Great Josh Hamilton Story

[drgnbkr]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...=si_topstories

[BlakeJ]

Is this the story about that one time he did drugs? Or the time he relapsed...or the other time he relapsed? Or the time he killed the guy reaching for a baseball?

Sick of hearing Josh Hamilton stories. He's a baseball player just like every other guy in MLB...he did drugs...then quit...then came back to baseball. Big deal.

[drgnbkr]

Is this the story about that one time he did drugs? Or the time he relapsed...or the other time he relapsed? Or the time he killed the guy reaching for a baseball?

Sick of hearing Josh Hamilton stories. He's a baseball player just like every other guy in MLB...he did drugs...then quit...then came back to baseball. Big deal.

You spew your crap, then run off...Big deal...Don't read it.

[BlakeJ]

You spew your crap, then run off...Big deal...Don't read it.

I didnt read it. I just figured it was some "ohhhhhh awwwwww Josh Hamilton is suck a great human being....oooooo ahhhhhh."

Im sure most people wont read it. You posted it.

[Dawg82]

I didnt read it. I just figured it was some "ohhhhhh awwwwww Josh Hamilton is suck a great human being....oooooo ahhhhhh."

Im sure most people wont read it. You posted it.

I read it. Great player. Great ego. Multiple issues. Enjoy watching him play--strictly for baseball. Wouldn't espouse him as any kind of role model like this article tries to do. Multiple chances. Make something of it this time Josh. Last time I checked, we all love a winner. The caveat is when a winner does it the right way. We're all human, but there's a limit to chances given.

[drgnbkr]

I read it. Great player. Great ego. Multiple issues. Enjoy watching him play--strictly for baseball. Wouldn't espouse him as any kind of role model like this article tries to do. Multiple chances. Make something of it this time Josh. Last time I checked, we all love a winner. The caveat is when a winner does it the right way. We're all human, but there's a limit to chances given.

I agree..He has some demons but what a freak! He genuinely has fun doing something that comes so easy to him. I know a former pro-QB that has the same problems..Can't have one drink..it turns into 20 and he is out of control. Lost his family and everything he had over it. Hopefully Josh can keep the demons at bay.

[trojanbacker]

Thanks for posting this. Great stories. As someone who is far from perfect and battled his own demons earlier in life, I will never look down my nose at someone like Josh.

[BlakeJ]

Thanks for posting this. Great stories. As someone who is far from perfect and battled his own demons earlier in life, I will never look down my nose at someone like Josh.

I dont look down my nose at him....the on going hoorah parade for this guy is annoying. In the same realm as Jeremy Lin and Brett Favre.

Give it a rest already with this guy. Nothing special about him....there are plenty of great ball players in the Majors...but he gets extra special attention because he's an alcoholic and drug addict. Why not write stories about guys that do the same great off the field stuff that Josh does...without the drug and alcoholic abuse history?

[Longhorns12]

I dont look down my nose at him....the on going hoorah parade for this guy is annoying. In the same realm as Jeremy Lin and Brett Favre.

Give it a rest already with this guy. Nothing special about him....there are plenty of great ball players in the Majors...but he gets extra special attention because he's an alcoholic and drug addict. Why not write stories about guys that do the same great off the field stuff that Josh does...without the drug and alcoholic abuse history?

I swore I was gonna stay off of here for awhile. And I've done a really good job. But WoW JB!!! WoW!!! I'm biting my tongue.

[BlakeJ]

I swore I was gonna stay off of here for awhile. And I've done a really good job. But WoW JB!!! WoW!!! I'm biting my tongue.

I have that effect on women...sorry.

You're a Josh Hamilton fan...you cant post in here.

[trojanbacker]

I dont look down my nose at him....the on going hoorah parade for this guy is annoying. In the same realm as Jeremy Lin and Brett Favre.

Give it a rest already with this guy. Nothing special about him....there are plenty of great ball players in the Majors...but he gets extra special attention because he's an alcoholic and drug addict. Why not write stories about guys that do the same great off the field stuff that Josh does...without the drug and alcoholic abuse history?

I would suggest to you that the record 11 million+ baseball fans who just voted for him for the all star game (breaking the old record by more than 4 million votes) find his story interesting; maybe even uplifting. Or, maybe all 11 million are just idiots. Depends on your outlook, I suppose.

[BlakeJ]

I would suggest to you that the record 11 million+ baseball fans who just voted for him for the all star game (breaking the old record by more than 4 million votes) find his story interesting; maybe even uplifting. Or, maybe all 11 million are just idiots. Depends on your outlook, I suppose.

Im not suggesting that he isnt a great ball player....he belongs in the All Star game. However...I dont feel he's different than alot of players in the All Star game. The difference is he's an alcoholic and drug addict.

Lots of guys do admirable things off the field....not just Josh. The story isn't "Josh does great things off the field". The story is "Josh is a drug addict and alcoholic and does good things off the field."

[SLC93]

This was a really great story but, in many ways, it's a puff piece and stinks of spin. After the story that ran last month in SI when Hamilton was on the cover, I'm certain Josh's management team wasn't happy. The story left a bitter taste in alot of people's mouths, mine included. I think this was nothing more than a favor by SI to stay in the good graces of a player that will be the story of the offseason.

Josh may still be that amazing, young man. He certainly seems to be very humble and gracious. I admire the way he plays. He is a generational talent. I'm happy to cheer for him. Having said all of that, he's very, very high maintenance and prone to lull at the plate because he gets bored. He's also on his last leg with MLB. Any positive test or serious event and he's gone for life. Given what we learned in the original SI article, he's leaving Texas. He's going to the highest bidder, period. Texas will not chase him with dollars that are just ridiculous on the back half of a contract.

