BREAKING NEWS: LARUSSA ARRESTED

[wart57]

but for most people it takes 4-6 drinks in an hour to get from zero to 0.08 in the first place.

Or 6-8 drinks over 2-3 hours, which is probably about what LaRussa had if he drank a bottle of wine.

There's plenty of couples out there that split a bottle or two of wine over a 1 hour dinner. They could just as easily blow over 0.08 if they get pulled over on their way home.

--P--

I don't understand. What is your point? Have I somehow given you the impression that I think this was wrong only because it was TLR?

This is not seventh grade. "Everybody else does" is not a good rationalization for dangerous behavior or poor judgment. If that couple jumped off a bridge, or cheated on their taxes, or didn't get that lump checked by an appropriate doctor, or hit their children, would that make it OK for TLR to do those things too?

The fact that many Americans drink 6-8 drinks over a couple hours and then get in the car is not OK. It does not make it normal, for TLR or for any of us. The fact that most of us do not get caught does not mean it is any less of a problem, or any less inappropriate. The fact that most do not get hurt does not rationalize away the huge percentage of accidents that are caused by the ones who do get hurt (or hurt others).

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.

Far too many of us believe that drinking a bottle of wine or a six pack and then driving awhile later is OK. That belief comes from the fact that we identify with the behavior, not from a rational, objective judgment that the behavior is OK.

I think most of the people are trying to say that we shouldn't be blasting TLR, he did something wrong, and I think will learn his lesson...oh wait, he did keep putting Marquis out there the last few years....maybe we do need to get TLR a driver.....

[Popeye_Card]

To me, saying "he wasn't THAT drunk" and comments like that are excuses. He messed up and has to deal with it. No more, no less.

Well, I don't agree.

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".

I fully understand that he is legally drunk, and must face those consequences. But just a short time ago, he wouldn't have been legally drunk. He still would have been asleep at the wheel at a stop light, which is MORE dangerous, and could happen to any one of us driving that late at night after a long day, even if there was no alcohol consumed at all.

To me, there's a difference between being punished by the law, and the certain punishment he's going to receive (and already is) in the court of public opinion. The first, I have no problem with. The second--the folks calling for his firing, etc.--is what I don't agree with due to the opinions I've offered. I.E. that 0.093 is not that big of deal in the grand scheme of things.

--P--

[maddash]

Seriously folks, .093 is not driving "drunk". It's driving buzzed, and I'm guessing 90%+ of this forum has driven a vehicle at this level or above, and haven't been caught. If he had 2-3 glasses of wine at a late dinner, he could have blown this. I'm also guessing that Whitey Herzog drove back from multiple fishing outings far more "drunk" than .093.

The reason for being "passed out" I'm personally guessing is an adverse reaction with some medication.

Fired? Retire? Come on. It's an honest mistake that I hope none of us on here ever have to go through.

--P--

Agreed.

I'm with you, too. Gosh, I've driven drunker than that! (Sad, I know.) He's probably exhausted getting ready for everything this season. A few glasses of wine, a late dinner, and bam....it happens. Give the man a break!

Maybe I'm in the minority. But:
1. If guilty he made a serious mistake and should be punished accordingly.
2. I don't judge him for the mistake. He shouldn't have done it, but I've done worse.
3. It has no impact on my perception of his as a person, because most of my perception is as a baseball manager. And this really has nothing to do with being a baseball manager.
4. I'd be willing to bet that if LaRussa saw some of the excuses being made for him in here he would tell you you should be ashamed of yourself.

We're arguing semantics at this point, but Florida has some fairly strict DUI laws (at least compared to other States). And a first offense DUI is still only a misdemeanor - I have a hard time calling a misdemeanor serious. If it was a serious crime he'd receive a serious punishment. Tony (assuming he's guilty and goes through the same process other people do), will almost assuredly pay a fine, have his license revoked for a few months, and might have to do some community service. Maybe it's just me, but that's not indicative of a serious crime.

Maybe that's where the confusion in the arguments is coming from here. Many of us are not excusing anything, but simply stating that this is NOT a serious crime. A serious mistake? Yes, certainly... but no more serious than the people on these boards who talk about staying up for 20+ hours than hitting the road (you people scare the hell out of me, btw). He'll pay a serious price in public opinion, but he wont in the court of law - and that's because his action doesn't warrant a serious response from the legal system.

[mikechamp]

You know, first the guy goes and gets a tattoo, and now he gets a DUI.

He's really turning into quite the rebel.

What's next, a mohawk? Tongue piercing?

[bronx_bird]

I guess we should stop asking people to stop wine-ing about TLR.

I'm still trying to drink it all in.

[TimeForGuinness]

I don't know about you guys, but 6-8 drinks in a couple of hours gets me pretty happy, but not happy enough to drive home.

[mcgee51taguchi99]

We're arguing semantics at this point, but Florida has some fairly strict DUI laws (at least compared to other States). And a first offense DUI is still only a misdemeanor - I have a hard time calling a misdemeanor serious. If it was a serious crime he'd receive a serious punishment. Tony (assuming he's guilty and goes through the same process other people do), will almost assuredly pay a fine, have his license revoked for a few months, and might have to do some community service. Maybe it's just me, but that's not indicative of a serious crime.

Maybe that's where the confusion in the arguments is coming from here. Many of us are not excusing anything, but simply stating that this is NOT a serious crime. A serious mistake? Yes, certainly... but no more serious than the people on these boards who talk about staying up for 20+ hours than hitting the road (you people scare the hell out of me, btw). He'll pay a serious price in public opinion, but he wont in the court of law - and that's because his action doesn't warrant a serious response from the legal system.

I totally agree and wish I was smart enough to convey my thoughts like this. Discussion over!

[StL Dan]

We're arguing semantics at this point, but Florida has some fairly strict DUI laws (at least compared to other States). And a first offense DUI is still only a misdemeanor - I have a hard time calling a misdemeanor serious. If it was a serious crime he'd receive a serious punishment. Tony (assuming he's guilty and goes through the same process other people do), will almost assuredly pay a fine, have his license revoked for a few months, and might have to do some community service. Maybe it's just me, but that's not indicative of a serious crime.

Maybe that's where the confusion in the arguments is coming from here. Many of us are not excusing anything, but simply stating that this is NOT a serious crime. A serious mistake? Yes, certainly... but no more serious than the people on these boards who talk about staying up for 20+ hours than hitting the road (you people scare the hell out of me, btw). He'll pay a serious price in public opinion, but he wont in the court of law - and that's because his action doesn't warrant a serious response from the legal system.

I totally agree and wish I was smart enough to convey my thoughts like this. Discussion over!

++ +++

[TimeForGuinness]

What's really amazing is that this DUI event hasn't caused oil prices to spike...yet.

[skmsw]

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 . . .