Another blow to the Braves: Derek Lowe arrested for DUI
Derek Lowe's mug shot. (Atlanta Department of Corrections)
The Hawks just won a playoff series. The Falcons moved up to take Julio Jones. And the Braves?
They’re having a week no team wants to have.
If sorting out what to do about pitching coach Roger McDowell wasn’t difficult enough, the Braves awoke this morning to learn that Derek Lowe, who has become their best big-game pitcher and who has long been considered a clubhouse exemplar of how to be a professional, was arrested on charges of DUI.
The team is expected to announce something today regarding McDowell, having spent Thursday trying to gather information. And now they get to read about Lowe being arrested smack in the middle of Buckhead.
And to think: On the field, the Braves are doing well. They finished a difficult West Coast road trip by winning five of six games and have climbed back to .500. They’ve got that going for them, if nothing else.
9:54 a.m. update: The Braves have released this statement:
Obviously we are concerned and disappointed about the events involving Derek Lowe overnight. We are currently gathering information and plan to address this matter later today.
10:36 a.m. update: As reported by colleague Mike Morris, a Georgia State Patrol spokesman says Lowe was allegedly racing another driver down Peachtree Road.
By Mark Bradley
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255 comments Add your comment
ATLER ( ramblin wreck )
April 29th, 2011
11:46 am
Houses I meant and your welcome Dennis Reynolds
Dennis Reynolds
April 29th, 2011
11:48 am
Oh well, 90% of the people who visit this blog have the most moronic things to say anyway. What can you expect from a fan base who can only get 13,000 “fans” in the stands on a Saturday night?
Raiderbeater
April 29th, 2011
11:48 am
There are some degenerate people on here ….” Who hasn’t driven after having a bit too much to drink?” – Obviously you have you moron.
And the classic ” It’s just three drinks” bit sounds like a 12 year old arguing his case to mom and dad….
Some people in society are set on FAIL mode. See you in the funny papers….or better yet….the “Busted” papers at the local stop-n-shop.
Braves 2011
April 29th, 2011
11:49 am
I think levity is going to win out today.
I’m going to let Frank earn his pay today.
The unfun side of being a GM.
Then maybe I’ll get serious again.
Philly Braves Phan
April 29th, 2011
11:50 am
The Marines prey of the stupid
Will
April 29th, 2011
11:51 am
Everyone is entitled to make a mistake. Sure Lowe def made a dumb decision but any of you people who think a dui is just the end of the world is an idiot. Happens to tons of people and its a very bad decision but its nothing to freak out over.
Philly Braves Phan
April 29th, 2011
11:51 am
on* lol
Im not a Marine I promise
Ted
April 29th, 2011
11:53 am
clubhouse exemplar of how to be a professional????? Didn’t he have affairs with a TV reporter in LA (who COVERED the Dodgers) and Alyssa Milano while pitching in LA?
UKUGA
April 29th, 2011
11:54 am
Pot heads think marijuana is fine, and drinkers think DUI is “no big deal.”
What else is new?
Philly Braves Phan
April 29th, 2011
11:54 am
Damn I didn’t know Lowe had it with Alyssa Milano. I like him even more now!
Pot Head Drinker
April 29th, 2011
11:55 am
Whats the big deal??
Pot Head Drinker
April 29th, 2011
11:56 am
Mary-jew-ana is bad mmmkay
Young Vick Supporter
April 29th, 2011
11:56 am
Ever Body Make Mistakes !
JoeFan
April 29th, 2011
11:59 am
No excuses for drinking and driving. People that drink and drive are irresponsible and are taking the lives others in their hands. This point should be driven home financially combined with jail time and community service.
ATLER ( ramblin wreck )
April 29th, 2011
11:59 am
Philly Braves Phan
April 29th, 2011
11:51 am
on* lol
Im not a Marine I promise
Of course your not Philly Braves Phan of course your not a Marine. Your nutts have to drop first before you can join the Corps. Let me guess???? You were denied entry into the Corps huh???
WTF
April 29th, 2011
12:02 pm
It’s an off day, the sports world – NFL draft hasn’t restarted, Hawks already won and no one cares about hockey – is dead and ‘reporters’ gotta make it seem they are working. MB is especially good at churning out opinions and muck-raking all kinds of stuff. Prolific? Yes. A waste of ink? You betcha.
Here’s a bet: DLowe was ‘racing’ from light-to-light, got nabbed and in order to make it worth the cop’s effort, he’s charged with DUI and speeding. The DUI will be dropped and the speeding ticket will hold.
Fine paid, insurance rates go up, he doesn’t miss a turn.
Braves Win.
March First
April 29th, 2011
12:05 pm
Where are all the “he’s an uneducated, ghetto thug” comments? Apparently such comments are only reserved for a certain group. This guy could have killed someone, yet UGA players get called thugs for not paying parking tickets. Some people have no self-awareness. Sad.
