May 10, 2007

Ravens quarterback Steve McNair charged in DUI case : Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair was arrested early Thursday and charged with being the owner of a vehicle operated by a drunken driver.

read story | posted by BornIcon to Football at 12:18 PM CDT (45 comments total)

Idiot.

posted by TelamarketersBeware at 12:44 PM CDT on May 10

In Tennessee, do they provide all citizens with a portable breathalyzer? I'm sure there are some obvious cases of people who are ripshit drunk being allowed to drive, but with .08 being the legal limit in most states, sometimes it's hard to tell. I know quite a few people who, while legally drunk, will show no visible signs of intoxication, maybe ol' Big Daddy is one of them. It's even very possible that McNair himself had too much to drink and sincerely thought he was doing the right thing by having his friend drive him home.

Idiot.

I think you should reserve that judgement.

posted by tahoemoj at 12:55 PM CDT on May 10

I think we should stop making a big deal out of every black athlete that gets a DUI. Especially one where he isn't driving and the only genuine point of interest in any of it is an obscure and mystifying Tennessee law that says you can be arrested for owning a car that a drunk driver uses.

Seriously - do you guys actually read this crap and then use it as fodder for judgement? No? Then what's the point?

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 1:11 PM CDT on May 10

Wow! I was not aware of such a law.
Whats next, "Being a friend or family member of the owner of a vehicle
driven by a drunk driver @ .08????"

What ever it takes to get money.

posted by bo_fan at 1:16 PM CDT on May 10

It's still "all about the Benjamins."

posted by bavarianmotorworker at 1:38 PM CDT on May 10

Seriously - do you guys actually read this crap and then use it as fodder for judgement? No? Then what's the point?

I was wondering the same thing.

Wow! I was not aware of such a law.
Whats next, "Being a friend or family member of the owner of a vehicle
driven by a drunk driver @ .08????"

It seems that way, doesn't it?

I've never heard of this law either but I wouldn't call McNair an 'idiot' when all he did was get arrested for being the owner of the vehicle that someone else used while impaired. Wasn't a smart move but regardless, he wasn't the driver of the vehicle which is the most important thing to remember.

posted by BornIcon at 1:44 PM CDT on May 10

Gee. I guess that this will provide an opportunity for the NFL and the Ravans to show everyone that their intolerance for misbehavior extends to prize QB's as well as expendable players. I'm sure that the league and the Ravens will suspend McNair for a few games...YEAH RIGHT!

Actually, since he wasn't driving, he's probably in the clear by NFL/Raven's standards.

posted by Toad8572 at 1:45 PM CDT on May 10

How is he an idiot. He was drunk. Knew he couldn't drive, and the club owner says hey Steve let me drive you home, you were drinking alot. Sounds like a good move to me.

posted by Debo270 at 1:52 PM CDT on May 10

Wow, is this DUI thing out of control or what? I like how the writer points out that his friend is a nightclub owner called Big Daddy. McNair is a class act and I suspect he will be treated as such by the NFL/Ravens.

posted by Steel_Town at 2:02 PM CDT on May 10

Ok, he's an idiot for knowing he was too drunk to drive so he had someone else drive for him? It's the old saying, you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't. He tried to do the right thing by not getting behind the wheel because he knew he was drunk but because the person that suggested they drive so happened to be drunk as well, McNair is the idiot? How do we know that McNair knew this guy was drunk? We don't.

posted by BornIcon at 2:11 PM CDT on May 10

McNair is a class act and I suspect he will be treated as such by the NFL/Ravens

I agree. It seems that McNair is one of the people who actually learned from his prior DUI (which the author makes it a point to mention.) It doesn't mention if he was drinking, but it wouldn't be unwarranted to assume so. Then he found a friend to drive him home. I think it's pretty rough to hold someone trying to do the right thing accountable for his friends actions.

posted by tahoemoj at 2:14 PM CDT on May 10

I mean yeah, what BI said.

posted by tahoemoj at 2:14 PM CDT on May 10

Don't worry. This charge is tenuous at best, and Michael Vick is going to rip McNair from the headlines in 3..2..

posted by vito90 at 2:18 PM CDT on May 10

I am a lawyer in Tennessee, and yes, it is technically a violation of the laws against DUI to allow an obviously intoxicated person to operate your motor vehicle. It's based in part upon the legal theory that you are aiding and abetting the driver in committing the offense of DUI.

That being said, these type cases are pretty easy to shoot down. Most juries (and many judges) won't convict anyone of DUI unless they are physically behind the wheel in an impaired state.

McNair should be ok.

posted by jm_mosier at 2:23 PM CDT on May 10

McNair should be ok.

There you go guys. We have our resident Sports Filter attorney that knows more about this so-called 'law' than most of us would. Thanks for the info, mosier.

posted by BornIcon at 3:22 PM CDT on May 10

Strange that no one took the bait...OK...

So Weedy...why you gotta make it a black thing?

posted by True Blue at 3:52 PM CDT on May 10

posted by BornIcon at 4:06 PM CDT on May 10

Idiot.

The fact that you're sitting here calling McNair an idiot is, well, idiotic. I can guarantee you that there are times when I would be considered drunk (BAC over .08), but you wouldn't know by talking to me, watching me walk a straight line, etc.

So, if you were shitfaced and asked me to drive, and I drove, and I ended up with a .08, how does that make you an idiot?

If anybody's the idiot, it's McNair's unnamed buddy, who should have said, "Steve, dude, sorry, I can't drive either. We better call a cab."

posted by The_Black_Hand at 4:07 PM CDT on May 10

Not something you want to be dealing with going into next season.....

posted by dlopez916 at 4:51 PM CDT on May 10

If anybody's the idiot, it's McNair's unnamed buddy, who should have said, "Steve, dude, sorry, I can't drive either. We better call a cab."

Well said TBH. I don't think anyone could argue with that. I don't see how McNair can be held responsible for another ADULTS actions. If he was serving him the alcohol at his home, this could be a different story. In the context of this article, there is no way that McNair could have known how much the other guy actually drank and therefore could not make an informed decision to not let him behind the wheel.

posted by yay-yo at 5:16 PM CDT on May 10

This was a brilliant move if it wasnt for that stupid law. Who ever this guy is doesnt have as much to lose as Mcnair. Im sure Mcnair knew they were both drunk he just allowed his buddy to take the risk for him. It just so happens they both got charged.

posted by PGHTOS at 5:56 PM CDT on May 10

Who ever this guy is doesnt have as much to lose as Mcnair.

Huh? I won't even include the fact that both their lives are valuable to themselves and to their families...

So assuming they haven't killed themselves or anyone else, the "who ever this guy is" probably has more to lose as he probably can't afford to have someone drive him around when his license is revoked.

Im sure Mcnair knew they were both drunk he just allowed his buddy to take the risk for him.

Wha?

If one is impaired it means they can't make logical decisions. And how are you so "sure" about this, PGHTOS?

I... uhhh.... I can't even begin to comment on how stupid that whole statement was.

The_Black_Hand has it right.

posted by terrapin at 6:04 PM CDT on May 10

I think we should stop making a big deal out of every black athlete that gets a DUI

So Weedy...why you gotta make it a black thing?

Just cause I don't remember a post about Tony LaRussa's DUI, or Josh Hancock's DUI the week before his death, or Gustavo Chacin's DUI... That's why this shit is so weak.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 6:42 PM CDT on May 10

We should just have a monthly DUI thread. You know, just link to an article for every single athlete that recieved a DUI in the past month. It would be much better than going through this crap all the time.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 7:00 PM CDT on May 10

I... uhhh.... I can't even begin to comment on how stupid that whole statement was.

This is the main reason athletes and stars travel with an entourage, if they're going out to have a good time and the shit hits the fan one of their cronies takes the fall for them. Come on terrapin, this isnt breaking news. Forget the goody goody bull. This happens all the time, people trying to protect celebrity friends is no big deal!

posted by PGHTOS at 7:01 PM CDT on May 10

people trying to protect celebrity friends is no big deal!

Let's please keep in mind that we don't know if McNair was intoxicated or if he had even had one drink. A lot of the comments on this thread are assumptions. The only facts are that his friend was drunk and it was McNair's truck.

posted by yay-yo at 7:09 PM CDT on May 10

He was trying to be responsible and was to screwed up to pick a sober person...At least he tried, and at least he didn't drive himself.

posted by dlopez916 at 7:17 PM CDT on May 10

Let's please keep in mind that we don't know if McNair was intoxicated

I know when I hang out with my friends who are drinking, even though I dont drink, I would hand them the keys to my big expensive vehicle with no problem.

If you are with someone who is drinking and your not WHY WOULD YOU LET THEM DRIVE? yay you must be an Eagles fan!

posted by PGHTOS at 7:20 PM CDT on May 10

yay you must be an Eagles fan!

