The death of a dream (must reading)

sad sad story,the kid didn't get the help he needed in high school.talent can only take you so far.drug addiction doesn't care if your a stud. i hope he can turn it around someday.

Jeff is due in court Dec. 28 facing 4 years in prison.

Allison

Things look better for Josh Hamilton though. He's alive and back in the game.

Josh H.

Same old song and dance. He's a (former) star athlete, so he has excuses made for him by others.

Bottom line...he's a junkie. There's no use in mincing words about it. He's getting the press because he was a 1st rounder...but he's still a junkie. There's tens of thousands afflicted with addiction, dying of overdoses every day, and yet again, his attorneys are trying to swing a deal to get him off of his most recent criminal charges. Why? Because he used to throw in the 90's?

There are people that die anonymously every day of the week, and they're lucky if they get a passing mention in an obituary. There are men and women dying for this country every day of the week, but they are nameless and faceless.

Yet, this bozo squanders an opportunity that virtually every baseball player dreams of, almost dies from an overdose, has a friend die from an overdose, gets in trouble repeatedly, and still has people making excuses for him.

He's no longer the adorable little boy that wowed Little Leaguers, or the intense high school star that intrigued scouts. He's a junkie on a path of self destruction that, if we're lucky, only kills himself, not innocent bystanders. He needs to have others quit making excuses for him, and he needs to go to jail.

I've been staring at the posted articles since early this morning. As I post this, my son is sitting in jail with some very similar issues. He won't be out for Christmas.

He was never drafted and wasn't on big school radar. For my part all I wanted as a dad was for him to find a college where he could succeed both academically and athletically. He never received preferential treatment at school because he was an athlete. He didn't have that kind of talent. His mother and I have been very happily married for over 30 years. I ask myself daily how did it happen. What should I have done differently? There are folks who post here who know me and my son personally. Thankfully he found trouble early in the game or I'm sure it would have become even more dangerous, more sordid. We've had multiple deaths in our immediate area due to oxycontin and heroin over the past two years. This entire episode has taken the starch right out of me.

We've beem fortunate to have the support of many great people. We received so many e-mails and letters of support. It's been almost a year since his arrest and for the first 6 months he was in in-house rehab...going to 8 meetings a week. He's now on work-release attending a local college walking distance from the jail. He looks and sounds good, but I always am skeptical now. With community service he could be out as early as April and he's been offered a second chance to play ball at a local JC. He's going to take it as he told me a couple of days ago how much he misses the game that seemed so important just over a year ago, but doesn't seem too important right now. I'm sure he'll come out of this a much better man. It's all I can believe.

These drugs are insideous. If it were weed or speed or coke, you could tell easily. I fancied myself as a pretty smart guy. Come to find, I looked in his eyes and missed it completely.... for too long, but the signs were there if I was willing to look closer. Sometimes we refuse to believe. We pray there's a happy ending...beginning.

I know it's an important story, and filled with many lessons. But it's a very OLD story. Why dredge it up now?
I suppose it's good for kids who have never heard it though. I guess if you're not a Marlins fan or from New England you may never have heard the story at all. Never mind.

Halfmoon - my thoughts and prayers for your son.

I don't know quite what to say. I was just wondering about why you hadn't posted in so long. FWIW, I have had issues with my oldest son so I know how heartbreaking this can be. I know I made some mistakes with him but kids also bear some of the responsibility imho. I have two kids that never gave me an ounce of trouble yet the other one had the same parents and made completely different decisions. I do believe the peer group plays a very significant role.

Let go of the guilt for you are not alone. At the same time, remaining skeptical is probably a good thing. Kids are smart and are experts at telling you what you want to hear. God bless.

Pop Time, I don’t think this story will ever get old. It serves a purpose in warning others.

Halfmoon,

Thank you for posting that. It must have been tough to say those things. It’s obvious that you really care about others. Reading your comments, hit me hard. As many know, we were very close to Jeff Allison while he was a high school player.

