Is Josh Hamilton a Great Comeback Story?

A conversation between myself and my daughter’s fiancé regarding character (or lack thereof) and sports, possible endorsees for my book Becoming a True Champion—which certainly has a focus on character and integrity as a foundational principle, and the state of affairs with many elite and professional athletes today, prompted several questions.

If an athlete, or any person for that matter, makes a poor character choice, a mistake (e.g. cheating, illicit drug use, etc.) are they destined to live out the rest of their life as an individual known for being short on character and integrity?

Is it possible to rebuild the trust lost through a change in direction? If so, does this become a solid and respectable example for others, especially kids, earning back that previous loss of character? Basically, is there any redemption for such an individual?

To answer these questions, one must reflect on what having and demonstrating good character and integrity means to them. In reference to this discussion, do they really mean unconditional perfection of choice, or is there the possibility of recovery at some point?

I suppose that is part of what makes Josh Hamilton’s story and struggle from drug addiction, including alcohol and crack cocaine, back to become a prominent Major League Baseball star (hopefully, all clean and sober) so intriguing and so full of hope for those watching from the outside.

Touted as the No. 1 pick and talent in 1999, and held in the highest regard by most scouts, Josh was chosen first in the draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He had hit the big leagues and was on his way to the Tampa Bay franchise right out of high school, and with a $3.96 million signing bonus.

Looked at by many as a once-in-a-generation (maybe lifetime) type player, he was injured in a car accident in 2001, sidelining him from baseball and putting him on injured reserve. With an abundance of free time, and money to go with it, he began hanging with what many might refer to as the wrong crowd, quickly succumbing to the pressures existing within such an environment.

After failing several drug tests, and many trips to rehab, he was finally suspended from baseball for a year in March of 2004 and again in August of that same year, after he failed to show up for a mandatory drug test during that same month. It was not until sometime in October of 2005 that he hit bottom and started his steady, but difficult, climb back to normalcy, and baseball prominence.

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