Perfectly Stupid

Yesterday Badger brought up an article as to who got voted the dumbest motherf*&$#$@ in the history of baseball. It was a very interesting topic and brought a lively discussion. I have no idea if there is a perceived difference between dumb and stupid, but for this exercise, I am considering that the authors meant stupid. The definition of dumb is …”temporarily unable or unwilling to speak”, and I seriously doubt that it was an inability to speak that the article was referring to.

I have no clear way of discerning who is stupid and who is not. Is it intelligence? Lack of an education? People letting addictions take over their lives? Anger and depression? I know a little about the last one; depression which was expressed in anger. Okay I know a lot about it. From everything I have read, Milton Bradley was not stupid, but very angry and undoubtedly depressed. What was the genesis of that anger? Steve Howe and Darryl Strawberry were addicts. Does that make them stupid? I am sure the drugs made them do stupid things like destroying their careers. John Rocker said some very stupid things and certainly made some bigoted statements. That in and of itself does not make him stupid. Pete Rose betting on baseball while being a manager, certainly qualifies as a stupid act. But is he stupid because he has a gambling addiction? Even if he does not acknowledge his addiction?

For nearly a quarter century I have been diagnosed with depression and have been on meds since that diagnosis. After years of therapy, I know the genesis of my depression and with the meds I am much better able to cope. I did some very stupid things before the diagnosis (and undoubtedly some after), but I certainly do not consider myself stupid. Others certainly may, but I will leave that for another discussion. Nothing I ever did was hurtful to anyone other than myself. Milton Bradley, Steve Howe, John Rocker, Manny Ramirez, Doc Gooden, Darryl Strawberry said and did some very stupid things, but it is hard to know if they are stupid. Before we label people as stupid, we need to define the term, and understand the history of the individual.

My son was working his way through MiLB at the pinnacle of the PED era. He was asked by countless number of players (and others) to take PEDs. Nobody questioned his ability, but there were certainly questions as to how he looked in a uniform. It was argued that steroids would absolutely change his physique and get him to MLB where most thought he belonged. When he refused, it was certainly said in no uncertain terms by many as to how stupid he was for not taking the steroids. After he retired due to his final injury, he asked me if I thought he was stupid for not taking steroids. I told him it was the LEAST stupid thing he ever did by saying NO. Do I know MiLB players who took steroids to get to the Show? I will never tell. But there were certainly players who were not nearly as good as my son that got bigger and played better after winter “conditioning”. They did not get that big from exercise alone, and some stayed at MLB for some time, and got very wealthy.

When the topic first came up, one of the first players that came to mind for me was Yadier Alvarez. But then I reconsidered by asking; Is Yadi Alvarez stupid or does he lack motivation to succeed or does he have a fear of success? There is no denying his pure ability, so why did he seemingly throw it all away? I do not think it is being stupid. All teams have medical doctors on staff as well as physical therapists and physical trainers. But how many teams have psychological and behavioral therapists? Many players have the ability, but there is something blocking that ability. Quite often it is in the head, and a sports psychologist just might be able to get that player to get past his demons. We can surgically repair torn UCL’s, ACL’s, broken arms, broken hamate bones, etc. But for many it is the head that needs to be mended. Willie Calhoun will come to mind. His jaw will certainly heal, but will he be able to get back in the batters box the same as before? I hope he can, but it is going to take some time for him to step in and be comfortable.

How we respond to outside pressures will dictate how successful we are. Some face the challenges head on and are able to maneuver through the obstacle course of life. Baseball players are no different. They are physically talented but maybe not so well psychologically. There are many MiLB players with as much talent as those who have made it to the top. What obstructs their path? By not taking steroids, my son was called stupid for not doing so.

I believe in healing the mind as well as the body. Ron Artest credited psychological help for some of his success on the court, some commentators took that as evidence that he was crazy. But athletes don’t just consult sports psychologists when they’re having difficulties. Sport psychologists can also help athletes:
• Enhance performance. Various mental strategies, such as visualization, self-talk and relaxation techniques, can help athletes overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential.
• Cope with the pressures of competition. Sport psychologists can help athletes at all levels deal with pressure from parents, coaches or even their own expectations.
• Recover from injuries. After an injury, athletes may need help tolerating pain, adhering to their physical therapy regimens or adjusting to being sidelined.

Could a sports psychologist have helped Milton Bradley, Steve Howe, or Darryl Strawberry? First they have to want to be helped. There is no indication that any sought help. And even then there is no guarantee. Psychological help is not a sign of weakness but a recognition that the mind needs as much attention as do broken bones. But IMO, none of them were stupid. They just committed stupid acts.

As a disclaimer, I am in no way criticizing the authors of the article or any of the responses. I am not that stupid.