April 6, 2006
A TAD LATE FOR TOUGH LOVE:
Between the Seams: "Doc" Gooden chooses prison over rehab (Jose Martinez, 4/06/06, New York Daily News)
Unable to shake the drug demons that derailed his once-dazzling career, Dwight "Doc" Gooden made a startling decision Wednesday: He'd rather go to jail than face temptation on the streets.Posted by Orrin Judd at April 6, 2006 10:46 AMThe former Mets and Yankees pitching great admitted in a Hillsborough County courthouse that he hasn't beat cocaine after a two-decade public struggle.
Then, he picked prison instead of going back to rehab and staying on probation, where the threat of a 5-year jail sentence loomed for any slipup.
"I have a problem with cocaine, sir," Gooden said before state Circuit Judge Daniel Perry. "I had a cocaine relapse."
It marked the first significant jail time and latest fall from grace for Gooden, 41, who was the toast of New York in the 1980s as a fireballing Mets phenom.
It's only a matter of time before we see the rest of that '86 team frog-marched to prison. The only question is, will Gary Carter still have that white-man's jeri-curl when it's his turn?
Man, I couldn't stand Gary Carter. Right up there with Billy Smith of the Islanders in the pantheon of my most-hated 80s NY sports heroes. At least Carter didn't drink his beer with ice in it tho.
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at April 6, 2006 10:59 AMMr. Judd, how do I get to your gift list? Now that you have shown me the used book zone, I would love to send you a copy of Leftism Revisited. Thanks.
Posted by: Robert Mitchell Jr. at April 6, 2006 11:59 AM