Brains Over Braun

Alright Ryan Braun, now what? You've already tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, though the results were dismissed and you were exonerated based on a technicality. Now your name has shown up on two documents that seem to implicate other PED users. You've had excuses for the first two instances, what's it going to be this time?

As stated above, Braun's positive test was dismissed based on the handling of the sample he gave. What stands out to me though, and always will, was that when he addressed the situation publicly, he said, "People are going to have different opinions. Most of them don't know the real story. It's tough sometime to base your opinion or formulate a decision when you don't know what happened. Overall, everybody has been real supportive." So what is the real story? Why has he only told his teammates what really happened? After doing a fair amount of digging, I was still unable to find the real story. What doesn't make sense to me is the supposed gray area here. He either took PEDs or he didn't. 

Earlier this year, Braun's name popped up on a document created by Anthony Bosch, who founded the Biogenesis of America clinic. Among the names on that list were known PED users such as Alex Rodriguez and Melky Cabrera. Braun's explanation for his name being on that document was that he consulted with Bosch during his eventual successful appeal. Possible explanation? Sure. Heck, that's even probable. It seems a bit odd, but whatever. It's plausible enough to be accepted.

Today, it has been reported that Braun's name is on yet another document, along with A-Rod, Cabrera, and Francisco Cervelli, that seems to suggest he still owes Bosch money. The original document with his name said that he had already paid for whatever he got from Bosch, be it consultation/advice or whatever, but this one doesn't. This one shows the player's names, the amount owed, and a plus sign that is either circled or not. According to sources, the circles were for when payment was made. Braun's plus sign is not circled. The ESPN post about this, (which can be found here) says that the list "was a list of players who received PEDs, and that there is no other reason to be on that paper." I'm not the smartest man in the world, by any stretch, but even I can connect the dots. 

How many times does Braun have to be connected with PEDs before we just accept the fact that he used them? He can't say he never tested positive, because he did. Three times now he's been connected to the use of performance enhancing drugs. Twice he's wriggled his way away from the connections. Does he have another trick up his sleeve, or is this the connection that will ultimately be his downfall?

Follow me on Twitter- @TwittinSports