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TSN The Sports Network
Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton
confirmed reports Friday that he had a relapse with his alcohol abuse earlier
this week.
The incident, which was first reported by the Dallas Morning News, took place
at Sherlock's -- a Dallas-area bar -- on Monday. Hamilton's teammate, second
baseman Ian Kinsler, was present as well.
"I had a weak moment on Monday night in Dallas," said Hamilton, stating the
situation was brought on because of personal reasons with a family member. "I
walked to a restaurant to have some dinner and...ended up ordering a drink. I
had three or four drinks."
According to Hamilton, Kinsler, who arrived later, was unaware that Hamilton
had been drinking. When the restaurant closed, the pair went across the street
to another establishment and talked for "25 to 30 minutes" before Kinsler
dropped Hamilton off, asking "You're not gonna go back out or anything are
you?"
Hamilton said he did go back out and "had some more drinks" at the
establishment he and Kinsler had just left.
"No drugs were used at all. I never though about it. I've had two drug tests
since Monday so I have no concerns there at all," continued Hamilton, who is
drug tested three times a week due to prior substance abuse issues.
This is the second public relapse for Hamilton, who has suffered from
alcoholism and drug abuse in the past and had been suspended for over three
years early in his career. In 2009, the website Deadspin.com published photos
of the then-27-year-old All-Star drinking and taking shots with several women
at a bar in Tempe, Arizona.
"There were no pictures taken of me having a beer with somebody or anything
like that," he said of Monday's incident.
Hamilton, who did not take questions from the media, failed to speculate on
whether the episode would affect his contract situation. The 2010 American
League MVP is in the final year of his contract and is eligible for
free agency at the end of the season.
"As far as baseball and the Rangers, they've shown nothing but support to me
and tell me they will continue to support me," he said, adding "I'm sorry (the
press conference) had to be this way. It would've been nice if it was talking
about a contract. We'll put that on the back burner for awhile."
The reserved Hamilton also offered his amends, saying "For everybody that I've
hurt, for everybody, fans, kids, people who have addictions, I apologize. When
you're doing this you don't mean to hurt anybody. You only think you're
hurting yourself, but as I know, it hurts a lot of people."
The Sports Network