BREAKING NEWS: LARUSSA ARRESTED

mikechamp · Post by **mikechamp** » March 22 07, 9:14 am

jim wrote:I don't believe he should be treated any differently than any other person.

I agree with that, but we all know for the most part, it doesn't happen that way in this country.

mcgee51taguchi99 · Post by **mcgee51taguchi99** » March 22 07, 9:14 am

jim wrote:
mcgee51taguchi99 wrote:
jim wrote:
The problem was he allegedly was drunk behind the wheel. I'm not saying he should be fired, I'm just saying don't give him a pass. If he is guilty, I hope he is prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Heh, I don't. I hope he gets a reduced plea and probation just like any average Joe with a decent lawyer. I don't believe in this whole "he's famous so he can't get a break" BS.
I don't believe he should be treated any differently than any other person.

Maybe I don't understand your statement then. Aren't being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and being treated as anyone else (and likely getting a reduced sentence) mutually exclusive?

MDCardsFan · Post by **MDCardsFan** » March 22 07, 9:15 am

skmsw wrote:

2) Actually, most of my assumptions regarding what we've seen in the reports are sound. If you'd rather read wikipedia and assume that a quoted range of 15 minutes to two hours means that we can safely assume that it was two hours in TLR's case, that's fine. While you are 100% right that I am making some assumptions, and that I have absolutely no proof, in my day job I actually happen to have some professional expertise in this area.

I make no such assumption and no where do I make excuses for his actions. I'm merely pointing out that you are making assumptions that a) cannot be proven and b.) connot even be considered likely.

There is no legal standard accept anything than the readings the officers took. In fact, many defense lawyers have successfully argued that their client was LESS drunk behind the wheel than when he the breathalyzer was taken at the station.

TLR should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, just as you or I would.

And I can come up with plenty of resources other than Wikipedia to back it up.

jim · Post by **jim** » March 22 07, 9:16 am

mcgee51taguchi99 wrote:
jim wrote:
mcgee51taguchi99 wrote:
jim wrote:
The problem was he allegedly was drunk behind the wheel. I'm not saying he should be fired, I'm just saying don't give him a pass. If he is guilty, I hope he is prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Heh, I don't. I hope he gets a reduced plea and probation just like any average Joe with a decent lawyer. I don't believe in this whole "he's famous so he can't get a break" BS.
I don't believe he should be treated any differently than any other person.
Maybe I don't understand your statement then. Being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and being treated and anyone else (and likely getting a reduced sentence) are mutually exclusive.

I'm not a lawyer, and I've never had a DUI. I'm just saying if it's true, he needs to be punished pretty seriously. That does not include being fired, or having me lose respect for him as a great manager.

fulldeck · Post by **fulldeck** » March 22 07, 9:17 am

I didn't see this posted.

From Bernie...

Post subject: On La Russa....
Posted: 22 Mar 2007 09:36 am

I don't claim to know what happened last night, but I want to make a couple of observations:

* When I spoke to him on his cell phone last night (about 7:45 FLA time), he was sitting down for a meal with a few friends and looking forward to good food and conversation. This is what Tony does virtually every night during spring training following day games. He'll round up a coach or two, plus any visiting dignitaries who want to go, and he heads to one of his favorite spots, and has a nice long meal, talking baseball for several hours.

* La Russa from everything I know sticks to red wine. He savors it. Again, from what I have seen and know, he goes through a bottle very slowly. He isn't looking to get his drunk on. He's contained in public, reserved in public. Usually the wine is part of these long, leisurely dinners. Or, he'll have some wine after a game (reg season) while reading a book, to wind down from the competition.

* I'm not making excuses for the man, but I know he has very long days in FLA. He gets up very early, has to do all his advance work and supervision of any pertinent on-field work, and then there's the exhibition game. And then more meetings and/or baseball talk. Then he has dinner. I would assume -- again, with not knowing the details of the evening -- that fatigue was a factor. I think by a certain point of the evening, he's pretty wiped out.

* Baseball decisions or not -- we all disagree with him on things -- I think he's a solid guy who lives right, and who tries to do the right thing in his personal life. I'm sure he feels awful about this, for the embarrassment he may have caused his team, his bosses, and himself.

* I made a terrible mistake along these lines many years ago, so I know what it's like, and the feeling of shame is very intense. If others feel compelled to pass moral judgement and throw stones at him, they're free to do so. I won't do it, because I am not without sin. I don't think La Russa needs to be told that he did something wrong. He knows it. He'll beat himself up more than anyone else will.

--B

mikechamp · Post by **mikechamp** » March 22 07, 9:21 am

I have a hard time scolding Tony, only because I have nodded off behind the wheel of a car (due to exhaustion only) in the middle of the night travelling 70 MPH (on the interstate) with 2 or more people (who were all asleep) twice.

Does it make me a bad driver? Maybe, though both times I never hit anything and I'm obviously here to tell the tale.

Is what I did any less admonishable than Tony? Absolutely not. We were both operating a motor vehicle, shouldn't have been and could have killed ourselves and others.

The only difference between me and Tony? He got caught.

I'm not condoning what he (or I) did, but in a way, you could say his was a case of bad luck.

Musial_6_Pujols_5 · Post by **Musial_6_Pujols_5** » March 22 07, 9:21 am

I think Bernie is right on. TLR will beat himself up more than anyone else. I think he'll emerge an even better man after this mistake.

clement · Post by **clement** » March 22 07, 9:21 am

mikechamp wrote:
jim wrote:I don't believe he should be treated any differently than any other person.
I agree with that, but we all know for the most part, it doesn't happen that way in this country.

He's rich and he's famous. If anything, he will be more likely to be treated more leniently than more harshly.

But he'll get more attention than the common joe.

JohnnyJay · Post by **JohnnyJay** » March 22 07, 9:21 am

I just hope that the people that were finally "won over" by TLR as manager won't go back to this and always say "Well, he was a drunk who got caught drinking behind the wheel".

But for some reason I have a feeling that all the LaRussa haters are ALWAYS going to bring this into the conversation now.

I don't give him a pass, but this topic is going to be nitpicked to death for the rest of the year, and I'm already sick of hearing about on the news.

stlmark · Post by **stlmark** » March 22 07, 9:22 am

I would have to agree with the fatigue thing. I have had 2 or 3 beers at home after a long day and fell asleep on my couch. It happens. Alcohol will strenghten your exhaustion.