Page 24 - Florida Sentinel 8-26-16 Online Edition

Sports
Former Teammate Concerned About Doc Gooden’s Health
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer (An Analysis)
During the prime of their professional baseball careers, there was no better tandom than Dwight “Doc” Gooden and Darryl Strawberry.
Both men celebrated World Series victories, and both were icons. Both set records, and both were compensated royally by their teams.
On a darker side, both Gooden and Strawberry had to deal with substance abuse issues.
After their baseball careers were over, they continued their association with the game by working in the front office or as coaches for their teams.
The years passed, and the two friends maintained contact with each other. Gooden is still working with a Major league baseball team, and Strawberry has become a minister.
This Twitter
Gooden raised concern that he may be addicted to drugs again.
Gooden is still using drugs, and the source of the allega- tions is his old friend, Straw- berry.
In professional sports, the unwritten rule is if you have a problem with a teammate or coach, you approach them di- rect and deal with it. You never allow the media to get in- volved. That’s where Straw- berry used bad judgment.
As far as Gooden is con- cerned in Tampa, he’s still a worshiped and revered man. On many occasions, he could be seen making appearances at various little league fields dur- ing games or practice sessions. He was and still is a very ap- proachable man, and he still has a very humble and giving spirit.
The news of Gooden pos- sibly suffering a relapse has led to allegations that he’s on a sui-
DARRYL STRAWBERRY .....told the world Gooden is “Spiraling out of control.”
cide watch, even though he’s reached out and told everyone all is well and he’s not using drugs.
That’s why it’s so hard for Gooden to understand why his so-called friend would tell the world that “Gooden is spi- raling out of control in the grips of cocaine.” A former housemate has joined Straw- berry in proclaiming Gooden is still using drugs, and his old- est son has allegedly said his dad is having problems.
Out of respect and the longevity of a friendship, Strawberry should have ap- proached Gooden with his concerns, and made sure it stayed a personal and private matter between the two of them. Now because of his statement, Gooden is once again standing in the court of public opinion trying to set the
record straight.
Whether Gooden has re-
lapsed or not is not the issue. The issue is what to do when the people around you who you trust the most, betray you for a few headlines in the paper? It seems Strawberry’s an- nouncement was made more to enhance himself, than to show any concern for Gooden.
To Darryl Strawberry and everyone else standing around with a shovel in their hand, know that there’s noth- ing you can do or say that will tarnish the image and good deeds Gooden has done in his hometown and all over the country. He remains a valuable asset to Tampa and the city’s little league programs.
Plain and simple: Every- body loves Doc Gooden.
Let’s keep Doc Gooden in our prayers, and if there is a need for healing, it is our re- sponsibility he gets it in a pri- vate and personal setting without the entire world stand- ing in judgment.
Yankees Offered to Pay For Dwight Gooden To Go To Drug Rehab
They let Gooden’s friend, Darryl Strawberry, know that they’d cover the costs if Gooden is willing to get help.
Gooden missed a sched- uled appearance with Darryl Strawberry and WFAN that led Strawberry to worry aloud that Gooden was once again struggling with drug ad- diction. Gooden subsequently dismissed those concerns and said he’d been merely deal- ing with “some minor health is- sues.”
Furthermore, Gooden re- leased a statement disputing Strawberry’s claims.
Strawberry, though, wouldn’t give up.
“He’s a complete junkie-ad- dict,” Strawberry said. “I’ve been trying behind the scenes totalktohimandgethimtogo for help, but he won’t listen. He thinks he can manipulate and BS his way through everything. His son called me to beg me to help his dad before he dies.
“The condition Doc is in, it’s bad, it’s horrible. It’s like cocaine poison. I feel like I’ve got to get it out there because nobody else is doing anything to help him, and it might be the only way to stop him.”
It’s not just Strawberry who’s worried about Doc Gooden, who’s now 51. Public concern ramped-up after an alarming photo of Gooden made the rounds on social media.
Strawberry says his mis- sion to guide the lives of young people and athletes so they won’t make the same mistakes he and Gooden made. The re- lationship between the two re- mained solid until a published article found Strawberry throwing Gooden under the busI. n
Bucs To Host Cleveland And RGIII
the article, it
alleges
photo
of Doc
Optimism remains high at One Buc Place, as the 2016 pre- season draws closer to the end. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 1-1 so far this preseason, and new head coach, Dirk Koet- ter, said he’s seen improvement
JAMEIS WINSTON AND ROBERT GRIFFIN, III
each week with the team.
This week, the Bucs get to stay home as they play host to the Cleveland Browns in an 8 p.m. game at Raymond James
Stadium.
The Bucs will be facing
Robert Griffin, III (RGIII)
as he tries to rescue his career as the new starter for the Browns. The Bucs will bring second-
year quarterback Jameis Win- ston along with running back Doug Martin, who finished second in the NFL in rushing yards last season.
PAGE 14-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016