Steve Durbano: NHL Player's Tragic Downfall, Cocaine Addiction, and Legal Battles

Post-NHL Career and Reputation

• 💡 Durbano's attempts to return to the NHL with the Red Wings and St. Louis Blues were marred by injuries and frequent suspensions.
• ⚠️ He played for the Birmingham Bulls in the WHA, maintaining his reputation as a "riot looking for a place to happen" due to violent conduct.
• 🚨 Despite claims of maturity, he continued to be involved in fights and misconducts, including mooning a crowd and hitting a referee with a puck.

Health Issues and Escalating Drug Use

• 💊 Durbano suffered from hepatitis and a broken hand, which sidelined him during his NHL comeback attempts.
• 📈 He later admitted to heavy cocaine use after his hockey career ended, stating he was "pumping $1,000 a day into his arms" by 1981.
• 💉 His drug use escalated to injecting cocaine, leading to track marks, collapsed veins, and six-month binges of staying awake for days.

Cocaine Trafficking and Conviction

• ✈️ After leaving hockey, Durbano was arrested for importing 474 grams of cocaine from South America into Canada, hidden in his shoes.
• ⚖️ He claimed ignorance, stating he was a "classic dupe" and didn't know the cocaine was there, but was convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison.
• 🗺️ During his trial, he revealed he had been smuggling cocaine since 1970 as a first-year pro, learning routes to South America.

Life After Prison and Continued Struggles

• 📉 After his release, Durbano struggled with finding stable employment and continued to battle drug and alcohol addiction.
• 🛒 He was involved in further legal issues, including shoplifting (mistaking pajama tops for fancy shirts) and threatening a bar owner.
• 💼 He later operated an "escort service", leading to charges of procuring for prostitution after an undercover police operation.

Tragic End and Legacy

• 💔 Steve Durbano died at the age of 50 from liver cancer, exacerbated by years of alcohol and drug abuse.
• 💬 He expressed regret for his life choices but also defiance, stating he wouldn't "sit on the couch and wait to die."
• 📌 His story serves as a cautionary tale of an NHL player's downfall into addiction and crime, despite his initial talent.