Ryan Braun's statement just released

old_tony · Aug 22, 2013

Statement from Ryan Braun

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.

--more--

RYAN BRAUN STATEMENT, Continued

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.
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YankeeFan · Aug 22, 2013

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.

Yeah. Sure.

old_tony · Aug 22, 2013

I actually posted this before reading it.

I think he does a pretty good job of addressing most issues. However, I think he needs to be more specific about the cream and the lozenge. What exactly were they? Why did he think they were OK to use?

He apologizes to Dino Laurenzi. I suppose a lot won't think that's enough of an apology.

Also, if what he says is true, why did he agree to more than a 50-game suspension?

LongTimeListener · Aug 22, 2013

YankeeFan said:

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.

Yeah. Sure.
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Where is your proof that he is lying?

Where is your proof?!

WHERE IS YOUR PROOF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHERE!

IS!

YOUR!

PROOF!

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

old_tony · Aug 22, 2013

YankeeFan said:

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.

Yeah. Sure.
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I think his answer to that is his 2012 season. You don't think he was being tested? And you can bet he was being tested a lot.

I do think, however, he should be more specific about the injury.

Flying Headbutt · Aug 22, 2013

He only used it a short time? Usually guys only took it once. JUST ONE TIME.

That excuse is beyond cliched. Every player who has ever been busted used stuff just one time. So points for creativity, but unless short amount of time is the whole season, or multiple seasons, I don't buy it.

LongTimeListener · Aug 22, 2013

Why would he have been tested any more in 2012 than any random player?

The drug he got caught with was a fast-acting synthetic testosterone, one that leaves the body pretty quickly. There is no reason he couldn't have been on that in 2012 too. Especially since he had no first strike.

Strange that the one time he needed something, the person he turned to was someone who was in Miami when he was at The U. You'd think he would have found something more convenient to his locale.

Anyway, it is going to be a joy in a few years watching him make $19 million, or a million per home run.

poindexter · Aug 22, 2013

Ah, who gives a fuck? These PED apologies have been going on for decades now.

YankeeFan · Aug 22, 2013

Flying Headbutt said:

He only used it a short time? Usually guys only took it once. JUST ONE TIME.

That excuse is beyond cliched. Every player who has ever been busted used stuff just one time. So points for creativity, but unless short amount of time is the whole season, or multiple seasons, I don't buy it.
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And, it was at the end of the season, to deal with a nagging injury.

Yet, he somehow knew right where to go to get illegal stuff in the form of a cream and a lozenge.

TheSportsPredictor · Aug 22, 2013

Did Ragu write that?

Starman · Aug 22, 2013

Like Pete Rose: Presume every single thing he says is a lie.

Armchair_QB · Aug 22, 2013

Still a lying piece of shit.

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Ryan Braun's statement just released

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Ryan Braun's statement just released

old_tony Well-Known Member

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old_tony Well-Known Member

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old_tony Well-Known Member

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LongTimeListener Well-Known Member

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