Josh Hamilton on Deadspin
by TXRangersFan on Aug 8, 2009 10:35 AM CDT
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Print"The Devil is Still in Josh Hamilton"
Pictures of Josh Hamilton last winter have surfaced on Deadspin.com and it isn't pretty.
The text below comes from description that is included when you view the gallery on Deadspin.
"Josh Hamilton claims he's been sober since October 2005. Since then he's rejuvenated his career, saved his marriage, devoted himself to Jesus, and become America's flawed, homer-derby hero. Last winter, while he was alone in Tempe, Arizona, Hambone kinda slipped.
These photos are from the beginning of March. Hamilton was doing some pre-Spring Training workouts at the Athlete's Performance on ASU's campus. He supposedly rented a condo nearby, which also happened to be near the popular ASU hangout, Maloney's Tavern. One night, Hamilton went in. Here is a paraphrased account from people who were there the evening Josh Hamilton showed up. They wish to remain anonymous.
Because it was Spring Break and relatively early on a weeknight, the bar was kind of empty. According to one person who was there, a former employee, this big guy strolled into the bar and politely asked if they could change the television station to the MLB Network. You can see Al Leiter's head in the background of this photo. The MLB Network, you remember, first hit the airwaves in January of 2009. So these photos were taken well after he's been power-hitting for Jesus. And, also, this is what Josh Hamilton looked like in 2005.
One of the waitresses went to get the manager to change the station. The manager came out and saw Hamilton at the bar. Hamilton introduced himself, "Hi, I'm Josh." They made smalltalk. "Baseball season didn't start yet, right?" the bar manager inquired. Hamilton revealed he was a player. The manager, a baseball fan, but not a huge one, finally recognized the man sitting in front of him. "Oh, you're the home run derby guy." Josh said yes. "Well, just for that, lemme buy you a beer," the manager said, not knowing the full extent of Hamilton's history. Josh said yes again.
From there, things got weird. Josh drank. Josh was charming. Josh was a hit with the waitresses and bartenders who were hanging out between shifts. Shots were poured. Lots of shots. Josh kept drinking.
The person who took these photos arrived around 9. By then Hamilton was pretty wrecked. He was friendly, though and, obviously, having a really good time. He didn't even mind that photos were be taken of him as he did body shot after body shot off of some of the off-work waitstaff. He joked with Hamilton that he was going to send these photos to ESPN. "I'll kill you," Hamilton said, half-joking.
The girls left. According to one patron, Hamilton, piss-drunk by that point, asked the manager where he could buy blow. The manager didn't know. "Let's go to a strip club," Hamilton said. Someone drove Hamilton to Les Girls in Phoenix, Arizona.
Nobody knows what happened to Josh after the strip club that night.
Now, Hamilton isn't drinking in these photos; he's not doing drugs, either. He's just at a bar, shirtless, doing things with some strange women that most married men devoted to The Word Of God wouldn't usually partake in. That's it. But would a sober Josh Hamilton agree to be photographed laying across the bar shirtless, covered in whip cream with his head between a random girl's crotch?
Maloney's closed down soon after these photos were taken. I originally heard about this story second-hand from a tip way back in March. It seemed, at the time, implausible given how upfront and rigid Hamilton has been about his sobriety and his religious awakening. But then there was another tip about another night during the same time period, also from a Maloney's Tavern patron in Tempe. Then the pictures appeared and the story became more legit.
So now, here we are. Much will be made that Hamilton's sub-par season and injuries were a direct result of him backsliding during the off-season. Maybe this was isolated -- a brief moment of weakness where Hamilton, possibly alone for the first time in years, just fell headfirst off that wobbly wagon.
Hamilton homered last night, though, and the Rangers beat the Angels 11-6. And Hamilton's been better at the plate lately, which he claims is because he ditched his ADD medicine. Last night's performance even prompted to DMN writer Rob Stroope to proclaim,"It looks like he's back in the groove." Hope so. The Rangers are investigating. Hamilton is aware these photos exist. Statements, no comments, excuses, explanations shall be forthcoming."
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A bit of a Shocker, But
No One is perfect, i quit drinking (officially) in December 1988 but went on a self loathing bender in June of 1992 when i lost my business, it lasted one night and one bottle of jack daniels, and i had a couple of other breaks over the last 20+ years, temptation is a bitch, i can tell you that from experience, but as i have gotten older it has been easier as i have not had a drink now since 1997, I wish Josh all the best for his sake, his family and the rangers.
Larry Parrish Was Da Man!
truely
i imagine Hamilton is about to go through hell as this is gonna be on ESPN… He’s got 3 daughters and a wife that are gonna have to go through this too.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
This happened 7+ months ago...
I’m sure they’ve already been there…and back.
How come we are just now hearing about this?
This sucks...
The girls left. According to one patron, Hamilton, piss-drunk by that point, asked the manager where he could buy blow. The manager didn’t know. “Let’s go to a strip club,” Hamilton said. Someone drove Hamilton to Les Girls in Phoenix, Arizona.
Nobody knows what happened to Josh after the strip club that night.
I know most addicts will relapse at some point in time. I just hope Josh has all the help he needs around him to get through this.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
IIRC, if Josh gets caught ... he's banned, right?
So … is Josh basically … banned for life RIGHT NOW for all intents and porpoises?
i dont think he did drugs if he's getting tested every three days
and he didnt get suspended when this happened… Alchohol isnt against any ban for Josh
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
some porpoises probably think he deserves to be banned
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
Alcohol is legal
…Why the fuck would they test for that
by SaltyGoesYard on Aug 8, 2009 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm not sure that's correct.
But I’m not sure it’s incorrect either. It’s in his book but I don’t have a copy.
IIRC, drink or drugs … it don’t matter.
thats true
you have to ask where Narron was in all of this..
it was stupid for him to walk in a bar in the first place. all of the temptation that would happen.
too bad he has all those tattoos, can definitely tell it’s him..
by rangersfan32 on Aug 8, 2009 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions
this makes me sad
I’m sure the alcohol made him want to get some “blow.”
The fact he has a family and was with those chicks and everything else… just sad.
I feel like an idiot for standing up for him.
im not sure why you should feel like an idiot
he has a really bad addiction, its not something that just goes away no matter how much you’ve changed.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
he can only get banned from drugs and steroids
but still this is sad
IMO
It’s the fact that he is out there doing that when he has a family that is the big deal. If he was licking shots off of his wife’s tits, I would have no problem with that.
yep
First thing I wondered was … where are Josh’s wife and kids while he’s panto-mounting strange women in bars.
The whole situation is terrible
for Hamilton and especially his family, assuming they didn’t already know. very sad.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
i think they did
if the Rangers and Josh already knew about it… it sucks for them as im sure its gonna make its way to espn
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
I went to ASU
I’ve been to that bar a many times. I know a couple of guys who used to be bouncers there — I’m not going to lie, I had heard rumors about this, but I didn’t believe it.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
Did they delete the majority of that story?
When I go to deadspin now I can only see this:
Josh Hamilton claims he’s been sober since October 2005. Since then he’s rejuvenated his career, saved his marriage, devoted himself to Jesus, and become America’s flawed, homer-derby hero. Last winter, while he was alone in Tempe, Arizona, Hambone kinda slipped.
No
As you click on each picture the next part of the story appears.
I know you're joking but
I’m afraid it may be what has put him into his slump. He may be so distracted with family problems that his head is not right with ball right now.
very possible
the ADD story seemed somewhat… off … not sure whether to believe that
this is depressing
Relapse is a part of sobriety
not making excuses for him….but it happens….
What matters is how he’s been doing since these pics were taken.
I'm Ron Burgundy?
yeah, hopefully it was a one time occurrence
but i doubt that
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
Sorry, not buying this
1. No one in the story is named or sourced
2. The MLBN could’ve easily been Photoshopped.
3. I remember the video Jamey posted on youtube of Josh, Emily, and Max in Suprise in March, and Josh had a lot more hair in that video.
