Essential Reading re: DUIs vs. Steroids

"The media stoked the steroid story after years of ignoring it. But with famous drunk drivers all around us, where is the moral outrage for those convicted of driving under the influence? Where is the media witch hunt not accepting jurisprudence slaps on the wrist and castigating entire careers because of bad decisions that are potentially fatal to the perpetrator as well as innocent members of the public?

Jim Leyritz killed a woman in a drunk driving accident.This is worse than A-Rod testing positive."

There's much more...

almost 3 years ago hairball 23 comments 6 recs |

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This has always been my biggest pet peeve about the steroid thing – that there are a lot more important things to get worked up over.

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by irwin on Apr 11, 2009 10:32 AM PDT reply actions

Drunk driving is a societal problem, steroid use is (largely) a sports problem.

Frankly, yes, steroid use is a bigger story for sportwriters, writers who focus on sports, than DUIs. Drunk driving, though certainly important, is at best a peripheral issue in sports. Asking Sports writers to ignore steroids in favor of DUI’s is a bit like asking traffic cops to stop writing parking tickets and start investigating homicides: it’s certainly a more important task, but it’s just not their job.

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by Bhaakon on Apr 11, 2009 4:36 PM PDT reply actions

Exactly my thoughts.

Adoptive parent of Noah Lowry. Because he was awesome once, and, goddammit, he shall be awesome once again!

I hope.

by Cookyman on Apr 11, 2009 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Of course

You could say that we have a problem if more people care about steroids than about DUIs or other “real life” issues. I definitely think that it’s problem if those who should be focused on real life issues (like Congress) waste their time on steroids. But sports writers are paid to write about sports, and that’s what they should be doing.

Adoptive parent of Noah Lowry. Because he was awesome once, and, goddammit, he shall be awesome once again!

I hope.

by Cookyman on Apr 11, 2009 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Also

Drunk driving is not a new or developing story. Steroids are (relatively speaking).

You can’t expect journalists to keep investigating a topic that hasn’t really changed much in the last 50 years (or whatever, I’m not going to research it), but there seems to be a new twist on the steroid story every month.

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by Bhaakon on Apr 11, 2009 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Your argument makes sense, and I agree with you to a point. There’s no need for writers to write about DUI’s since it isn’t really a “new” thing whereas steroids is a news story in the present. That said, the post over at the Angel’s site makes the valid point that the issue is with the anger sportswriters give each of these – they’re ready to burn Barry at the stake and keep guys out of the HoF based on their lack of “character”, etc…but the point is it’s ridiculous to demonize steroids users to the degree the media does while a much worse offense that puts innocent people’s lives at risk (DUI’s) doesn’t invoke these same character clauses.

by Missing Barry on Apr 13, 2009 7:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Evil incarnate.

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by groug on Apr 11, 2009 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't know......

He could have picked a better target of comparison. Drunk drivers are the recipients of their fair share of moral outrage. Not absurd like with steroids, but drunk drivers are one of America’s primary villains.

by Stoned Slacker on Apr 12, 2009 7:12 PM PDT reply actions

I don't think so

not nearly enough anyways. You hear stories all the time about celebrities/sports stars getting DUIs and people don’t really seem to care.

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by Viliphied on Apr 12, 2009 8:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Because impaired drivers have become an accepted road risk.

Along with driving tired, inexperienced drivers, drivers rendered incompetent by old age, etc. etc. By not showing outrage, and not investing in a high-quality public transportation infrastructure, American society has given drunk drivers their tacit approval, despite the great shows put on by police on certain holidays.

In other words, the silent majority of American society has decided that a certain amount of drunk driving is acceptable, as proven by their continued silence.

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by Bhaakon on Apr 12, 2009 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions

People only care about drunk drivers when someone they care about gets killed

Primarily because most people have driven drunk / do drive drunk on a semi – regular basis.

It’s hard to get riled up about something you do yourself. The drunk driving laws in this state (and country) are all backasswards anyways. Saying that person A w/ a BAC of .07 is fine but person B w/ a BAC of .08 isn’t is almost as nonsensical as saying the guy who is coherent and doesn’t even feel buzzed @ .08 is guilty of the same crime as the dude who stumbles out of the car when pulled over and can’t even walk @ .12.

Trying to solve an issue with many shades of grey w/ a black and white approach never works well.

McC's Outstanding Newcomer '08.

by FairweatherFan on Apr 13, 2009 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree with Fairweather

If lawmakers and media commonly took steroids also, there would be far less outrage. Sounds like I’m joking, but I’m not.

Sir Alex Omar Hinshaw: It's not right if it's not left.

by The Enchanter on Apr 13, 2009 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Other than Arnold, you mean.

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by Natto on Apr 13, 2009 6:41 PM PDT up reply actions

He is coming day and night. It is wonderful.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Apr 13, 2009 8:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Bad image...

How do you know that?

Bruce Bochy would like you to look at the career numbers and stop complaining.

by cheno on Apr 14, 2009 5:39 PM PDT up reply actions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMjG2s6UOaw

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Apr 14, 2009 11:23 PM PDT up reply actions

I see I misquoted that slightly. Oh well.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Apr 14, 2009 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Wouldn’t those arms just get in the way?

Bruce Bochy would like you to look at the career numbers and stop complaining.

by cheno on Apr 15, 2009 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions

Trying to solve an issue with many shades of grey w/ a black and white approach never works well.

But it’s better than doing nothing. Drunk driving is a very serious problem, and there is really no better way to tackle it. Not everybody drives drunk… There is a simple way to avoid a DUI arrest: not doing it. The problem lies in the lack of responsibility and accountability these days.

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by Useful_Idiot on Apr 14, 2009 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Lack of accountablility?

DUI enforcement, and law enforcement in general, is more effective than ever (perhaps, in some respects, TOO effective). Americans today are forced to be accountable for their illegal actions more than any society in the history of mankind (ignoring arbitrary, despotic governments).

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by Bhaakon on Apr 14, 2009 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions