Josh Hancock Redux

I realize that the family of late Cardinal pitcher Josh Hancock must still be in the very early stages of the grieving and healing process following his fatal auto accident late last month.

At the same time, these painful days have apparently included several calls and communications with their legal counsel as Hancock's dad has just filed a wrongful death suit against the restaurant and bar his son visited that night. Also named are the owners of the disabled SUV that was stuck on the side of the road as well as the driver of the tow truck---both of which Hancock plowed into during beer-hazed evening.

Mr. Hancock, even in your most anguished moments, you need to think this one through. And consider your son.

By filing suit against Cardinal legend Mike Shannon's restaurant and bar, Hancock's dad is intimating that the ultimate control over a patron's intake is the restaurant. That, folks, is a ludicrous judgement call to me. I know people who, when completely bombed, give every appearance of sobriety. At the same time, I also know plenty of completely sober folks who act like complete assholes and give every indication of being liquored up. So, now it's up to the poor lowly bartender to decide that???

Josh's dad should see the movie "The Lost Weekend." Ray Milland's bartender in the picture has the same dilemma. He knows that one more shot glass of rye is going to send poor Don Birnam right over the edge. But, he pours it for him. Why? Because the customer demands it.

We have no idea how indignant Josh might have gotten that night if Shannon's had refused him one more drink. But, I am guessing he probably would get downright nasty. The kid obviously had a drinking problem. Heck, he had a bender several nights before and showed up one hour before game time. The Cardinals knew what was, no pun intended, brewing with their young hurler. Why doesn't the Hancock family sue the Cardinals?

For that matter, why don't they sue Verizon or whatever cell phone carrier Hancock was using while he was driving? Sue the girl who was on the end of the phone conversation and obviously was distracting Hancock's attention? Hey, let's sue the Missouri Transportation Authority for putting the highway there in the first place.

As painful as it is for the Hancocks, they must come to grips with the fact that Josh is dead because he accidentally killed himself. There is no fault there except for his own. A kid who obviously had a growing alcohol abuse problem that would have gotten somebody's undivided attention eventually. But, unfortunately, it was later than sooner.

Indeed, if Josh's accident had killed someone else either in another car or on the side of the road, they would have had every right to sue the Hancock family. And, most certainly, they would have every right to win.

It was Josh Hancock's fault. Deal with it.

Dinner last night: French Dip Ham sandwich at Phillipe's prior to the Dodger-Cub game. A longstanding Los Angeles tradition that I enjoyed for the first time.