Josh Hamilton’s performance in Monday’s Home Run Derby was certainly amazing. He just kept hitting bomb after bomb into just about every nook and cranny of New York’s Yankee Stadium. It helped make the Mid-Summer Classic, just that, a classic. The Texas Rangers slugger launched 28 first-round homers, advancing to the finals against Minnesota’s Justin Morneau after hitting four more in the semifinals.
Not even Morneau’s victory in the contest could diminish the impression Hamilton left on everyone. The phenomenal All-Star Game matched (ended by Morneau scoring on a sac fly in the bottom of the 15th inning), but couldn’t surpass Hamilton’s story.
Hamilton was once the top overall pick of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999, but an injury from a car accident and drug addiction derailed what seemed like a promising career. He failed multiple drug tests. He admitted waking up in strange places and even came out of a drug-induced daze while walking bewteen the yellow lines of a street with traffic whipping by on both sides. A quasi-intervention from his grandmother pleading with him to get help turned him around.
First off, I’m glad he had someone there to help, he didn’t lose his life during that dark time and has been able to become a success in the game he showed so much promise in. Second, he can be a beacon for people consumed by addiction. It sounds like he’s embraced that aspect.
Here’s the problem I have with drowning him in adoration. Josh Hamilton created his own problems with addiction. We applaud stories without thinking of the obvious. He failed to stay clean in the first place. He did it to himself. Hamilton wasn’t strong enough to avoid that black hole of addiction. We all have vices whether it’s alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, cheeseburgers, pizza or Reality TV shows (Heck, I qualify for all of the last four). When it boils down to it, though, we only have ourselves to blame and even if we shake those evils, we shouldn’t be held in a higher light than even the lowest person who has avoided those in the first place.
Let’s keep it in perspective. Hamilton’s achievement Tuesday and the last three years which he’s stayed clean are worth a gigantic pat on the back and the proverbial baseball “Atta Boy!”
Be happy for Josh Hamilton and if you ever see him, give him a thumbs up. I just don’t think he should be anointed as the hero of all heroes.
Filed under: Baseball, Hodge Podge
All I know is the Cubs picked him up in the Rule 5 draft last year and traded him to Cincy for . . . wait for it . . . magic beans.
Marc,
As a Cubs fan aren’t you used to that by now? How long is that list of players who were former Cubs or in the Cubs organization and broke out for other teams? I love the “magic beans” line. CLASSIC!
The list is long and maddening.
It’s a disease, we all know people who aren’t equipped with the same discipline as others. He seems to be using his recovery as a way to help others overcome or never start and he should more proud of that that anything.
JP,
That’s good, but I just have a major problem elevating him above someone who hasn’t given in to those demons. I disagree with the disease part, unless you want to categorize it as a self-inflicted disease. Some people cannot control Cancer, Huntington’s Disease, ALS, etc. I say some because while some are hereditary, some can put themselves at risk of cancer by smoking and chewing regularly or eating poorly. Same with Heart Disease.
I certainly understand your point. If he can influence people with his story, he should take pride in it as well as being able to overcome. I just think it should be held in perspective. He deserves respect, but so do those players who take care of business and never reach that low in the first place.