What athletes and famous people do you guys know that doesn't drink? - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

fordman_mustang · 12-22-2006, 05:47 AM

just curuios, this may be a dumb topic but some times when i turn down drinking i kinda think if chad johnson, hes a football plays crazy guy, and i was reading a SI artical on him and he talks about how he doesn't drink and when they go out to the club he just sips on water.

though it was pretty cool just wondering who else doesn't.

came2believe · 12-22-2006, 04:12 PM

You got me intrigued, here's a couple articles I found with a quick Google Search: (I don't have enough posts to post a hotlink, so replace the DOTS with real dots)

alcoholismDOTaboutDOTcom/cs/person/l/aa010122a.htm (about NY Giants QB)

lat34DOTcom/we_don_t_do_it

nativesDOTcoDOTuk/action/list.py/view_item?listid=9&listcatid=39&listitemid=860

JD86 · 12-22-2006, 07:05 PM

would this not go againest the basic tenant of AA .. (the second A stands for Anonymous)

Nuudawn · 12-22-2006, 07:30 PM

Their celebrity somewhat negates their anonymity...price to pay I guess for all those bushels of money.
Ben Affleck comes to mind

JD86 · 12-22-2006, 07:34 PM

just because they are famous in one respect does not give anyone the right to "out" them (in my humble opinion)

came2believe · 12-22-2006, 07:48 PM

The links I posted were people who are already out in the open about their alcoholism.

But if I said I saw a certain baseball player at an AA meeting, then that would be a violation of his anonymity, EVEN if he was already "out" as a recovering alcoholic.

And if said ballplayer goes on Larry King Live and identifies himself as a member of AA, then he blows the 11th tradition (anonymity at the level of press, radio, & film).

BUT--if said ballplayer goes on Larry King and says "I'm a recovering alcoholic," then he is fine.

That's my understanding, anyway.

Time2Surrender · 12-22-2006, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD86

just because they are famous in one respect does not give anyone the right to "out" them (in my humble opinion)

One would think so but I wonder. Seems to me getting millions of $ to make a movie, play ball or whatever comes at a price. Im sure most celebs are aware of this even before they become famous. So much for your privacy. You are now in the public eye. People are intriged with famous people even though for the most part they are no differnet than anyone else. And that fame comes at a price. You get paid more money than most people could earn in several life times to make one movie or play for one season. Price you gotta pay. May not be right but thats how it is. I could probably live with it.

We recently had a major celeb attending meetings in my area. Word got around fast. Now thats wrong. A meeting with 20 people suddenly had over 100. But this person also anounced they were back in recovery in the press and on TV. Probably because they knew their anonymity would be broken anyway.

scootinbabe · 12-22-2006, 09:06 PM

it's probably safe to say that most famous people who have been in rehab no longer drink (or at least have tried not to). i just read that nicole kidman sometimes attends meetings with keith urban. it's out there in the mainstream press.

GlassPrisoner · 12-22-2006, 09:40 PM

Mike Portnoy from the underground prog/metal band Dream Theater is an Alcoholic in recovery. He's even written a saga spanning several songs and albums that outline the 12 steps.

Jen26 · 12-22-2006, 11:39 PM

Hi There,
The comedians Billy Connelly and Robin Williams don't drink. Billy recently celebrated 20 years since he had a last drink! They tell some pretty insane stories about when they were drinkers.

CarolD · 12-23-2006, 12:11 AM

Robin Williams is newly sober again.
He did resume drinking after years of sobriety.

The only sober time I am certain of
is my own!

JD86 · 12-23-2006, 04:49 AM

but it kind of rankles me when the celebs "out" themselves or others....

seems to me that they are saying that the second A in AA does not apply to them......... also seems to me that the most vocal ones dont always "get it" and are stuck in the revolving door of AA or recovery....

the ones with really solid long term recovery know to be humble and respect the traditions, the basis of the program... (the second A)

just my 2 cents

mikel60 · 12-23-2006, 05:16 AM

Check out the band Social Distortion
Ball and Chain, The Story of My Life = drunkalogue
I Was Wrong, Crown of Thorns = Steps/amends
When the Angels Sing = the promises

Dropkick Murphys are named after a detox and their first CD is all about sobriety/alcoholism:
The Road of the Righteous, Barroom Hero, Memories Remain

George Bush says he doesn't drink... must be smoking something, though...

