Ryan King's Relentless Battle: From Baseball Dreams to Sobriety
Episode Overview
Ryan King's journey from a promising baseball prospect to battling alcohol abuse Initial encounter with alcohol at 12 years old and subsequent struggle with addiction Periods of sobriety, relapse, and the complexities of maintaining sobriety Impact of alcohol abuse on relationships, including a tumultuous honeymoon Rediscovering solace in reading and embracing sobriety amid family struggles with alcohol
I got sober for two years. Nice. Nice. And started drinking again. and i've so we're about to get married and i promise i won't drink right i don't drink right and the wedding is great right right like um and then for our honeymoon i said i got this right and she said i don't think so no babe i got this trust me i figured out. And I just absolutely ruined the honeymoon. I owe my Brenda. I love you. I owe you a new honeymoon. It's coming. It's coming. Thailand. Two weeks. And I started drinking like day two while I was there. And it's just like the whole trip wasn't even about a honeymoon anymore. It was just about like, where's the pocket that I can drink. I'm like, oh, I forgot my towel by the pool. Right, so you're sneaking it. I'm sneaking. And she's aware that you're drunk? People close to you, people that are willing to really see you, they can tell very quickly. You know, and she could, yeah, she could tell. Mm-hmm. Nice.
Imagine having a promising future in baseball only to see it unravel due to alcohol. That's the story of Ryan King, who grew up in Los Angeles with his father, Commodores co-founder William King. Ryan was a straight-laced kid through high school, even earning a spot in Long Beach State's competitive baseball program. But the pressure and social scene led him to find comfort in booze.
It wasn't long before his drinking habit spiraled out of control, affecting his performance on the field and leading to the 'yips'—a mental block that made it impossible for him to throw the ball to first base. Things took a turn for the worse as Ryan's life became a series of bad decisions fueled by alcohol. He racked up multiple DUIs and hit rock bottom during a relapse on his honeymoon.
But this episode isn't just about the lows; it's about the resilience that follows. Ryan shares how he slowly began to rebuild his life, finding unexpected solace in reading. This newfound interest helped him regain control and embrace sobriety. Hosted by Nick Morton, 'The Drunkalogues' offers a raw yet humorous look at the realities of addiction and recovery.
In this episode, you'll hear Ryan's candid recounting of his journey—how he navigated the rocky road of addiction, the impact on his relationships, and the coping mechanisms that eventually led him back to a fulfilling life. If you're looking for an honest, heartfelt story that combines struggle with hope, this episode is a must-listen.