Special Report: Professional Athletes Playing while under the Influence
Most athletes are known for being extremely focused and in the zone when on the field but then there are those athletes as well, who show up to a game completely wasted. Whether it is that they are drunk out of their minds or that, they are very high.
Some say it heightens a player’s game and makes them able to react better and score more goals or baskets or make more hits. Others say that athletes who come plastered to the field should be penalised because they obviously cannot concentrate on what they are doing. It is a very interesting debate to try and see some examples of athletes who show up to a game drunk or high and what the effects of this type of behaviour are.
One of the first examples of a sports player playing while under the influence we find was the former baseball player Bernie Carbo, who was an outfielder with the Red Sox when he played. He recently admitted to using drugs before every single game he played. The drugs seemed to enhance his abilities because he hit his most famous pinch hit home run for his team while being high. His routine would be to smoke two joints, drink three beers, go to the ballpark, take a few amphetamines, take a pain killer, drink some coffee, chew some tobacco and go up to the plate and hit. This player seemed to do alright for himself while being completely high and drunk off his mind.
This phenomenon seems to be prevalent amongst a lot of baseball players from Babe Ruth, to Mickey Mantle who was also known to drink heavily. Another baseball player who is probably the most famous drugged pitcher ever was Dock Ellis, who in 1970 pitched a no hitter during a game against the Padres. He did not think he was pitching that day and so dabbled in some LSD but still managed to get up and pitch a fantastic game. He struck out 6 players, walked 8 of them, and won the game for his team. He later said he could not feel the ball or see the plate properly.
It is not only baseball players who are known to indulge in a little drug and drink while playing. Former Manchester United and Aston Villa player Paul McGrath was well documented for having a drinking problem and revealed in an interview that he routinely went out onto the field completely drunk. At times, it helped him play better but at other times, he played the worst games of his career. There is another story about an Argentinean footballer named René Houseman who was a 1978 World Cup champion and Huracan player. The story goes that in 1974 during a game between Huracan and River Plate, Houseman turned up to the game completely drunk and after numerous showers and many cups of coffee he could not be made sober in time for the game. He took to the field anyway and scored an amazing goal all while being hammered. He fell to the ground laughing and was substituted shortly after the goal and sent home. It seems like performances vary while players are drunk or high on drugs.
Even if players could play very well while being drunk or high, it still does not make it morally right. They should always maintain a high level of professionalism at all times on and off the field, and cannot show up at their work place drunk/high. The problem is not only in giving a solid performance, for which they are paid millions to do every match, but sports stars are also ambassadors of their sport and are role models for children. Showing up drunk or high to a game is a very bad way to promote your sport to the younger generation and sets the wrong impression to them that disregard for authority is fine and you can do whatever you want in life. Children listen to those they think are in charge, they will follow the stupid behaviour of a sports star, and they will think it is acceptable to do as well. Athletes should always be professional and maintain a positive and healthy attitude in their careers. It sets the right example for others to follow.
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