Beyond Belief

Josh Hamilton, the baseball worlds “next big thing” didn’t work out the way everyone had hoped. In Beyond Belief, written by Tim Keown, is a story of how the best things in life can take a turn for the worst. Hamilton being a five star recruit out of high school was a superhuman, freak of nature athlete. He would play anywhere on the field and excelled at whatever position he was placed at. He was drafted first overall at the age of 18 to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, where he was put on a high pedestal to become the greatest baseball player to ever live. After enduring a back injury due to a car wreck, Hamilton began to grow into a depressed state. The fact that he was not able to perform on the field to his greatest potential because of his ailing back, Hamilton began to grow impatient and frustrated with himself. After an epidemic of bad decisions Josh found himself inked from head to toe and addicted to drugs such as crack, and cocaine. Between sneaking drugs into the teams facility, being kicked off the team, and abandoned by just about everyone he had in his life, Josh was left with nothing more then himself and his drugs.
After stealing money and belongings from loved ones for drug purposes finally his family knew enough was enough. Through ongoing drug rehabilitation sessions Hamilton was finally clean and living life safely and healthy. Gradually he began to fall in love with the sport that had showed him so much love for a majority of his life, baseball. Getting a chance to start for a big league team, the Cincinnati Reds signed him to a contract which caught the attention of many teams. After one year in the majors the Texas Rangers offered a trade proposal sending Hamilton down to Texas where he excelled just as if he were a rookie, and now the rest is history.
Hamilton now being an icon to baseball and to those who just like a good story are amazed at the turn of events that he endured. Going from “next big thing”, to a bum addicted to drugs, to a loved figure in all of baseball just shows how life is a roller coaster. Through this he is not only a great athlete but also a role model to anyone who is going through tough times, and looking for some inspiration or just a helping hand. Kevin Travis a writer says he saw Hamilton at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes' annual fall fundraising banquet where he spoke about his book and his life in general. He said the thing that stuck out the most when Hamilton spoke was his humbleness. While talking he said, “Every day I get asked 'How do you explain this, how do you explain that' and I would just sum it up as it's a God thing” truly showing Hamilton’s true colors. In another guest speaking appearance, writer John Drescher says, “His comeback has been one of the best sports stories of the last few years”.
I feel this book is a great example of Post Modern Literature writing. I t ties in the true trials and tribulations of life and provides thoughts and ideas for all ages. It teaches a lesson to young and old and shows that no matter how down a person is, having hope, support, and a passion can pull us out of our darkest hours.

Information Sources: Travis, Kevin. "Overcoming the odds." Sun Journal (New Bern, NC) 21 Oct. 2010: Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Web. 6 Dec. 2010.

Drescher, John. "OPINION: He wants to tell his story." News & Observer, The(Raleigh, NC) 07 Nov. 2009: Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Web. 6 Dec. 2010.

Picture Source: http://www.google.com/imgres/BeyondBelief. Web. 2010.