The Tragic Fall of Matt Bush

A former Major League Baseball No. 1 draft pick battles alcoholism. He’s now in jail, charged with three felonies:

“In a sport where alcohol plays such a massive part in all social settings—on the same day Bush was arrested, Boston reliever Bobby Jenks, another player with alleged alcohol issues, was charged with a hit-and-run DUI as well—there was a great story in Bush’s continued sobriety, one to tell when he finally arrived in the big leagues. Like Josh Hamilton, another former top overall pick who struggled with addiction, Bush’s successes were redemptive, even inspiring to addicts who fight to stay clean for even a day or a week. During a two-hour conversation last spring, Bush detailed the goriest times of his life, the lowest of lows, sure that talking about them would prevent their recurrence.

“‘If you want to hear the whole story, I can give it to you,’ he said. ‘It might take a while.’

Source: Yahoo! Sports
Published: Mar 26, 2012
Length: 16 minutes (4,038 words)

Renegade Miami Football Booster Spells Out Illicit Benefits to Players

In 15 prison interviews with Yahoo! Sports and hundreds of telephone and email interactions, Shapiro laid out a multitude of reasons for blowing the whistle on his illicit booster activity. Chief is his feeling that after spending eight years forging what he thought were legitimate friendships with players, he was abandoned by many of the same Miami athletes he treated so well. He told Yahoo! Sports that following his incarceration, he asked multiple players for financial help – either with bail money, or assistance to individuals close to the booster. Shapiro admitted some of those inquiries included angry letters and phone calls to players whom he provided benefits. “Some of those players – a lot of those players – we used to say we were a family,” Shapiro said. “Well, who do you go to for help when you need it? You go to your family. Why the hell wouldn’t I go to them?”

Source: Yahoo! Sports
Published: Aug 17, 2011
Length: 28 minutes (7,148 words)

Rodman Cut His Own Path to Hall of Fame

When Dennis Rodman took the stage, he was overcome by the moment. He cried his eyes out. He couldn’t speak. He gestured to his presenter and former Bulls coach, Phil Jackson, and it looked like the Worm might not say anything at all. “Hang in there Big Um!” Raglin yelled from the fifth row, and the new Hall of Famer froze. Then, Rodman rallied. He gave a speech that was everything it should have been – heartfelt, messy, profane (he called himself a couple of names, and no one in his inner circle felt compelled to offer objections), uncomfortable, silly and bleeding all over the place. He told his children he strove to be a better father and admitted to his mother, Shirley, that he needed to let go of his resentment toward her and be a better son.

Source: Yahoo! Sports
Published: Aug 14, 2011
Length: 11 minutes (2,951 words)