Former tennis star Martina Hingis retired earlier this week (Side note: Who knew she was even playing anymore?). Anyway, here's the real story behind the five-time Grand Slam champion's departure from the game. Hingis reportedly tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon earlier this year, a charge she vehemently denies. So in her honor, we give you 10 more of sports' most notorious users.
10. Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmiero, Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Gary Sheffield, Jason Giambi, Ken Caminiti, Rick Ankiel, Gary Matthews Jr., Troy Glaus, Jay Gibbons, Paul Byrd, Rafael Betancourt, Matt Lawton, Neifi Perez, Mike Cameron, Jason Grimsley and Ryan Franklin. You get the idea. Let's just move on.
9. Diego Maradona. The Argentinean soccer great was named FIFA Player of the Century. He has a move named after him. He has played in four World Cups. What else? He's been addicted to cocaine since the early 1990s. Maradona was suspended from World Cup play in both 1991 and 1994 after failing drug tests.
8. Damon Stoudamire. Stoudamire was the driving force behind the infamous "Jailblazers" teams of the early part of the decade. Stoudamire was arrested three times for marijuana possession, including once when he was driving with Rasheed Wallace after a game against the Sonics. The first bust occurred after the cops responded to a burglar alarm and found over 150 grams of pot in his house and once tried to sneak weed through the airport. No wonder he played for the Blazers.
7. Andy Reid's entire family. The coach of the Philadelphia Eagles hasn't done particularly well in his football coaching this season, but he has done even worse in his parenting. Reid's 24- and 22 year-old sons were both sentenced for up to 23 months of prison on Nov. 1, for pointing a gun at another driver and for a high speed, heroin-fueled crash that injured another driver. The sentencing judge summed it up brilliantly, calling the Reid household a "drug emporium."
6. Dwight Gooden. The first member of the 1980s Mets on our list, Doc was one of the best young pitchers in the game early in his career, leading the majors in wins, strikeouts and ERA in 1985. After the Mets' World Series win the following year, Gooden was a no-show at the victory parade. Why? Doc celebrated his team's success with a cocaine binge. In the immortal words of Rick James. "Cocaine's a Hell of a Drug."
5. Darryl Strawberry. There is too much here. Darryl will forever be noted for his wasted potential and his epic drug use. He was twice suspended by the MLB for cocaine use and he was sent to rehab a number of other times. At least he can take pride in being the best of Mr. Burns' nine "ringers" in the "Homer at the Bat" Simpsons episode, even if he was pinch-hit for in the ninth after nine home runs.
4. Ricky Williams. His last known residence was Grass Valley, Calif., where he taught yoga. Does that tell enough? Williams was first suspended for marijuana use in 2004 and he's since failed drug tests on a consistent basis. The ex-Miami Dolphin has been everywhere from India to the CFL since being kicked out of Miami, but still appears to be hooked on everything but the NFL.
3. Tim Raines. Tim "Rock" Raines was famous for stealing 808 bases during the course of his career - and for sliding headfirst. Maybe he was that intense and that gutsy, or maybe he didn't want to break the vial of cocaine in his back pocket, which he admitted to having and using during games. Who needs steroids when you can steal 808 bases on coke? Come on, the guy's nickname is "Rock."
2. Nate Newton. Newton was an offensive guard for the Cowboys and was a cornerstone for three Super Bowl teams. No matter how good he was, Newton will probably always be remembered for his other career - selling weed. Nate got busted in Louisiana when the cops pulled him over and found 213 pounds of it in his van. Five weeks later, he was pulled over again on Interstate 45 with 175 pounds in his truck. (That 388 pounds was only 20 pounds more than his playing weight.)
1. Darryl Strawberry. Yeah, we named him twice. He earned it.
-by Evans Clinchy, Tim Judson and Ethan Landy
