Is it just me or is Josh Hamilton not the best story in baseball?

Question

Don't get me wrong but he had a self induced problem. People like Brad Zeigler, Doug Brocail, Zack Grienke had problems that were not under their control.

Josh Hamilton has a great story with his comeback but i am saying that he used drugs and that is under his choosing.

People with Injuries, or disabilities have the real great stories because they didn't bring it on themselves!

Please don't just answer agreeing with me........give me your opinion

Please Star

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Major-League-Baseball-s-25-Most-Improbable-Succe?urn=mlb,100474

A great article that may help some of you understand

Answer 1

(prays to Ted Williams and asks if it's ok)

the Splendid Splitner has given me the "thumbs up / OK" to agree with a Yankees fan, since after all, we are fans of the game first, a team second.

Hamilton's past was less than glorious. Many other athletes who suddenly find themselves with millions waste it all away only to never have a second chance.

Is it good that he found God?, well I guess so - I'm not religious so I'm not the one to answer that. It's for each of ya'll to decide that for yourselves.

He claims it would hurt too much to get the tattoos taken off., I don't buy that.

Believe me, he has more than enough money in his new contract to do so.

HRs appeal to the fan. But just because he stopped doing hardcore drugs doesn't mean he didn't (possibly) take "now-illegal" supplements to get his weight back up. (Especially now that some of them are apparently un-tracable)

  

My father died of leukemia (this Monday will be 13 years since he passed away) so I am more taken to Lester's comeback. The fact that I am a Red Sox fan is irrelevant.

PS please join me in praying for Carl Yastremski, and by the same token, I offer my sympathy to the Murcer family and all the people he touched while playing baseball.

Answer 2

I agree that Josh does not have the best story in baseball. Check out Mordecai "Three finger" Brown. He took the Cubs to 3 back to back WS winning 2.

He had 3 fingers because of a mining accident he had when he was younger. To me that is the best story in baseball.  

Answer 3

You have a point, but I'm assuming that humans make mistakes and they deserve a second chance, especially if they worked their way back to the top. Most of the time, america gives people a second chance. Hamilton did something that not many people are able to overcome, addiction. Jon Lester is also a great story but either way, if these two players didn't beat out their diseases, they probably wouldn't be alive right now.

Answer 4

I'm not sure if his is the best, but to be honest, it's one that I'm getting sick of hearing. We all know he took drugs. We all know he overcame his addiction. We all know it's an inspirational and uplifting story.

But one day a Yankees fan said, "No matter what he does, he will forever be linked with overcoming drug addiction. He will never get the credit; Josh and his inspirational story will get the credit."

And the guy was right. We will never talk about Hamilton without talking about his past.

This is also true for Jon Lester. He's always going to known for overcoming cancer. I'm sure he counts his blessings everyday. I am glad he is healed. His story is amazing.

But I wonder if sometimes he's like, "Look at that game I just pitched. It was my best outing all season and all anyone keeps talking about it how I beat cancer."

Is it a burden for players to be linked with a story?

Answer 5

True!

Answer 6

Hard to say. He was taking drugs and made some dumb decisions in his life. Its hard to say that hes an inspiration when he fell into such a dark time. There so many people that have came back and had great careers. I have to go with Catfish Hunter or Jon Lester or as the first guy said Mordecai "Three finger" Brown. Yes Hamilton story is impressive but by taking drugs in the first place its hard to think hes an inspiration.

Answer 7

No, I completely agree with you. Josh Hamilton has a great story and has done an fantastic job to overcome all this, but there are stories out there that are probably just as impressive, if not more. Plus, they didn't get the media coverage that Hamilton has.

I personally think Jon Lester's comeback is the best one. To get cancer and come back and do as well as he has is a terrific story.

Answer 8

I totally agree with you. And I think you know I wouldn't agree if I didn't mean it. :)

Josh Hamilton's story IS a good one. But it's being way over-hyped. Yes, it's great that he turned his life around. But he knew exactly what he was doing. He could control it. Jon Lester couldn't control that he had cancer, for example. Hamilton's choice was basically clean up and get help or, well, die. So he chose to clean up and make something of himself. Which is spectacular! Unfortunately, not all drug users are that lucky.

While I think he's inspirational, I don't think he could truly be considered a role model. I asked a question a couple days ago (& I believe you got BA!) Role models are people you wouldn't mind your kids wanting to emulate. Overcoming a major obstacle like cancer is great and it's someone who really and truly deserves to be idolized. Is he someone who made a bad decisions but in the end turned his life around? Yep! But is he someone I think little kids should look up to? No.

A "best story in baseball" is overcoming cancer, disabilities, injuries, etc.

