new round of cheaters than fans will cry and yell in the wake of and who reporters and players alike will blast. This new class of vagrants includes Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta, A-Rod (once again), and Ryan Braun. Yes that Ryan Braun. The same Ryan Braun who adamantly denied using any banned substance or PED just a few years ago while getting off the hook because of a technicality with his urine test. The same Ryan Braun who publicly embarrassed his teammates and fans by telling us all bold face lies on national TV.

How could we as baseball fans be so incredibly stupid?

We saw Rafael Palmeiro wag his finger at congress to deny any PED use and McGwire refuse to discuss any use of steroids in the past as his biceps bulged and Roger Maris rolled over in his grave. And of course, each one of those claims were absolute lies. We have lived through lie after lie in the hallowed realm of baseball and after seeing such mighty idols fall, why would we ever believe Braun? Braun had elevated levels of testosterone so he took SOMETHING. We don't know what exactly but it was something illegal. Now with this second failed test Braun removed all doubt in every one's minds that he was just as fraudulent as we all thought in the first place. At this point in baseball history no one should be thought to be telling the truth when denying a positive drug test. Why should they? They have all lied and have left baseball fans with egg on their faces for believing such ludicrous lies.

Ryan Braun has taught us that if someone is suspected of taking steroids, we should just assume they are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Don't listen to what they say. Don't listen to the explanation soaked in lies. Don't fool yourself or let any player pull the wool over your eyes. They are guilty. And no matter what cockamamie story they want to throw at us we shall never let them brush off their crimes on the diamond and take their word for it.

For this writer at least, the belief of the lies ends here. No matter hat player decides to get in front of TV cameras and yell from the mountain tops about their so called innocence, I'm just not falling for it anymore.

Thank you Ryan Braun. Thank you for freeing me from the hassle of ever believing in the lies spewed through the dugouts from lying cheaters like you. Thank you for teaching me that if it looks like a cheater and sounds like a cheater, then no matter what story the player proclaims, they are without a doubt a cheater.