The Journal

Issue date: 3/29/07 Section: Opinion & Editorial

Patrick Devine

Last October, the St. Louis Cardinals achieved what every sports franchise strives for - a World Championship. For Tony La Russa, it was a moment that solidified his legacy as one of the greatest managers in Major League Baseball history. The championship gave the Cardinals and their fans memories they will never forget. Unfortunately, spring training left La Russa with one memory he hopes no one will ever remember.


Last week, La Russa was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. At 11:26 p.m. March 21, an officer with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department found La Russa slumped over in the driver's seat of his SUV. La Russa had passed out behind the wheel with the car still in drive and his foot on the brake pedal.


A police officer knocked on the window repeatedly. Finally, La Russa awoke and admitted to having two glasses of wine at dinner. He told the officer he was just tired. After failing a field sobriety test, La Russa was taken into custody and booked. His blood alcohol level was .093. In Florida a person is considered drunk if their blood alcohol level is above .08.


In an instant La Russa's hard work was wiped away. It doesn't matter that he brought the Cardinals their 10th World Championship. It doesn't matter that he led the Cardinals to the playoffs seven out of his 11 years as the manager. It doesn't matter that he silenced all of his critics that said he couldn't win. It doesn't matter that after 10 years he finally achieved the goal he set out to achieve when he came to St. Louis.


On March 21, La Russa wiped away all of his accomplishments. As his Ford Expedition sat in the middle of the intersection between Frederick Small Road and Military Trail, his accolades as the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, like his engine, were left idling away.


The bottom line is La Russa should have known better. This isn't a case where a young athlete did something stupid, and everyone says he just needs to grow up. La Russa is 62 years old.


La Russa is regarded by his peers as one of the game's best and brightest minds. In 1978, he graduated from Florida State University's school of law. He passed the bar exam in 1979. Ironically, as some Cubs fans have suggested, it's the last bar he did pass.


This is the same guy who won two American League Pennants as the manager of the Oakland A's and two National League Pennants with the Cardinals. He is the only manager in the history of baseball to win multiple pennants in both leagues. He also is the second manager in the history of the game to win the World Series in both leagues. He has the third highest win total among all managers. La Russa is Cooperstown bound.

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