By Ronald N. Guy Jr.
First, an admission: I’m a D.C. sports fan. That is relevant
for the following list. It includes
players I couldn’t or won’t “boo”…regardless of on-field performance. No amount of botched plays, dropped balls or
strikeouts would warrant me hurling negativity in their directions or impolite
pleasantries at my television. Their
accomplishments are too great, they have brought me too much joy and they have
consistently conducted themselves with admirable amounts of class, dignity and
integrity (remember those nouns). They
are bigger than the game; they are pillars of the community and role models -
to a man. Who are they? Here’s my short-list: Cal Ripken Jr., Ryan
Zimmerman, Art Monk and Darrell Green.
I’ll stop there. More names would increase risk (of being proven
wrong). Unquestioned character is in
short supply these days.
Despite my prudence and the spotless personnel records of
the fabulous four, risk remains. Humans
are quite capable of spectacular mistakes.
Would it shock me to wake up tomorrow morning to news that one of the
faces on my Mount Character committed a disturbing transgression? I’ve been a sports fan too long for poor
behavior or bad choices by athletes to shock me. And if one of these fine gentlemen proved not to be the man I
think they are – regardless of their otherwise impeccable track record – I’d
let them hear about it. If one, say,
pulled a Ryan Braun, I’d have no problem offering a hearty boo (among other
thoughts) in reply.
Braun, star outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers, has been
busy soiling his reputation. The
Brewers drafted Braun in 2005 and by 2011 the homegrown product had become
Milwaukee’s favorite son, a perennial All-Star and the 2011 National League
MVP. Chances are he occupied some
star-struck Milwaukee-based sportswriter’s “all-time good dude” list. Then MLB and their pesky doping tests upset
the love affair. Braun tested positive
for elevated levels of testosterone in the fall of 2011. He defiantly denied the allegations,
tenaciously fought the results and, in a controversial decision, had his record
cleared in early 2012.
During a passionate monologue in February 2012, Braun
filleted MLB’s testing protocol and showered himself with superlatives. Braun proclaimed he was a man that owned his
mistakes and would “bet my life” the questionable substances never entered his
body. He praised his conduct during the
appeal process, describing himself as a man of class, honor, dignity and
integrity (remember those?). It was all
rather moving. It was also a lie. Eighteen months later, after having had
Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a close friend, and the Brewers, a team
who had signed him to a 9-figure contract extension, take him at his word and
contribute to his defense, Braun admitted to PED usage. A cheap, disingenuous and obligatory apology
followed.
MLB suspended Braun for the remainder of the 2013 season (65
games). Having betrayed the trust of
his team, friends and the love of Brewers fans, Braun’s return to the field
this spring promised to be as warm as cheating spouse’s return home. However, as Braun strode to the plate at
Milwaukee’s Miller Park, he received…a standing ovation.
The scene was analogous to an embattled hero returning after
an unjust exile. I understand forgiving
Braun, but how could any self-respecting Brewers fan embrace this unethical
dunce? I interpreted the cheers
lavished on Braun as evidence of the death of the athletic role model. Perhaps that’s a wise, sign-of-the-times
angle. Maybe fans are perfectly fine
with winning at all cost and judge players as loosely as professional
wrestlers.
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