Athletes may be able to run faster, jump higher, lift more or throw farther than you or me, but they are still human beings at the end of the day. Thus, they have the same issues that anyone else has, and for many, these issues deal with addiction.
Many of your favorite athletes may have struggled with substance abuse at one time or another, whether it’s been well-documented or not. Addiction is something that transcends class, race, gender and nationality, and it also transcends sports. You can find athletes in just about every sport imaginable that have dealt with substance abuse, and there are many who are in the midst of a lifelong battle with addiction.
Some of the athletes here have made it through to the other side, while for others, it’s still a fight. Here are 30 athletes who struggled with addiction — several of which have become an inspiration for others dealing with similar issues.
Bottom Line: Bobby Ryan
Paul Sancya / AP Photo
Ryan had a troubled childhood that included his father being charged with the attempted murder of his mother, fleeing to Canada, and then his father eventually being arrested by U.S. Marshals three years later. So, he didn’t have the best foundation in his life, and as he got older, he drank to cope. This came to the forefront during the 2019-20 season when Ryan, who was a 2015 NHL All-Star, missed three months of ice time due to struggles with alcohol abuse. He entered the league’s player assistance program after admitting to unsuccessfully trying to overcome the issues on his own.
And Ryan, who was drafted by the Disney-founded Anaheim Ducks, had a Disney moment of his own when he returned to the ice. In his first game back in front of his home crowd, he scored a hat trick, which was the fifth and final of his career.
Bottom Line: John Daly
Gerald Herbert / AP Photo
Daly lived all over the country, from California to Arkansas to Virginia to Missouri. But no matter where he was, he had to live in an abusive household with his alcoholic father. That trait, unfortunately, was passed onto the next generation, and Daly struggled with alcoholism for much of his life until 2008. It was then when his swing coach Butch Harmon said, “The most important thing in (Daly’s) life is getting drunk.”
Daly refuted that claim, but the evidence was in Harmon’s favor, as just months later, Daly was taken into custody after being found drunk outside a Hooters. That moment ended up being a turning point, and Daly said he made a commitment to stop drinking alcohol. Doing that, along with a lap-band surgery, enabled Big John to become Slim John, losing more than 100 pounds.