Check my bio. I was just re-stating the facts as they were presented in the article. We will never know if McNair was drinking, as they would have had no reason to test him due to the fact that he WASN'T DRIVING. Also, because of the nature of the charges it is irrelevant. Also, how expensive is a pick-up truck when you make McNair type of money? They guy could have had 2 beers and asked McNair if he could test drive the truck. You have no idea what happened and neither do I. All we have to go on is the article.

posted by yay-yo at 7:56 PM CDT on May 10

I'm not sure how the law reads in other states; but in Ohio it's called wrongful entrustment. If you knowingly give a person, who's driver license is invalid and or impaired, permission to use your vehicle the owner of the vehicle is responsible for whatever happens while the other individual is driving. (Insurance companies are a mutha) This allows insurance companies to recoop loses in the event of an accident if the driver dies or is just plan broke; they sue the owner of the vehicle.

posted by fourthreeforty at 8:58 PM CDT on May 10

Dude, has anybody checked the side bar stories in the link? Remind me never to drive through Georgia, Sheesh!

Actually, it doesn't sound much different from my "Disturbing the peace" arrest in Cecil County. Fuck you, Sgt. Joe Letz!

posted by MrFrisby at 9:47 PM CDT on May 10

Just cause I don't remember a post about Tony LaRussa's DUI, or Josh Hancock's DUI the week before his death, or Gustavo Chacin's DUI... That's why this shit is so weak.

Uhh, I don't know what to write. There must be a glitch in the matrix. I could have swore I was suppose to say that.

Weedy, How did you avoid getting scolded by those who would have pointed out to me that 1 thing has nothing to do with the other and that I was just bringing race into this for the sake of argument?

arrest in Cecil County

Cecil County...State?

posted by Bishop at 4:01 AM CDT on May 11

Im sure Mcnair knew they were both drunk

Just as I'm sure you had to be drunk before making that statement. We all know what happens when you start to assume things though, now don't we?

posted by BornIcon at 6:02 AM CDT on May 11

Cecil County...State?

You guessed it, that would be Mary's land. Apparently, skateboarding at 2:00 a.m. is a crime.

posted by MrFrisby at 6:19 AM CDT on May 11

Apparently, skateboarding at 2:00 a.m. is a crime.

The bastards!

posted by BornIcon at 6:49 AM CDT on May 11

Just imagine if a St Louis Cardnial pitcher had the sense to do what McNair did, maybe he would be alive today. Maybe not, but I would bet the chances he might be are much greater.
Kind of sucks when you try to do the right thing you still get screwed.

posted by gfinsf at 7:49 AM CDT on May 11

Mookie, you got kind of a funny idea about what Doing the Right Thing is.

posted by yerfatma at 8:30 AM CDT on May 11

If they let Steve get away with this, what will he do next - jaywalk?
C'mon and be serious, on the scale of crimes committed by professional athletes, I gotta put this one at the very low end of the scale. Much bigger fish to fry out there.

posted by 1959Giants at 8:13 PM CDT on May 11

I use to live in CC MD. Funny.

Skateboarding is crime, however you can marry your cousin.

Charles Barkley got married in Elkton (CC) MD.

posted by Bishop at 11:10 PM CDT on May 15

If I remember correctly, Ray Lewis' mother lives in Elkton.

The worst part about CC is that it is the only place where I have seen KKK members out in broad daylight, dressed in full costume, handing out literature.

posted by MrFrisby at 8:02 AM CDT on May 16

The worst part about CC is that it is the only place where I have seen KKK members out in broad daylight, dressed in full costume, handing out literature.

You are correct sir. In a little town called Rising Sun they still gather on the weekends handing out 'litter'-ature to the cars that stop at their only intersection.

Elkton is 50 minutes from Philly, 55 minutes from Baltimore, and 10 minutes from the KKK. Talk about conveniently inconvenient. You have no clue how many times I was stopped for "excessive weaving" while living in CC MD. It's very awkward hearing State Policemen yelling, "stop acting like a nigger" to eachother while working out at the local YMCA.

posted by Bishop at 7:32 PM CDT on May 16

You have no clue how many times I was stopped for "excessive weaving" while living in CC MD.

You say what?!? 'Excessive weaving?' Please explain what does that actually mean.

posted by BornIcon at 7:43 PM CDT on May 16

Driving While Black.

posted by yerfatma at 6:08 AM CDT on May 17

Got'cha!

posted by BornIcon at 9:26 AM CDT on May 17

Driving While Black.

Exactly.

Their definition= moving/drifting from 1 side of the lane to the other but not crossing the lines. Then after they run you for wants and warrants they say you can avoid tickets and points if you sign a consent to search. Then they say they are going to summon a k-9 unit just to gauge your reaction. Then after they don't find anything, they act like they get a call, tell you to have a nice day/night, then leave you to put everything back in your car, and that's if you're lucky. What happens if you're unlucky you ask?..........Don't ask.......

posted by Bishop at 12:41 AM CDT on May 19

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