The general consensus around the baseball world today is that Milwaukee Brewers
suspended outfielder Ryan Braun didn’t do nearly enough after he apologized for his actions with regards to his admission of using performance enhancing drugs.
Braun said the things that needed to be said, but they came in a prepared statement that was likely well orchestrated by his people.
Unfortunately, people were hoping Braun would stand up in front of a microphone and speak from the heart. Braun could have helped his cause even further if he would have taken some questions from reporters.
After the damage that he placed on the Brewers, Major League Baseball and the fans, having to squirm a bit at a press conference was certainly justified.
Braun said for too long, he had convinced himself that he had not done anything wrong. He was living in denial. It just appears to me that he didn’t want to come clean and deliver the truth. That’s normally what cheaters do. How many common criminals commit the crime and then turn themselves in? They do what ever they can to avoid those seeking the truth.
The one thing that is important to remember though. Braun may be ducking the public for now, but at some point, he’s going to have to face the music. He’s going to have to look his owner, his teammates and his fans eye to eye and show them he really is sorry and wants to win their trust back.
For many, that day will never come. For others, eventually Braun will win their trust back, but it will take time.
One thing is certain, while Braun’s statement said all the right things, there’s no way anyone knows whether or not he really means a word of it.