The Chicago White Sox' decision to hire Tony La Russa raised a lot of eyebrows throughout the MLB community and has been met with some skepticism. However, the latest news regarding the 76-year-old Hall of Famer makes the hire more questionable still.
According to Jeff Passan and Paula Lavigne of ESPN, court records show that La Russa was charged with driving under the influence on October 28, 2020, a day before he was officially brought on board as part of the White Sox coaching staff. The charge came after a February incident in which he allegedly crashed his car into a curb near Phoenix, Arizona, leaving his car smoking as a result.
The report details that an officer found La Russa standing outside his car, smelling of alcohol. He took a field sobriety test before being taken into custody, his behavior marked as "argumentative" throughout the process according to the officer's affidavit. His blood alcohol content registered above .08 percent, which is high enough to be considered a misdemeanor, a charge that can leave La Russa with a 10-day jail sentence. What's more likely, according to DUI criminal defense attorney Michael Munoz, is a one-day sentence in jail, a fine and an ignition interlock device for an extended period of time.
In an attempt to question La Russa over the phone, ESPN was left with the brief response of, "I have nothing to say" before the veteran skipper hung up. The White Sox, on the other hand, said that they were aware of the charge but could not comment further due to the active nature of the case.
It's not the first time La Russa has been charged with DUI, as he was infamously found asleep in his car in a 2007 incident near the Cardinals' Florida spring training facility. His BAC was .093 percent, above the .08 percent that acts as the state's legal limit.
"Last night's situation is the opposite of feeling good," La Russa said after a 2007 spring training game following the incident. "It was an embarrassment, so I apologize to anyone who is close to me, members of the Cardinals organization, our fans. I regret it, take responsibility and I'm not sure there is anything else I can say."
A second statement that came on the day of his guilty plea added on that he "learned a very valuable lesson and that this will never happen again."
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