(espn.go.com)
Rangers outfielder
Josh Hamilton, who has battled drug and alcohol addictions, had a relapse with alcohol this week, according to a source.
The Rangers said through a team spokesman that they are "aware of a situation but have no further comment at this time."
It was still unclear exactly what circumstances led Hamilton to suffer his relapse, which was reported by The Dallas Morning News earlier Thursday, but he has battled to stay sober since an incident in a Tempe, Ariz., bar a little more than three years ago.
Then, he was photographed drinking with several women and those pictures went viral about seven months later. Hamilton spoke to the media about it at that time and apologized, saying: "I hate that this happened."
When that occurred, Hamilton immediately called the Rangers and MLB. He passed a drug test shortly thereafter and went through league-sanctioned counseling. Hamilton also made sure his support system was fully in place, including having Johnny Narron, his "accountability partner" at the time, with him at spring training and through the rest of the season.
Hamilton, 30, was banned from baseball in 2003 for drug and alcohol use while in the Tampa Bay organization. He was reinstated in 2006 and is drug tested three times a week.
Pretty big yet news that no one should care about. So let me just cut to the core and say I know why Josh Hamilton relapsed, I know exactly why and there is no arguing. Also, he will not become a strung out junkbag. He'll be fine. I'll show you evidence to support my optimistic claim and all will be well:
EXHIBIT A1
"he was photographed drinking with several women"
If there's ever a time to break your sobriety pledge it is when "several women" are involved. In fact that is the one circumstance that must be in the situation that causes you to break your sobriety pledge. No Q's A'd. Like if you break it because of one woman or like you went to watch the super bowl with a couple of dudes, let's face it, you probably weren't gonna make it much longer anyway.
Now, these pictures are from an earlier incident so I'm not 100% sure that the reason he cracked this time around is exactly the same but I'm willing to bet a fuzzy five dollars that it's pretty damn similar.
EXHIBIT A2
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| Look at that smile, he looks like someone who devoted his entire life to a religion and just died and is walking into whatever form of Heaven it is he believes existed and lived holy to get to. And YES, Heaven is three sweet-toothed chicks with a fridge full of whipped cream. |
EXHIBIT A3
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Same batter. Same stance. Different box.
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EXHIBIT A4
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| Yup. |
I rest my case. And I'm moving to Dallas.
