“He’s a complete junkie-addict”, Strawberry told the New York’s Daily News about Gooden. “I feel like I’ve got to get it out there because nobody else is doing anything to help him, and it might be the only way to stop him”.
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Knowing that Gooden had battled drug addictions much like himself, Strawberry said he feared for Gooden’s life after he pulled out of Thursday’s event at the last minute. My fear is that – and I know addiction – and my fear is people that don’t change, they die. However, Gooden, the former star pitcher, has not found similar peace. They die this way.
Strawberry said in recent interviews that Gooden’s addiction to cocaine has left the 1985 Cy Young Award victor in dire condition. Let’s hope he asks for help before it’s too late. “When we were playing together I think a lot of it was more BS”. With our Grandmothers diminishing health and her passing last month, the stress and sadness that this brought us has been unthinkable.
“The condition Doc is in, it’s bad, it’s frightful”. Still, Gooden initially tried to dismiss the worries, telling the Daily News via text that he was “fine” and simply dealing with “minor health issues”.
Darryl Strawberry, the subject of 30 for 30 film “Doc and Darryl” with former teammate Dwight Gooden is concerned about Gooden’s daily battle with drug addiction. It’s like cocaine poison.
There was talk of the 6-foot-3 Gooden’s gaunt appearance in the documentary.
Gooden played the first 11 seasons of his career with the Mets and was a four-time All-Star and won three World Series titles. He looked frail and underweight – “I don’t think he weighs 150 pounds soaking wet right now”, Strawberry said to Harper – which led to more speculation. By us coming forward like this, he’ll realize that he has been exposed and it will challenge him to get help.
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Gooden stayed silent in the 36 hours after that, with his phone rejecting messages.