Answer 9

You're right...3-finger Mordecai Brown was a much better story. Who today could lose 3 fingers, and then go on and pitch in the majors?

Answer 10

Personally, I'm sick and tired of Hearing about Josh Hamilton's drug problem. Enough already!

Answer 11

hamiltons is a very good story but so is lester's

Answer 12

yea it is

Answer 13

Hamilton is a great story however Lester's is the best.

It wasn't Lester's fault that he got lymphoma, Hamilton is a great story however it's his fault that he took drugs.

Answer 14

yea i think it is i mean its amazing, all the HRs

Answer 15

Wow, how wierd is this.  I read that exact article just an hour ago.

Yeah, I couldnt agree more with you about Josh Hamilton.  I've been trying so hard to not come off as rude, but he did choose to use drugs and now that hes succeeding(even tho he should have done this from the start), everyone is praising him.  THey are calling this the cinderella story, but im sure Cinderella never smoked a joint. lol

I do respect Josh Hamilton from stepping away from the black balloon and reasserting himself.

There was a similar case with wrestler Jeff Hardy who was suspended a few months for drug use.  And on the Wrestling Section a few weeks ago, I said it was his choice to use drugs and everyone just pounded and bombarded me with comments of how "Everyone makes mistakes" and "Even I tried drugs once", "Its not like its murder".

And im here trying to get ppl to realize that hes an icon and he used drugs, something he shouldnt do.  Just some ignorant fans.

I love the Brad Ziegler story.  Getting struck in the head like twice was it?  Man.  And starting off the season tossing like 40 scoreless.  I want him as the closer for the Green and Gold for a long time.  

Answer 16

OK, I think that Josh Hamilton has a great story! And I also like the stories of Jon Lester, Rocco Baldelli, and many others. But I always will like these stories the best, because I have had experiences with these.

I think, and this is my opinion, that the best sports story is Jason Johnson. I am not sure if he is in baseball anymore, but he was a pitcher for teh Cleveland Indians, and the Detroit Tigers for a while. Now why he is special to me, is that he is a diabetic, and definately to someone like me. It's hard to manage blood glucose and all of that. If you get into somewhere above 250, your playing level will decrease! In my first baseball game of the year, I got off to a terrible start striking out 3 times in 4 at-bats. My blood sugar was 400 all game. So no matter what, a team could give up on him for that, so you have to work extra hard for that.

Also Jay Cutler played with diabetes undiagnosed all of last season, and got it in the off-season. I would love to see how he copes!

I just love the stories like that because I have had experiences with those! But every story is great!

Answer 17

I totally agree. I'm a big Rangers fan, and it has been painful being one through the years, but I love the team they've been fielding. Kinsler/Young/Hamilton all in one line-up is unheard of, and throw in Milton Bradley who has been one of the AL batting average leaders all season and you have the best batting lineup in baseball. However, their pitching is so bad that they cannot be considered a contender unless someone in the rotation emerges next season.

Hamilton's story is great. Overcoming a serious drug and alcohol addiction to being resurrected as one of the best players in baseball.

Much respect for him.

Answer 18

It is a great and inspirational story, but it is definitely NOT the best in baseball.

You're right, it was his choice to do drugs, which are illegal. And yet, since he got over his addiction, people are making a huge deal out of it. Then shouldn't other people who have gotten over their drug issues get all the recognition he did?

And shouldn't great players who have never used drugs be applauded, too, because they weren't breaking the law?

It is hard to pick just one story to be the best story in baseball, but I think one of the best is Jim Eisenreich's.

In the early stages of his career, it seem like there was nothing wrong with him, but during one game against the Brewers, he started to shake uncontrollably in center field. It started happening in more games, and was getting worse. The Twins' medical staff couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. His family helped him find out that he had Tourette's, which eventually led the Twins to buy out his contract. He got medication for his Tourette's, and since he didn't want to stop playing baseball, he started to play for the St. Cloud Saints, and eventually, one of his friends brought him back to play with the Royals, and he ended up having a very successful rest of his career with multiple other teams.

Now that, is a great story. Knowing you can play baseball when you have something like Tourette's, where you never know what you might do next.

Answer 19

lets all praise the white boy who kicked a crack habit. LOL

give me a break people.

Answer 20

I understand that it must have been incredibly difficult for Josh Hamiliton to do what he has done. But I don't understand why he is getting so much attention for his story.  He used drugs, he chose to use drugs. He costed his previous organization a #1 draft pick.  And then once he stoped using crack he played about as well as a #1 draft pick should.  But why is he getting all the attention for his "sucess" story when there are many other players out there who did the right thing and chose not to use drugs are are great players for their respective teams today.  Take Joe Mauer for example.  He was also drafted #1 overall.  He is now probably the best catcher in all of baseball.  (People who think Russel Martin is still surprises me a lot).  He is currently leading the AL in hitting and won the Al batting championship 2 years ago.  But yet, Josh Hamilton gets all the attention and everyone basically worships him.  When Hamilton did the wrong thing and many many others didn't.  I am not a Josh Hamilton fan and I do not think that he has the best story in baseball.  I would also give my vote to Jon Lester.

