I am a recovering alcoholic. I have been attending Alcoholics Anonymous(AA) meetings since April of 2007.  I am fortunate  in that I have maintained my sobriety since I entered the program.  I have previously written about my first year in AA.  I took a lot of heat from others in the program for breaking what is called the 11th tradition.  This tradition basically states that AA is a program of attraction and  not promotion. One of the things we are supposed to take from that is that we do not talk in the media about the fact that we are in Alcoholics Anonymous. We are  supposed to lead by example not words.  In the 21 months I have been in AA I have come to have a greater respect for this tradition and why it is there.  Case in point is Pacman Jones, gridiron gangster extraordinaire and former player for the Dallas Cowboys.  Pacman is no stranger to alcohol abuse.  He recently went public with his battle with alcohol and his “successful“  stint in AA.  In a recent interview, Pacman stated as follows:

“I did have an alcohol problem, but I have addressed the alcohol problem and went to AA,” he said. “I went there for 2½ months, going to AA every other week, seeing my counselors every day. Regardless … I’m doing whatever it takes for me to change my life as a man, you know. Football, I’ll always love football and always want to play football, but I still got to take care of myself as a person also.”

Good for you Pacman!   All of us who take it one day at a time in the program are glad to hear that you are cured after attending meetings for 2 1/2 months every other week.  All of us who struggle daily, attend meetings daily, sometimes multiple times in a day are astounded that you cured yourself in a total of  5 meetings!   AA must be the miracle cure!  I have been in almost two years.  What the hell am I doing wrong?   I should have gone to meetings with you. I would be cured, back on out on the scene with you going on a national strip club tour,  fighting bouncers  and judging wet t-shirt contests.  What’s your secret for sobriety Pacman?   I am going to write the AA national chapter and nominate  you for the AA spokesperson of the decade!   Pacman, you are  now the role model for alcoholics everywhere.  We should all seek to emulate your life. Keep up the good work!