Athletes deserve second chance post-drug abuse – technicianonline.com

Alec Sawyer

It seems like a select group of athletes have a way of abusing illicit drugs or alcohol without facing major consequences. Players of all sports continue to violate both league rules and the law and are faced with insignificant fines and short suspensions. They continue to abuse drugs, but at the end of the day, they still have huge contracts with teams that need their talent despite the off-field struggles.

One example of this is Josh Gordon, formerly of the Cleveland Browns. Gordon has been suspended four times for either marijuana abuse or abusing the terms of his parole by drinking alcohol, and is now in rehab. Even with all of this, Gordon is eligible to eventually return to the NFL.

Gordon is just one case, but the trend has been seen in almost every sport in recent years. These cases would suggest that maybe athletes should not be given multiple chances to come back from drug abuse. However, there are also plenty of instances that show that athletes can make the most of their second chances and turn their lives around.

Perhaps the most notable athlete to exemplify this is Michael Phelps. In 2004, as a 19-year-old, Phelps was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Then in 2009, pictures of Phelps smoking from a bong circulated the internet, causing him to lose sponsorship deals. Lastly, in 2014, Phelps was arrested again for driving under the influence of alcohol and was suspended by USA Swimming for six months.

Phelps came back from his suspension and seemingly got his life together. He qualified for the 2016 Olympics, where he experienced incredible success. He got engaged to his longtime girlfriend and they had a child together. Phelps was given multiple chances to come back from drug abuse, and he finally took advantage of those chances.

Another example of an athlete who made the most of his second chances is Matt Bush. Bush just finished an impressive rookie season with the Texas Rangers. Bush was one of the best rookie pitchers in the American League, finishing the year with an impressive 2.48 ERA in 58 relief appearances. Bush’s rookie season is more impressive considering he was in prison just one year ago.

Bush was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 MLB draft. However, before he ever played a game, he found himself in trouble with the law. He was arrested after a bar fight and charged with a number of crimes, including alcohol consumption by a minor and felony assault. Bush was arrested again in 2009 for assault related to alcohol abuse. Then in 2012, Bush was arrested after hitting a motorcyclist while driving under the influence of alcohol. Bush was sentenced to 51 months in prison.

While in prison, Bush began seeking treatment for his alcoholism and when he was released in late 2015 the Rangers gave him a chance. Bush took full advantage of this chance. He pitched well coming up through the minor league system and made his MLB debut in May, all while staying clean and away from alcohol. Although it is early in his comeback, Bush seems to have gotten his life back together as well.

Bush is not the first Ranger to embrace an opportunity to comeback from drug abuse. Josh Hamilton made a comeback from years of a cocaine addiction to become an MLB All-Star. Like Bush, Hamilton was the top pick in the 1999 draft. Hamilton did not make his MLB debut until 2007 after years of drug abuse and rehab. He got a chance with the Cincinnati Reds and then the Rangers, where he became an All-Star and one of the most productive outfielders in the game. Hamilton remained clean through four years with the Rangers, after which he signed a contract worth $125 million with the Los Angeles Angels. Despite a minor relapse in 2014, Hamilton has taken full advantage of the chance he was given to come back.

Stories like Josh Gordon suggest that athletes may get too many opportunities to come back from drug abuse. However, it is the stories like Phelps’, Bush’s and Hamilton’s that show everyone deserves to be able to come back from drug abuse. Athletes, like all people, should be given the opportunity to get their lives back together and experience success in their fields.

TOCCALife.com (Ticker Symbol: TLIF) CEO, Tyler Cornell commented about the article, “If The Other Cancer Called Addiction has not been triggered in you, this article describes the intensity of the disease.  I think most anyone would stop using for $125 Million but it isn’t like that for people afflicted with the disease of addiction.  It’s all consuming without thought of repercussions.  I applaud the industry for understanding the true plight of so many clients while the politicians attempt to discriminate against them after they ask for help and are in recovery.”