New poster children for bad decisions

The latest examples of so-called "professional" athletes are baseball player Darryl Strawberry and hockey player Marty McSorley.

Strawberry has a long history of run-ins with the law and has been suspended for drug and alcohol abuse, allegedly assaulting several women and tax evasion.

To say Strawberry had made some bad decisions is an understatement.

However, Strawberry had a life or death situation in late 1998 when he was diagnosed with colon cancer. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy.

With sympathy on his side, Strawberry said he was optimistic about his future as he debuted as the spokesman for the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence last February.

More than two months later he was charged with possession of cocaine and soliciting a prostitute.

Strawberry pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 18 months probation and 100 hours of community service. He was suspended by baseball and was able to finish the year with the Yankees as they won their second straight world championship.

On Wednesday, Strawberry reported to the Yankees spring training camp only to be asked off the field by Major League Baseball. The day before a Florida Department of Corrections report showed that Strawberry had tested positive for cocaine a month earlier.

Strawberry may be suspended for his third time.

Speaking of suspensions,  McSorly was suspended for the rest of the NHL season -- including the playoffs -- for hitting Vancouver Canuck Donald Brashear on the right temple with his stick in Monday's game.

McSorly, the third most-penalized player in NHL history, had been fighting with Brashear the entire game. 

What makes the incident terrible is that it happened with only 2.7 seconds left to play.

What makes it inexcusable is that Brashear was concentrating on the play and had his back to McSorly.

McSorly is by all means done in hockey. At 36, he is too old to be a goon and once his suspension ends next year everyone will be after him for what he did. 

This is just what hockey needs -- more violence.

So what could be done to prevent athletes from doing stupid things. Absolutely nothing since winning is more important than morals. The day a professional sports team puts values in front of players they sign will be the day that sports gets better. Unfortunately that day won't come until Los Angeles Clippers will win a NBA Championship.

Andres Cardenas is the sports editor for the Daily Forty-Niner and a print journalism major.