BREAKING NEWS: LARUSSA ARRESTED

sighyoung · Post by **sighyoung** » March 22 07, 10:59 am

skmsw wrote:
TimeForGuinness wrote:What's really amazing is that this DUI event hasn't caused oil prices to spike...yet.
No, but I understand that Bush is scambling fighter jets over an as-yet unnamed middle eastern third world country . . .

I'm shifting to gold and bonds right this moment.

Popeye_Card · Post by **Popeye_Card** » March 22 07, 11:00 am

skmsw wrote:
Let me go ahead and own my judgmentalism right here and now. Having 6-8 drinks over 2-3 hours and then driving is dangerous. Those who do it are not excused by the fact that many others also do it. Not getting caught or not hurting anyone is lucky, not rationalization that the behavior is tolerable.

I don't think that it is luck. I think that plenty of people drive in the 0.08 to 0.15 range and DON'T get caught and DON'T have accidents because they are not greatly impaired when they are driving.

I have made comparisons to speeding. They are very similar in nature. Going over the legal limit IS a crime. There are reasons for why the legal limit is what it is, because going above that is dangerous. Yet most citizens of the United States consistently drive above the legal limit, despite participating in a dangerous and illegal activity. Some people get caught, and they pay the price. And like driving while intoxicated, the further you get beyond the legal limit, the more dangerous you are behind the wheel.

LaRussa is not excused. Nor would he be if he were caught doing 75 in a 65 and got a ticket. They are mistakes just the same--operating a motor vehicle in a more-dangerous-than-legally-acceptable manner.

--P--

Donnie Ebert · Post by **Donnie Ebert** » March 22 07, 11:02 am

H.I. McDunnough wrote: Well now honey, we been over this and over this.

There's what's right and there's what's right, and never the twain shall meet.

Like it or not, people like LaRussa are people we respect and we want to see the best of humanity in them, on or off the field. This doesn' t make me respect him less as a manager, which is the arena in which I care the most about his responsibilities, but this is still quite a bit of discouraging news to wake up to during spring training, no matter the severity of the crime.

If this had been Pujols, I'm sure the argument would be nearly the same--"As long as he continues to perform on the field, I don't really care what he does in his free time"--but we all want these legends, who are just human beings, to be people we can respect.

I think it's the reason so many people in St. Louis love a guy like Stan Musial. His numbers certainly help his case, but the man he's been off the field since retiring has made him the local legend that he is.

This'll likely blow over, LaRussa will never be caught in the spotlight again under these circumstances, and eventually most people will forget this. But it's still discouraging when those people you truly respect and admire (and this situation has helped show me how much I've come to respect LaRussa) let you down.

Finally, many people have mentioned (and rightly so) that it's not understandable when millionaires don't have the presence of mind to call a cab or ask for a ride. I think that sentiment applies to all of us. When in doubt, don't give a 2nd thought to ask for a ride. (This applies in particular to this October when the Cardinals will be the first repeat champions since the Yankees.)

skmsw · Post by **skmsw** » March 22 07, 11:20 am

Donnie,

I enjoyed your post. Well said.

. . . it's not understandable when millionaires don't have the presence of mind to call a cab or ask for a ride.

When your judgment is impaired, you do not accurately assess your fitness to drive, and especially in those middle levels, invariably assess yourself as less impaired than you really are. Income apparently has no impact on this effect.

I think that plenty of people drive in the 0.08 to 0.15 range and DON'T get caught and DON'T have accidents because they are not greatly impaired when they are driving.

I won't dispute the frequency with which it happens; you're probably right. But the studies that demonstrate hand-eye coordination, alertness, reaction time, etc etc etc at various levels of intoxication would suggest that avoiding accidents in that range is not because one is generally "not greatly impaired" in that range.

You (and others) raise several valid points about cell phones, speeding, etc. Those things also elevate risk, and cause or contribute to accidents. Although I would suggest that one can put down the phone or take your foot off the gas while one cannot usually will yourself to sobriety, I readily agree that there are lots of ways to be dangerous.

ZigZagCardsFan · Post by **ZigZagCardsFan** » March 22 07, 11:24 am

Finally, many people have mentioned (and rightly so) that it's not understandable when millionaires don't have the presence of mind to call a cab or ask for a ride.

It's probably already been stated several times, but in this case, blowing a .092 is hardly enough to impair any male to a point of recognition. I blame this incident more on fatigue than anything.

