Josh Hamilton

Here's the thing. I know exactly what it means to try and escape addiction. I understand that relapses happen and that sometimes people make decisions and then find themselves saying, "I really can't believe I did that." I get it. I get all of that.

And on that level I am deeply and personally sorry for Josh Hamilton.

But that doesn't change the fact that he's kind of a sorry guy.

This has nothing to do with baseball allegiances it has to do with his behavior. Josh Hamilton was the number one overall pick of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays about ten years ago and he put that draft pick and all of his talent into a crack pipe.

That's sad and I feel sorry for him.

Then he came back. He told everyone that he was clean. He told everyone that he had given his life to Jesus. He sold books and made commercials about how he had changed his life and invited the whole world into his rehab.

Then he relapsed and hid it until deadspin got the photos and then he fessed up.

You see you don't get to publicize and monetize your recovery and then hide your relapse because your recovery is no longer private as soon as you start selling books and bracelets and billboards about it. So to conceal it, while not an outright lie, is a partial truth.

And anyone who has ever been through rehab will tell you a half truth is a whole lie. Addicts don't get to tell half truths.

So he cleans up again and the world goes on and the Rangers go to back-to-back World Series during which time Hamilton makes a big deal about not celebrating with his teammates because he doesn't want to be around the champagne.

Then it comes out he's at the bar drinking and his teammate Ian Kinsler has to go get him and take him home.

Now here's the thing about his, "I slipped one time."

I think that's a lie.

I am not ashamed to say this for two reasons.

1. I am addict and when an addict falls off the wagon they do it private. It takes a while of doing it in private before they say "Aww #@&% it, I'm going to the bar I don't care who sees me." Don't believe me? Ever tried to lose weight and ate a cheeseburger? You snuck it didn't you. Ever tried to quit smoking? The first one back you had on the sly. I think Hamilton's been drinking for a while and he finally reached the "don't care" stage and got caught.

2. We already know Josh Hamilton is more than willing to lie about a relapse. How do we know? Because he lied about one three years ago.

So I am sorry for the man. I am sorry because I know what it means to be got and not know how to escape, but this is not a guy that deserves to be defended. He has a long established pattern of this sort of behavior. I hope he stays clean. I hope he never "slips" again, but I will cut no slack to anyone who defends him because that is willful ignoring of what is plainly right in front of your face.