Jeff attended many of our events and even stayed with one of our staff in Cedar Rapids, IA for a week one winter. We were guilty of writing glowing reports and ranking him high before the rest of the baseball world outside of Massachusetts had even heard of his great talent.

The thing that stood out in your post was the fact that you didn’t see the warning signs. Evidently, we didn’t notice the warning signs when it came to Jeff. He was a high strung, confident kid, he was extremely competitive and had one of the best arms we had ever seen.

I liked him a lot and so did our people who coached him and spent time with him. I expected him to be either in the Big Leagues or at least knocking on the door by now.

Chad Billingsley and Jeff were together in many of our events. Jeff and Ryan Sweeney roomed together at our events. Lastings Milledge, Andrew Miller, Scott Kazmir, Delmon Young, and many others were team mates of Jeff’s at PG events. Jeff had as much, if not more, talent than all those guys. He was not only a great pitcher, he was a great athlete who could run a 6.5 in the 60.

Tom Battista worked for PG as a scout. (He’s now with the Braves, S. Cal Supervisor) He was one of Jeff’s best friends and he didn’t even see the warning signs. Tom still talks to Jeff once in awhile and tells us he just can’t get it. Tom still wants to help Jeff through this serious problem, but can only do so much. We all dream of a positive ending to this story, but it just keeps getting worse.

Not to belittle the performance enhancing drug issue, but this thing is a killer. I recommend all parents look at what “Halfmoon” has written and also read the Jeff Allison stories. We can all judge Jeff and “Halfmoon’s” son harshly or we can start to understand the problem a bit more clearly. I think these problems could enter any of our families. This is not the time to complain or throw daggers… This is a warning sign to become more educated on the subject!

Jeff Allison has posted on this site before… I doubt it, but maybe he still looks in… If so…

Jeff, We love you, man! The heck with baseball… Please come back!

Best of luck to your son "Halfmoon"!

It's not an old story, Poptime. The saga continues:

2005: Allison returns to the mound
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/050505allison.html

2006:
Allsion treated for another overdose http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/news/262137.html

Allsion facing 3 Felony charges:
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/news/262741.html

From the article: Asked if the Marlins have given up hope that Allison will ever pitch for
them again, the official said, "You could probably say that."

Really too bad.

quote:

We can all judge Jeff and “Halfmoon’s” son harshly or we can start to understand the problem a bit more clearly. I think these problems could enter any of our families. This is not the time to complain or throw daggers… This is a warning sign to become more educated on the subject!

halfmoon
i know how hard it is to open up. remember your not alone with this issue. although it feels like it most of the time. my prayers go out to you and your family. your son will have a tough road but with support he'll make it. i think it's a test, that's what i tell myself anyway. good luck and our prayers are with you.

Cleveland, thanks. Our family was very blessed with a life without serious issues until this happened. I would have preferred any number of other challenges to fight, but I guess we can't pick and choose. He is right where he deserves to be for now and hopefully the addiction is long handled and the guilt he feels will fade when his price is paid. Thanks for your kind words. I've been away for awhile...how is your boy doing?

PG...I can't say enough about you personally and the organization you've built. I know you know my son and even though he never was a big time prospect I know you liked his competitiveness and feistiness. I believe there are personality traits that are inherent risks. My son is the personification of a risk-taker. It's part of why he was a successful athlete. **** the torpedos, full speed ahead, hair on fire, where's the next adventure? He was bulletproof or so he thought. Those that mature a bit earlier find safe and accepted avenues for their adventure, others stumble onto drugs. Some will say junkie, throw em in the trash. Others will feel the desire to save. It all depends on your life's experiences. All I know is that I am no where near as confident as I was that I have everything figured out.

I just caught your post 20dad...thanks and happy holidays to all. One more thing...we had xmas with our son in the school cafeteria after his last class on Thursay since it's the only time where we can really see him. My wife bought him a new pair of jeans. He had workout shorts on and tried the jeans on and they were skin tight. He broke into a rendion of "It's Ladies Night" ala the Wedding Singer and broke the whole place up...Somehow I think he'll be ok.

halfmoon

If this helps in anyway - I'm going to go sit with my kids (15 and 13) today and have a long talk.

