Josh Hamilton's Unique Public Statement On His Addiction

Read More: Ian Kinsler (2B - TEX), Josh Hamilton (CF - TEX), Texas Rangers

Josh Hamilton of the Rangers spent about 10 minutes Friday in front of microphones and addressed the reports that he had “three or four drinks” last Monday.

He had no notes, no agent, no one in front of the cameras but himself. He took full responsibility for his actions, saying, “I give everything I have on the field. When I don’t do that off the field I leave myself open for a weak moment. I had a weak moment on Monday night.”

He went on to describe the evening’s events, including at one point joining his teammate Ian Kinsler. He said Kinsler did not see him drink, because, as Hamilton said, “Once I drink I can be very deceptive, very sneaky.”

Hamilton made no excuses. He said he was simply doing something that did not work for him; he said he has used no drugs and has been tested twice since Monday’s events.

Hamilton said:

It was just wrong. I needed to be in a different place, I needed to be responsible and I was not responsible. Those actions of mine have hurt a lot of people who are close to me. The Rangers have shown nothing but support to me and they say they’ll continue to support me.

I cannot take a break from my recovery. It is an everyday process. When I take that one day off it leaves me open for a moment of weakness.

He then issued a remarkable apology — to his family, his children, anyone he had hurt, his fans and the Rangers organization. There was no prepared statement as he spoke off the cuff:

For everybody I have hurt, for everybody, fans, kids, people who have addictions who look to me — I apologize to you. When you’re doing this, you don’t mean to hurt anybody, and it hurt a lot of people. I have a lot to look at. I can’t take a break. How hard I play on the field is how hard I have to focus on my recovery. I ask everybody watching and listening to pray for me and my family at this difficult time. I put my wife through a lot, she’s a strong woman. It’s about time for me to become the strong one and take the lead and stepping up and being the man I’m supposed to be and not put my kids in situations like this.

He ended by saying he’ll be flying to New York to meet with MLB and MLBPA doctors; that he feels “terrible” and “let a lot of people down” and finished by praising the Rangers organization, saying:

It’s awesome to be able to work for somebody who really cares about you, and has been great to my family too.

It’s one of the most extraordinary public statements made in recent years by a professional athlete; much credit to Josh Hamilton for his apparent openness and honesty.