PJADD (Pompous Journalists Against Drunk Drivers)
I was reading the St. Louis Post Dispatch today... now granted, this newspaper does suck quite a bit, but I was reading a column that annoyed me. I'll wait while you read...
The link to the article is: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/
columnists.nsf/billmcclellan/story/F737FE93C6534DE0862572C
F000E9174?OpenDocument
Ok, now that you have read this sad mistake for a journal article, let the rant begin. The very eloquent Bill Mclellan (sense the tone) claims that if St. Louis would tell the truth about Josh Hancock's death, then the world would be a much better place, yadda yadda yadda, etc etc etc. First of all, I would like to start by saying: "Bill, you don't know that alcohol was involved... Were you there? Didn't think so". Now, I will admit that there is a distinct possibility that Hancock was so drunk he couldn’t find his ass, however, the toxicology report isn't back, so don't point your finger!
Second, Mclellan states that La Russa is treating Hancock's death as a sweet tragedy. Well of course he is! It was one of his players; one of his men. If your mom (or even a close friend of yours... I just like to say "your mom") was killed because he/she was completely bombed you would still think sweetly of your mom or your friend. Um, I’m thinking yes. Granted, you would probably be pissed that he/she had done something so stupid, but you would still want to remember said person in a non-hostile manner. And by the way, Bill, I would like to see you manage a baseball team if you think it would be easier than managing a newspaper (the post dispatch especially). Unless you've done both, keep your mouth shut.
"A cultural anthropologist would not say the same about Hancock's death. He played in a stadium named after a beer, and he played for a manager who recently was arrested and charged with driving under the influence — and who then received a standing ovation at a Florida ballpark the next morning." (Quoted from Mclellan's column)
Ok...let me get this straight... are you saying, Bill, that if I lived on a street call Lager Lane, and my mom has a DWI, then I must have been in an accident due to my drinking?
Next, I would like to add Mclellan's story is a little contradictory. In the other cases of athlete vs. alcohol that he so readily mentions... the truth was told about those instances and nothing changed. We know that alcohol was involved when those other players (for St. Louis teams, ironically, because they are the only ones who drink and drive) killed people due to their stupidity in drinking and driving. The public was fully aware of the details... and what came of it? Nothing. So telling your readers that telling the so-called "truth" about Josh Hancock's death will prevent others from doing it.... I'm sorry but you are sadly mistaken. It is a nice story... in theory... but you and I both know it's not true. As sad as it is (and I am by no means condoning the behavior) people will always drink and drive. You just have to try to encourage your friends against it and do what you can for yourself. There will always be those few that just know that they are ok to drive. The only line in this godforsaken column that I actually agree with is that if a bartender suggests a cab, then you probably need one.
Finally, Bill states that Darryl Kile's death was unforeseen and unavoidable. In my opinion, when it's your time, it's your time. And there is nothing that can be done to stop it. When God decides that it's your time to be with him, then your time on earth is through... even if that means stepping on a tiny little bee in which you have an allergic reaction which causes you to fall 700 feet into a hole with fiery magma at the bottom. Unforeseen... and unavoidable.
The link to the article is: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/
columnists.nsf/billmcclellan/story/F737FE93C6534DE0862572C
F000E9174?OpenDocument
Ok, now that you have read this sad mistake for a journal article, let the rant begin. The very eloquent Bill Mclellan (sense the tone) claims that if St. Louis would tell the truth about Josh Hancock's death, then the world would be a much better place, yadda yadda yadda, etc etc etc. First of all, I would like to start by saying: "Bill, you don't know that alcohol was involved... Were you there? Didn't think so". Now, I will admit that there is a distinct possibility that Hancock was so drunk he couldn’t find his ass, however, the toxicology report isn't back, so don't point your finger!
Second, Mclellan states that La Russa is treating Hancock's death as a sweet tragedy. Well of course he is! It was one of his players; one of his men. If your mom (or even a close friend of yours... I just like to say "your mom") was killed because he/she was completely bombed you would still think sweetly of your mom or your friend. Um, I’m thinking yes. Granted, you would probably be pissed that he/she had done something so stupid, but you would still want to remember said person in a non-hostile manner. And by the way, Bill, I would like to see you manage a baseball team if you think it would be easier than managing a newspaper (the post dispatch especially). Unless you've done both, keep your mouth shut.
"A cultural anthropologist would not say the same about Hancock's death. He played in a stadium named after a beer, and he played for a manager who recently was arrested and charged with driving under the influence — and who then received a standing ovation at a Florida ballpark the next morning." (Quoted from Mclellan's column)
Ok...let me get this straight... are you saying, Bill, that if I lived on a street call Lager Lane, and my mom has a DWI, then I must have been in an accident due to my drinking?
Next, I would like to add Mclellan's story is a little contradictory. In the other cases of athlete vs. alcohol that he so readily mentions... the truth was told about those instances and nothing changed. We know that alcohol was involved when those other players (for St. Louis teams, ironically, because they are the only ones who drink and drive) killed people due to their stupidity in drinking and driving. The public was fully aware of the details... and what came of it? Nothing. So telling your readers that telling the so-called "truth" about Josh Hancock's death will prevent others from doing it.... I'm sorry but you are sadly mistaken. It is a nice story... in theory... but you and I both know it's not true. As sad as it is (and I am by no means condoning the behavior) people will always drink and drive. You just have to try to encourage your friends against it and do what you can for yourself. There will always be those few that just know that they are ok to drive. The only line in this godforsaken column that I actually agree with is that if a bartender suggests a cab, then you probably need one.
Finally, Bill states that Darryl Kile's death was unforeseen and unavoidable. In my opinion, when it's your time, it's your time. And there is nothing that can be done to stop it. When God decides that it's your time to be with him, then your time on earth is through... even if that means stepping on a tiny little bee in which you have an allergic reaction which causes you to fall 700 feet into a hole with fiery magma at the bottom. Unforeseen... and unavoidable.
posted by Maria at 12:56 PM
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