| Show high school and junior college a standout at Drake a pro with the Mullin was making $400000 a year he Golden State Warriors and a $400000- was suspended for one game then placed guard with the Houston Rockets on the injured list while undergoing reAnd he never expected to have to account hab He came back to play in the 1989 for doing drugs It was part of the lifeNBA game and help the Warriors style When I saw him several weeks win the Western Conference Playoffs ago he was with Cedar Rapids Silver Reports of the money that goes into Bullets in the Continental Basketball Association playing for $500 a week satisfying a drug habit seem like fiction to young people—probably because their There is a sense of bewilderment in him introduction to it is almost always free He has been in drug-rehprograms twice Each athlete we interviewed recalled and says that on Sept 19 he will have not paying a single cent for those first been "clean for two years" Some athletes (and other few uses of cocaine or other IIIIVAMMINIONE11111111 falter because of celebrities) drugs what the psychologist Steven "You're partying and someone says 'Hey take a hit on 'D":11 Yt3 Berg las of Harvard Medical this" says Dwight Gooden College and of McLean Hos-24 the Mets pitcher He was 110:3 I pital in Belmont Mass calls Had the Success Syndrome a conRookie of the Year in '84 won dition befalling grade school the Cy Young Award in '85 and high school heroes as well was a Mets player when the am?' as pros It applies to people team won the World Series in ct because they who '86—the year he got started on cocaine He could have 113 can't handle the pressure of their good fortune Derek San- afforded it easily Gooden was derson is the quintessential making $15 million "First it's free but then it costs" he example He helped the Boston Bruins win two champi- says "You go through a whole of back onships but he says he felt heap money Looking EnZitP like an impostor and looked think better you offjust you're good only because of stars ripping it up and throwing it in the ocean" In 1987 Good- cama Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito: "I think I was afraid I wouldn't en entered a drug-reha- b probe able to perform like a star gram and missed part of the for the Blazers I began to have tha reply season Says Gooden: "The lesson is that there's thoughts like 'Did I really deserve all that money?" he no free ride You start with I 1g30 says "Then if I had a lousy drugs and you're going to pay That and pay and pay and it'll nevnight I could blame it on the er be enough" booze" He seems to feel that 11115 way still: "The truth is" says Why does an athlete at the TLIkrdz Sanderson "I was a flake not top of his profession turn to the hero everybody said I was" drugs and risk his life fame CEEL111 and fortune? Celebrities who once were addicted to drugs or alcohol Jockey Julie Krone tries to feel branded by the fact When answer that question Now 26 we began to talk Chris Mullin resisted she was suspended for 90 days in 1983 when she was found with marijuana at a discussing his alcoholism: Hadn't enough been written about that? Finally he exMaryland racetrack Says Krone: "You lose sight of what's right and wrong plained: "I can't start telling anybody You're young you feel so immortal what to do---I just know that I've got to You're living proof that it's not taking a deal with life one day at a time" toll on your body so you think you don't Jockey Chris Antley 23 is similarly have to pay any price Obviously you do" reluctant to discuss his former cocaine That's classic Not one athlete interproblem "Is that all anyone will want viewed said getting hooked was someto talk about the rest of my life?" he asks thing he or she feared would happen Antley was suspended last fall by the After all these are human beings in New York State Racing and Wagering Board after testing positive for cocaine superb physical condition They've gone He has been setting records for wins since through bruises and breaks and surgery But death—even addiction—is an abhis rehabilitation straction When you are that young Lonnie Smith 33 has no hesitation: "I want to talk about it" he says "I really strong quick and powerful the only truth feel it's part of my therapy" Smith an you savor is that you are above it all Atlanta Braves outfielder was practicalMany athletes are pmducts of the ghetlife where the male rites to or blue-collly on his way out of professional baseof passage often are spelled out in macho ball when the Kansas