La Russa may have more experience in recognizing signs of trouble than he'd care to admit. Earlier this year, he had his own problems with drinking and driving, picking up a DUI arrest during spring training. He admitted to consuming "several glasses of wine" during the evening; his own Ford SUV was found parked at an intersection with him asleep at the wheel. The coincidences must have been striking to a man as astute as La Russa as he sat alone with his thoughts Sunday morning.
As La Russa pulled his team together Sunday, they rallied around the memory of the young man lost. Unfortunately, La Russa also pulled a trick from every sports manager's arsenal, blaming the media for exploiting the situation. It seems La Russa would rather not have such sordid details explored in the wake of a young man's passing. It's an understandable urge from a father figure, trying to prevent his death from making his life ignoble.
Still, the questions linger for La Russa past Sunday. Is he doing Josh Hancock's family and teammates a favor by sheltering them? Is he too close to the man and the problem to provide the message his players and fans need to hear? Did La Russa do enough to help a young man in similar straits as him? Was there anything that could have been done?
You make the call.
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Article comments
1 - T. Michael Testi
having careened his Ford Explorer off the back of the tow truck on the side of the road just after midnight Sunday.
The Ford explorer, it appears, was a rented vehical. His Explore was in the shop because he was in a crash 3 days before!
T.
2 - Leslie Bohn
This is a sad story indeed. It seems like, considering the circumstances, a slam dunk that when the bloood tests are released today, we're gonna find out the Hancock was under the influence of alcohol. They also found pot in his car. Amazing, stupid and sad that a man that earns $430,000 per year would repeatedly drive drunk when he could afford cabs. Thankfully, no one else was killed.
3 - Temple3
LaRussa wasn't parked. The car was stopped - but it was in gear and his foot was on the brake. He was not parked.