When it was a technicality that saved him, Ryan Braun took to the microphone and vehemently defended his accomplishments as clean. “I would bet my life that this substance never entered my body,” were the exact words he said back in February of 2012 at a press conference prior to spring training of last season. He also threw out words such as honor, integrity, class, dignity and professionalism to back his claim.

Certainly he wishes that he had not taken such a bold step as the recent revelations have come down. Braun is suspended for the rest of the Major League Baseball season because of his links to performance-enhancing drugs. His career accomplishments are now in dispute again because you cannot outrun the truth. All the facts are out there for anybody to see, but will it matter? His quote after being handed his walking papers recounted words he said previously, “I am not perfect.” The difference stems from the fact that he was caught by continuing, “I realize now (emphasis added) that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions.”

The easy thing is to train all the firepower of words to unleash a barrage of disdain on this cheater. Really, Ryan? You know NOW that you made mistakes because you got caught and have no where to go? In reality, it does no good to spend any ammo on taking down the myth that is Ryan Braun. The law is a mirror that shows us who we really are and every day Braun and the others in baseball who cross over the line to gain an edge must look at our own reflection and decide who they are as a person. It’s not just baseball, it’s all of us because we like Ryan Braun are not perfect. My takeaway is when I fall short of perfection intentionally or by happenstance they should be brought to light instead of thrust into the darkness. The hidden will always be revealed.

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