LIke so many have stated, I do not think that Tony was above the law, but the media has made this into more than what it is. Someone was arrested with a DUI and is going to pay the penalty. Drop the issue and go on.

i didnt mind seeing it on the news it was every commercial break last night that drove me crazy
i think you all over did it a little I changed channels because I got tired of seeing it over and over again

I do not agree with the decision to air the video of Tony LaRussa. While the reporting of his guilty plea is a viable news report, the video is overkill and a violation of the man's privacy. Even people who achieve fame in one area or another deserve some privacy. If it were not for the his position as Cardinal manager, there would not have been a report at all. I feel this is sensationalism at its finest.

I totally disagree with you! Not many if any of your loyal listners want to see this video clip.

I disagree. No person should watch another stumble around drunk on tv. I should be noted that the on air account is different than the online account. What was frustrating to me that the officers involved were laughing and snickering at the expense of another human being. Enough is going on in this world . we certainly do not need more entertainment laughing and mocking another persons misfortune. He did the crime let him do the time peacefully and privately. You can guarantee he will not do it again. unlike other celebs who do not learn from first, second or even third chances. Case in point, Britney Spears. enough said. Some learn, others do not. Thank you. Carolyn

Thank God that all of us who make mistakes do not have tv cameras to catch us in them and air them for all to see. I believe Tony has learned his lesson. Let it go. Where is the ACLU when you need them???

Give me a break! Who hasn't heard about Tony's DUI by now? We don't need to hear it repeated on the morning news, noon news, six o'clock news, ten o'clock news, then again each time on the sports news! He made a mistake. Haven't we all? I don't condone what he did, and he's no 'hero' to ME, but I'm disgusted with hearing it repeated. Thank you.

Granted I have probally seen other people taken the drunk test on television, but I be darned if I can remember any of their names.

toni said he was wrong drop it we have other things to deal with real crimminals. if anyone else it would be kept quiet. its not fair to toni leave him alone he has to live with it not anyone else.

Last night as I watched your early and later evening newscasts, I didn't believe that you were just "reporting the news" - and I don't believe it now. All the promos and extensive replaying of the clip, even on the same newscast, seemed like sensationalism to me. And I feel you're patronizing your listeners by playing Bernie's dismissal that those complaining are just hero worshipers. You all seem a bit too gleeful to be making "news" instead of reporting it. Your choices in this matter validate Maria Shriver's decision to leave the business.

I agree that Tony should not be treated any differently than anyone else, but I do not think showing the video was necessary. All that need be reported was the plea and the disposition of the sentence. Airing that or any video of it's kind is nothing but pure sensationalism. Like you say, News 4 never stops (sensationalizing). Larry, the station deserves the flak. Report the facts and let it go. Leave that kind of garbage for the tabloids and COPS.

Hey Larry, I understand that you work for KMOV, and you will defend the decision to air the video of Tony LaRussa, but for me it was not necessary. The story was 9 months old; And yes Tony did initially plead not guilty, but he did cop a guilty plea and I for one do not need to see Tony trying to walk a straight line or reciting the alphabet to know that Tony had too much to drink that night. I believe the story of the case being resolved in Fla. was news, but showing the 9 month old video was piling on. I understand that the news business is very competitive and the video was going to air somewhere, but the video to me was just a form of public humiliation. Almost every time I have ever seen video of a DUI stop it is a related story of police check-points or the video contained something unusual, ( some violence, a fight, etc.) and those video's almost never name the suspect. The showing of the video and naming LaRussa was pure sensationalism. I just do not think showing the video on T.V. and basically pointing your finger and saying hey folks here's a video of Tony drunk was the right thing to do.

I'm not defending Mr. La Russa's action by any means, but that incident was a private matter that involved a public figure. I didn't feel that it's right for the authorities to release the video to the media, nor do I feel that it was right for the media to air Mr. La Russa in such an embarrassing situation. Yes, he pled not guilty initially, but with all that's happened since then, with the Josh Hancock tragedy, I'm sure that Mr. La Russa has no doubt suffered more than we'll ever know, wondering what kind of example he set for his players. He's trying to put the matter behind him and move on, not relive it over and over because a news station wants to boost their numbers at his expense.
Maybe you're right, I may not have been as offended if it were Barry Bonds, but is it safe to assume that that tape would've never been aired if it were of a News 4 anchor failing a field sobriety test?

In regards to your Tony LaRussa video. I watch your news daily, but think your coverage over and over of his DUI test was disgusting. We all knew about his arrest and didn't need to see the video over and over. I think it is 100% wrong to drink and drive, but is it right to humiliate a person no matter who he is. We all screw up in our lives and thank God we don't have tv camera's there to tape it.
I realize you are in the business to report the news but.... this was too much.
I wonder if it had been one of your on air news people who did this if you would have covered it so fully and repeatedly?
Please don't turn your coverage into one of the supermarket magazines.

Putting this in context, most people are defending the manager of the ball team. That is fine, However he was sentenced as a result of the facts. Plus the officers paid no favoritism to a person of quote celebrity status. That is positive and people should look at the social implications, not the person arrested. No one was injured and no property damage........a blessing. Too often drinking in excess results in tragedy and pain for all involved. I drive around St. Louis when I have too and am amazed how many people are disregarding the basic laws we are supposed to obey. It is not for us to judge guilt or innecence!!! We are not judges of the court. It is up to us to learn to not do the wrong things! To act as role models for others including children. When these people driving too fast in a construction zone pass me, A school bus loaded with maybe your kids go 60 in a 45 m.p.h. construction zone, when drivers change lanes like a nascar race, IT IS TIME TO THINK AND AMEND OUR WAYS. I AM DISABLED AND SUFFER PAIN DAILY. THE LAST THING I NEED IS AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE YOU WERE NOT DRIVING BUT DRINKING IN EXCESS, UNDER THE INCLUENCE OF DRUGS OR JUST PLAIN CARELESS ABOUT SAFETY AND OTHER PEOPLE YOU MAY HURT INCLUDING THE HIGHWAY WORKERS. SO LEARN TO ADDRESS THE POINT OR GOAL OF THE STORY. A CELEBRITY WAS SENTENCED IN COURT FOR BREAKING THE LAW. BETTER THAN HE PAID OFF PEOPLE TO BEAT THE RAP. LA RUSSA WAS STELLAR IN THIS CHAPTER OF HIS LIFE. WHAT IS SAD IS ALL THESE PEOPLE SOUNDING OFF HOW BAD THIS WAS MISSED THE POINT. MAYBE IF A PERSON DIED THE SENTIMENT WOULD BE DIFFERENT. PEOPLE DIE EVERYDAY DUE TO THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS. IT IS TIME WE GET THE POINT OF A STORY AND LEARN RIGHT AND WRONG......REGARDLESS OF WHO IS INVOLVED. I LOVE ST. LOUIS!!! I HATE TO DRIVE THE INTERSTATES AND STREETS AS PEOPLE ARE NOT THE FRIENDLY ST. LOUISANS BEHIND THE WHEEL THEY ARE ON FOOT. WATCH AND REFLECT AAND YOU WILL SEE I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP. JUST YESTERDAY 3 PEOPLE DIED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. HOW MANY MORE THAT DID NOT MAKE THE NEWS IS UNKNOWN. WHO IS NEXT????? PEOPLE, GET YOUR VIEWS IN PERSPECTIVE AND REALIZE NEWS REPORTS THE FACTS. IRREGARDLESS OF WHO IS INVOLVED. THAT IS THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE......AMEN TO ALL!!

I've been a diehard viewer of KMOV news for many, many years, and I have noticed that this station has fallen victim to the media race for increased sensationalism. We need to watch and hear the news, but not to the extent of commanding #1 ratings. News should be reported fairly and accurately without all the sensationalism. We also don't need all the "old" video replays everytime a new story develops. That video of "Osama" kneeling, firing a rifle is so "old" it's nauseating to watch again. If you don't have "new" video, don't show anything. Most of your viewers are smart enough to fill in the blanks. As far as the LaRussa video being presented as it was is pure ratings grabbing and nothing else. I don't care how you dress it up, it's still grandstanding. KMOV news has definitely embarrassed themselves and I have lowered my opinion of your station. This type of "sensationalism reporting" is not why your viewers watch KMOV. In fact, in my case, it's because of the previous "lack of it".

Well Larry, you have finally become the CBS version of Fox News. Congratulations. What a bunch of crap your posing on STL viewers with the " he pleaded guilty" Of course you idiot, that what sane people do when they make a legal mishap, they hire attorneys. There is only ONE reason you posted the video and that was sensationalism. You were successful. I'm through with Channell 4. The best weather, the best sports, the Fox Channel 4. I'll tell Tony through Jim Hannifan to never answer any questions from a channel 4 fox employee.

Drinking and driving is not O.K. And as long as we continue to go to bars to get fan reactions to the games we highlight we continue to be an oxymoron country. Media should not be visiting establishments that serve alchol when doinng sport related stories, what do you think those fans are going to do when the event is over?, get in a car and drive home. Any venue that serves alchol is contributing to driving home drunk, and yes it is a choice and yes we all know it will never happen to me but the facts speak for themselves drunk people make stupid choices so why do we keep allowing it to happen? Shame on you for glamourizing drinking. Its real simple if you want to drink stay home because when you drink and drive my life is in your hands and I don't like not having control of my life when I'm out on the road. It's scary out there at night.

So who was it that threw the first stone at Tony here? Larry, you have my utmost respect as a journalist; I've watched your reports for years. I also know that YOU are human. Had YOU made a mistake of this ilk, I would be deeply saddened to see YOUR mistake aired repeatedly, during newscast after newscast, and promo after promo. You tell the public in your blog that it was a news story and "we chose to air it." So answer me this: how OFTEN does something like that need to be aired before "we" can say the news has been reported? Hmmmmm? Go ahead...give us a number.