CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox released a statement Thursday regarding the legal proceedings involving new manager Tony La Russa, who was charged with driving under the influence after a February arrest in Arizona.
"As Tony La Russa's attorney said in his statement, Tony deserves all the assumptions and protections granted to everyone in a court of law, especially while this is a pending matter," the statement read. "Once his case reaches resolution in the courts, we will have more to say. The White Sox understand the seriousness of these charges."
La Russa's case was filed Oct. 28 — one day before the Sox announced La Russa's hiring — according to the Maricopa County Justice Courts website. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Dec. 8, according to the Maricopa County Justice Courts website.
According to an affidavit cited by ESPN, La Russa allegedly ran his car into a curb on Feb. 24 near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. He told a responding officer he had been at dinner with friends and hit something and had a tire blow out.
The officer detected "a light odor" of alcohol and described La Russa as "argumentative" in the affidavit, ESPN reported. La Russa was taken into custody after a field sobriety test, the report said.
ESPN obtained the full arrest report Tuesday, which included La Russa asking an officer, "Do you see my ring?" Later, according to the report, he said, "I'm a Hall of Famer baseball person," and, "I'm legit. I'm a Hall of Famer, brother. You're trying to embarrass me."
It's the second known DUI arrest for La Russa, 76, who was arrested in March 2007 in Jupiter, Fla., after he was found asleep at the wheel with his vehicle running and in park at a stop sign. He pleaded guilty to that charge eight months later.
The White Sox named La Russa their new manager on Oct. 29, replacing Rick Renteria, who guided the Sox to their first winning record since 2012 and first playoff appearance since 2008. Renteria finished second in the American League Manager of the Year voting on Tuesday.
