Ryan Braun Apologizes for PED Use

Suspended Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun apologized for using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) and lying about it and everything related to the investigation.  Actually, Braun apologized twice; he issued a written statement though the Brewers and he also issued a separate apology to the Brewers fans in a blast email sent to season ticket holders and email subscribers. 

Braun admitted he used two substances in an ill advised scheme to treat some nagging injuries during the 2011 season.  Back then, Braun had a calf injury and some hamstring tightness and a third party recommended the substances.  Braun went on to say he had been in denial and was coming to grips with that, and the fact he misled everyone-teammates, family, friends, fans-and that he was wrong.  He apologized to Dino Laurenzi, Jr., the sample taker whose integrity Braun publicly questioned in February 2012 after Braun’s initial drug suspension was overturned.

Much of the reaction was continued outrage, in large part because Braun did not face the media when releasing he statement.  They’re missing the point here.  This was the very first step in a years  long road to redemption, and that redemption will never be complete.  Things will never be same for Braun no matter how exemplary he lives his life in the rest of his career.  But what he can do is live that exemplary life, try prove that he really is sorry, and hope for the best.

Braun will indeed need to face the media and discuss in further detail what his transgressions were.  He didn’t say in his statement what substances he used (presumably high levels of testosterone, as that what the initial positive test revealed).  There are allegations that he used PEDs all the way back to his college days at the University of Miami, and he’ll need to disclose if there were other times he used PEDs during his career.  Since he lied so much in the past, many people won’t believe him anyway, but he needs to answer questions. 

There are a lot of sportswriters out there whose righteous indignation is in overdrive and can’t possibly be objective so a press conference will be a regular circus.  Another approach could be to conduct a one on one interview (no, not with Oprah) with a writer like Tom Haudricourt, the Brewers Beat Writer for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.  His coverage has been even handed and objective since Day One of all this, and Braun might open up more in a venue like that.

The saying “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” applies to Braun here.  He’s taken the first step.  Now he needs start taking those next steps.  His integrity is shot from all the lying.  His chances at reaching the Hall of Fame are essentially zero. He’ll be a pariah in opposing ballparks next year, and is bound to meet hostility at home as well.  That thousand miles will feel like millions.