Josh Hancock-St Louis Cardinals/29 Year Old Pitcher

Shocking to hear all this.. I knew Josh's grandparents and sister before I moved. Great people and I hope only for the best for the rest of their lives.. It really makes you think about how much time you really have here.

Please use this as an opportunity to talk to your kids about the dangers of drunk driving. Based on the reporting I've heard this morning on the radio, it looks like that's what this incident seems to be turning into.

It also points out the dangers posed by the current generation of flat bed tow trucks.

There's a reason why most commercial truck trailers now have devices that keep cars from going under them if the truck is rear-ended.

No cause for the accident has been reported, no blood alcohol level has been reported. I think it's a bit early to label him with DUI.

It has been reported that he had dinner with friends at Shannon's, and that he "declined the offer of a cab". That may mean he had been drinking enough to be impaired. That may also mean that he had a drink or drinks with dinner and Shannon's is kicking in with the CYA because they could be liable IF it's determined that they 'overserved' a patron and allowed him to leave in his own car.

Considering that there were other team members at the restaurant, one might assume they'd take him home if he had been impaired.

Many things distract drivers on the road, all of which are also worth talking to your young drivers about:

It could have been that he spilled a drink (soda or coffee; the police reported that there were no alcohol containers in the car) and was cleaning that up.
It could have been that he was driving tired and fell asleep at the wheel.
It could have been that his radio station needed changing and wasn't looking at the road.
It could have been that he was on his cell phone and wasn't paying attention.
It could have been that that the driver of the wrecker was lying about his lights and the part about honking.
It could have been that he was swerving to miss another car that was about to ram into him.
It could have been that he was merely fiddling with dashboard controls and didn't have his eyes on the road.
It could have been that he was having a heart attack, stroke, or seizure.
It could have been that he was holding on a fastfood bag to keep his meal warm, and lost control after the food spilled.
It could have been that the car had a malfunction of some sort.
It could have been that he wasn't a good night driver, or might have had poor vision and depth perception.

The point is that it could have been a lot of things. To assume it was alcohol, without proof that would be available shortly, is premature.

quote:

No cause for the accident has been reported, no blood alcohol level has been reported. I think it's a bit early to label him with DUI.

I agree.

Assumption or talk is not truth.
It is gossip.

My prayers go out to Josh Hancock's family, friends, and everyone affected by this loss.

I'll also agree with Orlando and SSM. Just as in the Va Tech tragedy, now is a time for grieving and compassion. The time for making examples or correcting wrongs comes after all the facts are in, and certainly after the family and friends have buried their beloved.
Prayers for all in the Hancock family, and all in Josh's baseball family too.

condolences to family & friends on Josh's death


in our area there has been a rash of incidents involving "un-impaired" drivers running into emergengy vehicles for no apparent reason, several in clear dry daylight conditions.

Very, very sad situation. It is now being reported that he was inebriated (twice the alcohol level allowed in Missouri), plus pot and a pipe were in the car and he was talking on the cell phone to someone as the crash occurred (having left one bar and making arrangements to meet at another).

Apparently he was also in a major collision just a few weeks ago.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6775024?MSNHPHMA

They provide alcohol to players after the games?

Is this normal for all teams?

Wow, they need to get their house in order!

Tragic and senseless loss. My heart breaks.

i agree frank, senseless indeed. my heart goes out to the family for a loss of a son and brother.

quote:

Originally posted by FrankF:
Tragic and senseless loss. My heart breaks.

Nothing more to say.


Except I hope that this tragic and senseless death serves as a lesson to all of us....and our children take note of what is being reported as the cause of the accident.

TigerPawMom- just to answer your question, most every major league clubhouse has enough beer on hand to float a battle ship (typically not other liquor).

So they are providing this to players and, unfortunately, in general I think throughout all of professional sports a little "partying" is accepted if not expected and eyes of management routinely look the other way.

Unbelievable that someone would waste the chance that millions strive for but yet so few achieve. My prayers still go out to his family.

Josh Hancock out of Control

This is so very sad.

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:
Wow, they need to get their house in order!

The Brewers today said they were going to re-visit the "beer in the clubhouse" rule. The clubhouse is a place a group of athletes congrugate to kick back and talk their trade after a game. Hancock was at a bar and going to another. Bottom line these are grown men who have made sacrifices and decisions all their life and do not deserve to be treated like children. I feel this is a PC knee jerk action to the unfortunate incident in St Louis and I would not want rules like these in my work place.

rz,
I agree, they are grown men. But when grown men do childish things that can KILL others, their grown up priveledges need to be addressed. Driving drunk is irresponsible and way past being macho. These are grown men who are supposed to be setting examples for baseball's future. This is not the first incident we've heard about nor will it be the last.
Dontrelle Willis gets a DUI, getting out of his car taking a leak in the street, LaRussa gets a DUI at 3-4 am in the morning passed out at the wheel of his car. Hancock kills himself slamming into a parked tow truck. There are obviously problems out there.

