This is a story that could be in any NFL town, on any given Sunday. But in this instance, it’s a closing chapter to a sad South Florida story. And, God knows, there are at least one of those every day.
This is the story of David Whiting, a middle-aged fan from West Palm Beach driving drunk on his way home from a Dolphins game on Nov. 19, 2006.
This is also the story of the crash Whiting caused that day on I-95 that killed Barry Mazer, a family man from Boca Raton, and his 2-year-old daughter Sydney. Three other very young Mazer children survived the crash. They were on their way home from a family outing. Mazer's final words were said to be: "Please, save the children."
In the bigger picture, it's an example of the dirty, little not-so-secret behavior of binge drinking at NFL games.
That intersection of drunken hubris and family togetherness could result in a sentence of life in prison for Whiting on Friday in a Fort Lauderdale courtroom.
Whiting, now 50, had attended the Dolphins 24-20 victory against the Minnesota Vikings on that Sunday afternoon. There was testimony Thursday that Whiting was so intoxicated at the scene that he barely understood what had happened and could barely stand up.
One paramedic said in the courtroom as Whiting’s sentencing phase began that at the scene Whiting cared only that the Dolphins had won the game he attended. A Broward forensic toxicologist testified that judging from the blood-alcohol test administered to Whiting that Whiting must have consumed 10-11 beers. Another paramedic said that he heard Whiting on the telephone with his mother, letting her know he wouldn’t make dinner, had gotten into an accident and “somebody died… but at least the Dolphins won.”
Mazer family members said in court that Whiting has been in jail since June 2007 because of a subsequent DUI charge while out of jail on bond for the DUI fatalities. He faces a minimum of 30-plus years and could get life. He pleaded no contest to multiple charges and leaves his fate to the judge. [UPDATE: The judge sentenced Whiting to 35 years in prison on Friday.]
Let’s be clear: The Dolphins and the NFL were not at fault. But is the league doing everything it can to alter fan behavior as it relates to alcohol? What should a league that worries so much about its image that it fines players for using the ball as a celebration prop do? Should the NFL only worry about what's on the playing field? Is stopping sales of alcohol after the third period enough? What measures should they take?
Discuss.
Comments
Alcohol should be banned from all sporting events. Legitimate sports fans should not need alcohol to enjoy a game . Besides the driving issue many of those who drink at games are loud, unruly ,cause fights and display obnoxious behavior .
Why was his 62 year-old nanny driving in the first place. I mean, if your going to be in a car with all of your children, you should at least be in control of the steering wheel.
If he had been driving, maybe the outcome would have been different, but who knows.
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