[trojanbacker]

This was a really great story but, in many ways, it's a puff piece and stinks of spin. After the story that ran last month in SI when Hamilton was on the cover, I'm certain Josh's management team wasn't happy. The story left a bitter taste in alot of people's mouths, mine included. I think this was nothing more than a favor by SI to stay in the good graces of a player that will be the story of the offseason.

Josh may still be that amazing, young man. He certainly seems to be very humble and gracious. I admire the way he plays. He is a generational talent. I'm happy to cheer for him. Having said all of that, he's very, very high maintenance and prone to lull at the plate because he gets bored. He's also on his last leg with MLB. Any positive test or serious event and he's gone for life. Given what we learned in the original SI article, he's leaving Texas. He's going to the highest bidder, period. Texas will not chase him with dollars that are just ridiculous on the back half of a contract.

Not arguing with you here, but wondering what I missed in the June SI article. To me, it was mostly old news except for the part where they discussed his faith and the plans God has for the new contract money. Was that the part that left a bitter taste in readers' mouths?

[Dawg82]

Hamilton's a player, no doubt. But, I agree the SI article was a pre-emptive strike for future stories and headlines. I'd take Biggio 1st ballot in '13 for HOF, and I'd question Hamilton at any time.

As far as role models go, not even close.

[SLC93]

Not arguing with you here, but wondering what I missed in the June SI article. To me, it was mostly old news except for the part where they discussed his faith and the plans God has for the new contract money. Was that the part that left a bitter taste in readers' mouths?

Alot of people do not take kindly to the Hamilton's assertion that they do not owe Texas anything and that they would have made it/can make it anywhere. Remember, the driving force behind his trade to Texas was that the veterans in the Reds lockeroom weren't taking very well to all the coddling Josh requires. Texas has provided him his own counselor, available 24 hours a day, that also travels with the team. He has his accountability coach, 24 hours a day. They provide his family counseling. He's in an accepting lockeroom, one that happily celebrates milestones with him sans alcohol. Texas has built an infra structure for him.

In addition to that comment there is a very large percentage of folks that did not appreciate the comments about what they are going to do with the money. They might very well give away half his contract but until it happens using the Lord and his vision for you as an excuse for trying to get the most dollars available seems like a deflection and spin. Seriously, how does one take offense to someone's financial demand when they are insinuating that they will do amazing things with it because God told them to? I'm not questioning their sincerity or intent, I just don't think it's a proper forum or time to put that out there. Remember, the month prior to the comments about the Lord's calling the words out of Josh's mouth were that there would be no hometown discount because he was a Union man and he owed it to the Union to get top dollar. So which is it?

[trojanbacker]

Alot of people do not take kindly to the Hamilton's assertion that they do not owe Texas anything and that they would have made it/can make it anywhere. Remember, the driving force behind his trade to Texas was that the veterans in the Reds lockeroom weren't taking very well to all the coddling Josh requires. Texas has provided him his own counselor, available 24 hours a day, that also travels with the team. He has his accountability coach, 24 hours a day. They provide his family counseling. He's in an accepting lockeroom, one that happily celebrates milestones with him sans alcohol. Texas has built an infra structure for him.

In addition to that comment there is a very large percentage of folks that did not appreciate the comments about what they are going to do with the money. They might very well give away half his contract but until it happens using the Lord and his vision for you as an excuse for trying to get the most dollars available seems like a deflection and spin. Seriously, how does one take offense to someone's financial demand when they are insinuating that they will do amazing things with it because God told them to? I'm not questioning their sincerity or intent, I just don't think it's a proper forum or time to put that out there. Remember, the month prior to the comments about the Lord's calling the words out of Josh's mouth were that there would be no hometown discount because he was a Union man and he owed it to the Union to get top dollar. So which is it?

Ok, I understand where there might be some people who have problems with that. Have never thought of it that way.
I believe they sincerely mean it when they say that God has amazing plans for the money and that they intend to give Him as much as possible.
I'm possibly one of the least cynical, most naive adults on the planet.

[SLC93]

Ok, I understand where there might be some people who have problems with that. Have never thought of it that way.
I believe they sincerely mean it when they say that God has amazing plans for the money and that they intend to give Him as much as possible.
I'm possibly one of the least cynical, most naive adults on the planet.

Nah, you're fine. It's not that I do not believe they'll make an impact with their money, I do. I'm just not a fan of advertising charitable works I intend to do, using the Lord's name to solidify it, as a way to curtail those that will have issue with the money he eventually signs for. I'd rather him sign his contract and then shock the world.

[Mong Hu]

I dont look down my nose at him....the on going hoorah parade for this guy is annoying. In the same realm as Jeremy Lin and Brett Favre.

Give it a rest already with this guy. Nothing special about him....there are plenty of great ball players in the Majors...but he gets extra special attention because he's an alcoholic and drug addict. Why not write stories about guys that do the same great off the field stuff that Josh does...without the drug and alcoholic abuse history?

I agree the hoorah parade is annoying but I have to say that there is something special about him. Even in a league that boasts the best players in the world his abilities stand out.

This is not unusual. Steve Prefontaine was arrogant, uncoachable, and practiced his share of vices but you can not argue with the fact that he was special. He was a freak of nature. So is Hamilton from all I have seen and read about him.

He may not be a role model, on that we may agree, but he is something special IMHO.