Ryan Braun issues apology via statement

[G-Snarls]

Sounds like a legit apology is coming out now Edited August 23, 2013 by G-Snarls

[G-Snarls]

[G-Snarls]

[Abomination]

I don't consider an apology delivered via a 3rd party to be legit. At least it's a start though.

[GD]

Now that the initial MLB investigation is over, I want to apologize for my actions and provide a more specific account of what I did and why I deserved to be suspended. I have no one to blame but myself. I know that over the last year and a half I made some serious mistakes, both in the information I failed to share during my arbitration hearing and the comments I made to the press afterwards.

 

I have disappointed the people closest to me – the ones who fought for me because they truly believed me all along. I kept the truth from everyone. For a long time, I was in denial and convinced myself that I had not done anything wrong.

 

It is important that people understand that I did not share details of what happened with anyone until recently. My family, my teammates, the Brewers organization, my friends, agents, and advisors had no knowledge of these facts, and no one should be blamed but me. Those who put their necks out for me have been embarrassed by my behavior. I don’t have the words to express how sorry I am for that.

 

Here is what happened. During the latter part of the 2011 season, I was dealing with a nagging injury and I turned to products for a short period of time that I shouldn’t have used. The products were a cream and a lozenge which I was told could help expedite my rehabilitation. It was a huge mistake for which I am deeply ashamed and I compounded the situation by not admitting my mistakes immediately.

 

I deeply regret many of the things I said at the press conference after the arbitrator’s decision in February 2012. At that time, I still didn’t want to believe that I had used a banned substance. I think a combination of feeling self righteous and having a lot of unjustified anger led me to react the way I did. I felt wronged and attacked, but looking back now, I was the one who was wrong. I am beyond embarrassed that I said what I thought I needed to say to defend my clouded vision of reality. I am just starting the process of trying to understand why I responded the way I did, which I continue to regret. There is no excuse for any of this.

 

For too long during this process, I convinced myself that I had not done anything wrong. After my interview with MLB in late June of this year, I came to the realization that it was time to come to grips with the truth. I was never presented with baseball’s evidence against me, but I didn’t need to be, because I knew what I had done. I realized the magnitude of my poor decisions and finally focused on dealing with the realities of-and the punishment for-my actions.

 

I requested a second meeting with Baseball to acknowledge my violation of the drug policy and to engage in discussions about appropriate punishment for my actions. By coming forward when I did and waiving my right to appeal any sanctions that were going to be imposed, I knew I was making the correct decision and taking the first step in the right direction. It was important to me to begin my suspension immediately to minimize the burden on everyone I had so negatively affected- my teammates, the entire Brewers organization, the fans and all of MLB. There has been plenty of rumor and speculation about my situation, and I am aware that my admission may result in additional attacks and accusations from others.

 

I love the great game of baseball and I am very sorry for any damage done to the game. I have privately expressed my apologies to Commissioner Selig and Rob Manfred of MLB and to Michael Weiner and his staff at the Players’ Association. I’m very grateful for the support I’ve received from them. I sincerely apologize to everybody involved in the arbitration process, including the collector, Dino Laurenzi, Jr. I feel terrible that I put my teammates in a position where they were asked some very difficult and uncomfortable questions. One of my primary goals is to make amends with them.

 

I understand it’s a blessing and a tremendous honor to play this game at the Major League level. I also understand the intensity of the disappointment from teammates, fans, and other players. When it comes to both my actions and my words, I made some very serious mistakes and I can only ask for the forgiveness of everyone I let down. I will never make the same errors again and I intend to share the lessons I learned with others so they don’t repeat my mistakes. Moving forward, I want to be part of the solution and no longer part of the problem.

 

I support baseball’s Joint Drug Treatment and Prevention Program and the importance of cleaning up the game. What I did goes against everything I have always valued- achieving through hard work and dedication, and being honest both on and off the field. I also understand that I will now have to work very, very hard to begin to earn back people’s trust and support. I am dedicated to making amends and to earning back the trust of my teammates, the fans, the entire Brewers’ organization, my sponsors, advisors and from MLB. I am hopeful that I can earn back the trust from those who I have disappointed and those who are willing to give me the opportunity. I am deeply sorry for my actions, and I apologize to everyone who has been adversely affected by them.

 

That's it, I think.

[over500]

too late

[G-Snarls]

Perhaps releasing this was part of his deal with Major League Baseball?

[Candy Maldonado]

blah ******** blah blah ******** ********

What was the injury and what did you take?

