What is up with Scott Olsen? (1 Viewer)

[JaxBill]

AVENTURA, Fla. (AP) -- Troubled pitcher Scott Olsen of the Florida Marlins was arrested early Saturday after refusing to pull over and getting into a fight with police officers.

Olsen was booked into the Miami-Dade county jail on charges of driving under the influence, resisting an officer with violence and fleeing and eluding a police officer. He was released Saturday afternoon on $11,000 bond.

It was the latest in a string of problems for the 23-year-old left-hander, who returned to the Marlins on Friday night following a two-game suspension without pay after a confrontation with teammate and fellow pitcher Sergio Mitre. Olsen got the win in a 10-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

The pitcher was at the stadium before the team's game Saturday against the Reds but brushed off questions about the arrest.

"There's a legal process that has to be followed and we're going to take all the necessary precautions and steps and let the legal process pave the way. We're going to have to work on it, and that's all I really have to say," Olsen told The Associated Press.

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The Marlins also released a statement saying they would "let the legal process run its course" before commenting further.

"As an organization, we take this very seriously and are extremely disappointed," the statement read.

The Miami Herald reported that Marlins star Dontrelle Willis was following Olsen in his own car Saturday, but was not involved and no charges have been filed against him.

"He was not part of this," Police Lt. Michael Bentolila told the newspaper. "He did not interfere with us. He was nothing but a gentleman."

Willis was arrested Dec. 22 on a drunken driving charge. He has pleaded not guilty.

Olsen received a black eye last season from his friend and former teammate, reliever Randy Messenger, in an off-the-field confrontation in St. Petersburg. Olsen also got into dugout disputes with teammate Miguel Cabrera and then-manager Joe Girardi, who grabbed him by the jersey during a discussion.

This year, Olsen was fined an unspecified amount in June for making an obscene gesture toward fans in Milwaukee.

Bentolila said Olsen was arrested in the Miami suburb of Aventura, where an officer clocked him driving 48 mph in a 35 mph zone and attempted to pull him over at about 3:40 a.m.

Olsen continued to drive about one mile, running a stop sign before stopping at his Aventura home, Bentolila said.

The pitcher got out of his car and sat down on a plastic chair in front of his home. When backup officers arrived and tried to arrest him, Bentolila said Olsen kicked at the officers, who used a stun gun on the 6-foot-5 pitcher.

Olsen then failed a field sobriety test and refused an alcohol breath test, Bentolila said. A booking photo showed Olsen had two scrapes on his forehead over his right eye.

Olsen will earn $380,000 this season, his third with the Marlins.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-m...p&type=lgns

 

[redman]

This smells a lot like a drinking or drug problem. The fact that Willis was following him (presumably home) at the time he was pulled over reinforces that for me because it suggests to me that Willis knew that he was intoxicated and tried to escort him. Frankly, that's poor judgment on Willis' part too if I'm right, but Olsen sounds like he's a step or two short of Josh Hancock's fate.

 

[HellToupee]

The pitcher got out of his car and sat down on a plastic chair in front of his home. When backup officers arrived and tried to arrest him, Bentolila said Olsen kicked at the officers, who used a stun gun on the 6-foot-5 pitcher.

I'd love to see this on youtube

 

[Night Hawks]

"What is up with Scott Olsen?"

A friend of mine offers up the fact that the reason athletes are so prone to screwing up is all their life, they've been told they were great. There's an invincibility factor going on there. Then, you give them the means to do whatever they want, i.e. a lot of money, and the combination is volatile. It's not some amazing theory he has but I think it's pretty good. He basically says if you or I would have the money, we'd be just as likely (likely, not certain) to have the same problems. My counter is regardless of money and fame, they have to be more responsible because there is the potential to get in trouble and people love to see them screw up. i think, the fact that they are public figures almost gives them the duty of being a better example.

What do you guys think?

 

[JaxBill]

"What is up with Scott Olsen?"A friend of mine offers up the fact that the reason athletes are so prone to screwing up is all their life, they've been told they were great. There's an invincibility factor going on there. Then, you give them the means to do whatever they want, i.e. a lot of money, and the combination is volatile. It's not some amazing theory he has but I think it's pretty good. He basically says if you or I would have the money, we'd be just as likely (likely, not certain) to have the same problems. My counter is regardless of money and fame, they have to be more responsible because there is the potential to get in trouble and people love to see them screw up. i think, the fact that they are public figures almost gives them the duty of being a better example.What do you guys think?

I don't think the Marlins helped with their two-game (so he wouldn't miss a start) suspension after his previous episode.I think the guy has some substance issues and it's not just alcohol. He's shown a pattern of aggression with first his teammates and now the cops.

 

[Please See Mine]

I've always loved his inexplicable hatred of the Phillies.