WHY DOES THE SUSPENSION OF RYAN BRAUN MAKE ME SO HAPPY?

If my headline piqued your interest, that's great. That was kind of the point. If you're reading this because you want to know the answer that question, stop now. I'm pretty sure there isn't one, or at least not a good one. But it is worth exploring, because I am definitely happy about the situation the Brewers' slugger (and 2011 NL MVP) has found himself in.

First, you have to know some background on me and my biases (which you may already know):

-I am a fan of the San Francisco Giants and during my formidable childhood years, Barry Bonds was my favorite player.

-I think that every player since 1988 (or so) should be under the cloud of the "Steroid Era". This includes guys like Ken Griffey, Jr. If you played during this era, you are under suspicion, whether you're directly linked or not.

-If someone is linked to PEDs, or has a body (or a body of work) that doesn't seem natural, I automatically think they are guilty, regardless of evidence or statements to the contrary.

-I have a lot of family and friends in Wisconsin and, other than them, beer, and cheese, I see no redeeming quality in that state.

So am I happy because this is bad for Wisconsin? I'd be lying if I said that wasn't a part of it. Schadenfreude is real, and I do find pleasure in the fact that the best baseball player in the state finally went down. It also doesn't hurt that Braun's biggest supporter during his 2011-2012 PED scandal was Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rogers, whom I have a healthy (unhealthy?) dislike of. My hatred of Wisconsin definitely plays a role here, but I don't think it can fully explain the amount of joy in my heart.

Maybe I'm happy because my childhood hero is a known (though not proven) steroid user who is pretty universally hated. Every time someone gets popped for steroids, it makes what Barry Bonds did less outrageous and it makes his accomplishments more valid. If everyone was on 'roids (they were), it doesn't really matter that Barry Bonds was too, but it does matter that he was still better than everyone else. I understand that his place on the list of "Greatest Baseball Players of All Time" will forever be affected by his (alleged) use of banned substances and the era in which he played, but isn't the best cheater among cheaters still the best? The more people who are busted, and the longer this era extends, the more likely that history will remember Barry Bonds in a kinder way than most think possible right now. This is true, and makes me happy, but again, it doesn't account for the fact that I've had a smile on my face since the Braun news broke.

It could be that Braun's guilt will go down as another case of a guy vehemently denying allegations against him before those (or similar) allegations are proven true. The list of these guys would exceed the character limit on this blog. I do like to see bad things happen to bad people, but I don't think this is the answer to my quest.

Is it that baseball is cleaning itself up? Nope. If anything, this proves that the Steroid Era is still going and that this game is far from clean. In fact, Braun being a PED user shows us that it isn't only guys who look impossibly muscular (Yasiel Puig) or those who put up impossible numbers (Chris Davis) who are using. It could be anybody. Let those words sink in and really understand what that means. Anybody and everybody could be  using this stuff, including those who previously passed the smell test. Braun is now our shining example that it doesn't necessarily blow your head up like a balloon or allow you to break all kinds of records. It might just make you good enough to win an MVP while playing for a decent team. It might just make you good enough to sit at the end of a bench for five seasons and make a couple million dollars. This paragraph is so depressing that it can't be why I'm so happy.

I've got it! It's because while this may not be good for baseball, it is good for society. I don't want kids worshiping guys who don't deserve it (like I did). I want these guys found out and I want them to suffer the consequences of their actions. But, who can kids look up to if not their favorite baseball player? And does anyone really believe that a multimillionaire losing a few bucks and being shamed for a few months is going to change anything? If doing steroids is the reason for my ascent to fame and wealth, and then becomes the reason for my (relatively short) downfall, isn't that a net positive? Doesn't the upside of PED use heavily outweigh the downside? Won't it always?

So, why does the suspension of Ryan Braun make me so happy? I guess it really doesn't. I need some cheese and beer.

MY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION

It’s 7:15 on New Year's Eve. A beautiful young woman sits at a nice restaurant, dressed to the nines, all alone. Across town, a young man sits in a radio studio, finishing up the year’s work before he sprints out the door to meet his date.

This is a true story, and a microcosm of my 2012. That’s going to change.

I’ve never made a New Year’s Resolution before, and that’s going to change, too. In 2013 I will focus less on work, and more on things that really matter.

A little background: In 2012 I worked multiple jobs. I worked between 60-70 hours every week. I worked 7 days a week, four of which included a shift that began before dawn. This was great for my career, and I don’t regret it nor would I change it if I could. I reached some goals and accomplished some things that already have and will continue to change my life for the better. But some things fell by the wayside, most of all my personal relationships.

For the first time since I was 15, I went an entire year without visiting my high school friends in La Crosse, Wisconsin. I missed out on the annual reunion of my college buddies from the University of Iowa. I missed countless weddings, parties, and nights out with people whose friendship I cherish. The people who sacrificed the most last year were the people whom I love the most.

In 2013 I will have one job (with a little work on the side). I will vacation with family, visit friends, rekindle old friendships, and create new ones.

To any current or prospective employer who may be reading this, this doesn’t mean I will stop working hard. I am driven, more than ever, to better myself, hone my skills, and strengthen and broaden my brand. But I do have a new set of priorities.

In 2012 I focused on my career. In 2013 I will focus on my life.