Chris Davis cheated and got caught.

Three national columnists expressing their opinions regarding Chris Davis's suspension. None of them use the word "cheat," except in the context of "cheating is not his worst crime."


First up is Bob Nightengale. Cheating is not Davis's worst crime, stupidity is:

"You couldn't help but feel sorry for Baltimore Orioles slugger Chris Davis last year."

 Poor Chris Davis.

  
"He had the mother of all breakout seasons, hitting a major-league leading 53 home runs, and all of the while, fending off the insinuation and constant questions that he must be cheating."

I insinuate that Tuesday follows Monday.


"Well, on this day, you can't help but feel sorry once again for Chris Davis, wondering how a man can possibly be this stupid."

Well, I am chock full of compassion, generally speaking. I don't feel too sorry for Chris Davis.


"He should be suspended for sheer stupidity.

Davis, diagnosed years ago with attention deficit disorder, did not bother seeking an exemption for at least the last two years, according to a person close to Davis with direct knowledge of the condition. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about Davis' condition.

Davis simply believed he didn't need the medication any longer.

Yet, when Davis started to struggle this year, what does he do?

He turned to Adderall."

I don't believe his problem is attention deficit disorder.

I believe is problem is hitting the curve.

Adderall helped him hit the curve. That's why he started using Adderall again.

I actually don't think taking Adderall is a stupid decision. He would be in the minor leagues without Adderall. Even after getting caught and suspended, the benefits outweighed the costs.


"He can't be in the Orioles celebratory clubhouse when champagne is doused when they clinch the AL East - as soon as next week, thanks to their 10-game lead.

He can't be with the team during the American League Division Series.

If the Orioles reach the second round, he can't be with the team at the start of the American League Championship Series, and probably not at all.

And, if the Orioles make the World Series, why punish any player who helped the Orioles get to the final round, taking him off the roster to play Davis, who won't have seen live pitching for a month?"

I think I'm going to cry.


Well, that was unsatisfying.

Let's see if Jayson Stark sticks it to a cheater:

"I've spent the morning hearing people say that Chris Davis was selfish, getting himself suspended for 25 games in the middle of a September pennant race.

I've spent the morning hearing people say that Chris Davis was stupid, taking a substance like Adderall, which he knew he couldn't take without getting nailed.

Well, there's certainly an element of truth to both of those labels. But there's a part of this I haven't heard anyone talk about.

Chris Davis has a problem. In his apology statement on Friday morning, he indicated the problem is with Adderall. And if that's true, his problem is actually shared by thousands of people in this country -- quite a few of them athletes, by the way."

Of course this is true.

Lots of people do lots of illegal or unethical things -- and quite a few of them are athletes.


"It's easy for all of us to say that guys like Davis should just stop taking it if they know they don't have a league-approved, therapeutic use exemption. Obviously, that's what they should do.

But Davis' suspension Friday was just one more reminder that it's something many of them can't do."

Of course this is true. Same could be said for steroids, HGH, alcohol abuse, wife-beating, and gambling.

Hitting HRs is probably addictive, as is financial success and national prominence. I'm sure it's better than playing in the minor leagues.

Adderall is probably also addictive.

I hope Davis stops taking Adderall and resumes his rightful baseball career in the minor leagues rather than his bogus near-MVP performance.


"So think about this. If Davis got suspended for using Adderall, it means he tested positive previously, knew he tested positive, knew he was going to be tested at least eight more times in the next year and . . .
Kept taking it anyway.

If you think this through logically, you know what that suggests. It suggests he didn't keep taking Adderall because he thought he could somehow beat all those tests. Maybe he kept taking it because he couldn't stop."

Whichever.

Couldn't stop, wouldn't stop.

He's a fraud and a cheater. This is certainly not a surprising revelation.


So maybe Jeff Passan can bring some "moral clarity" to the situation:

"Chris Davis knew exactly what he was doing when he started popping Adderall again. More than any sport, baseball’s relentless toll can ruin a player’s psyche, cause him to forget who he is and what he’s done, send him into the sort of spiral that makes him look for something, anything. Davis sought answers in a pill bottle."

Baseball's relentless toll ruined his psyche and caused him to forget who he is and what he has done.

Hmmm.

Maybe he remembered what he had done while taking Adderall.


"Long a proponent of playing clean – just last year he called Hank Aaron and Roger Maris the all-time and single-season home run champions – Davis found himself ensnared in the complex world of amphetamines"

Never a proponent of playing clean. Long a proponent of talking about playing clean.

I don't know, maybe it's just me. I was always lucky enough to avoid getting snared in the complex world of amphetamines.

How about you?

Did amphetamines ever jump out of the bottle and ensnare you?


"The difficulty manifests itself with players trying to get through the grind of a 7½-month spring-to-fall season, with constant travel, day games after night games and injuries sapping energy. They believe amphetamines help, so every spring, dozens of players apply for exemptions, hoping a league-appointed doctor will grant it. Though rejections exist, they’re not altogether prevalent."

Yeah, the grind of the baseball season must be demanding.

Especially when you can't hit.

Which Chris Davis can't.

Unless he is taking Adderall.


"And it’s more stupid than selfish, because certainly the intent was to help the Orioles overcome those losses, to play like he believed he should. A 53-home run, MVP-type season morphing into a Mendoza Line mess (.196/.300/.404) is enough to make any player question himself."

That's it. I'm done.

"Trying to help the team" is all I can take.

You all are cowards who should demand the immediate revocation of ARod's suspension.