I recently read that Darryl Strawberry was kicked out of his most recent rehab program, because he was trading baseball memorabilia to other "inmates" for cigarettes. Apparently, he was not satisfied with stomach cancer and would now like to diversify into lung cancer
Where did you hear about this? Couldn't find any information on Google News
I think I read about it in Sports Illustrated a month or so ago. It was just a little blip in the front of the magazine (where all of the info about washed up athletes is).
Ok, I finally found something on the topic and it apparently happened back in March (maybe I should go through my SI's and throw out the old ones). Strawberry broke the rules by trading autographs, baseballs, etc. for cigarettes. However, the thing that got him tossed out of the program (and apparently into jail) was having sex with one of the female patients in the rehab center. Check out this website for the whole story. It's quite enlightening, plus it gives a bonus Hall of Shame update for the Good Doctor Dwight Gooden!
http://msn.espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/0313/1350789.html
Grrrrrrrrr....
that link is dead, so I copied and pasted the story for your viewing pleasure. I apologize for it's length, but it's worth a view!
TAMPA, Fla. -- Darryl Strawberry was kicked out of a drug-treatment center and sent to jail for repeatedly breaking program rules, including a ban on sex between residents, according to court documents released Wednesday.
The former baseball star had many behavior problems at Phoenix House near Ocala, a state Corrections Department report said. Strawberry told his probation officer Tuesday he had sex with a female resident three days earlier.
In an interview at the Marion County Jail, Strawberry told WKMG-TV in Orlando his addictive behavior led to the affair, which he now fears will cost him his marriage. Dressed in an orange-striped jail uniform, he said he never thought the punishment from the program would be as severe as being kicked out.
"Of course we know we're not supposed to interact with the sisters in any kind of sexual way but ... it happened," he told the CBS affiliate. "I've done some serious damage to my marriage through addiction and at this point it looks like it's going to cost me my marriage."
Strawberry said he is proud he has not used drugs in 10 months and stayed in the program. He had left previous residential treatment programs in Tampa.
"This is the first time I'm coming out of a treatment program where I know in my heart that I don't want to use drugs," he said.
Strawberry was transferred to Marion County Jail on Tuesday, his 40th birthday. He appeared briefly before a judge Wednesday to be advised of the charge against him.
Strawberry will be returned to Tampa to face Judge Florence Foster on April 1. Foster repeatedly has ordered him to undergo drug treatment rather than send him to prison for violating probation.
Strawberry's wife, Charisse, said Wednesday she did not feel comfortable discussing the situation.
"I have three very young children who are my focus right now," she said in a statement. "Unfortunately this is part of the devastation of the disease of alcoholism and addiction."
Strawberry could face up to 18 months in prison under a sentence imposed last year and then suspended pending completion of the drug program. Assistant State Attorney Darrel Dirks said he would request the prison sentence be imposed.
Probation officers said they were encouraged Strawberry hasn't tested positive for drug use since being sent to Phoenix House. They did not make a recommendation to Foster on Strawberry's punishment.
Prosecutors maintain Strawberry needs to be in a more secure facility, or at least one where there are no women.
Strawberry was on probation for a 1999 arrest in Tampa on drug and prostitution charges. He already has violated probation five times.
The disclosure about Strawberry came on the same day that former teammate and close friend Dwight Gooden pleaded innocent to a misdemeanor charge of drunken driving.
Gooden, who now works for the New York Yankees and did not appear in court, was arrested in February when Tampa police said they saw him swerving while driving on an expressway. He had an open beer bottle in his car and was driving with a suspended license for failing to pay a fine from an unrelated traffic infraction, police said.
According to the report to Foster, Strawberry has had trouble following the strict rules of the treatment center since October. He was sent to Phoenix House in May after disappearing from a Tampa treatment center for a four-day, cross-state drug binge.
Probation officers said Strawberry has been caught smoking, exchanging baseballs for cigarettes, autographing baseball cards and clothing and giving money to residents.
Strawberry was placed on a "behavior contract" in which he agreed to stop those activities and refrain from making threats to residents and staff. The report did not detail the threats.
The report said Strawberry's behavior worsened in December, including an argument with a counselor the day after Christmas when Strawberry used profanity. It happened at a session in which residents were encouraged to share their feeling about the holidays.
Strawberry also was cited for kissing a female resident, not taking medications properly and being caught smoking behind the dormitories.
Strawberry won World Series titles with the New York Mets in 1986 and the Yankees in 1996 and 1999. Along with drug problems, he has been treated for colon and stomach cancer. Recent tests showed no signs of the disease.
On a related note, Dwight Gooden was arrested for driving with a suspended license January 3 in south Florida.
The 86 Mets have to be the all time criminal team.
Think of the arrests.
Strawberry--pick one
Gooden--pick one
Hernandez--on coke
Dykstra--Almost killed poor Darren Daulton while drunk
Mookie--I'm sure he did something--should be arrested for dumb ass name
Teufel and Ojeda--kicking ass in celebration of baby Teufel.
Ray Knight--I married a lesbian (she has to be one, right?)
Impressive dedication in hunting down that article, a hearty thanks! I'll add it to the shame (and read it) tomorrow...
You're welcome! I knew Darryl was a mess, but I didn't know he was THAT much of a mess.
vgp, you mentioned the new york mets as being the "all time criminals" yet you failed to mention kevin mitchell-cat killer, multi-felony assault charges, umpire-punching freak show. his shame list is almost as lengthy as darryl's.
You're right Gwynn. Maybe Mitchell and Strawberry are related somehow.
Oh, by the way, I saw a story on Darryl's son a few weeks ago. This kid can't stand his dad. They say he can be a great baseball player, but he won't even play because it's what his loser father did. He is a hell of a hoops player--it would be a shame if he followed in his father's footsteps. His name is Darryl Jr. and I think he even goes by DJ.
I'll bet Lee Mazilli was a closet criminal back in '86 too for the Misdemeanor Mets.