Brewers Fans Give Ryan Braun Standing Ovation

Mar 31, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun (8) is introduced to fans before an opening day baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Would you give a standing ovation for a player accused and convicted of using performance enhancing drugs (PED’s)?

Monday was the Milwaukee Brewers 2014 home opener, it also marked Ryan Braun’s first game since being suspended for the use of PED’s and subsequently lying about said use.

Upon his return the Brewers faithful gave the former All-Star a standing ovation, one that worthy of some sort of achievement not one worthy of returning from a suspension. Braun was handed a season ending suspension on July 22, 2013, his suspension was essentially 65 games, much less than the 100 games he could have faced.

Braun is the face of the franchise in Milwaukee, he is the heart and soul of the Brewers, who the fans come to the park to see. It makes sense why they are excited for him to come back. But a standing ovation? Really Milwaukee?

The problem with this is the man cheated, he cheated then he lied. Not only lied to baseball executives, he lied to his teammates, his friends, and the fans.

Ryan Braun owes no one anything, he can do what he wants. He is not a role model, he doesn’t have to adhere to the role model guidelines parents would like so their children can look up to him. That isn’t part of his contract, and no player should have to do that.

The problem lies in the fact that he lied. Remember when Mark McGuire said he did PED’s and everyone responded with “yeah we know” there is a difference between that and the Braun situation.

Braun lied, he tried to convince everyone baseball and their testing protocol was the reason he tested positive. He pointed the finger at everyone but him until the end. The fans stood by him, supported him while the rest of us accused him of cheating.

Then he gets suspended, talk about egg on your face Ryan. Aaron Rodgers famously bet his salary on Braun’s innocence, that didn’t make him look like a fool.

So that brings us to Monday and the Brewers fans giving Braun a standing ovation and for what? Coming back from a suspension he lied to the world about? We scold players for everything these days, then reward them for sitting around for 65 games because of their own doing.

Parents around the country were furious with Braun, how would they explain this to their children when he was suspended. Answer me this Brewers fans, how will you explain rewarding a convicted cheater with such a warm welcoming?