If any one interested in watching Choo getting arrested

by danmang on May 5, 2011 1:08 PM EDT

This is a video of Choo getting arrested and his sobriety test. If you have time, take a look. Don't know if anybody actually cares, but I decided to put it here anyway. I do not know how anybody feels about this as well, but I know I am disappointed. Not to sound like an idiot, but the end was entertaining where Choo was asking the cop if he spoke Korean. Take a look if you must.

Video of Choo.

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I don’t know why this would be released to the public in the first place. Seems like a serious invasion of privacy (I cannot imagine that Choo or his employer sanctioned its release). And if so, is this even legal? Notwithstanding, a perverse desire for exposure seems to have a grip on the media, or the viewers—or both.To some it is apparently acceptable that even our lowest moments can be released to the public…thank god no one would be interested in mine.
So what does this regrettable video show us?
1) Choo was clearly intoxicated. Fine. Who hasn’t been? His mistake was to attempt to drive himself home. But he clearly did not know where he was going – on unfamiliar ground – and was just trying to get home. And so in a situation where at least some of us have driven home (with a few in us) on autopilot, he pulls off the road because he cannot find his way…essentially asking for help… And is caught for DUI. I’ve been there, but lucked out.
2) At no point did he pull a “I’m Shin-Soo Choo! I have a career OPS of .868 and a .387 OBP! I’m what Lebron was until he screwed you…your best hope for a championship in Cleveland!”
3) His non-baseball English is obviously a little rough, which may have aggravated the situation.
4) Do I dare to mention well-documented Asian alcohol intolerance?
No – his alcohol level was high enough….but still
5) Was he actually bribing the cop? “Anything you want.”

In conclusion, this is regrettable but ordinary. Human all-too-human if you will.
Sad to see it made so graphically public.
But it’s one mistake he won’t likely repeat…

by DocNo on May 5, 2011 3:44 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Considering that it is a police dashboard cam and it is standard practice to tape these incidents, especially at night. In fact, if I were arrested for something, I would hope that the dash cam was rolling and was released. There can be no question as to what happened when there is audio and video of the event.

"Spring Training wins are good for the soul."

by USSChoo on May 5, 2011 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions

4) Do I dare to mention well-documented Asian alcohol intolerance?
No – his alcohol level was high enough….but still

No, dare you not. I lived in Asia for three years and have no idea what you’re talking about.

This incident happened on a public street, where his condition endangered the general public and a public safety officer pulled him over with cause.

I agree with you that the video isn’t worth watching, but you’ve managed to dismiss it and sensationalize it at the same time. Hopefully, we all learn from this. We all think the rules don’t apply to us sometimes and occasionally have to learn the hard way.

by PBH on May 5, 2011 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I do not wish to pursue this, nor do I wish to challenge your first-hand experience, but this link suggests that there just might be some general validity concerning what I alluded to above:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alcohol-intolerance/DS01172/DSECTION=risk-factors

One could also argue that my comments merely attempt to contextualize rather than dismiss the event. Did I suggest he should be given a break because of that context (i.e. dismiss it)? No. Did I suggest that it was his own damn fault for getting behind his wheel? Yes.

by DocNo on May 6, 2011 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Choo is not likely alcohol intolerant. He wouldn’t have been able to drive at all considering how high his blood level was.

Korea has arguably the strongest drinking culture in the region. They have a ubiquitous, inexpensive, and very potent clear liquor called Soju. We used to call it “blackout juice.” I spent many an evening getting outpaced by the locals at the corner kettle joint—and I was in my prime.

By dismiss, I meant the video, not the incident. Sorry if I didn’t make that clear enough.

by PBH on May 6, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

fair enough… I wasn’t suggesting he was AI either, but I did want to defend against the implied accusation of the stupidity of my statement by referring to a rather reliable source (Mayo).

by DocNo on May 6, 2011 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Look Doc, Choo – like any other first time offender – is gonna get three days in the pokey, fined $200-$1,000, have his license in what’s called Administrative License Suspension (ALS) for 90 days and be required to attend a 8 hour driving course. Not exactly hard time in Attica.

