In perhaps the least sympathetic story in sports history, World Series hero-turned-alleged killer drunk driver Jim Leyritz has petitioned a judge to remove the Breathalyzer device in his car.

(Leyritz’s quandary: “Chicken Marsala” vs. dead woman)

And just so we’re clear, that Breathalyzer is in his car as a condition of his release from jail as he awaits trial for vehicular manslaughter. Yes, this is the same Jim Leyritz who (allegedly) ran a red light and struck a car carrying a 30-year-old mother of two (above), killing her.  The Breathalyzer makes sure he can’t drive drunk again between now and his trial. And he wants it gone.

Oh, and lest you think the most tasteless part of this story is the mere fact that Leyritz is making such a request, check out the reasons given. Read more…

Former Yankee Jim Leyritz is not having the best of times these days. Leyritz, who was basically unknown until he hit a game-winning home run in the 1996 World Series, is currently awaiting trial on manslaughter charges over a car accident last December that claimed the life of a 30-year-old woman. Leyritz was reportedly under the influence at the time.

But the saddest part of all of this is that despite his legal troubles, Leyritz is the primary caregiver for his three children, and all four of them are being supported by the Baseball Assistance Team, a charity that helps out ex-players who are broke. Yes, through a divorce and irresponsible lifestyle, Leyritz blew threw the $11 million he made as a player. And to add insult to injury, the Yankees didn’t exactly want him showing up to the last game at Yankee Stadium.

Read more…

Just a year ago, the Colorado Rockies were riding high from an improbable run to the World Series, even if it did end in a sweep at the hands of the Red Sox. Things were looking up, and the Rocks were poised to dominate the NL West for years to come. Oh, what a difference a year makes.

(Sadly, the snowman is their #4 starter next year)

Colorado pitcher Luis Vizcaino was arrested for DUI early this morning after being pulled over for driving 71 in a 45 mph zone. But this isn’t nearly the most depressing news today for Rockies fans. The DENVER POST is now reporting that the team is interested in unloading Matt Holliday before he enters the final year of his contract, because they’re pretty sure they aren’t going to be able to sign him later anyway. Well, at least you had one good run, there, Rockies fans.

Read more…

Not devastating for Brooks’ favorite MLB team, but still notable: Kansas City Royals utility infielder Alberto Callaspo spent early Friday morning in jail after getting picked up for driving under the influence by the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus police.

The KANSAS CITY STAR notes that Callaspo was out by 10 A.M. yesterday, and available to play against the Cardinals this weekend. Aside from the usual platitudes about regrettable actions by GM Dayton Moore and manager Trey Hillman, the reports are missing some crucial bits — this isn’t Callaspo’s first run-in with the law, nor is it his most serious.

Read more…

In the fallout of former Alabama quarterback Kenny Stabler’s latest DUI, some of the folks in Tuscaloosa are taking sides.

Current Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban supports Stabler. However, the people in the local media are not, and are trying to get dashboard-camera footage Stabler’s arrest.

Read more…

Chicago running back Cedric Benson knows that he’s on thin ice with the Bears’ front office after being pepper sprayed during a boating incident and then getting pulled over for suspicion of DUI.

Once again, Benson is pleading his innocence, claiming that he “aced” the sobriety test. And I believe him, as I’m sure he’s had plenty of experience with them. Read more…

Dwayne Jarrett, the former USC standout-turned-struggling Carolina Panthers rookie recorded his first stat of 2008: 1 DUI.

The wide receiver was pulled over in a Charlotte, North Carolina suburb at around 3 am early Tuesday morning. He had driven over the center line and would fail field sobriety tests after being pulled over. And if the cop had asked him to run a few routes, he probably would have screwed that up, too. Read more…

Britton Colquitt, fourth in the line of FFOTVP (First Family of Tennessee Volunteer Punters), won’t be kicking in the first five games of 2008 and will have to pay for school out of his own pocket after getting popped for DUI when he hit a parked car over the weekend.

THE NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN reports the news, and more interestingly notes that this is far from Colquitt’s first incident — in fact, you can safely say this is a pattern, as the punter was suspended by coach Philip Fulmer in 2004 for “four alcohol related incident[s] in a six-month span,” including three underage drinking citations in 12 days.

Read more…

Is TMZ working on a sports division? This season, they’ve been all over Tom Brady and Tony Romo, and now they’re working the low end of jock DUIs. Now better known as the brother of former USC QB John David Booty, former LSU QB Josh Booty was busted for DUI in Orange County yesterday, and then tasered later for being less than cooperative.

Since TMZ’s lacking a bit in actual info, we go to the ASSOCIATED PRESS, citing a sheriff’s lieutenant that Booty “fell to the ground, struck his head on the table on the way to the ground and sustained a black eye”after being Tased during the booking process.

Read more…

Sad story out of Detroit today, as the DETROIT NEWS reports that former major league pitcher and Detroit Tigers announcer Lary Sorensen just registered his seventh DUI. He was discovered on Saturday nearly dead in his car by police officers on the side of a Detroit highway.

Sorensen had a blood alchohol level of .48, which according to medical scientists, half the population could not survice.

We’ve covered his story in the past, and Sorensen has told the media before that he was trying to stay sober. Obviously that didn’t happen. It’s a miracle he isn’t dead by now. Or hasn’t killed anyone. It’s no laughing matter. All there is now for him is to go inside for a good, long time. The News reports that thanks to his relapse, he could be facing five years.