Ken Stabler Arrested For DUI

by outsidethesidelines on Jun 9, 2008 12:06 AM CDT Comment 18 comments

If you remember "The Six Beer Challenge " diary from about three months ago, you'll remember that Ken Stabler was singled out as perhaps the hardest drinker to ever wear the crimson and white.

And some things never change. According to published reports , Stabler was arrested for DUI in Robertsdale, Alabama. The arrest occurred at approximately 1:00 AM just off of Highway 59. Here is the mugshot:

None of this is shocking, mind you. As mentioned earlier, Stabler has long been a notorious drinker. Once when asked about his divorces he reasoned, "All I wanna do is drive around in my truck and drink Jack Daniels... and they just don't understand." Again, no shock. It should be pointed out that this is Stabler's third DUI arrest, his first coming in 1995 and his second coming in 2001 when he was working as the Alabama color commentator.

Considering this is his second DUI offense during his time in the booth, and considering the importance given to both the prevention of alcoholic consumption and DUI's on campuses across the country, this could very well get Stabler in some very hot water with the university. Personally I love Stabler as a color commentator because he is not only very honest and blunt about game situations, but his extensive knowledge of the game is usually readily obvious during the games. Both are qualities that you struggle to find in color commentators these days, and I hope this doesn't cost him his job. However, I imagine you will at least see a push in some circles aimed at getting him removed from the booth.

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Oh well?

I guess this doesn’t qualify as a “crying shame”, I mean- the man IS a man! I think it was none other than Darwin who is quoted as saying, “Man, with all his noble qualities, still bears the indelible mark of his lowly origins”. (not sure what I’m getting at in writing that? I might have to get back you on that one?)

Still, I love The Snake. . . .in much the same way I feel for Willie Nelson. Crazily-talented country boys that they are. I hope he fares well throughout this unfortunate circumstance and I hope his many fans stand by him as this process unfolds. My heroes have always made me proud, so I’m gonna stick with him ‘cause I know every man has the potential to be redeemed.

(his expression in this mugshot appears that he’s not entirely broken-up over the matter! do you think he’s got any notions as to the pickle he’s got himself in? homegrown must be higher than 10 Indians right now? must have been some good stuff, Maynard?)

by BixBeiderbecke on Jun 9, 2008 1:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You know what this means

If they get rid of Stabler, that means we’ll be subjected to the insufferable Jay Barker a little earlier than otherwise. That is just not acceptable.

Richard Pittman

by Richard Pittman on Jun 9, 2008 6:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

JB

That boy just needs to stick to doing his car commercials.

Cause bama's pluck and gritt has writ her name in crimson flame.

by pluckandgritt on Jun 9, 2008 8:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's not OK.

Robertsdale at 1:00AM, the only person driving around town is probably a drunk Alabama fan.
Even if the streets were deserted, it’s still serious.
Kenny wouldn’t be half smiling in that mugshot if he had killed somebody.
I don’t care if he drinks himself into oblivion on a nightly basis, he shouldn’t drive drunk.

I think he gets one last chance.
One more incident of public humiliation and the University must move on with somebody else.

by jdcrimod on Jun 9, 2008 7:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

keep the snake

i hope they keep kenny regardless of what “group” pressure comes at them. he is the BEST commentator in the biz! while i dont condone DRUNK driving, nowadays with the lowered threshold on the alcohol content , ” .9” i think it is, 2 beers can get you arrested. that is ridiculous. Maybe he was S__T faced , i dont know. if thats the case, roll him into the limo….just get him back into the booth on Saturdays !

by jimbopeep on Jun 9, 2008 8:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm not totally shocked...

...but still disappointed. I’m with everyone else on here, apparently; Stabler is a great commentator and I love listening to him, but drunk driving is a serious matter and he needs to face some consequences.

Roll Bama Roll

by Todd on Jun 9, 2008 8:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Snake

must really enjoy drinking and driving. He’s said it before, but this is proof that he really doesn’t see a problem with being behind the wheel after some drinks. Normally we’d ask, “Why doesn’t he hire a driver or get a cab?” But he clearly doesn’t want to. I hope he can move past this habit before someone gets hurt or he gets in more trouble.

by Bamagrad on Jun 9, 2008 8:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

that he definitelyshould not have been drinking and driving. I like him in the booth as well. I’m just glad he didn’t get belligerent toward the cops. It would have made bigger headlines and caused more problems too. Still, he needs to get cleaned up too.

"Stallings, some days I like you. Some days I don't. Get your head out of your butt." The Bear to Stallings during a game at A&M.

by SDBama78 on Jun 9, 2008 8:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Man this gets old....

I really like the snake as well, love hearing him during the games. You can feel his love for the University and the team. That being said, I am completely tired of “Alabama People” making ridiculous decisions, particularly repeated ones. Every time we start making head way with positive news and apparently heading in the right direction, a story like this has to surface and force everyone to take a step back.
Giving the difficult road traveled in the last decade by The U of A, I for the life of me can’t understand how ANYONE employed by Alabama could make such a dumb mistake/decision. My thought is this…The U of A is in the process of returning to the stature it needs to be at and can not afford the types of incidents from anyone. If the current staff/players/ represntatives can not get on board completely with that…they need to move on to greener pastures…on there own or by dismissal.

by String30 on Jun 9, 2008 9:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I love the Snake

meet him a few months ago and he took alot of time with me. Signed my 6 month old sons bama jersey and told me about meeting his boyhood hero Mickey Mantle.

