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Published - Friday, May 11, 2007

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OUR VIEW: Banning clubhouse beer makes sense for Major League Baseball


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Thumbs up to the St. Louis Cardinals and other Major League Baseball teams that have removed beer and liquor from their at-home clubhouses.

The Cardinals made the largely symbolic move after pitcher Josh Hancock was killed in a car accident after a game and an evening of drinking.
Hancock spent more than three hours drinking at a downtown St. Louis restaurant and then refused a taxi offered by the restaurant owner.

His vehicle hit a tow truck while he was on his way to a suburban restaurant to meet other teammates. Police said his blood-alcohol level was 0.157 percent, nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08.

Although Hancock didn’t drink in the clubhouse, there is still good reason to eliminate alcohol after home games, since most players drive their own vehicles home. The new policy won’t affect the availability of alcohol in visiting clubhouses, when players would not be driving.

Cardinals president explained the new policy this way: “I think it will serve as a reminder. They will know why there is not beer. It reminds them of what can happen if you exercise very poor judgment.”

Other teams, including the Chicago Cubs and the Washington Nationals, have gotten rid of beer in the home clubhouse.

It’s a good move.
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Silly reasoning wrote on May 13, 2007 11:01 PM:

" How about 'WE' ban the players from driving too? This would have greater effect on stopping them from driving drunk than banning alcohol from the clubhouse! Make them all take limos! Wise up opinion page editors! "

To: The Cardinals wrote on May 12, 2007 2:04 PM:

" Amen, bro. St. Louis is Beer Town USA. But you're right in saying they can handle their booze because they know they CAN'T get all liquored up. Unlike La Crosse, there's too many other things going on there-crime, traffic, etc. that you have to be on the lookout for at all times. (Welcome to the real world.) And if you're drinking downtown at the stadium (like I was at Opening Day last month), there's always the option of spending a whole $2 and taking the tram back to your hotel. I wasn't surprised to hear about this move by the Cards. Hancock made a stupid decision and it cost him his life, but he has been made an example of for the rest of MLB. Go Birds. "

Apparently the Pot wrote on May 12, 2007 4:10 AM:

" had nothing to do with it! So let's let them smoke weed in the Club House! "

Reality wrote on May 12, 2007 2:16 AM:

" Does anyone think ANY baseball team will suspend their star players for bringing in a bottle to the clubhouse? Do you think they will fine this multi-millionaire legal drinking age player for a sixpack? Will the team trade him away because he brought champagne in the clubhouse or lockerroom? FORGET IT and the Tribune's editors should mind their own business and forget about making judgments and pontificating about their alcohol bias! "

No one's business?? wrote on May 11, 2007 9:25 PM:

" When someone drinks too much and gets behind the wheel of his car, it is EVERYone's business! And to the person who said it's up to individuals to not drink and drive -- well that may be true in theory, however they DO drink and drive, which again, makes it everyone's business. It just amazes me how people are so quick to defend their right to drink, and then when a drunk falls into the river, scream that LX should be doing more to prevent it. "

The Cardinals wrote on May 11, 2007 8:30 PM:

" I have known many people who have died of alcohol related injuries or sickness. Too many but, The Cards live in Beer Town USA. Ever been there its Busch Beer ads Bud ads the loading docks off the bridge of the Mississippi are loaded with big rig waiting for thier next load of kegs and cases. Of course there gonna be beer there. Beer this Beer that. At least St. Louis can handle thier alcohol and dont need special taskforces to curb it. Go Cards. "

Thanks Trib wrote on May 11, 2007 3:28 PM:

" Thanks again, Lacrosse Tribune, for addressing those urgent and most presing topics that face the Nation. So some rich, pro-athlete drank too much and crashed his car and died....sp what? What did anyone expect? What I find stunning is the Trib's lack of Editorial comment on the Iraqi war boondoggle. It's like a silent approval. Hey, great for the 'Cards....but who really cares? - VooDooPatriot "

Gazemo wrote on May 11, 2007 12:41 PM:

" Thank God ! Drinking beer till 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning at our clubhouse after home games ruined my baseball career. Where were you people 25 years ago? "

so.... wrote on May 11, 2007 11:44 AM:

" what you're really saying is that the guys can get all liquored up before they head out to the field to play ball?? Interesting . . . once again, only in america can baseball players get paid millions of dollars to drink on the job while the rest of us are reprimanded if we take too long of a break, or whatever. "

RIDICULOUS wrote on May 11, 2007 10:57 AM:

" Another typical knee-jerk reaction by the Trib and its opinion page editor. When will they learn? Banning alcohol from the clubhouse would NOT have prevented this tragedy and will probably have ZERO impact in the future. Steroids, pot, uppers,downers, cocaine, pain killers and guns are also banned from clubhouse and the ban does NOT work! PLEASE figure out that alcohol and tobacco are LEGAL products, commonly available at nearly EVERY good corner in LaCrosse and around the WORLD! All the good intentions in the world will not replace personal responsibility and the Trib should wise up and realize that restrictions on legal products won't work when they can't even stop illegal products from bring consumed! "

Slider wrote on May 11, 2007 9:23 AM:

" Ban all beverages at all games in every sport, this is the best possible answer to fix the problem, along with this stop it on the Oktoberfest parade route too. Only place to get this in. I think that all radio stations across the world need to dedicate a day to a song for Bush and his war machine, and have a 24 to 48 hour marathon of a song by Black Sabbath called "WAR PIGS"!!!!!!! "

Nanny state wrote on May 11, 2007 8:57 AM:

" People wake up. If an employer wants to provide beer to it's employees then they should have that right. God forbid you leave it up to the employees to use self control. What is happening to my America? "

It's not about beer in the clubhouse, wrote on May 11, 2007 8:47 AM:

" it's about personal responsiblity. This pitcher who got killed, was drinking in town, not at the clubhouse. Maybe if he stayed at the clubhouse, one of his buds could have driven him home. The fact remains, it is up to individuals to not drink and drive. The other fact is that this will be decided on fear of lawsuits and not common sense. "

Doesn't sound right... wrote on May 11, 2007 8:37 AM:

" It doesn't sound like the clubhouse beer caused his death, but rather the refusal of a taxi... "

to: never knew that wrote on May 11, 2007 7:54 AM:

" Every job offers beer after the work day is done. You have to stop and get it. These guys are professionals and they are in a major league park where they can't just go an relax. None of our business what goes on in the clubhouse if it is legal. Give me a break, we have no business getting involved. Let them police themselves.. g "

Not a fan wrote on May 11, 2007 7:27 AM:

" 'Although Hancock didn’t drink in the clubhouse, there is still good reason to eliminate alcohol after home games, since most players drive their own vehicles home. The new policy won’t affect the availability of alcohol in visiting clubhouses, when players would not be driving.' Eliminating alcohol in the clubhouse would have not effect on this outcome and serves as an overreaction. One wonders how long this alcohol ban would be enforced if the team wins the pennant or World Series (traditionally champagne is drank and showered in following a play-off win) "

Never knew that. wrote on May 11, 2007 6:48 AM:

" What other job offers you beer after your work day is done? Wish I didn't have bad shoulders... "


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