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Craig Raucher-Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous and the Staten Island Basketball League, The Healing Power of Basketball

Since we began the Staten Island Basketball League in 1980 we have had over 460 players walk through our doors.

A handful of our players were former alcoholics or illicit drug users or drug dealers.

In 1990 one of my very close friends and player, a New York City firefighter and a member of the New York City firefighters national basketball team succumbed to alcoholism and drugs. He became a drug dealer to help pay for his addiction and used drugs as a way of manipulating other people. His personality changed drastically and ultimately I had to ask him to leave our group as he became nasty and argumentative.

He eventually was removed as a New York City firefighter and he hit rock bottom.

He entered a long term rehabilitation program and I lost touch with him for three years. He reached out to me that third year and asked if he could come back and play in the league.I suggested we meet first so I could assess his situation mentally and emotionally. He was alcohol and drug free but without any self confidence and a limited support network. I did not know then but came to understand how important playing basketball with men you know in an atmosphere of friendship and collegiality becomes one of the foundational elements of rehabilitation. My friend went back to school for a Masters Degree in education. He went on to become a teacher and eventually became the Principal of large New York City High School. He has been a long time sponsor in AA mentoring others.I had been asked to speak at his AA/NA chapter on his 1 year,5 year,10 year and 15 year anniversary of sobriety and non drug use. Theses meetings are attended by hundreds of people seeking support and friendship.

Over the 44 year history of the Staten Island Basketball League I have had 35 members of AA and NA play with us. Sadly half of them relapsed and came back and relapsed again. In one case one of our guys was involved in a drug deal gone wrong and ended up getting killed. This is the other side of dependency.

Basketball unifies people, it unites people, it does not care what your race, religion, age or political affiliations are. It does not care what your religion is or where you come from. Basketball helps people heal and bonds you to your teammates. For many of our guys it transcends sports and helps cleanse the body and the soul.