Would I lie to you? Would I lie to you, honey? Now would I say something that wasn't true?

-Eurythmics

Probably the most famous lie of all time was uttered when Adam and Eve held that half-eaten apple and told the powers that be they didn't do it. From that single lesson, we're taught at an early age the consequences of being dishonest. From George Washington's I cannot tell a lie to Richard Nixon's I am not a crook to Bill Clinton's I did not have sexual relations with that woman, our nation boasts a notable history of dishonesty and indiscretion. If both biblical and presidential figures lie, why should we be surprised when athletes do the same?

Over the past several years, sports fans have been treated to a barrage of lies, excuses, fibs, mistruths and fabrications about who did what, when, where and how. Based on those varied and often contradictory accounts, we are left to play both judge and jury, evaluating wherein lie the actual truth.

David Ortiz, the lovable Big Papi, is the most recent professional baseball player whose name surfaced on a failed drug test. In a press conference this weekend, Ortiz apologized, telling the nation that he has never bought or used steroids but rather it was a combination of then-legal supplements and vitamins that triggered the bad test. Are we to believe him? Should we when so many before him have lied?

Ortiz is just another in the long line of major league baseball players to confess his 'sins' to the nation, coming clean only when caught. Once sure-fire Hall of Famers Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds continue to plead their innocence with regards to accusations of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) they allegedly ingested. Rafael Palmeiro told a Congressional hearing he never used steroids. Shortly thereafter, he failed a drug test. In that same session, Mark McGwire said he wasn't there to talk about his past and Sammy Sosa suddenly forgot how to speak English. These players made a mockery out of a government panel that many believe had no business being involved in baseball in the first place.

Lies abound in sports. Like a child finding out there's no such thing as Santa Claus, this is something we're slowly and reluctantly getting used to. Pete Rose lied about his gambling habits for years. Alex Rodriguez lied, then lied, then lied again about his steroid use. The Patriots lied about filming other teams' practices. Michael Vick lied to the NFL Commissioner about his dog-fighting ring until

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