Let’s Play Ball

It’s that time of year—frozen northern fields begin to show a little green as predictions of the upcoming season abound from spring training in the south. As spring leaps forth from the doldrums of winter, America’s pastime consumes more of the newspaper sports section. Having grown up in an era when kids spent the most of their summer vacation around baseball diamonds, I watch with interest as the NFL, NBA, and NHL vie for the sports fan’s attention. To those who say baseball is no longer the energizer of America’s spirit, I would suggest a warm summer evening at Camden Yards, Comerica Park, or one of the like to gauge the interest of Americans. A review of Major League Baseball rosters or ESPN’s coverage of the Little League World Series demonstrates the global attraction of the sport. Although never popular in Europe or Russia, Canada, Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Japan have all adopted the game. Flush with folklore from the likes of Cobb, Ruth, and Williams, baseball’s past is rich as it continues to churn out heartwarming stories such as that of Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers. In the words of current Texas Ranger President, Nolan Ryan, “Josh is one of the most talented baseball players I’ve ever seen.”1 Josh was the first player chosen in the 1999 baseball draft; he was an amazing combination of speed and power, destined to become a superstar. By 2002, he had fallen to the depths of society, ravaged by drug addiction and despair. His struggle to overcome these evil spirits and his phenomenal return to professional baseball was highlighted by his All-Star debut in 2008. Through his record-breaking performance at Yankee Stadium at the 2008 All-Star Home Run Derby, Josh sent a clear message of hope to all whose lives had been destroyed by the evils of drug addiction. How did this happen? Was Josh’s fall a rare occurrence? I think it’s quite commonplace nowadays. Society gives young superstars every opportunity to go bad by placing them on a pedestal, not holding them to an appropriate standard of behavior, and making excuses for boorish behavior on and off the field. Many times the early warning signs are there but ignored by family, friends, teammates, coaches, and clinicians. It doesn’t usually start at the professional level; frequently, different rules apply for high school and college stars to unfairly protect them in order that they may continue entertaining us. Many athletes throw away their unbelievable career opportunities—and sometimes their lives—because of their inability to become responsible citizens. How sad it is to witness the star athlete who had the world by the tail but ends up with nothing but regrets, banishment, and/or jail time. As sports medicine professionals, we can become part of the system that fails these athletes if we don’t pay attention to more than pitch counts, sore arms, and swollen knees, missing the danger signs of everything from alcohol abuse to steroid rage. Yes, we know the signs and symptoms of many of the problems that teenagers and young adults face. As clinicians we should be aware of the pitfalls of these lurid life styles. We can play a key role in the lives of many athletes, as they often trust us and may be willing to listen if we are willing to speak up. Those who have witnessed these tragedies know how devastating they can be to the athlete, their family, and the community. It’s better to speak up when the danger signs are there than to suddenly find that it’s too late to say anything at all.

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