he's crying because he has Spin in his eye and that shit hurts before the euphoria hits.
(this is the only episode of this show I remember from my childhood. I vaguely recall kids saying "spiiiin" like zombies say "braaains" and thinking, even then, that it was a bit patronizing and unrealistic)
Actually, Thirty-Thirty would mention it every damn week. "Remember that weird kid whose boyfriend died from drugs or something? Holy shit, his voice was annoying."
And Bravestarr would tell a parable about the time Eagle and Wolf met the sun spirit, and they all agreed that the kid did in fact have a super-annoying voice.
This was the only way that any of these American 80's kid shows could depict someone actually dying. I'm pretty sure they pull this kind of shit off in GI Joe as well.