"It's a shame that Ryan Braun, whose slugging just led Milwaukee to a division title then to a National League MVP honor, recently tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. That's what ESPN reported Saturday, and that's a lock to draw the mandatory 50-game suspension from Major League Baseball.

Even if Braun's claim of innocence is proven true, a ton of public trust has been lost all over again, in the sport and its players. This wasn't some middle reliever. This was the MVP.

But that's exactly why we shouldn't lose full perspective here.

At least baseball had the systems in place to make this happen, having long ago passed the other North American professional sports in its handling of doping.

At least it had the guts to go to the outside for a second opinion, having turned over Braun's sample to the World Anti-Doping Agency, the body that strictly governs the Olympics.

At least its history shows that no player is exempt, having busted stars such as Manny Ramirez, Rafael Palmeiro and now Braun.

For the record, these are the most prominent NFL players suspended for doping: Rodney Harrison, Shawne Merriman and Brian Cushing. All were defensive standouts, none a marquee attraction.

In the NHL: Bryan Berard.

In the NBA: Rashard Lewis."