Straw Humble on Yes Network's "Centerstage"

He’s got 4 World Series rings: 1 with the Mets and 3 with the Yankees. His career was tainted with drug abuse. He’s Darryl Strawberry. He was a special guest on the show “Centerstage” with Michael Kaye on the Yes Network. He was a class act. Whatever questions Michael Kaye had about the negative things that happened in his life, he took full responsibility for it: drugs and tax evasion. You name it! Whatever he did wrong he took full responsibility for it, unlike Roger Clemens, who’s given denial after denial that he did steroids.

Darryl is an overcomer, then and now! He mentioned how he grew up in South Central L.A: in the hood. His dad used to abuse him and his brothers. Straw said his dad used to…uh you’re gonna have to watch the show. Don’t want to spoil it for you. Eventually, his mom had enough and divorced his dad. Throughout the show, he mentions that because he didn’t have a father figure in his life, he had to figure out things on his own. Straw even admitted to believing what his dad used to tell him: “You’re good for nothing and you’ll never amount anything.” His father was wrong. His upbringing in just one of the things that he overcame.

Strawberry overcame drug addiction. Mr. Kaye brought out that in his upbringing he never did drugs. Straw said that growing up he and brothers would only do mischievous things. His first downfall was the season he played with the Dodgers. He got busted for doing drugs and was suspended. The Dodgers would release him because of this. His next downfall was as a member of the Yankees during the ’96 season. Straw took full responsibility for this. He said he was naïve and did not know what he was doing. He relapsed yet again as a Yankee after getting treated for colon cancer. He admitted that the chemotherapy took its toll on him and he got depressed. This depression led him back to drugs. George Steinbrenner was very patient with him and was graceful enough to bring him back as a Yankee. All was great. The fans welcomed him back with open arms. He relapse yet again. Michael asks him, “Why?” This time he admitted that it was his mentality. At that time, he actually believed what he father had told him growing, that he would amount to nothing.

Darryl overcame tax evasion charges. He said that the federal government wanted to make a deal to pay less money. He said no, that ratting people out wasn’t his style. In the end he took the brunt and paid the consequences. Earlier on he also told Kaye that in his book when he mentions details about the championship teams he played on, he never ratted anybody out. Canseco did it. Not Straw. It’s not his style.

Darryl overcame cancer. For long time, he had been taking Maalox because he was feeling like he had stomach bug that didn’t go away. Straw credited Eric Davis for telling him to get checked out. During the check up, a malignant tumor came up. The doctor told him that…Wow! uh, wouldn’t want to spoil that for you either. He would go through chemotherapy and pull through.

Michael Kaye then asked the big question. “Are you still tempted?”…Okay, okay. I’ll tell you…To that he answered no. He attributed everything to God. How God blessed him with a beautiful helper, namely his wife who he considers a beautiful mid-west girl. God blessed him with good health. Earlier in the show, he mentioned his experience with God at a convention with Mario Marillo, a world renowned evangelist. You have to see for yourself how he described the experience. It’s so awesome, my words wouldn’t even do it justice. He said that he now has a new outlook on life: “It’s not about me any more, it’s who I can help and when.”

As a Christian, I praise God for what He has done in Darryl Strawberry’s life. On the show, he promoted his aforementioned book called “Straw: Finding My Way.” He and his wife founded the Darryl Strawberry Foundation for Autism. He stepped out by faith and did it. All in all, I’d have to say that Mr. Strawberry has really turned his life around and is now living life to the best of his ability the way God wants him to.

Here is a link to the snippet from the Yes Network web site: http://tinyurl.com/lz74z5

You can even buy his book:

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