Reaction to the Braun Positive Test

     Stop me if you’ve heard this one before:  A Major League Baseball slugger testing positive for performance enhancing drugs.  The most recent case is a very surprising one. The reigning National League MVP and fan favorite Ryan Braun has failed a drug test that was taken during the playoffs.  Braun joins the likes of Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, Alex Rodriguez, and Rafael Palmerio as power-hitting stars who have all tested positive for Performance Enhancing Drugs.

      Braun is claiming that he never knowingly took any PED’s. Really dude?  This is the same old excuse that Bonds and the others tried to use. I really find it hard to believe that a baseball star would let someone inject them with, or give them an unknown substance.  Baseball has tried to take the lead on PED’s with strict testing and severe penalties. (50 game suspension for the first offense)

     The most disheartening thing about the Braun case is the fact that it is such a surprise. Braun has turned into a superstar over the past few years, and has always seemed to do things the right way. He has helped to rejuvinate the Brewers franchise and make them a force in the National League.  This positive test now makes it hard to root for anyone anymore.

      The second part of this story is that the Baseball Writers Association of America, the voters who pick the MVP, are not going to make Braun give back his award. This is absolutely absurd to me! How can an MVP award be given to a guy that was on an illegal substance during that time? I think that the award needs to be taken from Braun and given to the runner up, Matt Kemp of the LA Dodgers.

      I really do hope that this test was a major mix-up, and that Braun really is innocent. However, based on recent history, this is probably not the case.  There is so much pressure to succeed in today’s society that even the good guys feel they have to cheat to get ahead.

Mr. Braun, if this test result is true:  the best thing that you can do is admit your mistake, give back your MVP, serve your suspension, and come back a stronger player than you were before.