LaRussa and Bernie Miklasz argument

I'm sure it is an accurately reported -- as told to the reporter -- but again, he is going way out on a limb and he better be right.

I had a similar thing happen to me -- regarding an accident and an eyewitness account of alcohol being used just prior -- and my editor told me in no uncertain terms -- absolutely not. He just wasn't ready to open us up to any lawsuits or controversy's unless we had a smoking gun.

I knew I had a good source (about three days later the police report became public and there was indeed alcohol involved) and I was a bit miffed at our lack of courage but I understood the decision and why it was made and didn't put up a very big fight about it either because of that.

 

Dave Campbell refutes the part of the story where Hancock allegedly told him he had been drinking and that's why he overslept and was late for the game the other day -- which means the whole story is turning into a mess.

Again, I really can't believe the P-D went this far out on a limb on the word of a couple of fans in a bar.

 

I would expect Campbell to refute it. It's his word against an unnamed source. If I were a betting man, I'd guess the story is pretty near accurate. I'd like to think the editors at the P-D have more than just an unnamed source's word on it. When the manager at the restaurant/bar says she offered to call Hancock a cab and then says to ask the police if he was drinking, that raises a red flag for me.

 

The exact quote from Soup is "I'm not that kind of journalist."

I wasn't aware he was any kind of journalist, but that's just me.

The fact that "Vince" knew who Campbell was, and who Hancock was, tells me he's probably a looserfanboy who stuck around listening to the entire conversation and watched their every move. Probably asked for the guy's autograph and would have tried to take a photo with his cell phone, if it were doable.


The manager at Shannon's is Pat Shannon, who is Cards broadcaster Mike's daughter, I believe.

There are so many different issues in the Post-Dispatch story today; really something.

LaRussa "warning" his players against media people who are "against them", with "their own agenda". Like anyone in St. Louis wants to deliberately defame a dead man, especially a Cardinal.

The closing of ranks is astonishing, although not unusual, I guess.

But it's really kind of pointless, isn't it? Especially given the earlier accident involving Hancock, and the time of that accident (some seven hours before the day game the next day). Who's driving sober at 5:30 a.m. in those circumstances, unless they're speeding to the hospital with their about-to-give-birth wife?

I realize that's all circumstancial; when the toxicology report comes back, and if what we all believe to have happened is confirmed, it will look even sillier for those who closed ranks.

I mean, if you're defending a habitual drunk driver who endangers hundreds of other people, who are you?

Be an interesting story as it plays out.

 

Another strange twist to the story.....

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2854743

 

When discussing La Russa, it's always helpful to remember that two of his best buddies and confidants n the big-time coaches club are Bill Parcells and Bob Knight.

Need we say anymore?

 

In all of this, I can't say how much I've been impressed by Miklasz lately. What an effin pro. First, he calls La Russa out on the bullshit about refusing to answer questions from the P-D, standing up to La Russa, looking him in the eye, and not backing down after La Russa tried to intimidate him. (Watch the Youtube video). And in the following days, his columns on the whole Hancock situation have been outstanding. Here are his last 2 columns, in chronological order.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/columnists.nsf/berniemiklasz/story/FC96FAEC647AEEC6862572CF00159ABF?OpenDocument

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/columnists.nsf/berniemiklasz/story/BF1A49D7030C434A862572D00014B26C?OpenDocument

Again, calling La Russa out on his bullshit and describing why the media is dealing with this situation the way it is better than I thought anyone could to the general public. Solid all around. I've always liked Miklasz, but his work lately puts him on a whole new level IMO. Especially since he brought up his own DUI arrest in the interest of full disclosure. What I said before. A pro's pro.

And this coming from me... a Cards fan...!

 

Always figured Vedder would be a Mariners guy . . .

 

Believe it or not, Vedder's actually a Cubs fan.

 

Agreed.

It was important that he brought up his own DUI. And it's important that he's saying what he's saying, because you know the P-D is taking a lot of crap from the see-no-evil, hear-no-evil Cardinal fans.

But, was I a little queasy seeing the quotes from the unnamed sources in the P-D stories? Yes. But at least they had some backup with the part about the restaurant manager wanting to call a cab for Hancock.