Ryan Braun Is Now One of the Least Trustworthy Athletes in America
Ryan Braun’s reputation has been hit harder than one of the balls he crushed deep into the stands that was aided by performance-enhancing drugs.
The disgraced Milwaukee Brewers slugger, who agreed to a suspension for the remainder of the season last month for violating Major League Baseball’s drug policy, has been named one of the 10 least trustworthy athletes.
Braun comes in at number nine on the list, trailing heavy hitters and lightning rods for controversy like Marion Jones, John Daly, Manny Ramirez, Lance Armstrong, Michael Vick, Metta World Peace, Pete Rose and Dennis Rodman.
Rubicom CEO Paul Smith says Braun’s demise eclipses that of one other well-known star who’s had to battle back from a tarnished image:
When someone doesn't play it straight, they get brutalized. Ryan can't fall much further. Even Tiger [Woods] didn't fall down this low.”
Braun’s dramatic leap on the list may not have to do so much with his suspension as it does with his previous dogged insistence that he did not take PEDs. His suspension has also made him a recognizable figure among even casual fans, with 30% of the general population aware of him now. That’s double the figure who knew him last September, meaning he’s made the jump from famous to infamous.
[ESPN]