Weighing in on Ryan Braun

The biggest story in sports this week is the admission and suspension of Milwaukee Brewers superstar Ryan Braun.  He's the face of the franchise and they have built an entire team around his abilities.  They also rewarded him and his stellar numbers with a very lucrative contract.  Last year, he was involved in a performance enhancing drug scandal and he pleated innocence.  I didn't believe his story one iota last year, but now the entire state of Wisconsin is let down by a baseball hero that they stood behind.  Everything came crashing down this week when Braun admitted his guilt.

From time to time I weigh-in on heavy issues in the sports world.  I'm not a journalist and don't claim to understand how to spin controversial topics.  I do, however, often write about character in competition and occasionally feel a responsibility to chime in with my thoughts on certain relevant topics.  In addition, Braun is an extremely important sports personality in my community and the state that I live in.  Many of my athletes wear the number 8 jersey to practice.

I don't know Ryan Braun and chances are high that you don't either.  As a result, I'm not in a position to comment on his character.  Neither are you.  Professional athletes are public figures and we like to meddle in their lives, but we're not entitled to opinions on their personal lives, Ryan Braun included.  I do believe he has a responsibility as a professional athlete to be a positive role model, however, we have a responsibility as citizens and fans to not put him on a pedestal.  He's merely a man, like you and me.  That we feel privileged to call him inappropriate names in a Facebook status says more about us than it does about him. 

Public figures (professional athletes) are human beings and make mistakes and poor decisions, just like everyone else.  To expect anything else is folly on our part.  Of course, disappointment is a natural response for many reasons, but we can't afford to make these people more than what they are.  Everyone is capable of falling.  If we don't remember that, we will be humbled.  For example, I bet Ryan Braun doesn't feel like a very big deal right now.  #humbled  More than ever, public figures are under a microscope and all of their transgressions are on display.  Twenty years ago important people in my life told me to take these athletes with a grain of salt.  That's exponentially more true today.

In his statement, Braun said that he has made some mistakes.  I agree; we all have.  I want to clarify what I see as being the difference between a mistake and a choice, though.  A mistake is a one-time decision that happens suddenly without taking into account the next steps (like making a wrong turn on the Interstate and getting lost).  In this case, Braun didn't make a mistake.  He made a series of poor choices.  He clearly understood what the risks were and unwaveringly moved forward.  I'm not event talking about taking PED's.  When confronted (last year), he made the choice to deny any wrongdoings and in the process, affected the lives of many people.  There's a difference between a mistake and a choice and that's one of the teachable moments here.  At one time, Ryan Braun controlled his own destiny, now it's in the hands of others - right or wrong.

Brewers fans will forgive Ryan Braun.  I'm certain of it.  Wisconsin is full of passionate fans who have demonstrated that they give athletes a second chance.  They've also endured their fair share of professional sports teams with losing records, so they're quick to rally behind a winner.  Even though this is a terrible set of circumstances created by an individual who made a series of poor choices, Ryan Braun is a fierce competitor and a "winner" (in the competition sense of the word).  I think Brewers fans will lick their wounds for a while, but when Braun hits his first 420' home run next year, it will be water under the bridge...which is a scary reality in professional sports...