(670 The Score) White Sox manager Tony La Russa will have to pay a $1,300 fine, perform 20 hours of community service and serve one day of home detention after a judge Monday approved the reduced charge of reckless driving following La Russa’s arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence in the Phoenix area in February, La Russa’s attorney said.
The reason La Russa, 76, had his charge reduced from DUI was because he was over the legal threshold by a “small amount,” attorney Larry Kazan said. In the incident, La Russa crashed his vehicle against a curb and was found to have a .095 blood alcohol concentration, according to a police report. The legal limit is .08.
“Mr. La Russa knows he made a mistake last February and deeply regrets it,” Kazan said in a statement. “He is embarrassed and concerned. He knows what he did was wrong. The charge was reduced because Mr. La Russa was found to be over the legal threshold by a small amount. Nevertheless, Mr. La Russa understands that any amount over the limit is too much. My client has accepted his sentence.”
After a delay in part due to COVID-19, the charge was formally filed on Oct. 28, a day before the White Sox announced the hiring of La Russa. La Russa pled guilty to a DUI charge back in 2007 as well.
La Russa is the third-winningest manager in MLB history, who retired from coaches after guiding the St. Louis Cardinals a World Series title in 2011. He has since worked for Major League Baseball, the Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels. Most recently, he was a senior advisor for baseball operations with the Angels.
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