For Christmas dinner prayer, I plan to make it all about your family. For you to share your story is a true gift to all of us.

May God Bless you and your Family always.

Halfmoon,
Thank you for your post.
I know of many families that this has happened to, good families, these things that happen have no social or ecomomic barriers.
May peace be with you and your family this holiday season and wishing the best recovery for your son. Everyone in life deserves second chances, sometimes three or four.

Hopefully the next year will be better for those families like halfmoon's torn by addition. It happens to many folks out of the blue, seemingly without reason or cause. Best of luck Halfmoon. I give thanks each day for our own blessings and pray for those less fortunate.

halfmoon,

Didn't realize I knew your son. If there's anything at all that we can do to help please PM or email me. jerry@perfectgame.org

I love risk takers... Am one! Baseball is the game, but this site is mostly about the kids!

Good, average or bad players... they're all the same. Some are too scared to accomplish great things and others fear nothing and fail because of it. At my age, it's become crystal clear... it's all about education! And I don't mean getting a degree!

Halfmoon, I feel your pain, though not quite to the same extent. I've got 2 sons..the oldest playing college ball, the youngest not. The youngest has had his problems, dabbling in drugs. There aren't necessarily warning signs that will clue you in that there's a problem so you can't beat yourself up about it.

Addiction to anything can be insidious. Whether you're addicted to drugs, alcohol, gambling..it doesn't matter. Addicts get creative when it comes to hiding their habit. With the Allison kid, it appears from the articles that there were danger signs present, but they aren't always easy to pick up on, especially if you aren't looking for them.

You appear not to like my usage of the term "junkie" to fit Allison...but it's the appropriate term. My kid, your kid, any kid that goes to the extremes he has is most assuredly a junkie. It would be a disservice to sugarcoat it.

Allison's on a path of self destruction, and if he doesn't go to jail and get off the streets, he's going to kill himself, someone else, or both.

As for Josh Hamilton, I remember when he came through Charleston playing A ball. All American kid, always took time to sign autographs for kids, probably one of the nicest kids you could meet...and now he's a junkie. Cincinnatti's giving him a second chance...a chance that he never would have had if he was a 50th round pick..and while I hope he pulls through, the simple fact remains that he'll always be an addict, always a junkie, and he'll always be one slip from spiraling out of control again.

quote:

Some are too scared to accomplish great things

A very subtle point, PG.

Many of our fellow websters have very talented sons, like halfmoon.

As, a parent, we all have reservations about the risks our son's are taking in considering a career in baseball.

Learn about the risks here, and gain the courage to inspire the confidence in them...

quote:

to accomplish great things

2 seamer
a junkie is an intraveinus drug user,an addict for sure. junkies will never cure addicts can. i didn't know if you realized this. some use this term for lack of a better word. but parents of addicts know the difference. i really don't know why i felt the need to clarify? but it wasn't meant in anger. merry christmas.

Thanks for all your comments. I thought long and hard about posting something for months, but even though we haven't met personally, I feel I know many of you. 2 seamer...no offense taken, although I hate the word as it has ugly connotations. PG...one of our Blazer guys told me that you liked his game. He was thrilled when he heard it. Although like most 18 year olds...whoa is about the greatest superlative you'll hear. Maybe they were just being nice. Kirk and Andy were great with him. I'm going to quiet down now, but please know we appreciate the kind words and support.

Halfmoonslider, I, too, am speechless. I have actually thought about you many times and wondered where you had gone. I appreciate your sharing your story and I am going to read your post to my kids today as well. Anyone that has or is parenting teenagers realize how one wrong turn by our young ones can allow them to make even worse choices. As a mother, my heart bleeds this very moment for the pain that you and your wife have felt as parents but also for the pain, guilt, and confusion your young man has experienced. All of you will be in my prayers from this instant on. Please don't leave the site again.... share with us how your son is progressing and let us all know if there's anything we can do for you. My thoughts and my prayers Halfmoon.