City Royals dumped him in 1987 They won't say why even violence terms: drugs sex derring-d- o now but Smith says it was because of Lewis Lloyd 30 a basketball player his cocaine use He went through a rehab from Philadelphia says he began experiprogram and was picked up by the Braves menting with drugs at 13 He also says "When you don't talk about it you are he never expected to become a star—a DRUGScontinued all-st- ar ab -krra in denial and that's no way to recover" Smith says "That's what everyone has to straggle with: acknowledging the problem Once you get past denying you have a problem you can begin to understand that you made a choice to use drugs" Those who stopped doing drugs and moved into recovery all acknowledged the power of prayer Duane Washington 24 who was with the New Jersey Nets when he was suspended and who played with the Tulsa Fast Breakers in the Continental Basketball Association last season says something drastic had to happen for him to stop doing drugs: "God intervened and I was arrested in Newark NJ with a gram of cocaine in my cat" Washington self-destru- treBY star 'Jt ILI l'23 11 r ar ' 111381 Sep- tember 1990 His strength to go the route he says comes from prayer Washington says this prayer is the first thing that comes out of his mouth on awakening and the last before sleeping: "I'd like to thank you Lord for allowing me to see another day and allowing me to keep my life disciplined and dedicated to my sobriety And I just pray Lord that you bless me in Jesus' name Amen" John Lucas says the lesson for him and for many people is this: "Learning to believe in something greater than yourself like God" "With drugs" adds Lucas "it isn't that you lose your dreams You lose your soul You lose you" 11'9111 r 01711 r I Do You eskei ftrEar won't be eligible for the NBA until For TirtneTritinflA isuI In this questionnaire distributed by Bf--I Cares if you or someone you know can answer "yes" to two or more questions it may be a sign that a drug-andalcohol-abus- e problem exists and that it's time to get help or 1 Are you drinking or using drugs to "quit hurting" or to hurt your mom and dad? 2 Do you drink too much like your -- dad and mom? 3 Does your drinking or using drugs make getting along with members of your family more difficult? it Have you lost time from school due to drinking or other 5 Have you taken drinks or drugs because you are shy and find the dru- gs?- effect makes it easier to talk to people and have more fun at parties? 6 Are you unhappy or guilty about your drinking or drug use? 7 Is drinking or drug use making it difficult for you to do well at school Job team sports or extracurricular activities? S Are you spending more time alone because of your drugs or drinking? 9 Have you given up or are you doing badly in sports or hobbies because of your drugs or alcohol? 10 Are your friendships changing because of your drugs? Do you wish you could live drug-free- ? it 12 Do you have physical symptoms of health problems related to your drug Intake or drinking? 13 Do you have unexplained or mysterious periods of depression ' anxi- ety or difficulty with sleeping? 14 Has anybody either Jokingly or seriousness talked to you about your drugs or drinking? 15 Do you feel anvy guilty or uncom In fortable when people talk about alcohol drugs or drinking? 16 Do you need a drink or drugs to "make out" on a date or to start the day? 17 Are you hiding liquor joints or pills and lying about their use? — -- - 18 Do you need a pill or a drink to quit shaking to quiet down or for your nerves? 19 When you know you will get into a tense or "hairy" situation do you need a drink or pills? 20 Have alcohol or drugs affected your sex life? 21 Have you started to guard your supply of alcohol or drugs for times when the stores are close-d?-22 Are you convinced that beer and wine drinks are okay since they are not hard liquor? 23 Does your mom dad brother sister or anyone else in your close family have a problem with alcohol or ----- pills? Have you ever been in jail the hospital the emergency room or been sent to the doctor for alcohol or pills? 24 -- - had a complete loss of memory after drinking or taking drugs and have you ever done or said things you can't remembe- r?--26 Do you think about drinking or using drugs at inappropriate times— when you should be thinking about other things? 27 Have you had to lie and cover up a lot since you started drinking or taking drugs? Reprinted by permission of BR Cares 25 Have you ever PAGE 8 JULY 30 1989 PARADE MAGAZINE |