Braves 2011
April 29th, 2011
12:08 pm
Once the AJC decided to pay Bradley and Schultz for number of hits, sensible blogging was over.
Something like this where both sides of the DUI argument appear and go back and forth – not to mention even a Birther comment – well, that’s golden.
Mark prints a little ditty and then kicks back.
I’m jealous.
Like the song says “That ain’t working. That’s the way you do it. Your money for nothing and your chicks for free”.
Right Mark.
Jack R
April 29th, 2011
12:12 pm
The fact that so many of you are trying to write this off as “not a big deal” really causes concern to me about the city in which I live.
elviskl
April 29th, 2011
12:12 pm
seems to me everyone has forgotten the S.O.B. that killed a van of 5 people while driving drunk after leaving a braves game a couple of yrs ago….dui, no big deal? bull s………..t
JIMBOB (aka James Robert)
April 29th, 2011
12:13 pm
There are some easily found articles on the internet which would make it seem that Lowe’s drinking problems (and carousing while married) were common knowledge as far back as his Boston days.
He seems like a massive waste of talent. It’s odd that the AJC never reported much on this.
NagoyaBrave
April 29th, 2011
12:16 pm
Leo, Leo, wherefore art thou Leo?
Belzeebub
April 29th, 2011
12:16 pm
T.H.U.G
Ken Stallings
April 29th, 2011
12:17 pm
Appalling, but entirely predictable line of responses from many.
Remember, racing a vehicle on public roads while DUI, means all that needed to happen for tragedy was for innocent people to be in the wrong place at the right time and they die!
That he refused the breathalizer test should tell people how foolish the minimalist statements are being written here! Refusing the test is termed “aggravated DUI” under the law. That means Lowe is looking at the harshest sentencing possible. There is not benefit under the law to refusing the breath test. The only benefit is pubic relations by giving people looking for a chance to apply a double standard of forgiveness to claim since we don’t know the blood alcohol level, then perhaps it was not really that big a deal!
If Lowe was only barely over the limit, or perhaps even barely under, he was a fool of first order to refuse the breath test. If he was dangerously drunk and racing a car, then the breath test would have confirmed his level of foolishness. But to refuse the breath test renders all the theorizing mute. The man got into a car, drove on our public roads, and violated several of our laws and clearly endangered the public doing it.
I don’t think the Braves are going to cut him, nor am I saying I would want them to. But several years ago a guard for the Charlotte Hornets killed himself racing cars against another teammate. Lowe could have suffered the same outcome and then we aren’t talking about fines and court appearances and future with the Braves. All those questions are answered!
It’s over, finished, the end!
But it could have been that fate for truly innocent people, sharing the roads in accordance with our laws! And not a single one of those posting these minimalist comments would dare write them should such an innocent victim been known to you! I hope you never have to face such personal horror!
Atlanta Braves: Derek Lowe Arrested For DUI – MUGSHOT
April 29th, 2011
12:17 pm
[...] Photo: AJC [...]
Braves 2011
April 29th, 2011
12:28 pm
Good points Ken.
Many participants of blogs are just college kids or younger out for a laugh.
A tiny few of them have futures as stand-up comics but mostly it’s just the same dumb comments I can remember making when I was young.
I am going to let Frank Wren worry about both situations.
I commented earlier that I much appreciate the black lady who came forward to be interviewed concerning the police arresting the loud women at the IHOP.
She backed up the policeman’s side of things.
She deserves a medal in my book.
Get em on.....Get em over..... Get em Home
April 29th, 2011
12:31 pm
Bravo Ken. Well said.
CaptainMudderland
April 29th, 2011
12:31 pm
100K car…running fast on city street…..this is called ‘getting attention.’
truth
April 29th, 2011
12:36 pm
If Braves want to take the high ground.
Stop selling ALCOHOL at the games. Some people that are in the Beer section drink ALOT
arlene
April 29th, 2011
12:40 pm
Enter your comments here
arlene
April 29th, 2011
12:44 pm
Why do athletes think they are above the law? The Braves are once again shamed by one of their members. One is a loudmouth arrogant coach, and the other is a potential drunk-driving killer. I hope they don’t just receive a slap on the wrist. What jerks!
Red Wolf
April 29th, 2011
12:44 pm
The Bobby Cox era is officially over.
UMRebinKnoxville
April 29th, 2011
12:44 pm
Before I saw that this article was about Derek Lowe I figured another Tennessee football player had gotten arrested…seriously, as a criminal defense lawyer Derek did the right thing by not submitting to the breath test. I suspect that he will wind up in better shape than Steve McNair did when he was charged with DUI in Nashville a few years ago. Fear not Braves fans…this might actually be a blessing in disguise…he might just focus in on pitching well the rest of the season. If he listens to his attorney he’ll absolutely be sober.
Braves 2011
April 29th, 2011
12:44 pm
BTW
2011 Falcons = 1984 Chargers (Fouts’ Superbowl team I think).
That chargers team was my favorite teams to watch.
