Dwight Gooden sentenced to 1 year in prison

[Mattingly]

Gooden Sentenced to One Year in Prison

TAMPA, Fla. - Former baseball star Dwight Gooden was sentenced Wednesday to a year and a day in prison for violating probation by using cocaine.

The 41-year-old pitcher was serving three years' probation for speeding away from a police officer during a drunken driving stop when he admitted last month to a probation officer that he had used cocaine.

As part of his probation, Gooden had been ordered to stay away from alcohol, drugs and bars, and to submit to a minimum of three random urine tests a week. He also spent two months in an inpatient treatment facility for alcohol and drug addiction.

Gooden was the 1984 Rookie of the Year and 1985 NL Cy Young winner while with the New York Mets. He went 194-112 with a 3.51 ERA before retiring in 2001. He also pitched for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

During his playing days, Gooden was suspended for 60 days in 1994 for testing positive for cocaine while with the Mets. He tested positive for cocaine again while on suspension and was sidelined for the 1995 season.

[KCGHOST]

A sad day.

[digglahhh]

A sad day.

Commonly known in Gooden's world as "Wednesday."

[Mattingly]

Commonly known in Gooden's world as "Wednesday."

Unfortunately, very true. He was the toast of the town, had the same star power that Jeter does and Piazza had when he was here. He was on the covers of the Mets' media guides.

After he'd fallen from grace, even when Steinbrenner controversially kept giving him chances, he got his no-hitter in 1996. Still, he made his greatest claim to fame after Davey Johnson had him called up.

He and Straw were expected to be the next Bob Gibson and Willie Mays, or at least somewhere thereabouts. Sadly, all I can see are failed and lost opportunities.

He's had countless chances. I do hope that he can somehow turn himself around, or at least reflect upon what he's done to the many talents he's had and dreams that people have had for his skills. If not, then what's the next chapter in this sad and ongoing story?

[Captain Cold Nose]

It's too bad Gooden was an athlete. If it was Hollywood, he'd be applauded for his addictions and the courage to withstand them. But he's no Robert Downey Jr.

[Mattingly]

It's too bad Gooden was an athlete. If it was Hollywood, he'd be applauded for his addictions and the courage to withstand them. But he's no Robert Downey Jr.

With the exception that Robert Downey, Jr wasn't a huge star 20 years ago, wasn't predicted to be amongst the biggest stars ever, but was instead fired from Ally McBeal.

The former Dr K and Doc Gooden should be happy he didn't go the way of a much brighter star in the acting and physical comedy field: the former Sumarai Warrior himself, John Belushi.

[rockin500]

With the exception that Robert Downey, Jr wasn't a huge star 20 years ago, wasn't predicted to be amongst the biggest stars ever, but was instead fired from Ally McBeal.

The former Dr K and Doc Gooden should be happy he didn't go the way of a much brighter star in the acting and physical comedy field: the former Sumarai Warrior himself, John Belushi.

he still has a chance to do that. i dont see good things coming for him after he gets out of the clink.

[Mattingly]

he still has a chance to do that. i dont see good things coming for him after he gets out of the clink.

John Belushi, he of Animal House and Blues Brothers fame, was perhaps the brightest star who ever graced SNL. People like Eddie Murphy, Gilda Radner, Steve Martin and Chevy Chase were excellent, but nobody touched the Sumarai Warrior.

I'd hate to see that happen to Dwight, since Belushi passed in 1982 of a cocaine overdose just 3 years prior to Gooden's finest season, 1985. When he went 24-4, 1.53, people wondered aloud, "How'd he manage to lose 4 games?"

I don't want to see his car wrapped around a tree, I don't want to see him in some morgue, I don't want to hear him dying on a street corner with some needle stuck in his arm like a junkie getting his next high. I'd much rather see him reflecting upon his life, asking himself if he can go any further, only to go upwards in a positive manner, rather than getting the next "high".

Everytime I think I've wasted much of my life, I think unfortunately of the former "Doc" Gooden. I bemoan his excellent talents, his Lord Charles unhittable curveball, how he had so much going for him, including that wonderful and infectious youthful smile of his. He had about every single thing on a silver platter to him in the largest media market in the USA.

Sometimes I think I just get too emotional about this guy. Still, he had so much going for him, then everything was all thrown away. Mickey Mantle did much of the same thing in wasting himself by drinking excessively, but at least he achieved greatness in the process. Not as much as he could've, but he did lots of things that he was expected to.

Lemme just stop now. :o

[RedSoxVT92]

That is sad. What he could have been...

[Cubsfan97]

Its sad to see a great athlete end up like this.

[julusnc]

One of my favorite childhood memories watching watching The Doctor when he was a rookie with the Tidewater Tides.

I hope you get the help you need.I will pray for you.