With the recent news of Josh Hamilton and his struggle with addiction, we realize he is not the first athlete to have dealt with addiction. Here are some other athletes who have faced addiction head on. Some have defeated it, some have not.
Darryl Strawberry, Former MLB Player
This former Major League outfielder has struggled with cocaine and alcohol abuse throughout his life. He was suspended from MLB for drug use three times and was arrested for cocaine possession and soliciting an undercover police officer.
Strawberry was in and out of drug treatments centers for much of the late 90’s and early 2000’s, according to Biography.com. He was even kicked out of a treatment facility and sentenced to 18 months in prison for probation violations.
Still, Strawberry managed to have a strong career. During his 17-year stint in the Bigs, the eight-time All-Star put up a .259 average with 335 homers and 1,000 RBI’s. He was also named the 1983 National League Rookie of the Year.
The good news here is that Strawberry continues to fight (and win) his battle with addiction.
Now sober, Strawberry has started to help others overcome their addictions. He runs the Darryl Strawberry Recover Center, which focus on a religious centered treatment to addiction.
Lawrence Taylor, Hall of Fame Football Player
Lawrence Taylor was the L.T. long before there was a Ladainian Tomlinson. He was also one of the most incredible linebackers that has ever suited up. Off the field, Taylor LOVED to party.
In an interview with ESPN back in 2012, he opened up to Byron Hunt about his partying ways.
By 8:30, on a typical night out, I’d get some coke from some Spanish guys in Harlem. In the apartment there’d be one guy with a .38. there’d be another guy sitting at a table. Id tell him how much I wanted, he’d measure it and put it in a bag. I’d buy about six, seven hundred dollars worth, then, look out world.
Lawrence Taylor was a 10-time Pro Bowler and eight-time First-Team All Pro Linebacker. Taylor was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
John Daly, GolferÂ
Professional golfer John Daly has always been known as the PGA’s “Bad Boy.” He was known to drink a fifth of Jack Daniels per day.
Daly was recently detained by police after he drunkenly passed out at a Hooters restaurant in North Carolina.
That’s just how he has always been, and probably always will be.
Daly has won two majors in the past, but he ultimately went six years without any kind of professional victory due to his alcohol abuse.
Steve Howe, Former MLB Player
Steve Howe was 22 years old when he made his Major League debut in 1980 with the Dodgers. He put up a 2.66 ERA in 84.2 innings that season.
After Howe underwent treatment for cocaine addiction in 1983, he returned to the Majors and picked up where he left off in 1985. However, Howe found himself out of the game that same year, eventually finding himself suspended by then commissioner Bowie Kuhn.
In 1987, the Rangers gave Howe a one-year deal, but his contract was terminated after he violated the terms of his treatment program and failed to show for a mandatory offseason workout.
After an arrest due to cocaine possession, and a motorcycle accident in which he was charged with drunk driving, he was killed in a car accident when his pickup truck rolled several times in the median. A toxicology report later showed that he had methamphetamine in his system.
Michael Irvin, Hall of Fame Football Player
The stories are plentiful when it comes to former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin. He was once busted in a hotel room with hookers, cocaine, marijuana and sex toys. Yes, you read that right.
Irvin was indicted by a grand jury on one felony charge of cocaine possession and one misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession.
The “Playmaker” was arrested after his retirement for drug possession charges, but the charges were later dropped. In addition to his drug charges, Irvin has also been accused of sexual assault.
Irvin tallied 11,904 receiving yards and 65 touchdowns during a 12-year career, all with the Cowboys. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.
Irvin now works as a football analyst for NFL Media and continues to fight the good fight against addiction.
Some will make fun of addiction. But remember, it impacts everyone’s life at one time or another. The trials and tribulations that come with addiction are a serious matter. It’s a disease that has been swept under the rug. Let’s hope that Hamilton gets the help that he needs, and overcomes this latest relapse. We should all be rooting for him. We should also be rooting for those in this article that are still with us. It might be too late for Steve Howe, but it isn’t for the rest.
Photo: ESPN.com