Rashard Lewis Wears Out the ‘It Was Just a Tainted Supplement’ Excuse

So Rashard Lewis became like the first NBA player I can remember who tested positive for steroids. That means we should strip the Magic of their Finals appearance and crown the Cavs the reigning Eastern Conference champs. I mean how else can you explain Shard going from 5.4 to 5.7 boards per game in one off-season? OK, maybe that wasn’t the difference maker, but something that’s bothering me is the lame excuse I’m tired of hearing:

“Toward the end of the season I took an over-the-counter supplement which at the time I did not realize included a substance banned by the NBA. I apologize to Magic fans, my teammates and this organization for not doing the research that should come with good judgment. I hope this unintentional mistake will not reflect poorly on our team and its great character. I hope every athlete can learn from my mistake that supplements, no matter how innocent they seem, should only be taken after consulting an expert in the field.”

Honestly, how many times have we heard this excuse? J.C. Romero, the Williams Wall from Minnesota, seems like every player who gets busted blames it on a supplement. When will all the players take responsibility for their mistakes? And why don’t they get products checked by their leagues before they take them? If they get approval from the league, then how could they possibly have a problem? When you have multiple game suspensions and millions on the line how could you make a mistake like that? I can’t imagine guys being that sloppy with that much at stake. You’re really expecting me to continue buying these lame excuses?