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 A license to self-destruct
Posted: Friday September 24, 1999 11:51 AM
Of all the big names missing from the 33rd Ryder Cup in Brookline, the one that caused no surprise whatsoever was that of John Daly. Arguably among the most naturally talented golfers of recent years, the big hitting American's failure to harness his obvious gifts sufficiently to earn a place in golf's premier team tournament is surely one of the game's great disappointments. As has been well documented, his addiction to alcohol and gambling have been Daly's downfall. Repeated abuse followed by wailing acts of contrition, followed by more lapses, having created an impression of a man living on the edge, and not the kind of player to be relied upon in the pressure cooker that is the Ryder Cup, or any other situation where reliability is paramount. Indeed Daly's failings recently caused him to lose his sponsorship from the golf equipment manufacturers, Callaway Golf -- an action some might consider callous. My feeling however is that Calloway's decision is exactly the kind of stark reality people like Daly need to save them from themselves. As celebrities, sports stars are all too often afforded the kind of indulgence the rest of the us can only dream about. Evidence of drug or alcohol abuse for the majority of people, equates with the sack. Employers simply don't tolerate it. Not so if you happen to do something fancy with a ball though. Then it seems there's always another chance, which amounts to a licence to self-destruct. For example, a parallel with Daly can be drawn in British football at the moment with the Aston Villa and England forward, Paul Merson, who this week ladishly confessed that he's "back on the booze", and back at the bookies, having recently gambled away the equivalent of $52,000 on a wild month of outrageous betting. Merson's latest transgressions come just 4 years after a painfully public outburst in which he broke down in tears on television while confessing his problem. What followed was an unprecedented outpouring of sympathy and support from the football authorities, his club and the public. In the same way the Americans wanted to help John Daly, so the English wanted to help Paul Merson, with the result that within a short time, Merson, like Daly, appeared to be clean and back in the fold. His sobriety and abstinence hasn't lasted though. And now, having been indulged once, Merson is looking for the same privileged treatment again. In my opinion though, far from the pat on the back and the "it'll be all right son," Merson has just received from his club coach, John Gregory, what he needs is what Callaway Golf gave Daly. An ultimatum. Clean up or clear out. Merson's long-suffering wife has done as much, reportedly filing for divorce when the extent of his gambling became apparent, and it's time English football followed her lead. Sympathy and compassion are very well, but when they're repeatedly abused there comes a time when enough is enough. And don't get me wrong. Daly, Merson, Darryl Strawberry, Paul Gascoigne and the rest, should not be held to a higher standard than the rest of us, just the same standard. And that means no third, fourth or fifth chances. Terry Baddoo is a co-host of "World Sport," the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
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