|
« Previous |
Ain't too proud to blog
| mail it
| Next »
Posted: 04.29.2002 Do not pass Go. Go directly to Jail.
Well all I have to say is it's about damned time. It was not a comforting thought knowing we were driving on the same city streets as this man (since they never could seem to actually KEEP him under house arrest or in treatment programs). I'm all for second chances -- but some people just don't want to change -- or are so far gone down the spiral that they can't. Toss in a little "but I'm a celebrity and the rules don't apply to me" in the mix, and well, I don't feel the judge had any other recourse but to send him to prison for awhile.
Buh-bye Darryl, and good luck. Don't drop the soap.  A-MEN! One of the reasons I hate the Yankees is that they actually stood behind this guy for the longest time, even after his umpteenth arrest. I mean, he's gotten booted off at least four other teams that I know of for his substance abuse problem. But the Yankees kept him on, feeling sorry for him because *he has a family*. Well, I feel sorry for his family, too, but if this guy cared so much about them, would he really be out there doing drugs, picking up hookers, etc.? He brought all of this on himself, and the last thing he needs is to be coddled by the team, or by anyone else. But what got me was a few years ago, when he was diagnosed with cancer, he refused to take his medications...yet that didn't stop him from snorting it up! Finally, Major League Baseball stepped in and banned him from the game for a year...it should have been a lifetime ban and they should have done it sooner. Mark my words...old Darryl is going to die of an overdose before the cancr gets him. He's had a million chances to be helped, but he's obviously not interested. ¤ ¤ credit: Christine M. | 04.29.02 at 06:08 PM | link- -this ¤ ¤ On the bright side, the Zephyrhills Correctional Institution softball team just got a great new rightfielder. ¤ ¤ credit: mg | 04.29.02 at 06:56 PM | link--this ¤ ¤I'm not in favor of celebrities receiving special treatment in legal matters but... I managed a halfway house for parolees with substance abuse problems, and prison will not end his addiction. Putting people behind bars for addictive behavior, especially the same behavior that our President practiced for some time without legal consequences, is a waste of taxpayer funds. I'm not in favor of substance abuse, but making addicts criminals just creates more problems for society. Okay, I'm step off my soapbox. ¤ ¤ credit: wKen | 04.29.02 at 08:27 PM | link--this ¤ ¤[hops up on soapbox] wKen, I used to work as counseling staff in a mental health day treatment program -- and several of my clients were drug abusers. My own sister has been a drug user as well. While I wholeheartedly agree that prison will not end his addiction, I also counter that for my own personal safety, it is where he belongs at this time. He is not willing to stick with any treatment program -- be it through in-office care, house arrest visits, in-patient, etc. He has violated his parole six times in 2 years. He has driven drunk and under the influence of cocaine on my city streets. There comes a time when I cease to want to protect him from himself...and care more about protecting my "innocent civilian" life (and those of any child or adult in his path). If he had shown one iota of willingness to change, been serious about his treatment, or even shown true, genuine appreciation for the chances he'd been given -- well then my attitude may have been different. But would you really want your child out driving on the same streets he is? The last hit-and-run he was involved in here in Tampa, he didn't even remember that he had been driving. My position, using a baseball metaphor, is three strikes and you're out (of society)...he had six. [/steps back down] ¤ ¤ credit: robyn | 04.29.02 at 09:02 PM | link--this ¤ ¤Gives new meaning to the song "Back that Ass Up" [p.s. I love reading your blog] ¤ ¤ credit: Trish | 04.30.02 at 12:22 AM | link--this ¤ ¤Here is my very "sporting" goodbye.... sha na naa na -this ¤ ¤[Rebutal] 'Driving under the influence' laws should be strictly enforced. I'm strongly in favor of punishment for something which is harmful to other people. D.S. shouldn't be allowed to drive anymore period, and probably should still be in jail for past DUI/DWI arrests. I just think it is unrealistic to believe someone with a serious addiction, as well as the money and connections to feed it, will change their behavior because of prison. Put him away for DUI/DWI, or beating women, or any other harmful act, but if you are going to lock him up for using drugs you should just leave him locked up. Addiction (by itself) is not criminal behavior, even if the government makes it a crime. So (changing subject), are you going to show what type of clothes you actually bought? It's Supermodel time, and you better work it girl! ¤ ¤ credit: wKen | 04.30.02 at 12:58 AM | link--this ¤ ¤[Counterpoint's counterpoint] I guess I'm just not seeing it so much as the need for a rehabilitation thing as far as he's concerned (as he's had every opportunity under the sun that literally any amount of money could buy) -- as it is a protection thing for the rest of society at this point in time. He has proven time and time again through various arrests, escapes from treatment facilities and parole violations (again six in two years time) that at this time he is not capable of functioning as a "normal" member of society. Treatment facilities have been tried. Hospitalization has been tried. House arrest has been tried. He has thumbed his nose at all of it and makes his own rules. At that point, in my opinion, the cost to the general public far outweighs any need he may have for medical and psychological care. I'm a hardass that way. I've had two cousins hit by a drunk driver which has left them both with lifetime consequences, and I never want to see another family go through that ever again. I'm not seeing the addiction as the crime needing punishment in this instance. I'm seeing multiple parole violations and repeat offenses with a deadly weapon (automobile) -- and either we change the laws, or prosecute and punish/convict those who violate the ones currently on the books as was done in this case. It's as simple as that. Otherwise, why have laws and punishments for breaking them? They're not trying to help his addiction at this point -- they're handing down a punishment because he was warned before his last treatment sentence that they wanted to send him to jail, but were giving him one more shot. He blew it. They didn't take the treatment program option away from him. He took it away from himself. So I don't see this as jailing him for using drugs. I see it as jailing him for breaking the law (driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident. soliciting prostitution, buying illegal drugs, etc.) -- and also for breaking every treatment program and house arrest rule ever handed down to him. 'Nuff of that though...phew! Clothes weren't too exciting -- just two pair of "beach pant" khakis from Lerner New York, a sweater t-shirt from Gap, and 3 tees from Banana Republic. But for me, that like doubled my wardrobe or something. ;-) ¤ ¤ credit: robyn | 04.30.02 at 01:20 AM | link--this ¤ ¤I just miss being at Pirates games when I was a kid and yelling DDDDDAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYLLLLLLL over and over with the rest of the crowd back when he wasn't a screw up :) ¤ ¤ credit: jesse | 04.30.02 at 09:42 AM | link--this ¤ ¤It's always a sad situation to see somebody fall from grace because of a drug or alcohol addiction. ¤ ¤ credit: arizona dui law | 12.04.03 at 05:04 PM | link--this ¤ ¤
URLs that have pinged me for this entry:
All old ping links have been removed from this blog. Die spammers, die!
Psssssst...pass it on!
|
