Brewer fans anxiously awaited the verdict on Ryan Braun's appeal of a positive drug test for over a month. They got the answer they were looking for.
Braun is no longer suspended for 50 games. He is no longer a violator of Major League Baseball's anti-doping policy. In my opinion, the Brewers just became the favorites to win the National League Central. But we'll get to that debate (as well as a season preview) at some point next month. Right now it's time to take a look at why Braun ended up becoming the first player to ever have a positive drug test at the MLB level overturned. The most scrutinized aspect involved in Braun's defense was that his sample of pee wasn't immediately turned in to baseball by the man who was handling it. In fact, it reportedly sat out on his kitchen counter...not even in a refrigerator...for almost TWO days. Now I'm not saying that miraculously an inordinate amount of testosterone can accumulate in a cup of urine over a two day period, but there are a few things wrong with this picture. For one, this goes against the testing process of the MLB. The sample was NOT brought directly from wherever Braun peed in a cup to a FedEx building, which would then proceed on to the testing center. And two, do you think this guy maybe had sabotage on his mind? He had multiple FedEx locations near his house where he could have gone to drop off Braun's sample, INCLUDING a center that was open 24 hours. Strange.
You know what else is strange? The testosterone level in the sample was said to be three times higher than any other test since testing had been instituted in 2003...and FIVE times the level needed to warrant a positive test. Considering Braun has been tested before numerous times, I find it hard to believe that somehow this time his testosterone level was so much higher. So why did this test say differently? Well...I think Braun's sample was tampered with. You can say what you want about me being a homer, having a closed mind on the issue because I'm from the state of Wisconsin, but I just think these are issues that outsiders are ignoring. Because I'm from Wisconsin and such a die-hard Brewers (and Braun) fan, I may be more likely to defend Braun, but I'm also more likely to look at every aspect of this issue. These are legitimate arguments! Naive bloggers and every other semi-sports fan with a keyboard and a monitor in front of them are going to make sure their opinion is heard, and most of them don't have their facts straight...and it's annoying. For instance, this dipshit who thinks the sample just sat in a refrigerator all weekend. And Mr. "I write for the Daily Illini" who apparently is good enough to write garbage opinion pieces like this that believes the only issue at hand is the most publicized one...the mishandling of Braun's sample.
By now, I hope you've seen Braun's press conference. If you haven't, here it is. To use a cliche, he knocked it out of the park. You can say that lawyers wrote this speech for Braun, but this was from the heart. Sure, he might have been told not to say certain things, but this was pure Ryan Braun, and anyone that can't see that probably doesn't have a soul. Baseball vehemently disagrees with the decision to overturn Braun's positive test? Well, Braun vehemently stated that he didn't put any illegal substance in his body, and Ryan Braun is not a man to shy away from the truth. This is what probably made this entire process so difficult from him...Braun wasn't allowed to hardly speak at all while the appeal's process took its course, as badly as he wanted to. Wait, let's take a step back. Remember when ESPN broke this story in the first place? I'm not going to blame ESPN, who's journalistic tactics I don't see eye-to-eye with, for somehow getting the information about Braun's positive test, but whoever they got that news from breached the confidentiality of the process. I believe Braun when he said he bet his life that this substance didn't enter his body, and that he would be the first to admit if such had happened. He won because the truth is on his side.
Something I forgot to mention earlier...once Braun was notified of the "positive" test, he offered to take any test, including DNA (which would have without a doubt shown if he was clean or not), and baseball said NO! Why? Forget that Braun is one of the most talented players the game has today, but why deny anyone that opportunity? If baseball is so angry about the decision to drop Braun's suspension, they have no one to blame but themselves. They allowed a part-time collector to handle the urine test of one of baseball's greatest, and then denied Braun's right to a second test. That makes little to zero sense to me.
I can go on and on about the reasons supporting Braun's case, and you can watch his press conference to hear them all, because Braun hits them all. It's a beautiful speech, that's all you can really say about it. At times, Braun raises his voice, but he catches himself and maintains his composure. For anyone to watch that speech, learn about the details surrounding this case, and continue to believe Braun is 100 percent guilty boggles my mind. The last issue I'll address is the timing of the positive test, which was Oct. 1 - just as the playoffs were getting underway. People can argue that Braun's body was wearing down, that he wanted an extra boost to try and help get the Brewers to the World Series, so he took synthetic testosterone. In my mind, this is something Braun didn't need to do, nor is it something I believe he would consider doing. He had an excellent run to end the regular season and looked as physically prepared as ever for the next task; the playoffs. I just don't see it. Besides, could something so awful really happen on MY birthday??
Yes, Braun's name was dragged through the mud. Yes, he may never be looked at the same as a baseball player or a person. But because of the way Braun handled things, because of the way the process played out and because I believe in Ryan Braun, he will always remain the same in my eyes - an incredible baseball player who plays the game the right way, handles himself the right way and someone I will continue to idolize for the rest of my life.
Is it April 6 yet?
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