"Thats all we got? One goddamned hit?" - Harry Doyle
"You cant say god damn on the radio."- Colorman Monte
"Ehhh, who cares...nobody's listening!"- Harry Doyle
youtube link
"Thats all we got? One goddamned hit?" - Harry Doyle
"You cant say god damn on the radio."- Colorman Monte
"Ehhh, who cares...nobody's listening!"- Harry Doyle
and less bigger
they said he went to like 245 pounds in st
by rangersfan32 on Aug 8, 2009 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions
the first thing that came across my mind
were that these photos were old. this could be the case.
I want to hear what Hamilton says about it…. I think Narron would know about a slip up.
Also, the reason for Josh’s struggles were his pills he was taking.
by rangersfan32 on Aug 8, 2009 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Would Narron know about a slip up?
Yes. Would he reveal the truth in a public statement? No. He’s going to cover Josh’s ass 100%. Narron’s statement doesn’t mean much.
I still think these are old pics though.
So what he slipped a couple years ago,
It happens. And to agree with a poster up top, I bet that was one hell of a three some.
The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ
I think someone needs to take the time and look at the tatoos in the picture
and tatoos from early this year.
They don’t match up then it’s bunk.
I'm Ron Burgundy?
Me too.
I looked at them, and my first reaction was that Hamilton looks awful young in those photos.
"I love winning." - rockin_rangers, on May 16, 2009
I would be tempted to say
the whole thing is bunk, but the tattoo’s seem like they would be hard to replicate.
he looks so much younger in these pictures
plus hair does not match up
Im hoping
i think we’ll know soon enough as Im pretty positive that if they are true, Hamilton will fess up.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
I don't doubt that the photos are real,
but the story is pure BS
"Thats all we got? One goddamned hit?" - Harry Doyle
"You cant say god damn on the radio."- Colorman Monte
"Ehhh, who cares...nobody's listening!"- Harry Doyle
yea, thats what i mean
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
Come on dude
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales
if Josh comes out
and says, yes this happened but they are old photos from my time in addiction… I think it will definitely clear the air.
Dont even want to tell yall
what a friend of mine claims about Hamilton, what she experienced…
08/03/2009 A day that will live in infamy for the rest of the AL West.
If it bleeds, it leads ..
"When he came up with that ball, hop or not, he looked exactly like a homeless guy who had found a long cigarette butt – only to discover it was soaked with gasoline. He could not have thrown out anyone there, even though Cust moves at about the speed of soil erosion." - Ed C.
by inactive lsb user on Aug 9, 2009 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Convenient
they found a bar thats shut down and employees have spread to the 4 winds.
"I saw a soldier try to dig a foxhole with his bare hands. He didn't notice that he'd torn off all his fingernails. I got him out of there quickly; not for his sake, but for ours. Fear is poison in combat...destructive, contagious." - Band of Brothers
Yet another point of trickanery.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.
just claims
she went on a “date” with hamilton last year and he wanted to close the deal. Didnt know he was married, one of her friends told her he was, didnt go through with it. This girl could be straight lying but she does have the connections to have met him and the “status”. Totally dismissed it as a boast by a really hot girl that just wanted to tell me a story
08/03/2009 A day that will live in infamy for the rest of the AL West.
reply to rangersfan32
08/03/2009 A day that will live in infamy for the rest of the AL West.
by Michael Cave on Aug 8, 2009 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions
me too
08/03/2009 A day that will live in infamy for the rest of the AL West.
by Michael Cave on Aug 8, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions
it is a bit ironic that they went out of their way to tie MLB network into it
so that it could be pinpointed to THIS year.
Seems like an awfully innocuous piece of information to remember 6 months later.
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
jawline is a little different too
I think it’s him b/c of the tats, but that makes me think these were not taken this March.
by Sherman McCoy on Aug 8, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Josh was 245 lbs. in spring training
That pic, if that is him, has a lean face that doesn’t look like it goes with a 245 lb. body.
his face seems
a lot more filled out on the right
Rangers will address
“Texas GM Jon Daniels has told Yahoo! Sports that the team will address it before today’s game in Anaheim.”
Homecomings with Rick Reilly
Not sure when that was filmed, but Josh had way more hair and looked quite a bit different than he did in these pictures. Same for the video on youtube with Jamey’s daughter.
I’m holding out hope that these are old.
Plus I’m not sure the story adds up. The bar looks completely empty, does it not?
