To Tell The Truth...

Some of you may remember a program from the fifties and early sixties called ‘To Tell the Truth.’ Three individuals would come out and tell the panel, the audience and those of us watching at home, “My name is _______.” It was the same name. Then Garry Moore would tell the story of the real individual and then the panel would ask each of these people questions about their story. Sometimes they saw through the lies and would pick the right person. But many other times the best liar of the bunch was chosen and the panel couldn’t believe they were duped.

Baseball is going through a lot of the same thing right now. Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers was found to have used Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) shortly after he had been chosen as the National League MVP a couple of years ago. Braun did the most-manly thing possible by blaming the person who picked up the sample and accusing that guy of contaminating it.

There was enough doubt that Braun did not get punished for the sample that tested positive for PEDs. However, the delivery driver was punished by the public for his ‘role’ in trying to destroy Braun’s career.

I’m not sure if Braun has apologized to this guy or not. But he should and he should also make a monetary contribution for all of the hate this guy endured.

Last week Major League baseball came down hard on Braun and delivered a 65 game suspension for using the PEDs. That may be the easiest thing that he has to do because he lied to teammates, fans and friends and whatever side of the PED issue you stand that may be worse than breaking the Major League rule on banned substances.

It will not be easy for Ryan Braun fans to get over this one.

But if he cleans up his act and doesn’t use anymore then I’m sure fans will have a short memory and forgive him, especially the Ryan Braun memorabilia collectors.

There are others who will also be banned from the game for a while, including Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez could lose the rest of this season and next season.

I’ve even read where at least one person thinks he may get a lifetime ban. I’m not sure that will happen because baseball still understands the value these players have at the turnstiles.

But baseball is big on statistics and anytime a record is broken by a person that may have used these drugs it totally freaks out the baseball purists as well it should. Some believe that the Player’s Union needs to stand with Major League baseball so that those players that won’t stay away from the PEDs will not play in the Major or Minor Leagues. I don’t see that happening anytime soon unless the baseball fans demand it.

As a fan, I want to trust the players. I want to watch them succeed because they work hard and refuse to take short cuts to get them built up physically beyond imagination. We also shouldn’t complain when our guy is caught and the other team’s guy appears to get away with it. In our minds we can’t understand the unfairness of the situation. If the other guy doesn’t get caught it may mean he’s not using.

I want honesty and I want integrity in all aspects of this great game so please tell the truth even if the truth is. “I’m guilty.” In the long run those who tell the truth will be more respected than those who lie and ruin another’s life or career.

If you don’t agree with me, please send your letter to Bud Selig, Commissioner of Major League Baseball. Thank you.