Major League Baseball has proven to be very lenient when it comes to punishing its athletes after an alcohol-related incident, especially after a driving under the influence (DUI) violation. Just last month Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo was arrested with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.22. he received no fine or suspension!
The NCAA has much less tolerance for its athletes being involved in alcohol-related incidents. Perhaps that is because many of its athletes are under the age of 21. More likely is that this issue is more important to them. As reported in www.ajc.com.
Georgia baseball coach David Perno wasted no time dispensing discipline to a player jailed on DUI and other misdemeanor charges. J.T. Phillips, a freshman from Columbus, was immediately dismissed from the team after Perno learned of his arrest for drunk driving, underage possession of alcohol, driving without a license and driving the wrong way on a one-way street.
The 19-year-old Phillips was booked into jail the night before the team’s biggest double-header of the season. What an utter lack of respect for your school and your teammates!
Phillips might be best-known for being part of the Columbus team that won the Little League World Series in 2006 and played for three Class AAA state champions at Columbus High.
At Georgia, Phillips played first base and started in 19 of 32 games. He was batting .256 with 6 RBI and 11 runs scored.
Phillips is still very young. We are a forgiving country. Everyone deserves a second chance. I hope that after he successfully completes a 24 hour online alcohol course he can re-dedicate himself to his sport and again become the baseball player he was meant to be.