Greetings
I have read that Josh does not like to watch baseball on tv. It strikes me as odd that he would want the tv in the bar switched to the mlb network. The article seems to be making a big deal out of the fact that the mlb channel is on to validate the timeframe of the pics.
by gordo22 on Aug 8, 2009 12:12 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
great call
i forgot that he has said that. why would he go into a bar and ask them to turn on MLB Network. Why does he care whats on if hes just gonna be partying?
"Elvis Andrus has just preformed a MIRACLE!"
-Eric Nadel, 5/4/09
by Jason Brynsvold on Aug 8, 2009 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Not that great
Since he admitted that he is in the pics. Said it was late Jan. and not early March.
I do complement his taste, though
I mean, they could be swimming in VD, but that’s MLB-quality lady stuff as far as I can see
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Hopeful
Just some observations which may provide some hope.
I believe the tvs in photo 3 and photo 9 (the one on the right) are the same. The one in photo 9 seems to be ESPN2 (I think I see the running ticker in the bottom left hand corner)
The tv in photo 11 is on the X-games. These only happen in August and January
The tv in photo 4 seems a little out of place (maybe closer to the forefront and not mounted to the ceiling)
Maybe a stretch, but keeping my fingers crossed.
The x-games observation
seems like the most valid one to me…
That is obviously the X-Games logo, and obviously on some ESPN channel. ESPN talks about the x-games way more than I care for, but they definitely don’t do it 2 months after they happen.
Those people did themselves in with overlooking that picture.
I don’t buy it.
I was looking at the
different TVs as well. They just don’t appear right. Pic #11 is definitely a Winter X-Games logo. The 2009 Winter X-games were from January 22-25.
It’s kinda odd to advertise the Winter X-games two months after they are over. Since the photos are purportedly from:
the beginning of March. Hamilton was doing some pre-Spring Training workouts at the Athlete’s Performance on ASU’s campus.
x
Doesn’t ESPN change the X Games logo fairly frequently? You could probably make a decent year estimate based on that logo alone.
that's what I thought,
but they are basically the same with some different color variations over time. I’m trying to find a good listing of the logo changes over time; no luck yet.
Its the same every year
They just insert different colors depending on the background of the screen at the time. It’ll be really hard to get a timeframe just from that image
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
Spring training started around Feb 15...
What kind of “pre-Spring Training workouts” was he doing two weeks into Spring Training? The Rangers started playing spring training games on Feb 25 and I don’t remember that Josh missed any spring training time. These pics are not from March of 2009. Unfortunately, late January 2009 would be a possibility I guess.
Josh confirmed that
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
That is definitely Maloney's
I’ve been there plenty of times.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
I don't think these pictures are old.
Check out the red flames around his right forearm in this old picture.
And the lack of them in this picture:
The red flames are not present in the pictures from deadspin……
Yeah they are
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
Well...
She has a nice rack, can you blame a guy? But why would you let some dude take pics?
Keepin it Classy Gentlemen
With our HOPE tank now on "F" our economy should be taking off any day now....
by Hamiltons Homey on Aug 8, 2009 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Well he needs proof that he can score some hot groupies
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
"I am one of the biggest Texas Ranger fans out there but I'm also one of the smartest. Deal with it."
-The Outlaw
I'm really having trouble following what you are trying to say
did you forget to post another picture?
Read below.
He clearly had the red flames in the right forearm tat removed at some point after getting clean. And they’re not in the pictures from the bar.
It’s moot now, since he admitted to it.
I tried to follow the red flames theory about an hour ago
and I couldn’t decide yea or nay – but I see what you’re saying.
I see what you mean
The red in the forearms is gone. After he cleaned himself up he started to take the tats off, but said it was too painful to continue. It looks like he got as far as getting rid of the red though.
Jerry Narron
Josh said he told his wife, mlb, the rangers, etc. about his lapse the day after it happened. He said his support system was out of sorts about things for a week. Yet Jerry Narron, his main support system, said earlier today he would be shocked if the pics were real?
i look at these pictures and one thing comes to mind....
i wish i was a baseball player
defeatist pussy lives here
but you're a reality tv star!
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Aug 10, 2009 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
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