Ryan Braun

Ryan Braun used to be my favorite player, with the key phrase in that segment being "used to be" rather than is. I could kind of turn the other way and ignore his accusations and technicalities as long as he was still on the field for the Brewers every day. But with his name as a glaring omission from the Brewers' lineup for the past few weeks, it's hard not to notice the other stories and tales that are emerging from this rubble. And if the one that emerged yesterday proves to be true, it's going to be tough to wholeheartedly cheer for Mr. Braun when he returns to Milwaukee in 2014.

Here's what the ESPN report said:

According to sources, Braun called veteran players around baseball privately at that time to lobby for their support. In the calls -- confirmed by three sources -- Braun told other players that in the preparation for his appeal, some information had become known about the collector of his urine sample, Dino Laurenzi Jr., including that he was a Cubs fan -- with the implication he might work against Braun, who played for a division rival of the Cubs.
Braun, who is Jewish, also told the players that he had been told the collector was an anti-Semite.

It's one thing to try to save your hide. It's another to take whoever else you can with you.

Braun needs to see what he took, when he took it and for what duration he took it for. I don't even care why. That part is equal parts obvious and unnecessary. But he needs to start making some apologies. Stat.