Do they serve beer after your workday at your job? Does your boss allow that? Are there seperate standards for those that make millions of dollars?

BTW, what ever happened to calling a cab?

Drinking should be illegal everywhere and for everyone with that line of thought because everyone should be responsible and your income and/or status should not be factored in.

Macho and drunk driving is not related. That is a bit of a sexist statement. Satistically I'll be that more women and non-macho people are also arrested for DUI than your "macho" drinker.

No, they don't serve beer at my workplace but they do have work sponsored outings where drinking is does happen. There's thousands of people drinking in stadiums every game and you want to quash the guys who work during that time from putting up their feet and having a cold one after work.

quote:

Dontrelle Willis gets a DUI, getting out of his car taking a leak in the street

I think a package of Depends should have been part of Willis emergency driving kit

I am pretty liberal in my thinking. Regarding your statment, as far as I am concerned, they can stop serving alcohol at all sporting events as far as I am concerned.

I make it my business if I have had a bit too much to drink, someone else who hasn't drives. Because not only can I hurt myself, but others as well. I expect the same from others, especially those that we view as "priveledged individual".

Everyday on the news (down here) some football player, basketball player or baseball player is caught DUI. I don't care where they were drinking.

That sends a message to our youngsters, if they can do it, so can I.

As I said, they don't serve alcohol to you after your workday is done, why should MLB do it?
JMO.

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:
I am pretty liberal in my thinking. Regarding your statment, as far as I am concerned, they can stop serving alcohol at all sporting events as far as I am concerned.
Why stop at sporting events, why not weddings, picnics, and family reunions?

I make it my business if I have had a bit too much to drink, someone else who hasn't drives. Because not only can I hurt myself, but others as well. I expect the same from others, especially those that we view as "priveledged individual".
I don't care if it's an athlete, politician, trash collector, or a Tiger Paw Mom , everyone should be held responsible in the same eye.

Everyday on the news (down here) some football player, basketball player or baseball player is caught DUI. I don't care where they were drinking.
That sends a message to our youngsters, if they can do it, so can I.
If I have to have someone telling me that I need to be responsible than I'm an idiot to begin with. Part of being a professional in any field, not just athletics, is understanding what the rules are and how you are expected to behave. I don't think that you can sterotype a group (athletes) because of the actions of a few. You read about them because they are in the spotlight, but the ones you should worry about are those that "wet their whistle" on a daily basis and don't get the ink. The large majority of athletes do more positive "message sending" than the rest of society as a whole.

As I said, they don't serve alcohol to you after your workday is done, why should MLB do it?
They do on occasion at my work. When we finish projects, or other special occasions. As far as locker room brews the players could step outside the door and have one at the refreshment stand. If I was a team owner I think I would rather have my players have one after the game in the clubhouse rather than going to a bar as there is more peer pressure in the locker room
.

Some very interesting comments by Tony LaRussa at the press conference today... He said ironically IN GENERAL, the athletes today are more careful about their bodies, eat less red meat, drink Perrier, and that players today get a shower and are gone after a game. He said he missed the old days where they kicked back had a beer and talked about the game, that it is not done today. I think the conference is available on KMOX.com. KMOX has made a PSA that weaves the breaking news announcements from the past week, and ends with Jockety saying If you drink- don't drive. Very powerful. I have asked KMOX to make it available.

rz,
This is stupid, I made a comment,it was my opinion, and made a vow a while ago not to get into a p***ing match with you anymore, but I fell into it.

Bottom line, don't get stoned drink and drive and put others in harm's way.

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:
I agree, they are grown men. But when grown men do childish things

Many of these players are given an awful lot of money at a very early age, before they're really mature enough to handle the fame and fortune. Look at Jeff Alison and Josh Hamilton for a couple. I don't know what the answer is, but even a young player who never got the big signing bonus and is making the league minimum is still making an awful lot of money. Does the league or the union have advisor/counseling services in place to help kids deal with this whirlwind they've been thrown into?

There is no answer. Banning alcohol never stopped people from drinking. Just like banning handguns will not stop crime. People have to be responsible and accountable for their actions.

When I used to arrest drunk drivers, some of them would say "I guess you never drink" I told them that I drink every now and then and sometimes too much. I just don't drive. Too simple?

There is a rule in our family that if I have ONE beer, I do not drive. If I did not make previous plans for a ride home, I do not have that beer. Can't get in trouble that way. If you try to have two or three (which may be safe) then your judgement starts to get impaired and you get stupid.

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:
rz,
This is stupid, I made a comment,it was my opinion, and made a vow a while ago not to get into a p***ing match with you anymore, but I fell into it.
Bottom line, don't get stoned drink and drive and put others in harm's way.

tpm,
It's not stupid, it's a discussion board where opinions are shared, and discussed . If opinions were not allowed the reply button would not be available. This is a good topic, where geographic, gender, professional, and idelogical beliefs form our opinions. We are all in agreement on the bottom line, it's the "grey area" in the middle that stimulates discussion.