JULY 12, 2024 SPORTS SAWC invites Darren McCarty to speak at annual fundraiser Darren McCarty, a former professional hockey player for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League, was the keynote speaker at "Almost Home," June 24 at Barton Hills Country Club in Ann Arbor. "Almost Home" is a Shelter Association of Washtenaw County fundraiser to support the homeless community. Cazzie Avery, a former shelter client now housed, also was a guest speaker as advertised on the SAWC website. A Groundcover News press credential request was turned down. McCarty did not respond to email. McCarty is best known for fighting Colorado Avalanche right wing Claude Lemieux, March 26, 1997, in retaliation for Lemieux's hit from behind on Kris Draper in the 1996 playoffs. In the real world, both Lemieux and McCarty would have been charged with assault. The illegal hit, which broke Draper's jaw, orbital bone, cheekbone and nose, and caused a concussion, was not fatal or career-ending but easily could have been. The Wings went on to win the Stanley Cup as the best team in the NHL, one of four for McCarty and Draper, best friends. McCarty was best man at Draper's wedding. Along the way, McCarty said he became addicted to gambling, alcohol, marijuana, Ecstasy and cocaine, as reported by Deadline Detroit. He lost $6.2 million and filed for bankruptcy according to ESPN. McCarty was put in the NHL substance abuse program four times. McCarty remained employed until four events in succession in 2007: he suffered a sports hernia injury, Calgary did not re-sign him, he failed an NHL drug screen resulting in a ban from the NHL until he was drug-free. Draper, still a Red Wing, was also part-owner of the Flint Generals of the International Hockey League, Draper signed his friend in January 2008 and paved his way to return to the Red Wings in March. In a 1995 interview, the late Steve Howe, 48, said many professional athletes use cocaine for energy because of the travel and physical demands. Howe, a left-handed relief pitcher for Major League Baseball and U-M, was banned for life from baseball in 1992 for drug use, including seven times for cocaine. He threw between 90-96 miles-per-hour. Unlike the general public, McCarty was never imprisoned for cocaine use, purchases or trafficking. Howe stayed overnight once awaiting JANE REILLY Groundcover vendor No. 611 believes medical marijuana saved his life and uses it for pain. He now earns a living through speaking engagements and selling marijuana. Still, elite employers avoid hiring candidates who choose these options, legal or not. Cannabis may have closed more doors for McCarty than it opened. "Darren is a wonderful example of arraignment in 1991, according to the Los Angeles Times wire service. A plea deal reducing the felony to a misdemeanor resulted in the MLB lifetime ban. Felony cocaine conviction means five years imprisonment in Montana where Howe moved and four in Michigan. Howe, from Clarkston, was reinstated in 1993 because of the MLB Players Association, possibly in an attempt to save his life. Individual teams, MLB and the NHL made money from the work of Howe and still do from McCarty. The Professional Women's Hockey League just finished its first season in history. It played 24 regular season games, with either three or four days between games. It also has specific checking rules to eliminate dangerous hits of stationary players and hits away from the puck. The same NHL rule is rarely enforced. The NHL players take multiple strides before checking. The NHL plays 82 regular season games, of which two a month are consecutive. The remainder have either two or three days in between. More rest between games and enforcing the checking rules means less exhaustion, fewer injuries, eliminates the need for cocaine and lessens the need for painkillers. It also means less money. McCarty now has his own cannabis brand, named after himself. He someone who has constantly reinvented himself," SAWC Development Director Sarah Paspal-Jasinski wrote via email. "Every time he gets knocked down, he gets back up. As a substance abuse survivor, Darren has explored many paths since he left hockey. He has boxed, golfed, become a public speaker, and an entrepreneur. This makes him relatable and an ideal guest speaker for our organization. He understands the experiences of those we serve who are experiencing homelessness and recognizes how circumstances and decisions in life can bring you down. However, Darren's journey exemplifies that you can always rise again and reinvent yourself." At "Almost Home," guests had the opportunity to: purchase $100 raffle tickets to gamble for a one in 52 chance to win $2,600, purchase as many $30 tickets as were available for wine pulls (choosing a mystery bottle of various prices), compete against each other in a silent auction and learn about becoming "a sophisticated stoner," as McCarty referred to himself in The Detroit Free Press. Encouraging gambling, drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana, all legal addictive behaviors prohibited at the Delonis Center, ensures job security for Delonis staff. Like all the Delonis clients, McCarty is being helped by SAWC. It is keeping both itself and McCarty employed. GROUNDCOVER NEWS What’s Happening at the Ann Arbor District Library Open 10am–8pm Daily Hang out in any of our five locations across town, browsing books, magazines, newspapers, and more, or check out movies, CDs, art prints, musical instruments, and home tools— you name it! Study and meeting rooms, fast and free WiFi, and plenty of places to sit and hang out. The Summer Game If you’re reading this, the 2024 Summer Game is officially in full swing! Use your Library this summer to find codes, solve puzzles, attend events, and earn points toward awesome AADL prizes. Visit aadl.org/play to learn more and get started! Public Computers The AADL has public-access Internet computers available for use by both cardholders and noncardholders at all five locations. Each station has USB ports, headphone jacks, and some of the fastest wifi speeds in town! FEATURED EVENT Summer Game SPECTACULAR Saturday, July 27 • 1–4pm Veterans Memorial Park Come one, come all, to the annual splendiferously staggering, outdoor, earn-a-metric-ton-ofpoints, Summer Game Spectacular! We’ll be at the baseball fields near the parking lot off Maple for an outdoor extravaganza featuring the high-flying circus The Aviary, our amazing outdoor game collection, face painting, food trucks, and more! 5
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