Sox sticking with La Russa
The Chicago White Sox are sticking with new manager Tony La Russa for now, saying they understand the “seriousness” of his latest drunken driving case and will have more to say once it plays out in court.
“Tony deserves all the assumptions and protections granted to everyone in a court of law, especially while this is a pending matter,” the team said Thursday in a statement. “Once his case reaches resolution in the courts, we will have more to say. The White Sox understand the seriousness of these charges.”
La Russa, a Hall of Fame manager who won a World
Series with Oakland and two more with St. Louis, blew out a tire on the grey Lexus he was driving in a collision with a curb that left the vehicle smoking when he was arrested on misdemeanour DUI charges in February, according to an affidavit filed by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
The case was filed on Oct. 28 — one day before his hiring — after tests taken the night of his arrest showed his blood alcohol concentration was .095, above the legal limit of .08. He has pleaded not guilty.
The White Sox were aware of the case when they hired him. They initially declined comment Monday, saying it was “an active case.”
La Russa pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in Florida in 2007 after police found him asleep inside his running sport utility vehicle at a stop light and smelling of alcohol.
La Russa was hired by Chicago in a surprise move after Rick Renteria was let go.