Josh Hamilton Struggles Again

In Alcoholics Anonymous, when a member of the fellowship takes a drink, it is called a SLIP, an acronym that means “Sobriety Loses Its Priority.” This is a time of danger for anyone who suffers from this illness. When alcoholics drink, they can end up anywhere, including another city, a hospital emergency room, a jail cell, or a morgue. When an individual totters on the edge, the proximity makes it easy to fall off. One can get temporarily drunk and end up permanently dead. I saw it up close when as an Emergency Medical Technician I made the rounds in an ambulance, going to emergency rooms, convalescent facilities, group homes and the like.

Alcoholism is an equal opportunity disease, striking indiscriminately. There is no segment of society that goes without representation, including professional athletes. This brings us to Josh Hamilton, a star of the highest magnitude. There have been several credible stories in the press that he was observed drinking at a Dallas bar earlier this week. He has struggled with drugs and alcohol in his life, and has talked about it publicly.

On the other hand, he has had several extended periods of sobriety. One of them enabled him to earn the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award, when in 2010 he achieved a .359/.411/,633 slash line. That, readers, is top of the mark.

As I write this, reporters await a press conference he has called for later today. His fans, and fans of the Texas Rangers team he plays for, surely want him sober. His teammates need Hamilton sober, and are willing to go to extreme lengths to support him in this pursuit, including celebrating their two recent American League Championships by dousing each other with ginger ale when tradition calls for Champagne. Hamilton has a wife and two children who need their husband and father fully present.

An image that illustrates how essential sobriety is for an alcoholic is one of a marionette. Unless the marionette is held by its topmost string, its efficacy is diminished. For alcoholics, sobriety is that top most string. It is a matter of life and death. Josh Hamilton is one of the lucky ones. He has a universe of people pulling for him. But in the end, it’s all up to him. Go to a meeting, Josh.

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This post is dedicated to Robyn, who I love and miss everyday.