Imagine having it all. Imagine being famous, rich, talented, and someone that children looked up to as a role model. Imagine having a beautiful wife and healthy, happy children – and now imagine throwing all of that away. In other words – imagine you are Darryl Strawberry.

Darryl Strawberry had it all. He was considered one of the best players in baseball on the best team in baseball. He was revered by children who one day dreamed of being a baseball player just like him – and he had a loving family that cheered him through every victory and stood by him through every defeat. And yet – all of that couldn’t stop his addiction – which is now all that he has left.

The downfall of Darryl began when he was first arrested for cocaine possession in 1999 and continued when he was involved in a drug induced hit-and-run in September of 2000. After being sentenced to rehab, he escaped to get high and was sentenced to house arrest at the rehab center until four days ago when he escaped – again.

I find it very sad that someone who had it all now has nothing because of drugs. What happened to Darryl Strawberry is a crime. Yes, it was his choice to try cocaine and I’m sure he thought he could control it – but now – the drugs control him. Personally, I could not imagine losing my job, my friends and my family because I was addicted to drugs. I don’t know what it feels like to not be able to live without cocaine and doing anything to get it. From risking my livelihood, to putting my family in danger – to even stealing, just to get high – and I’m sure Darryl never imagined it either.

I wonder what must be going through his mind right now. How do you think he feels knowing that while he is sitting in a jail cell, his face is on the front cover of ever newspaper in the country with headlines like, “Fans To Straw – Yer Out!” and “’I Just Lost It’ – Straw Turns Self In”. I wonder how he feels knowing that the same fans that stood on their feet and cheered when he would whack a baseball right out of the ballpark are now shaking their heads at his latest screw up – and I wonder how he feels knowing that his children have this man as their father.

This may sound harsh, but I have no sympathy for Darryl Strawberry. I understand that he is going through a depression over his cancer and I understand the addictive powers of cocaine – but all he had to say was no. All he had to do was realize the life he built for himself was something that almost everyone would kill for. All he had to do was realize that children all over the world – including his own – saw him as their hero. All he had to do was look at his wife and realize that she would be destroyed and humiliated if he became addicted to drugs – and all he can do now is sit in that jail cell and realize that he has ruined himself – and its far too late for redemption, correction – or forgiveness.

If there is any moral to this very sad story, it’s to realize the power of drugs and why it is so important to say no to them. You have to realize that just one line of cocaine can be enough to lead you to the end of everything you hold dear. So the next time you are offered drugs, or interested in trying them and think that you’ll only do it, “just this once” – remember this – at one point – Darryl said those words too.