So...Ryan Braun apologizes.
The former N.L MVP is serving a 65 game suspension after Major League Baseball was able to link him to Biogenesis a Miami area facility that allegedly provided steroids and other performance enhancing drugs to professional athletes.
Braun had been suspected for a couple of years. In early 2012, he was able to beat MLB after allegedly failing a drug test. In that test, he accused the Fed-Ex driver who transported his sample to a lab of mishandling the contents among other things.
Today, Braun released a statement through the Milwaukee Brewers saying that he "Deserved to be suspended" and nobody should be blamed for what he did other than himself.
He also apologized, sort of to the Fed-Ex driver Dino Laurenzi, Jr.
While apologetic in tone, Braun still couldn't muster the courage to look reporters and others in the eye to apologize, rather he released this statement via the Brewers website:
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.
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