Ron Washington, WTF?!

Ron Washington Did What?!

Ron Washington’s job appears safe today, despite a Sports Illustrated story published yesterday on SI.com reporting what Washington, the Texas Rangers and Major League Baseball had known for nearly nine months: Washington tested positive for cocaine during July 2009.

Washington insists that the incident was isolated, that it has not happened since, and that he is not a cocaine addict. The Rangers and MLB, citing the candor and honesty with which Washington handled the situation, decided not to take action against him.

“He came forward and offered to resign,” said team president Nolan Ryan. “He understood the consequences and we had a lot of discussions and soul-searching, and we felt that we would treat him just as we would other employees through our Human Resources Department.”

Washington found out he would be tested in advance, and reported to the commissioner’s office that he would likely fail. After he did, all parties decided against disciplinary action, believing Washington to be truthful in his statement that the cocaine use was a one-time mistake.

“I fully understand I disappointed a lot of people,” said Washington at a press conference Wednesday. “I am truly sorry for my careless, dangerous and frankly, stupid, behavior last year. I made a huge mistake, and it almost caused me to lose everything I have worked for all my life.”

What should be more of a disappointment to baseball fans than Washington’s transgression, however, is the appalling tolerance of it demonstrated by everyone involved. After a half-decade of witch-hunting for players who may or may not have used steroids before they were even made illegal under the rules of the game, the degree of forgiveness so quickly bestowed upon Washington for admitted use of an illegal substance while the careers of his players and the hopes of his team’s fans rode on his decisions is unconscionable.

Washington will return for his fourth season as Rangers manager in 2010, and is generally beloved by his players, including and especially outfielder Josh Hamilton. Hamilton, whose career was nearly lost to heavy use of cocaine, alcohol and other drugs, supported Washington completely.

“Everybody makes mistakes,” Hamilton said. “I respect him as a man, as a coach and as a man of high integrity. When he was speaking to us in here, you could tell he was broken and really felt remorse about it.”

Still, Hamilton admitted to having had a relapse in his battle against addiction just one year ago, and to have a known user of cocaine as his boss is as unseemly as it is potentially dangerous. Washington deserves the axe, but don’t expect it come down. Washington will be back in Texas, and with the team on the cusp of Division title contention, the lights shining on Arlington will be brighter than ever before in Rangers history. Hopefully, the situation will not distract Washington’s talented team from their ultimate goal: making the playoffs for the first time since 1999.??

Matt Trueblood

Ron Washington Did What?! March 18, 2010 – Matt Trueblood Ron Washington’s job appears safe today, despite a Sports Illustrated story published yesterday on SI.com reporting what Washington, the Texas Rangers and Major League Baseball had known for nearly nine months: Washington tested positive for cocaine during July 2009. Washington insists that the incident was [...]