Diamond Backs Fire Manager

No not Bob Brenly but Wally Backman 4 days after they hired him.

Arizona's management had been unaware of Backman's problems until they were reported in Tuesday's editions of The New York Times. Diamondbacks officials said they failed to do a criminal or financial background check on Backman.

"It's obviously a mistake on our part to have made a decision without having done the proper background work that could have been done, should have been done," managing partner Ken Kendrick said. "I take full responsibility for that, and I'm very sorry."

And what was the problem?

Backman was arrested in 2001 after a fight at his home involving his wife and one of her friends in Prineville, Ore. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment and was sentenced to 12 months' probation, ordered to undergo an anger management evaluation and donate $1,000 to the local Boys and Girls Club.

He was arrested, and later convicted, on a driving under the influence charge in Kennewick, Wash., in 2000.

A judge in Benton County, Wash., has ordered a hearing next month to determine if he violated his probation on the drunk driving charge. He served a day in jail and the rest of the one-year sentence was suspended on condition that he commit no new crimes.

The DUI is serious because it involves public safety, but apparently the decision to fire him was because when the Diamondbacks asked him if there was anything in his past that the organization should know about he said no.

The Phoenix Suns and the Diamondbacks I believe have strict moral values clauses in their contracts. There is a certain level of behavior that is tolerated that includes off-field activities. This was one of the main reasons Jason Kidd was traded for Stephon Marbury.

I don't know if it is lousy reporting, a mix up in facts, or I can't read but the harassment incident happened in 2001 according to this article. The DUI occurred in 2000. But then a Judge is having a hearing for him next month to decide if a DUI that occurred in 2000 is a violation of his probation of an incident that happened in 2001? -shakes head- Huh?

Or is it that the judge is having a hearing next month to decide if his harassment incident was a violation of his 2000 agreement? If that is the case it means if he commits as much as a parking ticket from that point until his death he could be in violation of this agreement and sent to jail? -shakes head- Huh?

Neither scenario makes sense but I tend to lean towards the second conclusion. My next question would be how long does he need to remain crime free in order to not be in violation of this agreement? There has to be a certain time limit, I can't imagine an infinite date applying to this. I just find it weird.