"Witch hunt" my booty! Witches did not exist. Juicers do. He got off on a technicality the first time. And even when more evidence emerges, Brewers fans still coddle this guy. As a Cardinals fan I accept the fact that McGwire's juicing will keep him out of the Hall; as it should. Own up Brewers fans!

With all this said, "LET'S PLAY BALL"

I wish Braun would say just test me everyday.

Good posts. No comments on the O.J. link?? That was my fav part:)

There is a slight distinction in the MLB between performance enhancers and performance allowing drugs. I would categorize the use of pain killers, notably toradol, as an example of MLB's list of PADs.

Professional athletes are constantly seeking an edge to "get up" for a game and recover for the next one. And, it seems, we have breeded a culture where it is acceptable to lie and cheat to do so.

The lying is the most disturbing aspect of the PED conundrum. But these athletes that cheat and lie are part of system where dignity is thrown out the door. The coaching profession, for example. It is acceptable for coaches to lie to fans, the media, the players, recruits etc.. when it comes to their own employment. Deceit is just part of the game anymore. It is hard to trust anyone in professional and collegiate revenue driven sports. And it extends to the entire entertainment industry. Heck, one of our nation's top television programs is predicated on deceit- Survivor. Outwit (lie), outlast, outplay.

Lance Armstrong, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Jose Canseco. All four athletes succeeded at lying and cheating the system long enough to complete their careers and make a decent living out of it. You can add Ray Lewis to that list, too. How does a 37 year old athlete cut the recovery time for a tricep injury in half?

As a Brewer fan, I hope Braun can make like the aforementioned and finish out his career ahead of the dark cloud. But Braun attended U of Miami where it appears PED abuse was rapant. Multiple reports link the schools strength and conditioning coach to PEDs. I believe two of Braun's former college teammates have tested positive for PEDs, including one player that was Braun's roommate for road games. Braun's name has been documented in files obtained from a clinic that administered PEDs. 20 to 30K for what Braun claims was for a consultant fee paid to Dr. Bosch (who is an unlicensed physician) for testimony that was never used. And another $1500 listed next to Ryan Braun's name. Unspecified in nature, but listed next to other PED users. Exhibit X is the Braun sample that purpotedly tested through the roof for testosterone, which we all know never really happened because he got off on a chain of command technicality. As rtabb said, where there is smoke there is fire. And we're at Cheech and Chong windows rolled up stage.

I want to believe Braun just like bicycling fans wanted to believe Armstrong. I want to believe Adrian Peterson's knee healed naturally for him to return 9 months after an ACL injury to perform better than anyone at has position ever has. I want to believe they are clean because it is a difficult subject to explain to a 10 year boy that idolizes these athletes.

Tim, I agree Braun may never sit out a game for a PED related suspension, but I doubt the truth will set him free.

Not that I approve of juicing but the fact remains, a player, under ANY condition, still has to hit a ball coming at him @100mph. The same holds true of fielding, catching, et. al. Years ago I remember speaking with a former Iowa St. football player. He told me that just prior to heading out onto the field, one of the coaches would pass around little "red" pills. He said that a few minutes later, he was ready to tackle the goal post. That was 30yrs. ago. Times haven't changed much, except the rules.

"How do you know she's a witch"?

"she turned me into a newt. I got better"

"Monte Python Logic"
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Bedimere: There are ways of telling if she's a witch. What do you do with witches?
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Villagers: Burn them!
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...(irrational dialogue continues)
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Bedimere: Right! So, if she weighs the same as a duck, she'd float in water, and she must be made of wood, so.
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Villagers: A witch! Burn her!
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"That's clown logic, bro." - Bryce Harper

MLB and Uncle Bud are quite the hyporcrites. Remember when McGuire and Sosa boosted ratings. Everybody and anybody with an ounce of brain cells knew they were juicers. If Braun gets a suspension, I sure hope there is real proof and not just hearsay.

I just think where there is smoke there is fire. I do not believe it is a witch hunt. I remember the scrutiny Bonds and Big Mac faced on a daily basis. I do not believe Braun is facing that much scrutiny. The man is a top 5 player and only he knows the real truth. I just hope all the guys who have "used" can look in the mirror and like what they see and get a good nights sleep. I don't belive I could!

I'm not on board with it either. I realize that it's a different spin on the matter, but it almost seems like a bit of double jeopardy.

I'll tell you what I am on board for, and that is Kenney_F_Powers for president!!

Braun may indeed be juicing, but I can't stand it when people deem him guilty with little to no information supporting that claim. So until he gets popped for 50 games I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. His story at least seems plausible. With his ties to Miami I was honestly surprised that his name didn't show up on those reports sooner.
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I think baseball in general needs to do a better job of policing PEDs. MLB and the Players Union deserve much of the blame. If a solid system had been in place from the get go, guys like Bonds, McGwire, Sosa, possibly Braun...etc. would not have been able to put up such gaudy numbers in the first place. They would have been suspended for the bulk of their careers.
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Braun takes the most heat from PED "wolf criers" due to the fact that he is on pace to put together one of the best baseball careers in the last century. People unfairly jump to conclusions that he must have help in continuing to put up these numbers year, after year, after year...He's easy to hate (envy): he's really good, a bit cocky (confident), intelligent, well-spoken, and he's not on your team.
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I'm a life-long Cubs fan with a tremendous amount of respect for Ryan Braun's game. I'm not on board with this witch hunt.

go cubs!