St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa was found drunk and asleep behind the wheel of his SUV while idling at a stoplight last night in Jupiter, Florida. He was arrested with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.093, just above Florida's legal of 0.08. You can view the whole story over at ESPN, but here's my take on it.
First, I'm NOT defending driving drunk. Period. What LaRussa did was wrong, he knows it and he's publicly apologized for it. But let's not go batshit crazy with media frenzy over it.
Anyone who's read "Three Nights in August" knows that LaRussa, whenever he's away from home after a game, goes to a local restaurant, eats, has a glass of wine or two while pouring over the day's game. His BAC suggests he had somewhere between 3-4 drinks. I don't buy it. As the book details, LaRussa is a creature of habit and routine and a man who is deeply responsible for his actions. I don't see him getting sauced up after a spring training game and deciding to get behind the wheel. Something else happened.
I think there possibilities that could have happened to get that BAC. 1.) After a long day managing in the hot, Florida spring sun, just 2 drinks could have the same effect, especially if someone hasn't been eating that day. 2.) He wasn't feeling well and the glasses of wine really hit him. 3.) His body may not metabolize alcohol in a normal fashion and we have no idea over how many hours in which those drinks were consumed. The point is, we don't know and the BAC is so borderline that can't speculate with any certainty. (And if ANYONE can tell me that they haven't gotten looped on just 2 beers without haven eaten, then you're the one with the problem.)
Some posters over at ESPN are already calling for his suspension, his firing and even to force him into a rehab program. My guess is that there either Cub fans or just knee-jerk reactionaries. Well, BS to all of those calls. Let him go through the court process first. He's shown class in admitting his mistake. Show the same class and don't pass judgment on the man until he's had his day in court.
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Comments (1)
Ouch Tony. Although I bet ... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Todd Charske | April 10, 2007 8:28 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Ouch Tony. Although I bet we'd all be surprised to see how many people have had a DUI in their life?!?!?
- Todd Charske
1. Posted by Todd Charske | April 10, 2007 8:28 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 10, 2007 20:28