Answer 21

Yes but I wouldn't be surprised if he's using steroids. He used every other drug out there. How could someone just dramatically go from a drug using tattooed low-life to one of the best in Major League Baseball without the help of it?

Answer 22

Everybody has different opinions! Nobody is right about who's best at what.  

Answer 23

I agree with you completely, and I am very happy at least someone on here recognizes Brad Ziegler! Props to you, here is a star. =]

EDIT: Sorry, I didn't read the rest of the question. Hamiltons problem was self inflicted. I understand drug addiction is very hard, but Lester didn't ask for his problem. Both stories are great, but Lesters is better in that he overcame something that is caused by nature.

Answer 24

You said it yourself, "Self induced problem".  For that reason alone I have to disagree that it is NOT the best story in baseball.  Why credit anyone who didn't have the common sense God gave a grape in the first place.

It's nice that he wised up but it sure doesn't make him a hero.  He's not even a role modal.  This is still a guy who admits that he can't be left alone because he doesn't trust himself.  He was given a great gift and instead of being grateful he nearly killed himself.  NOT EVEN CLOSE!

Answer 25

Both are great stories.  

Answer 26

I would like to agree...but you are grossly oversimplifying the problem.

Yes... he CHOSE to smoke crack, which was foolish..but he had no way to know he was geneticallty disposed to addiction.

It was a situation of what woul dbe a stupid decision for you or I became something almost instantly out of his contrrol.  Addiction is so often looked down on..but it has been proven that alcoholism and the tendency toward addiction are genetic.

So, while he made the initial bad call..afterwards, it was a demon beyond his control.

Now..that being said..I DO still think a cancer survivor or th elike is a better story..just don't think people should marginalize what they obviously have never experienced and have no understanding of.

Answer 27

Oh, yeah, I totally get what you're saying.

I love Josh Hamilton, and the fact that he's beaten his personal demons, but you're right, it was his fault in the first place, but it's not his fault the media is choosing to blow this up so much.

However, I believe that the best people make mistakes, and maybe that's why his story is appealing to the media.

He's imperfect and made some bad decisions, but had the strength to claw his way out of the pit he was in.

I think it's sort of like, "Wow, that could have been me; I could have made that decision..."   He's proof that anyone can make bad decisions; he was on top of the world, number 1 draft pick and everything, and all of a sudden, BANG! The tables are turned.

Also, we all know someone formerly from school or from school that does or has done drugs, so it's a story close to us and relatable to a lot of people.

So I do think he's a great story and I really, really respect him for it. =)

But I do have to say Jon Lester's comeback was inspirational as well; probably one of the best stories, if not THE best.

I had no idea about Brad Ziegler; he's a heck of a pitcher! He shut down my Rangers and made it look easy. =) Way to go and thumbs up to him.

Anyway, I feel like Josh is the best comeback story, but maybe I'm just a little biased.  I just really love that he's speaking out against drugs now and telling people his story.  Maybe some kid out there will listen to him and stop doing drugs or never do them, and that's what makes him a good role model.

east coast assassin, don't assume that just because he's good, he's using steroids.  The guy gets tested way more than other players; it's part of the contract.  I think he gets tested at least twice a week; there's no way he could be getting away with it.

Just accept that the man has a God given talent and don't credit it to drugs.  Some people out there actually are clean, you know.

Answer 28

mmm its not that i think Hamilton is not the best story in baseball i just think that it was sort of overly done. (poor choice of words sorry i'm tired). I agree that there are people who overcame things that they did not put on themselves.. and I respect them too. I admire him for being strong and actually getting himself out of that horrible situation he put himself through. A lot of people can't get out of that addiction you know so i admire him for that. He's also a good player.. I know what you're trying to say though and i completely agree with Killer Peaches* is Pro-Metal!!!

gahh i love success stories!!!

Answer 29

Jon Lester, he survived cancer ! CANCER ! well yeah he's been excellent this year and hopefully next year too  

Answer 30

I'd say that Josh Hamilton is an amazing story, but not the best. Lester's comeback is truly remarkable considering all he's gone through, but please don't dismiss Hamilton either. Some narcotics make you physically (not just mentally) dependent on them. Hamilton was trying many different drugs, and he struggled with his addiction for years. Trust me, after the first serious drug he took, he no longer had a "choice" to stop. That is to say, the choice became a million times more difficult.