European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 17, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday 17. 19s6 the stars and stripes Gooden is ouf of Fife strike zone during the would series it was Char maybe even frightened turn a bit became Here a ayoung Man who was supposed to be perfect in every Way. Now it appears that Dwight Gooden is having control problem in his private life too. On saturday night around ii p.m., be and two other baseball player were stopped by Tampa fla., police officers. Who claim that a Brawl broke out and that Gooden and two officers were slightly injured. There is no suggestion Here that Gooden is guilt of he third degree felony with which he was charted but at the very least the Young Man has not been Able to stay out of the spotlight. The police say they stopped Gooden because Bis Mercedes Benz and the can of his two friends were weaving Back and Forth in traffic. Whether that charge is fair or not nobody should become involved in a shoving match with police on a dark saturday night on the Highway. The police have Loo Many reasons to be edgy these Days too Many addicts and lunatics and rambos and Dukes of Hazzards on the Loose. The thing to Dewith an armed police officer is say yes sir until you can gel to a Well lighted station House and Cal your lawyer. When Gooden came up As a 19-year-old, he amazed his Peers with his poise his ability to learn and perform. Forget the Arm any Yoyo can have an Arm. His head and his heart were what made base Ball people shake their Heads in respect. He became a commodity his business agents marketing him As an idol of America the press fawned Over him and the met management shielded him. Twas 1984, remember and met officials some of whom certainly have read Orwell were telling Wight Gooden he was More equal than lie rest or the animals. The press could belly up to Ron Dar Ling s locker or Danyl Strawberry s locker but Doc was different now there is evidence Gooden does not have perfect judgment. He sprained an ankle test january and was going around on crutches until the met received an Tony Raton phone Call. In March he was fined by the acts for exaggerating a traffic Accident during Spring training Ami he said the Way i Veblen going maybe the Best thing for me is to sleep on a cot in the clubhouse.1 in april he and his sister and his Friend Charlene Pearson became involved in an argument at a car rental counter. In october he missed the Meti Vic tory Parade the morning after the night before and the various explanations included oversleeping the flu did t get a Call Etc. Etc. In november he confirmed that a Youn woman in Tampa had Given birth to his son and that his wedding to Pearson was temporarily postponed. At the same time he responded to rumours of chemical abuse by requesting random drug testing As often As they want and they can be Gooden added Beer is what i drink and no much of that. Wine makes me sick. Drugs no. Fac never used them and i never voluntary drug testing is Fine if he wants it but somebody should Lell Gooden that each problem will Only magnify the rumours. It is not easy being you Gand a celebrity but the smart ones learn to Cope. Athletes such As Willie Randolph Mike Bossy Bill Cartwright and Freeman Mcneil have been stars in this town for Yean without accumulating bits and pieces of trouble. Attu Auni there is nothing More minus going onion his life Gooden needs to team How to and in Cue police officers Stop his car on a saturday night in Case he hat a dispute with � ear rental agent 1 somehow doubt the police in tamp Are going around laying let s get Dwight i m Hist guessing but when they found out who it was the were sorry it Ever happened but it happened i also doubt the rent a ctr agent said to herself that s Dwight Gooden s group i m going to give them hard time but something happened. Gooden can t afford Many More problems for several reasons. For one thing be now has a Legal problem in Tampa for another the next scrape could be More serous nobody s immortal or Invin Cible. For a third reason he has been trying to supplement his $1.32 million salary by projecting animate As another version of the ill american kid. Frankly Public figures who work too hard on their image come off As a trifle smarmy no names mentioned but if marketing his image is important Togo Den he had better lower his visibility Starling with operating a moving vehicle. The met management has been very Solic Vitious about Gooden mostly because he seemed like their meal ticket for the nest decade. He May no listen but management ought to gel him and his representatives in a room and say look Dwight you re blowing one Lille piece of the they could subtly offer him a Lille help maybe talk with a psychologist to see if there is any kind of unresolved problem with pressure and Fame and self image lurking inside that seemingly perfect pitching machine. People who have been Able to eel near with Gooden say he is a Nice Young Man. It is time for his family his friends his representatives and his employers to make a list of his problems in the past year and Tell him he s having trouble finding the strike zone on the Mound and in real life. Mayo Attol a Han a honors von note end of the Road for nil Veteran by David Moffit Atlanta a. Up Jeff Van note brushed tear from his Cheek while watching a highlight film of his 18 years with the Atlanta Falcons. The 40-year-old Center will retire after next week same in Detroit and the Falcons took advantage Sun Day of his last Home appearance As a player by staging a halftime ceremony in his Honor. Van note s wife Dee clutched his hand As the Gray haired Veteran stood on a podium at Midfield and listened to words of Praise including a note from president Reagan my cup is full he told the crowd when it became his turn to speak Only five Guyew in league history none of the offensive linemen have played in More a flames. When Van note plays against the Lions hell be Mak ing his 246lh appearance to move into a fifth puce tie with fran Tarkenton. Only Jim Marshall who played 270 of his283 a flames with the Minnesota Vikings has up Rcd in More games with die same team. George Blanda. The Overall Leader with 340. Divided his 27-year career among four teams. After Blanda and Marshall the All time list has ii Awerback Earl Morrell in third place at 265 and kicker Jan Stenerud fourth at 263. Van note an 1 lib round draft Choice out of Theu by Nir of Kentucky in .1969. Became a slate rw1970 and held that role until this season when he was finally pushed into a backup role by 25-year-old Wayne Van note first joined the Falcons it was As an outset linebacker. They swi died him first to Mimmie linebacker then to Center. A arted out awl of 3& tool coach Norm Van bronc in said Falcons marketing director Tommy Nobis who was a fixture of Middle linebacker in those Days. I knew he was t going to beat me Van note who missed Only four games with a knee injury in the 18 seasons said he probably would be More concerned about giving up football after having played the sport for 30 consecutive years beginning in a Catholic school league in Louisville ky., in 1957 if he bad played More regularly this season i be had a lot of time to prepare for this he is like coming to the end of a Long journey. You re kind of Happy to get there. It s time to move on move on to what right now i Haven t thought about my future Besaida a going to work on my House and then think about it. Some Nave suggested 1 should go into coach ing but that s not on my mind. I la never say never but i m not thinking about going in that Many of the 18 seasons were disappointing ones for Van note. The Only time the Falcons Ever won More than nine games was in 1980 when they were 12-4,then got knocked out of the playoffs in the opening round by Dallas. He got to play in Only four playoff1games in All those years and was on the winning Side Only have been a lot of disappointments Over the years games and tides we Felt we could have won and did the said. But none of that Ever dulled my love for the game. I be talked to some Guys who thin they left the game too soon. But i be gotten about every ounce out of this body that i s breaking Down. 1 Haven t been playing very Well for Jeff Van note May be one of the most remarkable players of this Era Falcons coach Dan hening said earlier in the year. To compete in the trenches an not lose his intensity it ibis stage of his career is unique. The nil May not see another player like think Jeff has finally had enough said Pete Van note tic Veteran player father while listening to their Side for his son at sunday s ceremony. He s served nil a of vain to
