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4:40:00 PM EDT
Hearing the Walkmen
Recreational Drugs in Sports!
An issue of Frank 151 showed up on my doorstep the other day. It was my first time seeing or even hearing of the mysterious publication, but it's miniature size and graphic novel-like cover illustration of Mike Tyson had my interest peaked, and it took no time flat to realize that the content therein is a direct bullseye on so many levels. Seriously, features don't get much better than this: two collectors battling it out for sports card supremacy, a fashion shoot with two scantily clad models playing Evert and Navratilova and a history of classic sports video games (Double Dribble! Bases Loaded!). And that's just to name a few.
My favorite part of this wonderful gift from Frank 151, however, is their "Illustrated History of Recreational Drugs in Sports." The drawings of Dock Ellis throwing a no-hitter on LSD and Michael Irvin partying in a motel room alone are worth the price of admission ($3 per issue), but it's the words that had me turning the pages. Here are some excerpts, some of which I was already well aware of and some of which I had no idea had ever happened...
"1982 - When NL East favorite Montreal Expos finish third, team president John McHale tells the NY Times that he blames cocaine: "We felt we should've won in '82. When we all woke up to what was going on, we found there were at least eight players on our club who were into this thing." Rookie All-Star Tim Raines, the only user publicly identified adds, "I had it in little gram bottles that I kept in my pocket... when I carried it in my pocket, I'd go in head first.
1984 - One year after playing in the NBA All-Star game and following a stint in drug rehab. Dave "Skywalker" Thompson falls down a flight of stairs at Studio 54 disco, effectively ending his career.
1985 - Curtis Strong, a Pittsburgh caterer, drug dealer, and friend to baseball players is tried on 16 counts of distributing cocaine in Pittsburgh from June 1980 to May 1984. Players Lonnie Smith, Keith Hernandez, Lee Lacey, Enos Cabell, Rod Scurry, Dale Berra, Dave Parker, John Milner, Jeff Leonard, Tim Raines, Al Holland, Lee Mazilli and mascot Kevin Koch, alleged to have kept cocaine in the beak of his "Pirate Parrot" costume, are listed as government witnesses and granted immunity. Dave Parker tells the courthe had made it possible for his "primary supplier" to get into the Pirates' clubhouse at Three Rivers Stadium and to fly on the same plane with the Pirates when they traveled to other cities to deliver drugs. Keith Hernandez tells the court: cocaine was "the devil within me." He recalls using cocaine, including playing the game high.
1993 - Robert Parish, the oldest player in the NBA is arrested when police find marijuana in his home and in a FedEx package addressed to him. Parish and Alaa Abdelnaby are rumored to be called "Chief and Chong" by teammates.
1996 - Portland police see Trailblazer Isaiah Rider smoke marijuana from a soda can and arrest him on possession charges.
2001 - Former Dallas Cowboys and 6-time Pro Bowler Nate Newton is arrested in Louisiana when police find him driving a van containing 213 pounds of marijuana. Out on bail, Newton is arrested when police find him driving a van containing 175 pounds of marijuana.
2003 - in his autobiography, LT: Over the Edge, Taylor admits he smoked crack cocaine before games."
I know, a lot to chew on there. And I didn't even include anything about the Class of '86 (the Len Bias year), which saw four lottery picks do the dance with the white lady, or the Strawberry and Gooden stuff, etc., etc. Anyway, more to come from Frank 151, I'm sure, even if they've done enough already.
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I was getting high when I opened this article.
Marvin Barnes sniffing yayo on the Celtic bench is still the high water mark of the drug war until someone in the outfield lights up a joint to kill time during a pitcher/catcher conference. -
think Newton was Ricky Williams' dealer?
-The Big Picture
http://zachls.blogspot.com
http://www.udubdish.com/ -
I like the Blog, it appeard you put a lot of time into it. I came across it on AOL while browsen around. I will put it on my blog links, some interesting stuff. No guest book? O'well, if you want check out my Blog page @ WWW.PHILODOX.ORG and sign the book. Philly, PA...later...."B"
5/25/06 12:38 PM
Thanks for the note. I know info on Frank is hard to come by so no worries. If you can hook up a link to my site or the article on Frank 151 on my site that would be dope and also it has the illos you discuss and explains how people can get copies. When I get a second later, I will revise that post to just link to your article and not squawk.
send me your email address so we can communicate like normal sports nerds:
ci@nomas-nyc.com
gloves up,
ci