Halfmoon,

I can't say I have had the pleasure of meeting you or your son but as a baseball parent, I feel your pain. My son spent most of his years up north and may at one time have played yours. I can only imagine what your family is going through and yet you have stepped up to tell us your story. That shows us what type of person you are and with someone like you on his side, your son is greatly blessed. Your son could be mine, one of his teammates or another player he knows and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for opening up. I wish you and yours a peaceful holiday and a much better year to come!

Halfmoon...your story brings to mind the adage "There but for the grace of God go I". Your family's situation could easily happen to any of us, IMO. May this Christmas holiday bring your family new beginnings, new hopes and continued dreams! God Bless, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

quote:

Cincinnatti's giving him a second chance...a chance that he never would have had if he was a 50th round pick..and while I hope he pulls through, the simple fact remains that he'll always be an addict, always a junkie, and he'll always be one slip from spiraling out of control again.

I agree with 2 seamer and parents of kids who become addicts have a tough roar ahead.
My one brother has a son who became an addict. He came from a well to do home and wanted for nothing. He is 28 now and has been an addict for 10+ years.
Clearly it was the kids he hung around with and has tried rehab only to fall back into the use of drugs. He has stolen from his parents,hocked their items and been invoved in car crashes without a licence. He dissappears for weeks at a time.He has been beat up and stabbed. My brother has had threats to his life by pushers.
Halfmoon I feel for what you are going through and maybe you are lucky he is being punished. This might save his life. I am sur you are getting advice on how to deal with a son who is an addict. As pointed out they are always one slip up away from starting all over again.
My brothers life was perfect until this happened.

Halfmoon,

My thoughts and prayers to you and your son. Makes me grateful the biggest problem I have with my sons is their clothes.

Merry Christmas to you.

quote:

a junkie is an intraveinus drug user,an addict for sure. junkies will never cure addicts can. i didn't know if you realized this. some use this term for lack of a better word. but parents of addicts know the difference.

Being a junkie has nothing to do with intravenous drug use. It may not be a pretty word, but it's accurate. Addicts may go through rehab, and they may quit using, but they will always be addicted....they're never cured completely.

2 seamer
i dissagree with the your junkie definition. but i do agree with the addict thing.i was wrong addicts are always addicts. i've been a recovering alcoholic for most of my adult life.

There are millions of addicts and alcoholics! There are recovering drug addicts and alcoholics who have done great things.

IMO We are all “one slip up” away from spiraling out of control.

I agree with 2seamer, people need to pay the price and we need to protect others.

We had an employee of PG who I really liked. He was a former college star who made it to Triple A. After baseball he was a police officer for a couple years. He dealt with young players for PG and was great with kids. Then he started missing work with all kinds of excuses. I later found out he had a serious problem using CRACK. We went and got him, took him to the hospital, and he swore he was going to straighten up. We got him into a rehab house and told him we would keep him on salary if he complied completely with the rehab people. He did that for awhile and then told me he was going to quit the rehab he volunteered for (it was not mandatory by law). He said he didn’t need it anymore. Deep down, I knew then and there that we had a problem, but decided to give him every opportunity. Within a couple weeks he was back on the CRACK. I told him we will do whatever we can to help him, but he no longer had a job with PG. You can’t have a CRACK Addict on the staff that works with young players.

It’s a very sad story… He has so much to give young baseball players… He’s a good person… He has a serious problem! He is a CRACK addict! Man, I wish things were different. I don’t know that much about crack cocaine, but he told me he just tried it once at a party and that was all it took!

Good post, PG. Addiction...whether it's drugs, alcohol, gambling...ruins people, lives, and families every day. And you're right..every individual person is only a blink away from spiraling out of control.

Crack is bad stuff. It's theorized that just one exposure to it is enough to get you hooked physically and psychologically. Oxy and meth are close behind. It's a shame about the young guy that worked with you...it's an all too common occurence, unfortuneately.

