La Russa pleads to lesser charge, ends DUI case
White Sox manager Tony La Russa says he doesn’t have a drinking problem. He also says he has to prove that with his behavior.
The 76-year-old La Russa pleaded guilty Monday to a lesser charge to resolve misdemeanor drunken driving charges stemming from his arrest nearly 10 months ago on a freeway in metro Phoenix.
La Russa also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in Florida in 2007 after police found him asleep inside his running SUV at a stop light and smelling of alcohol. After the 2007 case was resolved, La Russa accepted responsibility and said it would never happen again.
La Russa’s Arizona arrest occurred Feb. 24, but the charges were filed Oct. 28 — one day before he was hired to manage the Chicago White Sox. He pleaded guilty to reckless driving in Maricopa County Justice Court and was sentenced to one day of home detention, a fine of nearly $1,400 and 20 hours of community service.
“I know I don’t have a drinking problem, just like I know I made a serious mistake in February,” La Russa said on a conference call with reporters, “and where I am right now is to prove that I don’t have a drinking problem and to prove it every day off the field that I’m going to handle it and what’s painfully clear to me is if I have a drink I will not drive. There’s always an alternative.”
Authorities say La Russa, who won a World Series with Oakland and two more with St. Louis, blew out a tire on the grey Lexus he was driving. The Hall of Fame manager smashed into a curb, leaving the vehicle smoking. Tests taken the night of his arrest showed his blood alcohol concentration was .095 — above the legal limit of .08.
La Russa said he feels “deep remorse and regret” about what happened. He underwent 20 hours of alcohol counseling after his arrest, which he described as “very helpful.”
“It’s impossible to explain how daily and deeply this gets at you and has bothered me for a long time,” he said. “Obviously I displayed bad judgment that night in February.” GIANTS ADD FORMER CARDINALS RELIEVER >> The Giants made an addition to their bullpen by signing former Cardinals reliever John Brebbia to a one-year, $800,000 contract.
Brebbia, a 30- year- old righthander, won’t be joining the team any time soon, though. He’s expected miss about half the season while he recovers from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in June.
Brebbia was a reliable part of the Cardinals’ bullpen for the past three seasons before being non-tendered by St. Louis earlier this month. In 175 innings with the Cardinals from 2017-19, Brebbia pitched to a 3.14 ERA/3.39 FIP while averaging 10.18 K/9 and 2.79 BB/9.
NHL
TEAMS COULD RAISE $15M THROUGH HELMET ADS >> National Hockey League teams could bring in a combined $15 million by placing sponsors’ ads on helmets in the 2020-21 season, TSN reported Monday.
The Canadian outlet said some higher-profile teams, such as the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs, could command as much as $1 million each, with other teams looking for smaller deals.
Sports Business Daily reported last week that the NHL likely would approve the ad placement for the season. The effort could help clubs recoup some of the money lost by limited or no attendance amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The NBA sells sponsorship patches on its jerseys. In March 2019, when the Oklahoma City Thunder became the final team to add a patch, ESPN said the other 29 teams were bringing in an estimated $150 million per season.
OILERS D KLEFBOM (SHOULDER) TO MISS 2020-21 SEASON >>
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Oscar Klefbom will miss the entire 2020-21 season due to a shoulder injury. General manager Ken Holland said Monday the team is hopeful the 27-year- old veteran will be healthy in time for the 2021-22 campaign.
Klefbom recorded 34 points (five goals, 29 assists) and set a career high in average ice time (25:25) in 62 games with the Oilers in 2019-20.
Soccer
STANFORD’S GIRMA VOTED YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR >> U. S. Under-20 women’s national team captain Naomi Girma has been voted the 2020 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year.
Girma, who played a major part in helping Stanford win the NCAA championship in 2019, was the leader of the U.S. defense during the 2020 CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship. She started six games during the World Cup qualifying tournament to help the USA earn a berth to the since-canceled 2020 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and win the regional title, defeating Mexico, 4-1 in the championship game.
STAR MIDFIELDER BECKERMAN RETIRING AFTER 21 MLS SEASONS >> Ninetime All- Star midfielder Kyle Beckerman retired after 21 seasons in MLS, the last 14 with Real Salt Lake. Regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in MLS history, the 38-year- old Beckerman retires as the league’s all-time leader in regularseason matches played (498), matches started (461) and minutes played (41,161).