That in mind, he broke the law, and it's very disappointing to see this from our manager. I just hope the whole thing isn't blown out of proportion and the media now portrays him like a felon.

Balltilyafall4 · Post by **Balltilyafall4** » March 22 07, 11:27 am

I can't believe I read all replies in a 19 page thread..

My take:

1) IMO there is no way to rationalize blowing "only a .093." The legal limit is .08, he was over it, he broke the law, he gets a DUI, period.

2) I feel bad for TLR only because he had just won over quite a bit of fans in St. Louis that criticized him for years by winning the WS title everyone wanted, now I'm afraid winning the WS will be over-shadowed by this and all of those fans that criticized are back on the "we hate Tony" bandwagon (I'm not one of those people..I've been a fan of Tony for quite a while).

3) I don't feel bad for him in the respect of the scrutiny he's going to get...he's a public figure in the limelight....we all make mistakes, but his are magnified more then ours are, just like his successes are magnified more then ours are...it comes with the territory and he knows this and I'm sure he's embarassed as [expletive] right now

4) I've driven drunk before...a lot in fact (I haven't done so since I graduated from college...but while in college drove drunk probably once a week...which was ridiculously stupid)....and just because you don't get caught doesn't mean you're not an idiot...there are times that I thought I was good to drive when I probably would have blown a .093 too...the point is it doesn't matter if you're ok to drive....you're still over the LEGAL LIMIT to drive...therefore you're breaking the law and imo, DESERVE a DUI and the punishment that comes with it.

5) Some have surprised me with their responses on rationalizing the .093 test.....I've never been affected by a drunk driver before but many people have, and I'm sure they wouldn't appreciate people trying to rationalize the fact that "oh, well, he wasn't THAT drunk".....it's just an unacceptable act to be driving if you've been drinking

Faceman · Post by **Faceman** » March 22 07, 11:29 am

Popeye_Card wrote:
Like someone else pointed out earlier, .08 is just a number for legal purposes. If he had blown a .05, like I'm sure you or I would have after a typical dinner with a couple of drinks, we wouldn't be saying anything. We'd be saying he wasn't THAT impaired. But since he went over a magical legal line, now he's "drunk".

--P--

I agree with Popeye.

Not to make excuses either, but the speed limit is 65 (in ILL) knowing that 75-80 is dangerous. Not because 66 is dangerous.

If .08 is the legal limit, it's probably not true that .09 is really dangerous.

And "not that drunk" is entirely true. Driving under the influence is never good. Neither is driving while tired, no medication, on your cellphone, etc.

There is a difference between knowing you have had a couple beers and being extra careful (even though your reaction time is slowed, etc) and driving out of your mind because you are wasted and don't know / don't care.

A big difference.

Leroy · Post by **Leroy** » March 22 07, 11:33 am

Overheard before the game..."Sorry, Dontrelle Willis"

haltz · Post by **haltz** » March 22 07, 11:36 am

Balltilyafall4 wrote:I've never been affected by a drunk driver before but many people have

I have been.

and I'm sure they wouldn't appreciate people trying to rationalize the fact that "oh, well, he wasn't THAT drunk".....it's just an unacceptable act to be driving if you've been drinking

And I realize the difference between the guy that hit me and Tony in this instance. I don't have the data or studies offhand, although there is a decent article in this thread, but criminalization of certain BAC levels doesn't make me feel safer. In fact, in a town like Columbia where I used to live, I felt like it was such a revenue stream that the Police were too busy booking someone who rolled through a stop sign and blew a .087, that they weren't out on the roads (highways) looking for drivers that were really threatening peoples lives.

Also, regarding Leroy: funniest poster on this forum, or funniest person ever?

Mary1966 · Post by **Mary1966** » March 22 07, 11:39 am

The Orioles board that I frequent started a thread a few days ago asking people to post look-a-likes for the players on the Twins, the Orioles' first opponent this year. Naturally, Sidney got compared to lots of stuff--a whale, Porky Pig, etc. This morning I logged on and there was a post comparing Sidney to a bleary eyed pic of Tony La Russa. I thought, ?????, until I came here. Now I know it was Tony's mug shot they were comparing Sidney to.

I don't think that Tony should be fired for this. He needs to take responsibility for his actions and do whatever he is ordered to do, and then take whatever steps are necessary to prevent this from happening again. If he does have a drinking problem he needs to seek professional help for it.