12/22/24
May 18, 2005
Honest, officer, I thought this was the Brickyard!: ESPN.com contributor and freelance racing reporter Bruce Martin flees from police after a drunken hit-and-run in a loaner pace car and gets tasered for his trouble. Weird question -- what sort of punishment should Martin receive from his employers for this?
posted by wfrazerjr to auto racing at 01:47 PM - 18 comments
Why not? He was there.....
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:18 PM on May 18, 2005
Will this be on Cops this weekend?
posted by jasonspaceman at 04:21 PM on May 18, 2005
"The Speedway says Martin’s car has been returned to the manufacturer." Sure, that's a big help after he totalled the stupid thing! Still, should someone lose their job (considering this separately from the criminal aspect)? I don't believe it should be an automatic. After all, many people would suggest that alcoholism (and I'm not saying Martin is an alcoholic but...) is a disease from which we should try and help someone recover. If Martin has had previous incidents then possibly a line was crossed but if this is the first one I don't think he should be fired. I think he should pay whatever penalty the court dishes out and then ESPN/whoever should consider his situation afterwards. I would specifically point to the Dany Heatley case as a precedent. He killed a teammate driving drunk and not only did he not receive any penalty from the Flames/NHL, I don't recall him getting a jail sentence.
posted by billsaysthis at 06:23 PM on May 18, 2005
He killed a teammate driving drunk. he wasn't driving drunk. heatley's blood alcohol was below .015. but i see your point. maybe he shouldn't be fired, but i'd would hope that they take away some privileges, like getting to drive a pace car around for a month.
posted by goddam at 07:48 PM on May 18, 2005
He should have to work as a plush animal mascot in some minor league ballpark.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:33 PM on May 18, 2005
I agree with bill re: the alcoholism and job issue. People suffering from alcohol dependency need help not sacking. Definitely take away the pace car driving privileges though. Not sure what a plush animal is so can't comment.
posted by squealy at 05:57 AM on May 19, 2005
He then failed a field sobriety test registering .22, nearly three times the legal limit for alcohol. If this had happened in the UK, he'd probably be jailed. Just saying.
posted by BigCalm at 06:45 AM on May 19, 2005
I agree with bill re: the alcoholism and job issue. People suffering from alcohol dependency need help not sacking. Definitely take away the pace car driving privileges though. Not sure what a plush animal is so can't comment. What if the person doesnt want help? Lets face it, Alcoholics are a threat to themselves and others. This guy deserves some jail time. He is lucky nobody was killed. Its ironic that this took place around the racing community. Those guys have taken safety to a another level. Alcoholics are sick people like any adict. It order for them to get help, they have got to want it. Sometime reality, like loosing a job, makes things a little more clear.
posted by daddisamm at 01:06 PM on May 19, 2005
daddisamm, read my comment, I said considering his employment separately from the legal question. You cry for pity all the time when anyone questions your comments, oh I'm a newbie don't use big words, but then you don't even bother to read what's written right on the same page. goddam, you can't tell me that alcohol wasn't a factor in the situation.
posted by billsaysthis at 03:07 PM on May 19, 2005
bill, you can't tell me that it was.
posted by goddam at 03:49 PM on May 19, 2005
Billy-I read your post-- and I just gave my opinion----like you did---I read things very carefully before I make a comment. For some reason-I piss you , in particluar, off, and you are going to ride me-everytime I make a comment you dont like. Maybe you should just lighten up a bit and try not to take me too seriously. I know tthat I dont...OOps, I got off the topic. I was going to add that drunk drivers have been too often given the benefit of the doubt. Thats why we get people with mutiple arrests for DUI.
posted by daddisamm at 04:52 PM on May 19, 2005
The manufacturer loans the cars to respected and trusted high-profile individuals. HA HA
posted by stofer71 at 05:13 PM on May 19, 2005
daddisamm, I care no more or less about you than any other member of this little group. You quoted my comment and I responded to it very precisely and without name calling. You want to give an opinion, terrific, that's all we do here but don't claim to respond to my statement as if I said something else.
posted by billsaysthis at 09:43 PM on May 19, 2005
Biily, actualy I was quoting Squealy who agreed with you. At this point I am not even sure as to what you are trying to get at. I am not claiming you said anything different. In fact we are more than likely really close to agreeing on the subject. Again I am sorry if I ticked you off in anyway. That wasnt my intention.
posted by daddisamm at 09:59 PM on May 19, 2005
Come on guys your forgetting the point. He was drunk & running from the cops. This not only makes him look bad but also his employer. Hypethetically speaking - what if he does this again and runs over someone's kid. His employer can't take that kind of risk. Bottom line is he didn't care about thier reputation so his employer shouldn't care about keeping him, he should be fired.
posted by oakidd at 04:57 AM on May 20, 2005
Again I am sorry if I ticked you off in anyway. That wasnt my intention. Not being a mind reader, I'm not trying to divine your intention. I'm only interested in the words you type on the pages here, their meaning and how they relate (or not) to the topic being discussed.
posted by billsaysthis at 03:45 PM on May 20, 2005
Anyone a bit disturbed that the Taser was used so quickly?? Someone thought this guy was enough of a Danger that Tasering him was necessary.... Good thing he didn't have a heart condition.
posted by LostInDaJungle at 04:10 PM on May 20, 2005
The guy totalled an Indy Pace Car loaned to him because of his ESPN affiliation and ran from the law. Even if he manages to escape criminal prosecution, which doesn't seem likely, the termination of his employment seems like a given. It's such a sure thing, Mitch Albom is already writing a column for next Sunday about it.