These are the problems that I have with a few of these stories that I'm supposed to feel good about...
Lets start it off with the first story in SI's list;
Rick Ankiel
If you don't know the story of Rick Ankiel it goes a little like this...
Rick Ankiel was one of the most highly touted pitching prospects in all of baseball but had to undergo Tommy John Surgery in 2003. He returned to the Cardinals in 2004 as a rehabbing pitcher, and later abandoned the position in 2005.
Ankiel began to work his way back up to the majors as an outfielder in 2005 and reached it back to the majors with the Cards in 2007. It wasn't soon after that the guy started hitting bombs.
In 2007 the Naw York Daily News ran a story that linked Ankiel along with Troy Glaus to an online steroid and HGH ring. Ankiel, however, began the great steroid excuse... I took it for rehabbing. He said he was taking it under the prescription of his doctor. I can't be the only person to remember this.
Most of us dropped the subject when he said that he was taking it through his doctors prescription. But excuse me if this makes little sense to me.
If his doctor had prescribed steroids and HGH to him why was he buying it from an illegal website online. Why was he not administered the normal prescription of androgenic steroid. Why was he prescribed HGH and most of all why was he told to order this online from an illegal drug ring.
To me, this kid is either a juice head, or the reincarnation of Babe Ruth. Until someone can convince me ill consider him the former.
The next story that just doesn't sit well with me is Josh Hamilton.
Josh Hamilton is a former number one overall pick of the Devil Rays in 1999.
By 2002 Hamilton had failed two drug tests and was suspended 25 games for violating the leagues substance abuse policy. It is probably then that he began his drug tirade. He was dismissed from the teams training camp in 2003 to get his life in order, but he never returned.
The rest of the story goes like this: he did lots of drugs, went to rehab, did lots of drugs, went to rehab, went to rehab, did lots of drugs, went to rehab, did lots of drugs, went to rehab, went to rehab, and came back to baseball.
What exactly about this story is supposed to make me feel good? Is it because he gave up drugs to come back to baseball? This story does not make me feel good at all, in fact it makes me feel terrible.
There are a ton of people who end up turning to drugs in this world for all different kinds of reasons. Most of those that abuse it to the extent that Josh Hamilton did, have been rendered useless to society and are just thrown away from the public eye, unless of course you happen to live anywhere that see the growing homeless epidemic we have in this country. This story embodies the cruelness of the American "what can you do for me" attitude. There are plenty of people who struggled with drug addiction that end up living on the street, because unlike Josh Hamilton, they did not have a billion dollar industry to run to when they decided to kick the habit.
The story of Josh Hamilton doesn't make me feel good in the least. This kid probably realized that after abusing drugs for four years he was kinda low on cash and would really like to just play baseball the rest of his life than to get a real job to support his habit.
Though, I do applaud him for giving up drugs.
The worst story of all. Brandon Inge.
How in the world did this make the list? He whined for a trade and didn't get it. Now he's contributing to the team. CONGRATULATIONS.
This list is filled with stories of people struggling from cancer, various other diseases, and disorders, and they throw Brandon Inge right into the middle of it because he wanted to be able to start somewhere else after he lost his starting job to recently acquired Miguel Cabrera.
Atta way Si.
The Last story is of Zack Greinke from the Kansas City Royals.
By the looks of it, he was still suffering from Social Anxiety when this picture was taken.
Says here that Greinke suffered from Social Anxiety Disorder in 2006. Well Zach I think you found the perfect place to combat your disorder in Kansas City, where you might only have to perform in front of 3 or 4 people a night. All kidding aside I guess this deserves to be on the list, not so much as a feel good story, as much as just an interesting one.
Melissa Baker
Meghan White
Baseball's $100 Million Men
Mavs Dancers
Comments (13) Add A Comment
I agree with you regarding Ankiel. I'm not really sure why this guys is getting a free pass and while others have been torn apart for much less.
Thugmeister
State Of Jefferson, CA
Total Comments (2846)
Great blog. Keep this stuff up.
Cassidy's House:…
Whatsittoya, NO
Total Comments (14890)
Yeah it seems he set the way for guys like Andy Petite to take the "i took it to recover" cop out.
Know it all
Sup, NJ
Total Comments (447)
I think your blog is incredibly short sighted, especially in your comments regarding Josh Hamilton. Addiction is a very real disease that is hard to treat and even harder toi overcome in order for someone to lead a somewhat normal life. To suggest that Hamilton just decided that he was "low on cash" and it was time to play ball again instead of "getting a real job to support his habit" is one of the most insane statements I have ever read in my life. BY all accounts he is complying with MLB's drug policy and is starting to show the talent that was unfortunately interrupted by an insidious disease. His story to this point makes me feel very good and I'm sure gives hope to addicts in thhis country who battle their disease each and every day.
DavidSternBlows
Los Angeles , CA
Total Comments (1791)
I never state that hamilton is still on drugs. I stated that he would rather play ball, and kick the habbit, rather than get a normal job and continue to live his drug filled life.
If you would read the entire story it doesnt make me feel god because of the very same reasons that you just talked about. Addiction being very real, and hard to treat, and all that jazz. It does not make me feel very good because it brings to light all the dark sides of addiction and where it leads and how nearly everyone tangled in the web of addiction never make it out.
I said that I appluded him for kicking his habbit and being drug free but the fact that one person made it out of addiction because he could play baseball is the thing that strikes me. This story makes people feel good because it gives US hope that the people addicted can help themselves without us. When the fact is drug addiction most often leads to poverty and not everyone has something like baseball to fall back on.
Know it all
Sup, NJ
Total Comments (447)
As for my statement being so insane...
How exactly do you think he realized he was going down the wrong path and needed help? It surely wasn't the drug use. The thought that hey this stuff is pretty bad doesn't just hit you after 4 years. In fact in the special he says that the moment he realized he needed to get his life together is when he was nearly bankrupt.
Know it all
Sup, NJ
Total Comments (447)
Now I am really confused, I thoght that the jist of your story was that you don't feel good about these stories. So you feel good that he gave up drugs, but his addiction doesn't make you feel good? Therpists often speak of someone needing to hit rock bottom before they get the help that they need. That is what happened to Josh, what is insane about your statement is that you imply that the only reason that he kicked is because he couln't support his habit any longer. I just find many of the points in the story contradictory, not trying to put you down.
DavidSternBlows
Los Angeles , CA
Total Comments (1791)
No the story doesn't make me feel good because it brings out deeper problems with our society. We let addicts hit rock bottom and continue to fall as opposed to helping them because they no longer have any value to use. Josh Hamilton had some value to someone because he could still play baseball.
Note the exerpt."
This story embodies the cruelness of the American "what can you do for me" attitude"
Know it all
Sup, NJ
Total Comments (447)
I can't agree with your thoughts on Hamilton.He has made himself right.He did it for his family.He got back in baseball and has stayed off drugs.He is a feel good story.
(Cincy)
Jamestown, OH
Total Comments (11294)
Ankiel is getting a free pass because the latest that they could link him to the HGH (not steroids) use was before HGH was outlawed by MLB. He took it when it was legal.
bonehead2205
Champaign , IL
Total Comments (3)
Ankiel is getting a free pass because the latest that they could link him to the HGH (not steroids) use was before HGH was outlawed by MLB. He took it when it was legal.
bonehead2205 | 04/17/08, 10:31 AM
So did Barry Bonds.
Know it all
Sup, NJ
Total Comments (447)
So Josh hamilton should be ridiculed and penalized because he can play baseball and doesn't have to go out and get a "real job".
You don't just wake up one day and say, "I'm broke and I don't want to get a job. I used to be pretty good at that baseball thing, maybe I'll just kick this nasty drug habit and go back to baseball."
It isn't that easy. Josh was at rock bottom, had lost baseball and basically had lost his family. But, because of the love of a grandmother and God turned his life around and is now doing what he loves with the people he loves around him.
A feel good story? Most definitely.
texmess61
Megargel , TX
Total Comments (1)
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