The only reason this guy is getting sympathy from some people is because he is a former athlete and some people see them as a god. In reality he is a screw-up and although given chance after chance after chance he continued to screw up until he killed himself. It is just thankful that he didn't injure or kill anyone else.
Aside from early success in the bigs and a record number of drug suspensions, what's he known for that would attract so much affection? judging from the comments of former teammates and coaches, howe was regarded as a good teammate and an overall good guy. bernie williams mentioned that he took him under his wing when he first came up and helped him through some rough spots. yeah, he was given too many chances, and he kept on fucking up. but that doesn't mean that his peers and fans weren't hoping that he would clean himself up and play up to the potential that so many thought he had. and from a personal perspective, his battles with addiction remind of a good friend of mine who just couldn't stay clean. the fact that he's addict doesn't make me care for him any less. he's a good person at heart and was always a good friend. i lost touch with him, but as far as i know he's still alive and he's still using. and i still hope that he gets clean one day. so yeah, howe gets my sympathy, as does his family.
Personally, I feel that having sympathy for the dead is like closing the barn door after the horse has run away, but that said, I posted this story because it struck me that the difference in attitudes towards drug use then versus now was pretty marked. Honestly, I don't know if things are better now just because penalties are harsher.
In reality he is a screw-up and although given chance after chance after chance he continued to screw up until he killed himself. Sure, but the important thing is what kind of person each of us is, not the person who died. Given I never walked a mile in anyone else's moccassins, I can muster a bit of quiet reflection upon the passing of another sentinent being.
Would all the sympathizers here feel the same way if this guy injured or killed someone close to them????
Death closes all. What are you personally hoping to achieve by running down someone who's dead? Steve Howe's not exactly Pol Pot.
Howe wasn't even in the minority when it came to dealing with his addiction. It is a fact of the addict's life that he or she will have relapses and blow many "chances." It's the nature of the disease. I feel sympathy for anyone killed by an impaired driver. And I am not one of the Howe sympathizers, but remember people -- addict does not equal killer. Some addicts have killed. Some people have been killed by tea totalers. Are you as willing to jump all over, say, Cal Ripkin, if he for "some unknown reason drifted off the roadway" and dies?
Whether he was impaired or not is irrelevent. I agree with this statement for this particular event. In this case, the person who is being accused of being impaired is the only victim. Texan, I am also very sorry to hear about your dad. I certainly don't presume to walk in your shoes, but I would think the knowledge that he died by the hand of an impaired driver did nothing to alleviate your grief, and probably added to it. How would knowing whether or not Steve Howe was impaired satisfy anyone but the bystanders and gossips? Personally, I feel that having sympathy for the dead is like closing the barn door after the horse has run away I very much agree with chicobangs. The sympathy should be -- and I think for the most part has been here -- directed toward the family.
