Diana Taurasi reacts to DUI arrest

by Seth Pollack on Jul 3, 2009 2:08 PM MDT in WNBA / Phoenix Mercury

Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi. July 1st, 2009. Photo by Max Simbron

Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi reacted for the first time publicly to news of her DUI arrest early Thursday morning.

"As part of the Phoenix community and the Mercury it's just something that's embarrassing and unfortunate for my family and for our organization. We'll have some other stuff to say later, but personally it's just a bad situation and I'm gonna have to do some things to make it straight. "

She was reluctant to say more given the on-going legal case.

The team had no comment on the situation only saying that Diana notified them immediately and that they are of course aware of the situation.

At this point, there is no indication that Taurasi will be suspended but that possibility remains should the organization or the league decide to go that route after receiving more information.

Just like when Jason Richardson was arrested (twice) last season, I have consistently never made a big moral issue out of these cases and I am not going to do so now. Of course, driving under the influence is not acceptable for anyone and yet people get busted all the time. I am not going to raise a big fuss when it is someone who is a public figure due to their role in sports. I don't hold sports figures to any different standard of public behavior then I hold anyone else and chances are if you get a DUI I won't be asking you about it and publishing your answer.

In other Mercury news, Coach Gaines said that center Nicole Ohlde is continuing to progress and is now available to play for five minute stretches. He is happy with her performance so far and looks for her to impact the game with her size. Looking forward to Sunday's match in LA against the Sparks, Gaines is anticipating that both Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker will play despite the Sparks saying that they won't.

The Mercury (7-4) are currently tied for first place in the West while the Sparks (3-5) are in 5th. The game is at 6:30 PST and will be broadcast on NBA TV.

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 07/03/09 1:30 PM MST ]

Looks like Parker is going to make her season debut against the Mercury Sunday.

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Comments

That was the worst apology ever

And I’m not going to go light on her just because she’s a girl.

She didn’t say sorry at all. She said, “it’s just something that’s embarrassing and unfortunate for my family and for our organization”

That’s more like, “I’m sorry for me”. She should go to the Barkley school of apologies, even he’s much better at it.

Who are these guys again?

by ZonaFlash on Jul 3, 2009 3:18 PM MDT reply actions

I confess, Diana Taurasi's DUI has now made the WNBA worth my time

I’m looking for WNBA data and salaries. I have found the following:

http://www.womensbasketballonline.com/wnba/index.html

The WNBA salary cap is about $800K, top players make around $100K and that the NBA has to subsidize the WNBA for about $12 Million a year, since the league doesn’t make money yet. To give you a sense of how much underwater the WNBA is, total payroll is 13 teams * $800K salary cap = 10.4 million dollars. And the NBA needs to subsidize 12 million in expenses.

The WNBA kicked off in 1997. I wonder if this sport can get to profitability or not. I think “why not?!”

Who are these guys again?

by ZonaFlash on Jul 3, 2009 3:35 PM MDT reply actions

allow me to make a fuss

Well, I for one make a big fuss about DWIs all the time, whether it’s people in my social circle, or the month I spent handing down indictments to an endless stream of felony DWIs while serving jury duty.

So I feel quite comfortable and fully qualified in offering round and harsh criticism to Taurasi, J-Rich, Barkley, and everyone else who gets busted. Just as I will criticize even myself for the few times in my life I was irresponsible and had little to no business getting behind the wheel. To put it bluntly, when will people learn to stop putting lives in imminent danger??

by j-smoove on Jul 3, 2009 9:16 PM MDT reply actions

Why is it basketball stars always seem to drink and drive in Arizona?

Seriously?

by Batmanthesunsfan on Jul 3, 2009 11:43 PM MDT reply actions

Miss Taurasi, No Longer The Bright Star

Living here in Ct, all you would hear is "Diana this Diana that, what a star, she carried the team ".
Nice to see that this so called star showed her true colors.
They spoke of her on the news @ 6PM, nothing after that, wonder why?
Perhaps phone calls were made asking to remain silent on the matter.
Whatever the case, she’s not so pixus after all, I’m sure it was a blow to her ego as well.

by SaraJ on Jul 4, 2009 8:04 AM MDT reply actions