Drugs and alcohol have been a problem in sports for many years. Many players have struggled with it. Some athletes’ careers ended because of these drugs. One talented baseball player Donovan Tate was an amazing quarterback – he was also a very skillful baseball player. Tate is a player with the most unusual backstory. After being drafted out of high school with the third pick in 2009, he was drafted by the San Diego Padres. Therefore, because of his skill many people knew he would become an amazing player, maybe even a legend. They thought this because his high school stats exceeded everyone’s expectations. He had gone to many showcases and had dominated them. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen. After being drafted, he struggled with many injuries. Tate also struggled with substance addiction and alcohol. For these reasons, he wasn’t able to make it to the Major Leagues.
Now, Tate is a 26-year-old freshman quarterback at the University of Arizona. Tate is still seeking one more chance to become a pro athlete. Furthermore, Tate spoke with journalist Michael Weinred about overcoming his troubles. By overcoming these troubles, he might be able to still chase his dream – his dream of becoming a pro athlete. He said, “I can’t imagine. I’ll never forget the day I began to change my life.” Tate’s life changed drastically just after a couple of days. After being addicted to substances, he went into rehab. This rehab facilities were thousands of miles from his hometown in Georgia. He was not sure what he was going to do there, but he was prepared for it. Then, after a couple of days in detox, Tate was able to take all of the substances out of his body. He confessed, “It was a struggle I have to admit.”
Tate was in rehab before after being suspended 50 games in the Major Leagues because of the drug policy. However, he is still chasing his dream of becoming a pro athlete. His father was his inspiration to go from being a baseball player to a football player. Lars, Tate’s father, was a hell of a football player himself. He was the Gatorade National Player of the Year coming out of high school, and after a few seasons as a running back at the University of Georgia, he was drafted in the second round and played three years in the NFL.
Tate addressed his experience of going from being a victim of drugs into becoming a college athlete wanting to become a pro, saying, “I know this is my last chance to live up to the dual-sport athletic brilliance I displayed while in high school, when nearly every college in the country would have begged me to sign with them in either football or baseball. I have no idea how this will wind up, but I know where I’ve been, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that I’m not going to take the present moment for granted.” I personally have high hopes for Tate in his football career. He has worked so hard and has overcome so many obstacles to the point where I believe he can achieve his goal in becoming a pro athlete.