Halfmoon,

Thank you so much for having the courage to share your story. I was crying by the end. It can happen to the best families. It can happen to the nicest kids. I've seen so many surprises within my extended family and among close friends' families during 2006. I will be thinking of your family and praying for a second chance for your son in 2007.

Julie

Julie, thanks so much. My intent was not to start a pity party although I must admit I needed some therapy, but I did want to share our experiences in the hopes that our story might help to prevent it happening to someone else. Heck a person needs to feel good about something....For 99.9% of the folks who post here, you absolutely need no help from me. But it seems to me that we are all 2 degrees of separation from this kind of issue and to talk about it openly with our kids can only help. Again thanks to all and have a great 2007.

Thanks for the wake-up call, I really need to have a serious talk with a certain cocky "indestructible" 13yr old 7th grader that I know. The older I get the more I seem to realize how fragile and precious the human life is, and how easy it is to get caught up in things that ruin careers, families, dreams and the childhoods of innocent children. Thanks again and God bless!

It was a courageous post, halfmoon, and...

quote:

we are all 2 degrees of separation from this kind of issue and to talk about it openly with our kids can only help.

Judge issues arrest warrant for Allison

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/2.../-1/NEWSRECRSSARKIVE

FRANK/ANDY

Give it a rest !!!--- We all know that the kid has his demons to face but there is no need for you to keep bringing it up on this site--I think we are all well aware of Jeff's plight and wish him the best


Some things are just better off being left alone

It's a topic of interest that could affect any family.

If you don't want to read it, don't click on it. Sticking your head in the sand and just "leaving it alone" won't solve anything.

2seamer

No sticking my head in the sand here ---been there done that with the drug situation too many times---the point I make is that we are all aware of Jeff's demons and his situation---there is no need for Andy to keep dredging it up

Again I say to you 2 seamer don't judge those whom you do not know at all

quote:

He’s a good person… He has a serious problem!

Bad things happen to good people, that's a bottom liner, IMO.

Lessons can be learned from others.
Awareness is important.

The truth speaks wonders ( even if its sometimes hard to hear, or perhaps makes us feel uncomfortable ).

Being judgemental,
now I'm not so sure how that helps,
unless you are in a court of law and you are either the judge or jury.

Some are closer to the situation than others, but I believe education can be key.
Perhaps the more we know, the more we can help the addicted. Perhaps the more we know, the more we can avoid the addiction.

It may seem repititious to some, but I for one, have been enlightened with this post.

Communication, education, support, and an open mind never hurt.

Mistakes are made at all levels in life. The important part is that lessons are inturn, learned.

Owning one's actions, no matter how many times its brought up amoungst us, is part of the healing and recovery process.

I'm all for: you do the crime, you do the time,....
but forgiveness,...
now that's a trait that I believe,
can only make humanity stronger.

quote:

I'm all for: you do the crime, you do the time,....
but forgiveness,...
now thats a trait that I believe,
can only make humanity stronger.

Amen.

quote:

No sticking my head in the sand here ---been there done that with the drug situation too many times---the point I make is that we are all aware of Jeff's demons and his situation---there is no need for Andy to keep dredging it up

Baloney. You've maintained the same stick your head in the sand approach with steroid use, and now you're doing it with oxycontin abuse. Oxy and heroin abuse is surging in the United States..even in your part of the country, TR. Just like with steroids, this is an issue that WILL affect young people that you know/coach/associate with.

I don't necessarily agree with every post that Andy/Frank and his other aliases make, but this is an important subject. There are undoubtedly countless new visitors to this site that have no idea who Jeff Allison and Josh Hamilton are, have no idea how many millions of dollars they've squandered because of drugs, and have no idea that their own families may be affected by addiction...because that always happens to someone else.

If this post opens the eyes of just one family, and it saves just one kid, then I'd say it's worth it.

Happy New Year to all...even you, TR..