Former New York Met Darryl Strawberry fears for his former teammate Dwight Gooden’s life after the ex-pitcher failed to show up for a scheduled event.
Strawberry and Gooden were slated to do a joint interview on WFAN on Thursday night, but Gooden failed to show. When prompted, Strawberry voiced major concerns about Gooden’s well-being.
“I’m worried. A lot,” Strawberry said after a long pause, via CBS New York. “It’s a real struggle. It’s very difficult to talk about because I know the drill, I know the deal. It’s very sad. It’s hard. ‘Cause even though we weren’t as close, like everybody wanted to make us out to be, he’s a friend. And it’s a very challenging, very difficult time of his life. It’s tough.
“It’s really, really, really tough to sit here and just know that he was supposed to be here, too, and he’s not here. It’s really tough. And I think a lot of times people just keep thinking it’s all right, and it’s not all right. My fear is that — and I know addiction — and my fear is people that don’t change, they die. They die this way. I just hope the light comes on soon before it’s too late.”
As Strawberry alluded to, he knows about addiction, having battled it himself and having been a member of one of the wilder, more memorable champions in history. Gooden’s situation is certainly concerning, and one he continues to battle.
