Ryan Braun vs. Steroids

The dark cloud of the steroid era has been an insurmountable opponent for the credibility of the game's best players. Miguel Tejada, Jason Giambi, and Garry Sheffield, all struck out when faced with steroid accusations. Roger Clemens, Eric Gagne, and Scott Schoenweis all got shelled by the stigma such as Matt Harrison (and the rest of the Rangers pitching in Game 3 of last year's World Series) got knocked around by Albert Pujols. So far, Ryan Braun has done the best against the unhittable stigma of steroids.

And he barely fouled a pitch off. 

Ryan Braun was the first player in the history of baseball to successfully appeal a suspension for violating MLB's hallowed drug policy. Immediately after his win, Braun went out of his way to attack the testing system, calling it flawed and that it needed changing. The 28 year old proclaimed his victory at the battle of Maryvale park.

But the fight for Braun to restore his image has just begun. Braun has not erased his positive test for elevated testosterone by any stretch of the imagination. He has been lumped together with the group of players who all lied in front of Congress. And now, Braun must find a way to separate himself from that destructive group.

A task that no player has done since the release of the Mitchell report.

In 2007, Senator George Mitchell released an infamous burn notice for many great baseball players of this generation. The Mitchell report destroyed the credibility of Roger Clemens, arguably the best pitcher in his era. The same 409 page document defiled the sanctity of both Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, and their 1998 home run chase that restored interest in baseball. Rafael Palmiero's passionate testimony in front of Congress became a moot point when his name was also burned. Every one of these players were hated by the same fans that bought their jerseys. And the hall of fame has quarantined steroid users in a hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

Every player listed in the Mitchell report and the select few that have tested positive since then have been convicted in the court of public opinion. The very fans who watched Braun proclaim his innocence throttled his credibility. To the vast majority of baseball's audience, steroid users are marred as cheaters for the rest of their careers. For the men women and children who pay to watch their teams play, they expect the game they invest in to be honest.

A fan's investment in sports goes beyond the dollars they spend. Those who watch sports invest part of themselves into the games they love. These sports make memories for the people who watch them. Players who cheat the game pull down the veil of purity that viewers want from their sports. When the veil falls, nothing but anger and hurt remains. And through social media and sports talk radio, fans pulverize the athletes they once loved.

That stigma is the unhittable opponent Ryan Braun must face. An entity that no athlete has been able to ward off. Braun can't continue his steadfast denial without making himself look worse. Clemens, Palmiero, and Alex Rodriguez all adamantly denied their accusations, only to later be scorned for lying in the first place.
Nor can Braun submit to the entity as Andy Pettitte did. Like Pettitte, Braun  would then be remembered as a great player (assuming his career continues at his MVP level of last season), but he tested positive.

Braun's only chance at clearing his name is if MLB comes out and says that they wrongfully tested Braun in the first place. And that will happen right about the time that Jonhnny Vander Meer's no hitter streak gets broken: never.

Ryan Braun can roll into spring training camp with the rest of the Brewers knowing that he can play and help his team win. But last season's MVP will be accompanied everywhere he goes by the stigma of the steroid era. And that cloud, will never evaporate.