Later in his life, he grew to become a star in Europe, dominating Italian leagues and ushering within the period often known as “Sugarmania.” However it was in between these occasions when issues went south for the stalwart participant. Famously, Richardson grew to become the primary participant ever banned for all times by the NBA and then-commissioner David Stern. However he’s additionally the primary participant ever to be reinstated after such a punishment. For years, Richardson jeopardized his profession on account of a extreme drug habit. And all of that may be learn in his new memoir, BANNED, which is out November 26.
Right here beneath, try an excerpt from that guide.
CHAPTER 8: “SUGAR”
Ever since school, individuals have referred to as me Sugar. It began on the College of Montana and the nickname simply caught. Once I first received to high school, in considered one of our early video games, I performed rather well. And because it was widespread for guys with the center identify Ray to be referred to as “Sugar Ray,” due to boxer Sugar Ray Robinson and later Sugar Ray Leonard, individuals began calling me Sugar, too. In Missoula, everyone thought I used to be a particular athlete—candy on and off the courtroom —so the nickname grew to become a part of me. In the present day, pals name me Sugar with out pondering twice. And I’ve lived as much as it, even placing it on automotive license plates and kit shifts.
In later years, the identify caught due to my connection to medicine. The moniker was one thing of an ironic one, a commentary on my failures as a lot as my expertise. It’s unusual how the 2 can intertwine on the prime. The height is so near the autumn. Folks suppose when you get to the highest, it’s simple to remain there. Hell, that’s what I assumed! However the onerous half is just not a lot getting there as it’s staying. I’d made the league. I used to be an All-Star. So after I began to do medicine, I assumed I may cease it at any time. If I wished to do one thing, I merely did it. It could be the identical with my leisure behavior, proper? However I’d lastly run up in opposition to one thing that was stronger than even me.
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Human beings devour round 180 million metric tons of sugar a 12 months. The US is the most important client of sugar on the planet, as we soak up 11 million metric tons per 12 months. That’s ten occasions what we should always. America is a rustic of addicts and other people seeking to get excessive. As youngsters, we’re taught sweet is our pal. As younger adults, we sneak into our mother and father’ liquor cupboards. Caffeine is one other one—the US consumes 146 billion cups of espresso per 12 months! Later in life, we get excessive on different white powders or devour medicine that make us hungry and wish, sure, extra sugar. It’s an epidemic. The stuff is in every single place.
Sugar comes from vegetation. Sugar cane wants heat climates to develop. So, numerous it comes from locations in South America. Traditionally, that’s additionally the place numerous the USA’ cocaine comes from, too. Even the world’s hottest soda, Coca-Cola, used to have cocaine in it. In the present day, a median American consumes round 450 servings of Coca-Cola merchandise per 12 months.
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Every thing unhealthy started after I determined to maneuver from New Jersey to the Chelsea neighborhood of New York Metropolis in the course of the center of my third season. Once I say issues like, Our tales are already written for us, it’s due to issues like what occurred subsequent. The mover who took my stuff from Jersey into town was cousins with one of many largest dope sellers on the East Coast, a man named Muhammad. And the place precisely did Muhammad dwell? Whereas he got here from the West Indies, he now lived on the fourth ground of the constructing in Chelsea that I used to be about to maneuver into. I might be a ground beneath him.
I’d determined to maneuver into Manhattan as a result of I’d gotten sick of the commuting and town visitors. I wished to be nearer to the place I labored, to MSG. In the present day, I shake my head. What the heck did I try this for! Muhammad’s cousin launched us. On the time, I didn’t suppose a lot of it. I met new individuals on a regular basis due to my occupation, and Muhammad was a pleasant man, somebody who I assumed was a pal. “Cease by anytime,” he informed me. Some nights, as soon as I received settled in, I’d go up there and play playing cards or dominos and shoot the breeze. Simply passing the time. However the satan had a plan for me.
Then, as an alternative of simply taking part in video games, Muhammad began passing cocaine round. That’s after I sniffed it for the very first time. I’d simply gotten again from a staff street journey and determined to offer coke a strive simply to be social with him and his pals. Like I stated, after I first snorted the white powder, it didn’t work on me. I didn’t get excessive. So I attempted it once more, not pondering a lot of it. At Muhammad’s place, he’d produce other individuals over, even different NBA gamers typically. Coke was social, like alcohol. Shit, it was like espresso. However after I tried the stuff for a second and third time just a few days later, I received hooked. My mind exploded. Then, just a few weeks later, Muhammad introduced out the pipe.
In a matter of a couple of month, I went from sniffing coke to smoking it, which is a lot worse. If you smoke cocaine, it’s referred to as freebasing, and it’s stronger. It’s like cocaine on steroids, when you can imagine that. However to do it was a course of. You needed to exit and purchase this package with the fitting pipe, a lighter, and different accouterments. When he introduced it out, Muhammad stated, “I would like you guys to strive one thing.” In Mike Carey‘s guide “Dangerous Information” about former professional basketball participant Marvin “Dangerous Information” Barnes, there are numerous seedy characters talked about. Nicely, Muhammad was a type of in my life. He beloved to be round NBA gamers, and he received us hooked on him.
Muhammad was an enormous Knicks fan, too. So he knew who I used to be, and he appreciated me hanging round. However in contrast to Dangerous Information, who was a hell of a participant in his years within the ABA, I used to be by no means concerned in any of the legal exercise, apart from sniffing and smoking. I by no means hosted events, offered medicine, or drove it wherever. My downside was simply utilizing it—which is sufficient of an issue to have! Whereas I want Muhammad had by no means handed me the stuff and that his cousin had by no means launched us, and whereas I want I didn’t transfer into that constructing in Chelsea or rent that particular shifting firm, on the finish of the day I take full duty for my all of my actions. They had been mine, and mine alone.
Since these days, I haven’t seen Muhammad. I don’t even know what I’d say to him if I did at this time. I’d in all probability let loose a worn-down sigh—if he’s even nonetheless alive. I nonetheless bear in mind his voice, the look on his face, heat and beneficiant, however flickering. “Simply strive it,” he stated. “It’s not unhealthy. Simply strive it.” Me, being curious, I did. I appreciated it. I wished extra and I used to be naive. However even in these days, in my third 12 months and into my fourth season, I wasn’t but depending on the stuff. It wasn’t crucial factor in my life… but. It was simply one thing enjoyable to do, dipping and dabbing, first on off-days then at dwelling in Denver. Subsequent factor I knew, although, I used to be in it. Dangerous.
Deep down, I do know that I’ve a superb coronary heart. Regardless that I received into some tough spots, I’m not a foul man. You get blinders once you’re an addict. You’re there, wanting via your eyes… however on the similar time, you’re not all there. Due to that, after I would get excessive, I wouldn’t wish to exit in public. I didn’t wish to be in Studio 54, the Cotton Membership on one hundred and twenty fifth, or wherever within the metropolis after I was utilizing. I already knew I’d be paranoid, so I didn’t have to be round individuals. On prime of that, I didn’t need anybody seeing me all fucked up. Addicts principally wish to be alone.
Later in my profession, after I used medicine, I might both go to a resort on my own, with a girlfriend or with possibly yet one more one that was utilizing with me. If it wasn’t a resort, I might simply do it in my condominium. In New York, I wasn’t but a full-blown drug addict. However quickly, I might go off a cliff. If you get like that, you lose all sense of your self. You change into a zombie. Your solely ideas are once you’ll be getting excessive subsequent and for the way lengthy. It’s a parasite and also you don’t care about something however pacifying it. That’s what occurs when the satan has you.
