DUI Arrest of 3rd Baseman Highlights Pro Sports' Drinking Problem

Technically, St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese was arrested for a DWI, the Missouri equivalent of a DUI in Illinois. The letters stand for "driving while intoxicated."

He's lucky he didn't totally derail his career, his life or another motorist's life, since a breathalyzer test incidates he had a blood alcohol concentration of .232 percent (KPLR, via Tribune). That's nearly three times the legal limit of .08 percent. Even more embarrassing are details in the police report that Freese had no clue where he was or where he was headed when police stopped him at 2:00 a.m.

I know that many of you Cubs fans out there are relishing in the news (Bleacher Nation) that the arch-rival St. Louis Cardinals have suffered yet another off-the-field setback. But a quick walk down memory lane should be sobering for even the most die-hard Chicago fans.

Cardinals relief pitcher Joshua Hancock died when his SUV slammed into another vehicle (NBC Sports) two years ago. He was drunk and talking on his mobile phone when the accident occured, and marijuana also was found in his vehicle. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was arrested just one month later for a DUI (ESPN) in Florida.

But drunk driving seems to be a big issue for America's pastime, not limited to the Cubs' nemesis to the south.

Former major league player and Cubs third base coach (do you sense a theme here?) Chris Speire was arrested for a DUI (BNET) more than three years ago. Yankees pitching ace Joba Chamberlain was busted for drunk driving last spring.

Professional athletes are human beings just like the rest of us. But unlike you and me, they have buckets of cash which they could easily spend on hiring a safe driver whenever they feel the need to go on a bender.