Boston.com - Big Papi is likely to get a lot smaller in the marketing world with news that the Red Sox slugger tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. With his genial nature, mile-wide smile, and pristine reputation until now, David Ortiz has racked up about $4.5 million in endorsements over the years from companies including Reebok, JetBlue, and Glaceau, the maker of vitamin water, according to the 2009 Sports Illustrated list of the 50 top-earning American athletes. But his reign as the face of the Red Sox has probably come to an end as companies seek to distance themselves from the scandal. “The success or failure of any brand is trust, and David Ortiz has broken this bond of trust,’’ said John Fisher, former chief executive of shoe company Saucony, who now runs a sports marketing consultancy in Boston.“Fans will be more forgiving than corporate America. Businesses do not want to risk being associated,’’ he said. “It’s just a shame because Ortiz has had this pristine, positive image,’’ said Chris Cakebread, a Boston University professor who teaches sports marketing.

Well when you have a point you have a point. I’m sure Big Papi is going to lose lots of money in endorsement deals because of this. I mean what company would ever risk being associated with somebody who used steroids? Because it’s a slippery slope. Once you start doing that next thing you know companies like Nike will start using rapists as the centerpiece of their entire marketing campaign. Hey wait a minute….

Seriously though I hope Big Papi reads this blog because what I’m about to say is very important. In fact I’m just going to address this to him.

Dear Papi,

Listen nobody with a brain cares that you used steroids. Nobody. We all knew you did it and frankly we’re happy you did. There is no way we win the 2 World Series without you all juiced up. It’s not your fault. You had no choice. Everybody was doing it. Not just on the Red Sox and Yankees but everywhere. MLB looked the other way. Players looked the other way, writers looked the other way, etc. It was good for the game. We get that. It was either take steroids and make millions of dollars and win championships or pump gas. Everybody would have made the same decision in your shoes. If you tell me steroids will make me the best writer on the internet and a millionaire I’ll inject them in my asshole so fast it would make your head spin. Sure Dan Shaugnessy is still cleaning the load off his ceiling from when he found out you were busted but that’s just because he and all the other writers in this city are miserable SOB’s who hate their life, hate the players and hate the fans. Don’t let them skew the reality of the situation. Steroids is a non factor for 99.9% of baseballs fans. So what I’m saying is just come clean. Say you did them. Say you wanted to win the World Series and be the best player possible. If you do that this will blow over tomorrow and I will demand that the Stoolies boycott any company that drops you from their roster because of this fiasco.

BUT if you go the Arod or Clemens route and start making excuses and blaming other people that’s when it gets hairy. We’re not stupid. Just admit you took them and move on. Nobody cares anyway. The bigger issue is being lied to about it after you get busted. Sure you probably should have admitted it right away, but nobody seems to have the balls to do that except Canceco. Still it’s not too late to be the bigger man here. Just take the Andy Petite high road and everybody will forget about it instantly. But if you act like Clemens/Arod then I can’t defend you anymore.

Yours Truly,

Pres