As to the “Asian alcohol intolerance” – so what? Choo knew he was loaded and I don’t give a hot damn if he had a fifth of Old Log Cabin in him or if he chugged a coupla those Soju juice boxes. He’s a big boy, he shouldda know he was too loose to drive. If he didn’t he will after this.

Guys drink, some get drunk, and some of those – I count myself as one – drive themselves home when they shouldn’t. Choo and the Indians will get past this. The real question is: whill Choo ever do anything this boneheaded again?

Our best players wear suits.

by mauichuck on May 6, 2011 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

… and your restatement of the obvious is addressed to me why, precisely? I would not argue with any of this, and have not tried to.

by DocNo on May 6, 2011 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Because you made it sound – to me anyway – like Choo’s predicament was somehow unique and deserving of more empathy than any other drunk driver. It isn’t, He like millions of other guys, had too many, hopped in his car to drive home, got busted , got caught on video tane and now he’s got to face the consequences just like thousands of other, non-baseball playing, non-Asian, non-millionaire guys. .

Our best players wear suits.

by mauichuck on May 6, 2011 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah, ok. That was not what I meant to say, but I can see how one might read it that way. These things are much easier to discuss over a beer – and I might have clocked 1.5 when I wrote it… but I wasn’t driving anywhere :-)

by DocNo on May 6, 2011 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions

72 hours in jail and 72 hours in a drivers intervention program, unless the jail can do the drivers’ intervention program, in which case he can spend all 144 hours in jail. Not that any of this matters to your larger point.

by FredOx on May 6, 2011 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

If he’s in Ohio he isn’t doing jail time, especially not in Cleveland. That may be how the law is written but it isn’t how it’s applied.

by Brad D on May 7, 2011 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Only if he’s convicted of a different statute, the way I read it. But I haven’t practiced criminal law since 1997 and I haven’t lived in Ohio since 1991, so I’ll defer to people who know more than me.

by FredOx on May 9, 2011 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ll confess to only being familiar with how it is done in Cleveland. It’s possible to have the only time you do on an OVI be sobering up the night you get picked up.

by Brad D on May 10, 2011 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Even if you blow more than .17? That’s a creative interpretation of the statute.

by FredOx on May 11, 2011 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Isn’t it? It depends, obviously, on the judge and prosecutor. Coming from my angle, I’d rather see them do the time but it’s out of my hands at that point.

by Brad D on May 11, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Ah, voyeurism. Just as I expect from deadspin.

by ameliorate on May 6, 2011 12:10 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Deadspin is absolute garbage

My watch is broken... it's stuck on Tribe Time
#suckitLaw

by Turkmenbashi on May 6, 2011 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I scanned it. If you’re expecting COPS you won’t find much to see here. Choo didn’t appear all that drunk to me. Too bad; hope Choo gets things straightened out quickly.

by jhon on May 6, 2011 1:24 AM EDT reply actions

this really should have been a fanshot … sigh

by talonk on May 6, 2011 2:22 AM EDT reply actions

I guess you are correct sir.

by danmang on May 6, 2011 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

and the sigh was for Choo .. not you dan

by talonk on May 6, 2011 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh?

by danmang on May 6, 2011 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

question. would he have been better off refusing to blow than blowing .2? you know, for future reference…

by Brick. on May 6, 2011 12:38 PM EDT reply actions

You blow after you fail the field sobriety test. From what I understand, if you refuse they then take you to the station and draw blood. I don’t know the science of what is a better option. Obviously, the best option is to avoid driving.

by PBH on May 6, 2011 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I swear this has already been discussed on LGT in the past … and if not, check out the Donte Stallworth threads over on DBN.

by talonk on May 6, 2011 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

You can actually refuse it all. Failing SFST’s is actually usually enough for a trip straight to jail, you can refuse the BAC, but there is a substantially heavier punishment for it. Blood is only drawn if drugs are suspected.

by Brad D on May 7, 2011 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions