"I'm not dead yet!...I feel happy! I feel happy!"

The rumors of Darryl Strawberry's death have been greatly exagerrated apparently, at least according to the once-venerable NY Times.

"Everything is fine," [Strawberry's lawyer and other brother Darryl] Rouson said in a telephone interview. Rouson said he had spoken with Ron Dock, a drug abuse counselor with the Yankees who acts as Strawberry's sponsor. "He assured me that he's spoken to Darryl and he's alive."

So I guess Rouson has to point out that Dock is not a clairvoyant. I could see if he had said John Edwards or Miracle Max (a.k.a. Billy Crystal) in The Princess Bride had spoken to Strawberry; then Rouson would have to indicate that he was still alive. But isn't it superfluous here?