BREAKING NEWS: LARUSSA ARRESTED

BenNX74205 · Post by **BenNX74205** » March 22 07, 6:56 am

I would mind if he got fired over this. It's not like he pulled a Nick Saban and went on and on about respect and teamwork and all that crap and then jumped ship as soon as a better offer came along. Preaching about doing things in the baseball game "the Cardinal way" shouldn't really have any bearing on what happened last night IMO. He screwed up. If he discusses it openly and he apologizes, I will accept it. Things could have been a lot worse than the cops finding him already stopped somewhere just over the legal limit.

Don't mistake me for a LaRussa apologist--he screwed up big time. But I don't think he should be canned for this (at least until we know more of what happened).

stlmark · Post by **stlmark** » March 22 07, 6:57 am

arnie.k wrote:
I_Bleed_Red wrote:For a guy who always talks about doing things the "Cardinal Way" and how we have mentioned before how great it is to have a team of clean cut guys on the team that don't get in trouble with the law and this to happen. This is not good.

I know I will get flamed for this, but I just lost respect for TLR. I wouldn't even mind him being fired over this. Flame away if you wish, but that is all I have to say on this subject.
two words: "come on..."

I'm dissapointed in TLR, but he doesn't deserve to be fired. Everyone makes mistakes. I understand the DUI is a big mistake, but it's not worthy of a firing.

TimeForGuinness · Post by **TimeForGuinness** » March 22 07, 6:58 am

Hey, maybe people will start thinking he is a good ol' drinkin' boy like Whitey was.

On a more serious note, I am shocked! No good can come from this.

Maybe Oquendo will get his shot this season because I don't see how TLR will be able to show his face in St. Louis. People hated him before...

Mark my words, TLR will retire. Sad day.

AJ · Post by AJ » March 22 07, 6:58 am

Has he been convicted yet????

Wow the wheels of justice move fast in Florida.

If you must cast stones, at least wait until the man makes a plea......

If he does plead guilty, it's his first offense, I bet TLR will pay his fine, do his community service and never do it again.

Fan_In_NY · Post by **Fan_In_NY** » March 22 07, 6:59 am

stlmark wrote:
arnie.k wrote:
I_Bleed_Red wrote:For a guy who always talks about doing things the "Cardinal Way" and how we have mentioned before how great it is to have a team of clean cut guys on the team that don't get in trouble with the law and this to happen. This is not good.

I know I will get flamed for this, but I just lost respect for TLR. I wouldn't even mind him being fired over this. Flame away if you wish, but that is all I have to say on this subject.
two words: "come on..."
I'm dissapointed in TLR, but he doesn't deserve to be fired. Everyone makes mistakes. I understand the DUI is a big mistake, but it's not worthy of a firing.

He should take what the law throws at him, and what the press throws at him. I think that is plenty punishment, no need to fire him for it.

Fan_In_NY · Post by **Fan_In_NY** » March 22 07, 7:00 am

Was he drinking Busch products?

TimeForGuinness · Post by **TimeForGuinness** » March 22 07, 7:00 am

Fan_In_NY wrote:
stlmark wrote:
arnie.k wrote:
I_Bleed_Red wrote:For a guy who always talks about doing things the "Cardinal Way" and how we have mentioned before how great it is to have a team of clean cut guys on the team that don't get in trouble with the law and this to happen. This is not good.

I know I will get flamed for this, but I just lost respect for TLR. I wouldn't even mind him being fired over this. Flame away if you wish, but that is all I have to say on this subject.
two words: "come on..."
I'm dissapointed in TLR, but he doesn't deserve to be fired. Everyone makes mistakes. I understand the DUI is a big mistake, but it's not worthy of a firing.
He should take what the law throws at him, and what the press throws at him. I think that is plenty punishment, no need to fire him for it.

I don't think he'll be fired, but I do think he'll retire.

skmsw · Post by **skmsw** » March 22 07, 7:01 am

stlouie_lipp wrote:
BigDCardlvr wrote:
MDCardsFan wrote:Passed out in a running vehicle and he only blew a .093? That seems odd.
My thoughts as well.
Probably more tired than drunk. Still shouldn't be on the road. Bad news.

By the time they took his level -- at the station after he had been passed out, after he had been field tested, after he got in and was processed -- it was at least an hour after he'd got behind the wheel, probably 90 min to 2 hours. He was probably .125 or more when they found him . . .

BenNX74205 · Post by **BenNX74205** » March 22 07, 7:05 am

Update: the Post-Dispatch has a story up (I'm updating the OP as well):

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument

JUPITER, Fla. -– Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was jailed by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department early this morning on a charge of suspicion of driving under the influence, according to a police report obtained by the Post-Dispatch.

La Russa, 62, was booked at 4:07 a.m. local time after Jupiter police conducted the traffic stop.

The arrest potentially represents La Russa’s first offense, according to the report.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff placed the report on-line before most players had arrived at the team’s spring training complex. La Russa typically arrives at Roger Dean Stadium around 7 a.m.

A release from the Jupiter Police Department said the traffic stop had happened around midnight. The police report said he had been given a field sobriety test that showed La Russa’s blood alcohol level was 0.093. Florida law considers 0.080 driving under the influence. He gave two breath samples at Palm Beach County Jail before being booked.

The charge is a misdemeanor, and La Russa posted a $500 bond. But he was required to spend eight hours in custody before being released. He was expected to be released between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Florida time, Palm Beach County Sheriff spokesman Paul Miller said.

La Russa was found inside his stalled dark blue Escalade SUV at Frederick Small Blvd and Military Trail, about 15 miles from the stadium and less than a mile from the manager’s spring residence, the release from Jupiter police said.

La Russa was found asleep behind the wheel with his foot on the vehicle’s brake pedal. When an undercover officer told him to put the car in park, the Cardinals manager complied, according to a release.

A report filed by Jupiter police said that the Cardinals manager was breathing but that initial attempts to rouse La Russa by "repeated knocks on the window" on the driver’s side window had failed.

So he wasn't arrested for driving under the influence--he was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. First offense. Misdemeanor charge.

Mistake for sure; but not a fireable offense IMO.

haltz · Post by **haltz** » March 22 07, 7:06 am

skmsw wrote:By the time they took his level -- at the station after he had been passed out, after he had been field tested, after he got in and was processed -- it was at least an hour after he'd got behind the wheel, probably 90 min to 2 hours. He was probably .125 or more when they found him . . .

Depends on when he had his last drink, there is a reason that people blow higher in the station than immediately in the field. Or, I should say, there is a reason that they do it that way.