Donte Stallworth suspended for 2009 season

[DallasEast]

he deserved something for being stupid enough to try to run across a highway.

I don't know if anyone deserves to die, but this guy was a moron.

Doesn't being DEAD count for anything nowadays?

 

[tyke1doe]

Pretty much the issue comes down to people not either not being able to process multiple things at once or trying to be morally superior (e.g., "I would never drive drunk"). The simpler thinkers say "he was drunk - it is his fault" but completely fail to recognize that other factors play into the blame for the accident. Did being drunk increase the likelihood that there would be an accident? Of course, and that is why he is being punished. Was being drunk the ONLY cause of the accident? Of course not... which is why he isn't still in jail.

I agree with your overall point. But why is one trying to be morally superior when one says "I would never drive drunk?"

 

[tyke1doe]

Stallworth was legally drunk, it doesn't matter whether he was "hammered" or not. He had just received a check for $5 mil, I imagine he could have afforded a cab.

A "couple of drinks" will not put you over the legal limit and thus you would not be in the same boat as Stallworth. A few more than that, and I really have zero sympathy for you, to be honest.

Good point.

The only thing we can measure, as far as the criminality of this issue, is that Stallworth was legally drunk and driving, which is a crime.

Arguing the possibility of the alcohol not playing a part in this crime is weak.

 

[Doomsday101]

Different commissioner.

Goodell is no Tagliabue.

I think Tags was good for the business side of the league, but I think Goodell is good for the discipline for the league.

I agree. And unlike some I support Goodell.

 

[tyke1doe]

I agree. And unlike some I support Goodell.

Me too.

 

[Bleu Star]

That sounds about right.

 

[AbeBeta]

I agree with your overall point. But why is one trying to be morally superior when one says "I would never drive drunk?"

Because they are attributing full blame to Stallworth because they are better than him. It is pretty much irrelevant to the case as what happened to Dontae could easily happen to a sober person

 

[Avaj]

Good, I'm glad he is gone for the year for what he did.

 

[DallasEast]

Me too.

+1......`

 

[Idgit]

Stallworth was legally drunk, it doesn't matter whether he was "hammered" or not. He had just received a check for $5 mil, I imagine he could have afforded a cab.

A "couple of drinks" will not put you over the legal limit and thus you would not be in the same boat as Stallworth. A few more than that, and I really have zero sympathy for you, to be honest.

I recall at the time of the accident that there wasn't mention of impairment on the police report and that there was a question as to how much alcohol influenced the accident given that the pedestrian had scaled a cement divider in order to enter the lane in which Dontae's car was traveling. I still don't know the role alcohol played in the accident or if anything could have been avoided if Dontae were sober.

There is a difference, though, between excusing impaired driving and realizing that Stallworth's BAC wasn't the only factor that contributed to a really unfortunate circumstance.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Certainly not... but it is reasonable to believe that a sober driver, in the same situation, might have hit him too.

well yeah, but all drivers should drive defensively

alcohol seriously impairs that ability

 

[Doomsday101]

Because they are attributing full blame to Stallworth because they are better than him. It is pretty much irrelevant to the case as what happened to Dontae could easily happen to a sober person

But the fact remains he was not sober he was breaking the law and in the process a person is killed. Could it have happened to a sober person yes, if Stallworth was sober is it possible he would not have hit this person? Yes.

If a person chooses to drink and drive then be prepared to face the consequences this has nothing to do with being superior over someone else it has everything to do with personal responsibility for what you do.

 

[AbeBeta]

well yeah, but all drivers should drive defensively

alcohol seriously impairs that ability

Sure. Like I said, did alcohol increase the likelihood of an accident. Absolutely. But it wasn't the only cause.

Ya ever drive drunk there, Summer?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Sure. Like I said, did alcohol increase the likelihood of an accident. Absolutely. But it wasn't the only cause.

Ya ever drive drunk there, Summer?

at least 100 times

and since I'm the foremost expert on drunk driving, it's best not to argue with me on this particular subject

 

[AbeBeta]

But the fact remains he was not sober he was breaking the law and in the process a person is killed. Could it have happened to a sober person yes, if Stallworth was sober is it possible he would not have hit this person? Yes.

If a person chooses to drink and drive then be prepared to face the consequences this has nothing to do with being superior over someone else it has everything to do with personal responsibility for what you do.

And the fact also remains that the pedestrian was also breaking the law when he met his unfortunate end. So, as terrible as it is, there is some responsibility on the part of the victim as well.

I don't see where your "superiority" argument comes in -- I simply noted that when we have threads on these topics there are tons people jumping to the "well, I would never..." response. To me, that is just about trying to be superior as what you would do has nothing to do with whether or not Stallworth is to blame.

 

[AbeBeta]

at least 100 times

and since I'm the foremost expert on drunk driving, it's best not to argue with me on this particular subject

Got you beat Summer, I am actually drunk right now and using my iPhone to post as I drive.

 

[Gibby!]

I actually saw video of the crime scene. Not sure on what site.

The man's death is very unfortnate, but it's not as cut and dry as people want to make it, which is probably why he got the sentence he got.

IANAL, but I believe this is really close to what I have heard to be true. Florida courts take into account that they were both breaking the law at the time of the crime, and dished out punishment as it saw fit. Whether its fair or not is opinion (simply). I think its fair, but that's my opinion.