GlassPrisoner · 12-23-2006, 08:37 AM

miekel60m didn't know that about Social D. Good stuff !

came2believe · 12-23-2006, 09:31 AM

I didn't either. How funny - I played them continually early in sobriety shaking my head and saying... weird, this song makes sense to me in a different way now! Thanks.

doorknob · 12-23-2006, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD86

would this not go againest the basic tenant of AA .. (the second A stands for Anonymous)

Not everyone in recovery is in a 12-Step group.

doorknob · 12-23-2006, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikel60

George Bush says he doesn't drink... must be smoking something, though...

Word!

doorknob · 12-23-2006, 09:47 AM

Eminem says in one of his newer songs that he's off drugs (and off track, LOL).

laurie6781 · 12-23-2006, 10:39 AM

You know, I got sober in Southern California quite a while ago now. I saw many "famous" faces in various meetings, many of them still alive and sober today.

My take is this. When anyone walks through the doors of an AA meeting they are just like I was..................hurting and in hell. They have a hole in their gut big enough to drive a big rig through, and it doesn't matter if they lived in Beverly Hills, Gross Pointe or under the nearest bridge. They are there for one reason and one reason only...............................a desire to stop drinking.

So.......................to this alkie names and celebrity status don't mean 'chit.' As far as I am concerned they hurt like I did, and they put their pants on the same.

If they choose to out themselves, their problem not mine. I do not believe that discussing "celebrities" and "famous" people who are or are not sober contributes anything to one's individual recovery.

The only sobriety I need concern myself about is MINE.

J M H O

Love and hugs,

mikel60 · 12-23-2006, 02:10 PM

http://www.austin360.com/arts/conten...0/26music.html
Hey Glass Prisoner and came2believe,
Here's a short article about Social D's Mike Ness you might be interested in. My buddy and I would blast Social D. on our way to meetings our first year. He even got the dancing skeleton tattoo on his back. Whatever it takes... we're both still sober ... 10 years and counting.
Mike in Boston

12-22-2006, 05:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
fordman_mustang Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: tulsa OK Posts: 25	What athletes and famous people do you guys know that doesn't drink? just curuios, this may be a dumb topic but some times when i turn down drinking i kinda think if chad johnson, hes a football plays crazy guy, and i was reading a SI artical on him and he talks about how he doesn't drink and when they go out to the club he just sips on water. though it was pretty cool just wondering who else doesn't.

12-22-2006, 07:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
JD86 ODAAT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 11	who's who... (why) would this not go againest the basic tenant of AA .. (the second A stands for Anonymous)

12-22-2006, 07:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
JD86 ODAAT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 11	so says you........ just because they are famous in one respect does not give anyone the right to "out" them (in my humble opinion)

12-22-2006, 09:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
GlassPrisoner Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Murrieta, Ca Posts: 2,683	Mike Portnoy from the underground prog/metal band Dream Theater is an Alcoholic in recovery. He's even written a saga spanning several songs and albums that outline the 12 steps. __________________ Life Happens

12-22-2006, 11:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
Jen26 Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 43	Hi There, The comedians Billy Connelly and Robin Williams don't drink. Billy recently celebrated 20 years since he had a last drink! They tell some pretty insane stories about when they were drinkers. __________________ Courage is what you have when you do something you're afraid of; be it jumping out of a plane, or walking out your front door.

12-22-2006, 04:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
came2believe Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Anytown, USA Posts: 265	You got me intrigued, here's a couple articles I found with a quick Google Search: (I don't have enough posts to post a hotlink, so replace the DOTS with real dots) alcoholismDOTaboutDOTcom/cs/person/l/aa010122a.htm (about NY Giants QB) lat34DOTcom/we_don_t_do_it nativesDOTcoDOTuk/action/list.py/view_item?listid=9&listcatid=39&listitemid=860

12-22-2006, 07:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Nuudawn Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 753	Their celebrity somewhat negates their anonymity...price to pay I guess for all those bushels of money. Ben Affleck comes to mind

12-22-2006, 07:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
came2believe Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Anytown, USA Posts: 265	The links I posted were people who are already out in the open about their alcoholism. But if I said I saw a certain baseball player at an AA meeting, then that would be a violation of his anonymity, EVEN if he was already "out" as a recovering alcoholic. And if said ballplayer goes on Larry King Live and identifies himself as a member of AA, then he blows the 11th tradition (anonymity at the level of press, radio, & film). BUT--if said ballplayer goes on Larry King and says "I'm a recovering alcoholic," then he is fine. That's my understanding, anyway.

12-22-2006, 09:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
scootinbabe Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: road to recovery Posts: 1,687 Blog Entries: 5	it's probably safe to say that most famous people who have been in rehab no longer drink (or at least have tried not to). i just read that nicole kidman sometimes attends meetings with keith urban. it's out there in the mainstream press.

12-23-2006, 12:11 AM	#11 (permalink)
CarolD Forward we go...side by side Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Serene In Dixie Posts: 37,601	Robin Williams is newly sober again. He did resume drinking after years of sobriety. The only sober time I am certain of is my own! __________________ Each Day Sober Is A Victory!! Joy In AA Recovery!

12-23-2006, 04:49 AM	#12 (permalink)
JD86 ODAAT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 11	sorry.. i did not mean to be a hard azz but it kind of rankles me when the celebs "out" themselves or others.... seems to me that they are saying that the second A in AA does not apply to them......... also seems to me that the most vocal ones dont always "get it" and are stuck in the revolving door of AA or recovery.... the ones with really solid long term recovery know to be humble and respect the traditions, the basis of the program... (the second A) just my 2 cents

12-23-2006, 05:16 AM	#13 (permalink)
mikel60 Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Boston MA Posts: 666	Check out the band Social Distortion Ball and Chain, The Story of My Life = drunkalogue I Was Wrong, Crown of Thorns = Steps/amends When the Angels Sing = the promises Dropkick Murphys are named after a detox and their first CD is all about sobriety/alcoholism: The Road of the Righteous, Barroom Hero, Memories Remain George Bush says he doesn't drink... must be smoking something, though...

12-23-2006, 08:37 AM	#14 (permalink)
GlassPrisoner Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Murrieta, Ca Posts: 2,683	miekel60m didn't know that about Social D. Good stuff ! __________________ Life Happens

12-23-2006, 09:31 AM	#15 (permalink)
came2believe Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Anytown, USA Posts: 265	I didn't either. How funny - I played them continually early in sobriety shaking my head and saying... weird, this song makes sense to me in a different way now! Thanks.

12-23-2006, 09:47 AM	#18 (permalink)
doorknob Knucklehead Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Davenport, WA Posts: 4,003	Eminem says in one of his newer songs that he's off drugs (and off track, LOL).

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

12-23-2006, 10:39 AM	#19 (permalink)
laurie6781 Belgian Sheepdog Adictee Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: In Today Posts: 5,957	You know, I got sober in Southern California quite a while ago now. I saw many "famous" faces in various meetings, many of them still alive and sober today. My take is this. When anyone walks through the doors of an AA meeting they are just like I was..................hurting and in hell. They have a hole in their gut big enough to drive a big rig through, and it doesn't matter if they lived in Beverly Hills, Gross Pointe or under the nearest bridge. They are there for one reason and one reason only...............................a desire to stop drinking. So.......................to this alkie names and celebrity status don't mean 'chit.' As far as I am concerned they hurt like I did, and they put their pants on the same. If they choose to out themselves, their problem not mine. I do not believe that discussing "celebrities" and "famous" people who are or are not sober contributes anything to one's individual recovery. The only sobriety I need concern myself about is MINE. J M H O Love and hugs, __________________ God Bless You All As You Trudge The Road Of Happy Destiny (especially when you are trudgin thru alligators up to your butt) Sobriety: AA June 7, 1981 Codependency: Alanon June 7, 1984

12-23-2006, 02:10 PM	#20 (permalink)
mikel60 Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Boston MA Posts: 666	http://www.austin360.com/arts/conten...0/26music.html Hey Glass Prisoner and came2believe, Here's a short article about Social D's Mike Ness you might be interested in. My buddy and I would blast Social D. on our way to meetings our first year. He even got the dancing skeleton tattoo on his back. Whatever it takes... we're both still sober ... 10 years and counting. Mike in Boston