The 6 Biggest Revelations from 'Doc & Darryl'

Both players were very open and honest about their drug use as each of them openly discussed their many issues throughout the documentary

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Complex Original

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The absence of live sporting events last night did not stop ESPN from trending. The “Worldwide Leader” broadcast its latest 30 For 30, “Doc & Darryl,” to rave reviews. The film chronicled the rise and fall of former Mets stars Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry, who both saw their immense talent go unfulfilled due to the ravages of addiction.

While Gooden and Strawberry’s lives have been covered extensively over the last three decades, this documentary was quite revealing on many levels. Both players were very open and honest about their drug use as each of them discussed their numerous issues dating back to their teenage years, including an eye-opening reunion in Queens filmed inside the same diner that was featured in the iconic Martin Scorsese film “Goodfellas.” Here are The 6 Biggest Revelations from "Doc & Darryl."

1. Both had tough childhoods.

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Although they lived on opposite ends of the country (Gooden in Florida and Strawberry in California), both players lived very similar childhoods. They were baseball prodigies, blessed with exponential amounts of talent despite difficult childhoods. Their life away from the diamond was very difficult as both of their fathers were alcoholics.

3. Gooden never made it to the '86 ticker tape parade.

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For many professional athletes, there is no higher peak than winning it all. The Mets reached it in dramatic fashion in 1986, capturing the franchise's second World Series crown over the Boston Red Sox and received one of the biggest ticker-tape parades in New York City history the very next day. But one of its brightest stars was chasing a different kind of high that day.  

Dwight Gooden was missing from the team’s ticker-tape parade down Manhattan's Canyon of Heroes. The Mets officially said at the time that Gooden was absent because he overslept, but in a story the former phenom has told on numerous occasions and he relayed again in the documentary, in reality the flamethrower was doing something far worse. Gooden admitted he was at his drug dealer’s pad on Long Island while the Mets’ parade was going on, watching his teammates celebrate on TV while getting high.

 

5. Strawberry detailed his use of greenies.

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Not all of Strawberry’s drug use was recreational. Like many baseball players in the 1980’s, Strawberry used greenies, or amphetamines, as a performance-enhancer. While Strawberry was very frank about his use of cocaine, crack, marijuana, and alcohol in the documentary, he also told co-directors Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio that greenies helped him by making the ball look larger than it actually was. Strawberry is still the Mets' all-time leader in home runs with 252.

6. Strawberry played the 1998 season with colon cancer.

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Strawberry was diagnosed with colon cancer in November 1998. In the documentary, he revealed that he frequently had blood in his stool throughout the campaign with the Yankees but neglected to get it checked out during the season because ballplayers are supposed to play through any pain or health issues. He actually played fairly well that season, hitting 24 home runs in 295 at-bats as the Yankees won their first of three consecutive World Series.

7. Strawberry seems to have put the worst behind him.

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Strawberry led a tumultuous life for years, in and out of baseball, but he seems to have put his worst behind him. He has been sober for at least a decade and he is now an ordained minister while also running a rehab facility in Florida. The documentary gives an optimistic outlook on Strawberry’s current state and future at remaining clean.

8. People are concerned about Doc.

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Meanwhile, the film cast greater doubt on Gooden’s path to redemption, as he has continues struggle with the grips of addiction and finding his way in life. He was most recently arrested for DWI in 2010, with his five-year-old son in the back seat and many viewers voiced their concern for Gooden on Twitter.

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