[GeorgiaPeach]

I don't really care who's taken PED's.

[jays_fever]

He only went back and fourth about 3 times, but ok

[G-Snarls]

What was the injury and what did you take?

 

"A cream and a lozenge".

 

LOL. Could you be more vague please??

[Nox]

tl;dr, Ryan.

[John_Havok]

Tl;dr; don't give a flying f***....

 

When Selig takes responsibility for the steroid era, I might care again. Until then it's the biggest hypocritical fraud being perpetrated on the fans that there ever could be.

[G-Snarls]

Can someone please help me figure out why I dislike this guy way more than I dislike Alex Rodriguez?? Edited August 23, 2013 by G-Snarls

[AdamGreenwood]

A cream and a lozenge to take care of a nagging injury?

You don't get the highest reading in the history of testing, by taking a cream and a lozenge.

 

He just can't stop lying. Thinks he's smarter than everyone else out there.

[John_Havok]

Maybe he used them both as a suppository to speed up absorption.

[connorp]

A cream and a lozenge to take care of a nagging injury?

 

You don't get the highest reading in the history of testing, by taking a cream and a lozenge.

 

He just can't stop lying. Thinks he's smarter than everyone else out there.

 

Very true. Not possible to get those levels with glorified Androgel. He even lies in his sincere confession

[Laika]

Puke worthy

[Laika]

Every single PED user ever:

 

- "I didn't do it"

- "Ok, I did it but I didn't know I was doing it"

- "Ok, I knew it was illegal but it was just one time and it was just to recover from a serious/nagging injury and it was just in cream/lozenge/chewing gum form, no needles I swearz"

- "Ok, it was an injection but my buddy did it to me he said it was safe"

- "Ok, it was more than one injection and I self administered" (hardly ever stated)

- "Ok, it wasn't just to recover from an injury, I've been doing cycles since high school with the intention of taking advantage of the massive upside to cheating in my sport of choice" (never stated)

[The Cats Ass]

You don't get the highest reading in the history of testing, by taking a cream and a lozenge.

 

 

Maybe he just smeared the cream on his toast in the morning.

[G-Snarls]

Maybe he just smeared the cream on his toast in the morning.

 

Or maybe he used the cream to numb the spot where the needle went in...

[Convo]

I hate this guy Braun, disgusting.

[G-Snarls]

I hate this guy Braun, disgusting.

 

I know. I can't stand him. Hate him more than ARod by a mile and I can't even really explain why.

[Convo]

I know. I can't stand him. Hate him more than ARod by a mile and I can't even really explain why.

 

When I think of Braun the character that comes to mind is Grima Wormtongue from LOTR.

[Jays]

Every single PED user ever:

 

- "I didn't do it"

- "Ok, I did it but I didn't know I was doing it"

- "Ok, I knew it was illegal but it was just one time and it was just to recover from a serious/nagging injury and it was just in cream/lozenge/chewing gum form, no needles I swearz"

- "Ok, it was an injection but my buddy did it to me he said it was safe"

- "Ok, it was more than one injection and I self administered" (hardly ever stated)

- "Ok, it wasn't just to recover from an injury, I've been doing cycles since high school with the intention of taking advantage of the massive upside to cheating in my sport of choice" (never stated)

 

I was going to make a post like that but you did it better.

[bendera3]

It's because of the act he put on. I always thought of Braun as one of baseball's good guys until 2012, and was tempted to continuing thinking as such even after his positive test. Now he's a fraud and has marred the reputation of many others along the way.

 

Baseball players should study up on how best to react when caught. The guys who maintain a solid public perception are the ones who admit it immediately and spill all the details. Braun shouldn't have appealed his positive test, he should have come out with his excuse then instead of denying it. Even this flimsy injury excuse would have held up well if he had used it immediately. I wonder why agents don't pressure their clients to do as such, seems like a no-brainer to come out quickly with a heartfelt apology.

 

 

"I'm so sorry for the mistakes I've made in the past. Blah years ago I took injections of blah blah in order to boost my performance to get a massive contract that would set my family and I for life. It was selfish, and I want to apologize to the my teammates, the blah organization, Major League Baseball, but most importantly the fans. I'm going to use this opportunity to teach up-and-coming ballplayers that they should play the game the right, clean way."

[connorp]

Yeah, makes you think of all time worst admissions.. Andy Pettite comes to mind. "I was coming off an injury and I took one shot of hgh and just decided I would never use it again..I'm very sorry".. think it went like that and he hardly got the cheater label.