JUPITER, Fla. -- Calling his arrest on a driving-under-the-influence charge an
"embarrassment," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa this afternoon apologized to
"anyone who is close to me, members of the Cardinals organization, our fans."
"I regret it, I take responsibility," La Russa said in a press conference after
the Cardinals' exhibition game today. "And I’m not sure there is anything else
I can say."
La Russa said that "what seems to make sense to me is that a person's goal
(should be) for everyone who is close to them and the organization that they're
a part of to feel good about them personally and professionally. That's been my
goal as long as I can remember and the last 11-plus years with the Cardinals.
"Last night's situation is the opposite of feeling good. It was an
embarrassment."
He added later when asked about the rousing reception fans gave him at today's
game: "I guess that’s because over the years you’ve done things to (earn it)
and you don’t want to have it go in the other direction. That’s a couple steps
(backward) last night."
La Russa was jailed by the Palm Beach County sheriff’s department early
Thursday morning on charges of suspicion of driving under the influence,
according to a police report.
La Russa, 62, was booked at 4:07 a.m. after Jupiter police conducted a traffic
stop about 1½ miles from the team’s spring training headquarters and only
blocks from the manager’s rental home.
After posting a $500 bond, La Russa arrived at Roger Dean Stadium shortly after
9 a.m., spoke with club officials, then declined to answer questions related
to his arrest.
“If you have baseball questions, I’ll talk about that. I don’t have anything to
say about anything else,” said La Russa.
The arrest potentially represents La Russa’s first offense, according to the
report.
The manager was in uniform and attended the team’s morning stretch. Shortly
afterward he returned to his office, then walked through a line of reporters.
La Russa again refused to answer questions.
Cardinals director of media relations Brian Bartow met with La Russa and
general manager Walt Jocketty shortly before the Cardinals issued a statement
at 9:27 a.m. CDT:
"The St. Louis Cardinals and Major League Baseball have been made aware of the
announcement made by the Jupiter, Fla., Police Department regarding manager
Tony La Russa and we take these matters very seriously.
"The Cardinals organization remains supportive of Tony and we understand that
he has enlisted representation to advise him through any pending legal process.
"The Cardinals apologize for any embarrassment and/or distraction this reported
occurrence has created towards the team and its loyal fans."
LaRussa Apologizes. Enough For Me. Play Ball!
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Joe Shlabotnik
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cabby7588
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Redbirdruss
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Nice apology Drunky Drunkenstein (the manager formerly known as LaRussa)!
Now Play Ball!
Now Play Ball!
Last edited by Redbirdruss on March 23 07, 7:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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clement
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Understandable. But this isn't just a personal matter, it's also a legal issue. I'm sure what he says takes into account what his lawyer tells him he should or should not say (or what he tells himself, since he's a lawyer).StL Dan wrote:I wish he would've just come out and said what he did was wrong.
Nevertheless, he admitted it caused embarrassment for the fans, and he wants to move on.
PLAY BALL