Kevin Rooney didn’t LOSE “what kept him going.” He THREW it away.

The Times Union article says - - But don't blame these events entirely for Rooney's spiral. He drank when he trained Tyson, too. "It wasn't a daily problem then, but a problem enough," Hujtyn recalled. "There were enough times when he didn't come to the gym. 'Tell the boys I'm not going to be there today. I don't feel well.'"

So, Rooney’s problems can’t be blamed on Tyson leaving him. If he could not control himself when he had MIKE TYSON, how could he control himself in the inner city with average kids? No matter the location, it’s impossible for any fighter to respect a trainer who won’t come to the gym because he’s drunk.

That TU article made it evident that Rooney is an emotionally troubled and sick man. The only way to help an alcoholic like him is for his family and friends to turn their backs on him and refuse to deal with him until he chooses to straighten out his life. By tolerating his behavior, only worsens things for Rooney.

Like the last sentence of the TU article said, But know this -- if Cus still ran the place, if he saw this Kevin Rooney, until he sought treatment and sobered up, the door would stay closed.