Regardless of how much time was left, they could score or their opponent could on their lousy defense to force an OT.
About like the Buffalo Wild Wings commercial.
If we have a season, that is what is coming.
Kathy
April 29th, 2011
12:49 pm
What the heck is going on in ATL??? Bobby Cox’s seat on the bench is still warm and already there have been 2 negative incidents with the Braves organization. I don’t think this would have happened on Bobby’s watch. And for those saying it’s “just” a DUI and that we’ve all driven after drinking, save it. There’s NO excuse for it. Yes, I’m guilty of driving after a few drinks and it’s only by sheer luck that I didn’t end up where Derek Lowe is. I was NOT driving an $80K 2011 Porsche Panamara though!
nerf
April 29th, 2011
12:50 pm
I’d like to think if I made as much money as D. Lowe I’d hire a car service. Who knows, that’s just me.
UMRebinKnoxville
April 29th, 2011
12:52 pm
I forgot to say that Derek will in all likelihood enter some type of plea in this case…it will probably be structured to where he’ll be able to keep a clean record if he behaves for a certain period of time. At the very least, I think we’ll be seeing a lot of Derek on public service announcements and doing community service type appearances all over North Georgia. It doesn’t excuse what he has done, but I’d be willing to bet lunch at the Varsity that there’s at least one elected District Attorney General or a member of their staff who have a DUI on their record…I know we do here in Tennessee.
j
April 29th, 2011
12:56 pm
D-Lowe, this is a mistake that you need to learn from. We all make mistakes. Don’t let this affect your job.
Clarence Beeks
April 29th, 2011
12:56 pm
He should also be charged with public indecency for driving a Panamera. What a revolting car.
j
April 29th, 2011
12:58 pm
Hey Ken, Glad you have never made a mistake you f’n prick. I agree he could have hurt or killed someone. It is over and he didn’t. I am sure he is sorry and would exercise better judgement if he could do it over again. No one is perfect and I’m guessing you sure as hell aren’t.
Braves 2011
April 29th, 2011
12:59 pm
Have we beat this to death yet.
Time for Frank to decide what to do about RM.
A gay Cub fan claims Roger was a fan favorite of the Bleacher Bums though a Met in his playing days because he would carry on with their fans. Who was the bald, Jewish comedian who would insult everyone? Don Rickles. Not everyone thought him funny but many did. He played Vegas a lot and you would not take your children to his shows.
If RM has a history of having fun with fans, that defense would work better than saying little.
He needed to get ahead of this.
If he had just apologized and given each little girl a baseball, I bet nothing would have come from this.
More facts are needed to make a judgement.
Rick
April 29th, 2011
1:05 pm
“If Braves want to take the high ground.
Stop selling ALCOHOL at the games. Some people that are in the Beer section drink ALOT”
I’m sure that will help attendance
John
April 29th, 2011
1:07 pm
This is more than just a DUI as serious as DUI offenses are. Add in the racing and this demands a long term suspension or even release by the team. This wasn’t a mistake, folks. He didn’t accidemtally drink and accidentally drive and accidentally race. This was an intentional decision to commit a crime.
JC Baggett
April 29th, 2011
1:14 pm
Theo Epstein is exhaling a deep sigh of relief about right now for letting Lowe move on to the Dodgers at the end of 2004. What does Leo think?
Bernard
April 29th, 2011
1:19 pm
Ah athletes…gifted physically, but often lacking mental prowess to compliment their physical talents??…Roger dodger & daredevil Derek
zack
April 29th, 2011
1:19 pm
Ok, if you want to bad mouth cops on this, check this out: The State Patrol is the agency that popped Lowe. Their job is traffic enforcement, hence the name HIGHWAY PATROL. The city and county police are the ones who are dealing with the street thugs. And as far as Lowe, yeah dumb decision on his part but he must have already known not to take the breath test. Only Attorney’s and previous offendor’s know that..back me up here fellow Officers.. He’ll get the plea, the only thing the Trooper will have to do is show up to the DPS hearing for the admin license suspension. Derek already has either Stein or Bubba Head on his case…
zack
April 29th, 2011
1:25 pm
ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)…Get some there DEVIL DOG..SHOCK TROOP, OOHRAH
Paul Hewitt
April 29th, 2011
1:28 pm
Watch out Derek—once the ajc sportswriters start writing negative things about you–it is all over.
Bo in North Carolina
April 29th, 2011
1:35 pm
Some of you fans who are down on RM should have attended Brooklyn Dodgers games at Ebbets Field or Fenway Park when Ted Williams was playing. Fans tried to get seats in the outfield so they could have fun at Williams expense and it was not unusual for Williams to flip them the bird and you never heard outcries to discipline him. The fans enjoyed the give and take at those stadiums and games
MrDan
April 29th, 2011
1:38 pm
Who are the bigger fools? Sports figures or fans? That is the question.