Concern grows for coked-out Doc Gooden

78

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When Darryl Strawberry calls you a "complete junkie-addict," you know it's bad.

What kind of career might Gooden have had were he not messed up on blow back in the '80s? The '85 season was maybe the most dominant of any pitcher of my lifetime. Or maybe we should all just marvel that he lasted this long. Sad.

"My fear is that — and I know addiction — and my fear is people that don’t change, they die. They die this way. I just hope the light comes on soon before it’s too late.”

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...den-health-family-darryl-strawberry/89091016/
 

stephenPE

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Gator Fever

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A lot of 40 and 50 somethings passing from drug abuse lately it seems. Most seem to be from pain pill and heroin addictions.
 

Gulfstream

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I watched the ESPN 30 for 30 about Doc and Darryl and I was amazed at how bad Doc looked. Doc could not stop twitching during the entire show, no matter where he was being filmed, really sad. My 13 year old son was watching the show with me and got a real lesson about wasting talent. Those two were sure fire HOF'ers until the drugs got ahold of them.
 

78

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You can take the homie out of the 'hood, but you can't take the 'hood out of the homie.

After his initial two seasons, Gooden was rolling in fame and dough, driving an expensive car around Tampa Bay and being leeched by a group of thugs he used to hang out with at Hillsborough High. His career started a permanent downhill trajectory. Unlike his famous nephew, Gary Sheffield, who also attended Hillsborough High, Gooden could never make a clean break. Not just blow but alcohol abuse as well.
 

NVGator

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Yeah, I read this last night. Real shame. But one has to want help to really change.
 

Captain Sasquatch

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When Darryl Strawberry calls you a "complete junkie-addict," you know it's bad.

What kind of career might Gooden have had were he not messed up on blow back in the '80s? The '85 season was maybe the most dominant of any pitcher of my lifetime. Or maybe we should all just marvel that he lasted this long. Sad.
I'll see Doc Gooden's '85 season and raise it Pedro's '97 or '00 seasons.

But yeah, cocaine is a hell of a drug.
 

Okeechobee Joe

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I feel really sorry for anyone who has alcohol or drug addiction issues. It is so widespread that All of us probably has a family member, or at least a close acquaintance, that has this problem.

The best thing to do is never to use drugs in the first place and if you have close family members affected by alcoholism then don't take that first drink either.
 

78

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I'll see Doc Gooden's '85 season and raise it Pedro's '97 or '00 seasons.

But yeah, cocaine is a hell of a drug.

Martinez was dominant longer, but Gooden was more unhittable in 1985. Look at the 1.53 ERA. Unreal.

BTW, Gooden has come out pissed at Strawberry, insisting his comments were unwarranted.
 

gardnerwebbgator

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Sad, just sad. I remember him in that 1984 ASG striking out the side.
 

Captain Sasquatch

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Martinez was dominant longer, but Gooden was more unhittable in 1985. Look at the 1.53 ERA. Unreal.

BTW, Gooden has come out pissed at Strawberry, insisting his comments were unwarranted.
Pedro was in the steroid era though, and he's like 5'9". :lol:
 

78

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Pedro was in the steroid era though, and he's like 5'9". :lol:

Great pitcher, Sas. Look at the down and away on this pitch. That's sick.

pedrochangeup.gif
 

rogdochar

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When Darryl Strawberry calls you a "complete junkie-addict," you know it's bad.
What kind of career might Gooden have had were he not messed up on blow back in the '80s? /

He'd a had a Gooden.
 

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