Recipe For Maintaining Fans Respect

I don't like baseball; most folks who know me find that out. But today, I read this story on ESPN about the Boston Red Sox's David Ortiz allegedly testing positive for performance enhancing drugs, and how it might taint his legacy as a star. I won't go into the whole reason I think this is crap, but I was struck by his statement:

"Today I was informed by a reporter that I was on the 2003 list of MLB players to test positive for performance-enhancing substances. This happened right before our game, and the news blindsided me.

"I want to talk about this situation and I will as soon as I have more answers. In the meantime I want to let you know how I am approaching this situation. One, I have already contacted the Players Association to confirm if this report is true. I have just been told that the report is true. Based on the way I have lived my life, I am surprised to learn I tested positive.

"Two, I will find out what I tested positive for. And, three, based on whatever I learn, I will share this information with my club and the public. You know me -- I will not hide and I will not make excuses.""

Folks, this is a recipe for how to react to accusations for a person in the public spotlight. It maintains the respect that the fans desperately want to hold on to, as well as showing how serious the athlete takes it. I don't know anything about David Ortiz, and I could care less if he took PED's, but I will remain a fan of this man for the stand-up way he is putting himself out there, eloquently and honorably.

Well done, sir. Well done.

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