Saban’s influence will be interesting. Since Saban controls all aspects of the football program, I’d say Saban holds the keys to the Snakes future. With Saban’s current emphasis on discipline, things don’t look good for the Snake. I listen to Snake on the radio, while watching the game at the stadium or at home. (the .5 second delay drives me wife nuts as I am screaming while the ball is just snapped on TV).

The only radio broadcast that compares is the Titans and UGa. By far the worst is Auburn, the unfortunate synergy of whining, complaining, homerism and a rudimentary knowledge of the English language.

by heffie on Jun 9, 2008 10:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Looking at the Mugshot....

Snake was probably pretty far over the legal limit. I don’t want him to be kicked of the broadcast, but i do think it would be a great idea for him to produce some PSAs that would run during the broadcast and the Coaches Show about the Evils of Drinking and Driving. That would go a long way towards rectifying the situation. I might be especially important after night games when people who have been drinking all day are trying to all get back home, i know in my younger days i certainly made that mistake more than once….

/suddenly my sig isn’t quite as funny…

I'm in no condition to drive...wait! I shouldn't listen to myself, I'm drunk.

by That Other Dave on Jun 9, 2008 10:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

PSA's aren't enough, though...

They certainly need to be part of the mix, but how far will they really go when he’s already stated ‘publicly’ that he’s just fine with drinking and driving. Mixed messages don’t work, and no one will take his PSA’s seriously if he’s not severely punished some other way. There may be other ways than to take him off of broadcasting, but whatever those ways may be, they’re going to have to be pretty severe. And in the end, isn’t it better for him to lose his job and maybe wake up than to not lose it and to have to hear Eli announce his eulogy one day? Or even worse, someone else’s?

by SugarBowl93 on Jun 9, 2008 3:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

what?

I wasn’t aware that he’s “publicly” stated that he’s just fine with Drinking & Driving, when was this?

I'm in no condition to drive...wait! I shouldn't listen to myself, I'm drunk.

by That Other Dave on Jun 9, 2008 3:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Here's the quote...

From the initial RBR post: “All I wanna do is drive around in my truck and drink Jack Daniels… and they just don’t understand.” Sounds like he’s endorsing drinking and driving to me. I hope that’s not what he meant by it, but it’s sure the first impression I got.

by SugarBowl93 on Jun 10, 2008 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shake Stabler

He’s certainly one of the best commentator in the Biz…and we love listening to him.but we love all the Alabama hero’s …”SO What” you can get arrested in that town having one beer…”“just drive in it At 1:00 a.m. !!!you would see””...the cop was probably for that other school….but too! arrest.a home- boy , not good for robertsdale!!!!! Take him off broadcasting,you have too be nuts….Dumb mistake !! Yes /// Bad decision !! Yes But a mistake.. could have called a cab or limo…there other ways to take care of a person then to take his job…what are you thinking!!!!!slow down string / jdcrimod.. It’s pretty severe to get your magshot. ? even worse how do you think he feels over the matter….some one needed a story ..news so the cop gave us one…. If it had been one of us ,it would’nt be news…don’t drink and drive in or around small towns like L.A. ...you know ….. Lower. Alabama !!! We love eli TOO…

by alarose on Jun 10, 2008 12:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

HUH?

Alarose, it’s fairly hard to determine your point with all the broken thoughts and incomplete sentences, but I assume you are making excuses for Snake. As I said, I really enjoy Snake’s heart for Alabama and superb game broadcasts. I really wish he hadn’t gotten busted with his third DUI…but he did.
Every time a Bama person gets in trouble, all the “Bama Homers” that can’t see past their crimson shades want to start making ridiculous excuses like the ones you mention above. I hold that the “out of touch” Bama fans are hurting The University without even realizing it by calling and blogging and enabling these kind of attitudes by constatntly excusing any bad decision made.
Unfortunately Stabler has repeated this bad decision for a third time and once again brought negative press and a bad situation to The University. The first or even second time is a mistake and worthy of “another chance”. This however is a pattern…one which appears that is going to hang around. How is Saban supposed to repremand a player for the same offense when that player can look at Stabler still serving The University and on his third offense for the same thing. I am sorry, but if Snake can’t rectify this problem (as he apparently can’t), it may be time for him to go.

by String30 on Jun 10, 2008 9:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That was kinda convoluted alarose!

And I’m the most off-topic stream-of-(un)consciousness knucklehead here at RBR? Can’t make a head or a tail of yours? So, that’s pretty much a compliment AND a complaint.

by BixBeiderbecke on Jun 10, 2008 9:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Not Making Excuses for Snake

He’s gotta get his head straight. He’s a relative of mine – not close – and I’ve been hearing drinking stories about him for a long time now. I really hate to say this (since I love the guy and idolized him as a kid) but he doesn’t need to represent the Crimson Tide till he deals with this mammoth problem – and it is a mammoth problem. Like I said, he’s been on and off drinking for a long time. From what I understand (and given, this is 3rd-4th hand), he’s tried to shake his habit in the past. I think he checked himself into a program once or twice if I’m not mistaken. But realize it’s going to be hard for him. Drinking killed his dad (Slim). Not making excuses for him, but I’m pretty sure this sort of problem has a genetic component. But he needs to shake this problem or it will kill him like it did his dad.

Love Ya Snake, BUT GET HEALTHY

by UAMemphis on Jun 11, 2008 5:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs