Brewers fans give Ryan Braun 'special' reception

USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale breaks down his favorites for the National League awards and the teams to watch in 2014.

MILWAUKEE -- The sound started as a slow rumble, amplifying with every step Ryan Braun took Monday afternoon toward the batter's box, echoing inside Miller Park.

Braun, who mortified this town last summer with his admission of using performance-enhancing drugs, nervously awaited this moment, wondering how he would be received for his first game since his 65-game suspension last July.

BRAUN: Fan reaction in first AB

He walked gingerly to the plate, and sneaked a peek into the stands, hardly believing what he was seeing.

Braun later conceded that he was so rattled, he could barely keep himself composed at the plate.

Standing ovation.

'It was special,'' Braun said, who went 1-for-4, and scored in the Brewers' 2-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves. 'It was an emotional moment for me.

BOX SCORE: Brewers 2, Braves 0

'I kind of allowed the adrenaline and the emotion of the moment to take over.''

Yes, if you listened close enough, there were a few scattered boos among the sellout crowd of 45,691, which included Commissioner Bud Selig, but he was welcomed back as if he were coach Bo Ryan, leading the University of Wisconsin to the Final Four.

Or, at least Hank The Dog, the Brewers' new marketing sensation.

'It was good for him, he needed that,'' Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. 'It was important for him to know that he's still loved here, and wanted. This isn't New York. The fans here are pretty forgiving. He screwed up, acknowledged it, and that's all you can do.

BONDS: Gets mixed reactions in return to Pittsburgh

'The only thing we were kind of upset about is that Hank got a better ovation than everybody else did. The dog is more loved than we are. People here love their sports, and support them, even if you're a dog.''

Just like that, on an opening day of games featuring the absurd, the Brewers fans' forgiveness and acceptance of Braun - after being betrayed just nine months ago - may have been the most bizarre event of the day.

Welcome to the 2014 baseball season.

It was a day in which we witnessed historical instant replay, with the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates making the first challenges of the season, only for Fredi Gonzalez of the Braves to go down in history as the first manager to successfully win his challenge.

It involved Braun, of course, who was ruled safe on an infield grounder by first-base umpire Greg Gibson, only to have it turned into an out just 58 seconds later.

'I had a pretty good idea I was out,'' Braun said, who then watched the replay on the center-field scoreboard with everyone else, knowing he should start his retreat to the bench.

'I didn't know they were going to show that stuff on the scoreboard, too,'' Lucroy said, still trying to come to grips with baseball's new technology.

There was Nelson Cruz, one of 14 players suspended along with Braun in the Biogenesis performance-enhancing drug case, who won the affection of his new fan base. He homered and was the hero in the Baltimore Orioles' 2-1 victory over the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox.

There was Barry Bonds, booed in his return to Pittsburgh as part of Andrew McCutchen's MVP ceremony, but perhaps more jeered for bolting Pittsburgh as a free agent in 1992 than his link to performance-enhancing drugs with the San Francisco Giants.

For fans of the truly ridiculous, Philadelphia Phillies ace Cliff Lee left the day with a 14.40 ERA, surrendering 11 hits and eight runs in just five innings against the Texas Rangers.

And he was the winning pitcher: Philadelphia 14, Texas 10.

Still, even with all of the wild finishes, extra-inning games, and instant replay, Milwaukee had exclusive rights to the drama.

'I think everyone was curious,'' Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said. 'I know I was.''

Two years ago, the Brewers and their fan base believed in him when he won his appeal over his positive drug test. Everything changed last summer with the admission that he lied. Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers abandoned him. Several of his peers ripped him.

Everyone, it seems, felt betrayed.

Funny what a difference a few apologies, public appearances, charitable events, and array of apologetic calls to ticket holders, can make.

'Why wouldn't I stick by him? He's a Brewer,'' says Chris Groves, 42, who wore his Braun jersey to the game. 'We all make mistakes. I think a majority of the people are probably doing something.

'He just got caught.''

Omar Shaikh, Braun's former partner in his restaurant group, had to cut ties last summer with Braun after the public outcry. Yet, there was Shaikh attending his first opening-day game at Miller Park Monday, wanting to make sure that he showed his support for Braun.

'People were pretty upset when it happened,'' said Shaikh, 'but people make mistakes. It's a very forgiving town. Ryan understood that we couldn't be in business together any longer, but that doesn't take away from our friendship.

The Brewers are down 6% in season-ticket sales from a year ago, Brewers president Rick Schlesinger says, but Braun's suspension played only a small factor in the decline. The team stunk, going 74-88, and with renewed optimism this season, they believe they can recover the decline with individual and group sales. Braun, of course, could play a vital role in the resurgence.

'Our fans are willing to not necessarily forget, but there's a level of forgiveness,'' Schlesinger said. 'I think a lot of the anger has dissipated. We had our focus groups, and I haven't found anyone that says because of what happened to Ryan, I'm not supporting the Brewers.

'They separated it from not being an institutional flaw, but an individual series of mistakes.

'To be candid, a strong season on the field will make a big difference.''

Still, even if Braun hits 50 homers and the Brewers win the pennant, fan Jim Best says, the healing process will take time. Best, who plans to wear Braun's $135 jersey with a big red X drawn through his name, has yet to forgive.

GALLERY: SCENES FROM OPENING DAY

Not just yet.

'I'm a recovering alcoholic,'' Best says, 'and until I came honest with my life and the conviction I had, is when my healing process started. I want to see some humbling amends out of him first. I really hope he sees the light.

'I can forgive you once. You do it again, it's a different story. I hope he sees the light.''​

Lokasi:

Share :