Ryan Braun. Scary.

Evidently, it has begun. That would be Major League Baseball handing down punishments for those on their "enemy combatant" list, or at least the players they suspect of having violated their drug policy -- in the past -- sometimes many years ago.

Ryan Braun, super-star slugger of the Milwaukee Brewers and the 2011 National League MVP, just got suspended for the rest of this season. The first domino has fallen. There will likely be more. After all, MLB has some 15 players on their hit list.

What fate will befall the other players that MLB has black-listed remains to be seen, but it will likely start happening soon. And those players are also likely somewhat nervous right about now.

But Braun was #1 on their hit-parade, so let's take a closer look at his case.

Last year, Braun failed a drug test. He was suspended, but oops, he appealed it, and the case eventually went before a panel of three "judges". Much was in dispute over the "chain of custody" of his blood/urine samples, and this supposedly neutral "court" finally threw out his "conviction". Braun played on.

Sure, many will say he got off on a technicality, and perhaps he did. Or maybe the testing procedure was indeed botched, or worse, sabotaged. A stretch? Probably. But I don't know for sure. Neither do others, though so many profess to do so. When you're talking about depriving somebody of their livelihood, reputation, and millions of dollars of lost wages -- it doesn't seem like too much to ask that the incriminating evidence should hold up under intense scrutiny. In a 2-1 vote, the baseball arbitration court ruled it did not. That should have been the end of it, but never underestimate the "powers that be". They weren't going to be satisfied until they had exacted some measure of revenge -- a vendetta, if you will.

Of late, it appears the majority of the press, and I dare say citizens/fans as well, have bought into the theory that if someone is charged with a "crime" -- they must be guilty. Remember OJ? A jury, who by the way heard all the evidence and testimony, decided he didn't murder Nicole and Ronald. Yet I further day say that, to this day, 99% of the arm-chair legal quarterbacks in the world think he was guilty. Everybody wants to be a prosecutor these days, and that should be a scary thought. It's an easy concept to get behind -- unless the defendant is you or a loved one. Then things look a whole lot different. For that matter, consider what OJ did in Vegas. He robbed some guys of paraphernalia that he thought belonged to him in the first place. He basically got a life sentence for that. Had it been anyone else, they might have got 2-3 years in jail, max. But like Braun, OJ was a marked man. Given any opportunity, the powers-that-be were going to slam dunk him. And they finally did. But it doesn't necessarily make it right. Was OJ a murderer well over a decade earlier? Beats me, but in my opinion, "make-up calls" have no business in a court of law.

And look what's happening now. The talking heads and internet folks are already abuzz throwing out loose-cannon innuendos presuming Braun's guilt. Surely a majority of scribes will soon follow.

"What about the people that bought Braun's jerseys and, in a show of good faith, paid hard earned money to come to the ballpark to see him play?", they bluster. "He's deceived them for almost 2 years. He lied to them. He cheated them, and now, like Lance Armstrong, he's finally admitted he was dirty all along", they add.

Really?

Here's Braun's official statement---

“As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect. I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions. This situation has taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it is has been a distraction to my teammates and the Brewers organization. I am very grateful for the support I have received from players, ownership and the fans in Milwaukee and around the country. Finally, I wish to apologize to anyone I may have disappointed – all of the baseball fans especially those in Milwaukee, the great Brewers organization, and my teammates. I am glad to have this matter behind me once and for all, and I cannot wait to get back to the game I love.”

Now, if it's not asking too much, will someone please explain to me exactly where in that statement Braun admits to being a liar, a cheat, and/or using PEDs?

He DID say the situation had taken a toll on him, his family, and has been a distraction for his teammates, and the Brewers organization. Well, of course it did. But he did NOT admit to ever having used PEDs willingly, or otherwise. It never ceases to amaze me how so many people will read their own opinions into a statement issued by another, when in fact the statement says no such thing.

Do I think Braun was dirty? Actually, based on what limited information I have had at my disposal, I would lean toward yes. But I would never -- ever -- presume that such a sketchy opinion should be taken as factual. There's a difference. A big one.

For all I know, Braun may have wearied of the never-ending persecution, and finally said "no mas". Perhaps he reached the conclusion that he would be better off to serve a suspension for the remainder of this season, and start out fresh next year. He'll take the hit. Just call off the damn dogs, already.

No doubt many will scoff at that notion, and continue to believe Braun was dirty all along. They are certainly entitled to their opinions, but that's all they are.

As mentioned before, it's easy to jump on that bandwagon. But such folks haven't walked all those miles in Braun's shoes either. They don't know the real truth any more than I do.

But the other dominoes better get ready, because Major League Baseball has employed the age-old strategy of "cut off the head, and the monster's body will die". Braun was the head, and the other guys are fingers and toes. If a monster willingly accepts his punishment at a guillotine, the fingers and toes should be scared -- very scared. Methinks their circulation is going to get very poor in the near future.