Joba Chamberlain's DUI, Video Style

Joba Chamberlain seems like a pretty cool dude. So surely he's watched Reno 911 on Comedy Central. (Those things are, after all, not even remotely considered mutually exclusive.) Or perhaps he hasn't. After all, as The Smoking Gun found in the video below, he did fall for a classic gag when arrested for DUI recently, discussing a DUI stop on the show with the officer who pulled him over, believing that what appeared on the show was real. At least he's not the first one to think that.

Athletes in Trouble With the Law

Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain was arrested near his hometown of Lincoln, Neb., in October for allegedly driving under the influence and having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle. He pleaded guilty to the first charge last week and has been given probation. Click through to see more sports figures' legal woes.

Kathy Willens, AP

March 25, 2008: Former Michigan State and Lions wide receiver Charles Rogers, here in a file photo, is sent to prison after a probation violation.

Carlos Osorio, AP

March 21: Raiders offensive tackle and Super Bowl XXXVII champ Cornell Green is arrested on a domestic violence charge in Florida. Tampa police say Green struck the mother of his two children with an aluminum mop handle.

Getty Images

March 20: Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn has been charged with assault causing bodily injury for allegedly punching a cabbie.

Scott Boehm, Getty Images

March 16: Former Lakers star Norm Nixon was arrested for investigation of drunken driving after cops allegedly smelled alcohol coming from his car.

Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

March 16: Nets forward Sean Williams was arrested for suspicion of disorderly conduct and felony criminal mischief after an incident at a cell phone store.

Ray Amati, NBAE / Getty Images

March 9: Jaguars wide receiver Matt Jones was taken into custody for possession of a controlled substance, a violation of his probation that stemmed from a July 2008 arrest for cocaine possession.

Sam Greenwood, Getty Images

March 12: Former New York Mets pitcher Ambiorix Burgos was convicted of throwing his girlfriend against a wall and punching her in a motel. Burgos was also indicted in September 2008 on charges of hit and run after an accident killed two women.

Jorge Cruz, AP

March 9: Former University of Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama, just weeks before the NFL Draft, was arrested on suspicion of extreme DUI in Tucson.

Alex Brandon, AP

March 6: Former NFL bust Brian Bosworth was arrested in Hollywood on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Craig Fujii, AP

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

4-07-2009 @ 1:33PM

mercuriojoe said...

HERE'S IS A LESSON, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LAWYER WITH YOU DON'T DO NO DOG AND PONY SHOW FOR COPS

4-07-2009 @ 9:17PM

Van Hamlin said...

FAILURE TO COMPLY CAN RESULT IN A 6 MONTH SUSPENSION! DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!

4-07-2009 @ 8:15PM

APerfectGentlman said...

So what was wrong with that? Joba did all of those absurd "tests" and looked good in all of them, save for one step in the "heel-to-toe" walk. The cop could have let him go. He certainly does not appear inebriated in any way whatsoever.

4-07-2009 @ 9:06PM

Jolee said...

Ok first of all, you both are morons! You have to submit to a field test, or you lose your license, and you DON'T have the right to have a lawyer present! It's something you sign away when you receive your DL. And the test are not "Absurd" they are to keep the law abiding citizens safe on the road from drunk drivers. And he clearly was too drunk to drive, because he failed all those test miserably!

4-07-2009 @ 11:37PM

mattfro said...

Wrong. Field sobriety is VOLUNTARY. Blowing or giving blood is not. If you refuse to blow or give blood, it's a 1 year suspension, but you do NOT have to do the roadside. Period!

4-08-2009 @ 1:15PM

blutess said...

Ummm...perhaps in YOUR particular state field sobriety tests are mandatory, however in the state of Florida they are not. The BREATH test is mandatory or else you automatically lose your license here for one year. (Or a min. of 90 days if your administrative hearing is successful.) Field sobriety tests are MEANT to make you appear under the influence. Many people cannot do them due to physical constraints,(bad back, knees, ear issues) but they attempt them anyway to please the officer and because many times they foolishly believe they can do them. As a paralegal who formerly worked for a criminal defense atty.; it is in your best interest to NOT do them, but it IS to do the breath test. Of course I am NOT and I stress NOT giving ANY legal advice in any way, merely stating an opinion based on my experience.

4-08-2009 @ 2:03PM

tickntak said...

Jolee you sure know how to hide your identity,,,,dont think anyone cant tell you're a cop...or should i say a pig...i hope a bus doesnt hit you...

4-07-2009 @ 9:08PM

Margaret said...

Just another dirtbag criminal!

4-07-2009 @ 11:45PM

Margaret, do any of your friends have a DUI? Are they dirt bag criminals?

4-08-2009 @ 4:37AM

Mark said...

Yeah Margaret Answer that question. Do you have any friends that had gotten a DUI? Do you call them dirt bags? You probably are a white trash drunk that calls other out on it.

4-07-2009 @ 9:22PM

I am one of those scumbag cops - you weenie heads! I ran a DUI unit and taught sobriety testing. The suspect didn't do the walk and turn very well - I scored three indicators there but I thought he did the balance test Okay. The officer was not using the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, which is a really good indicator. For you knuckleheads - that's where the scumbag cop asks you to stand still and follow his pen with your eyes!

THE MESSAGE HERE IS DON'T DRIVE WHEN YOU'RE DRUNK!!!

4-07-2009 @ 9:36PM

jagmar2 said...

I got a DUI from one of you "scumbag cops" (your words, not mine...) I just wanted to say, thank you... Drank twice since '94 and driving wasn't an option... Keep being a "scumbag cop" I really do appreciate you... My kids appreciate you... And anyone else here, whos lives have been affected by alcohol should appreciate "scumbag cops" like you as well...

4-07-2009 @ 10:01PM

mmcfar2734 said...

I agree. I am a former PO and my observance indicated that he did not do the walk and turn well, but he did well with the balance test. As a general rule, I always had them follow the pen with their eyes - for me that was the best indicator to use out in the field. Whenever this test indicated the subject was drunk, it was always verified by their alcohol breath test given back at the station house (that is, of course, as long as they agreed to take it!). I would be interested in knowing what his blood alcohol level really was.

4-07-2009 @ 11:43PM

Van, IYO, why wouldn't this officer have used the nystagmus? Isn't that the most effective roadside tool? He did have a pretty wide step towards the end, and maybe 2 steps that he did not go heel to toe, but I didn't see much else there. May I ask what you scored as indicators? Thanks...

4-08-2009 @ 1:27AM

Menno said...

Actually, you are lower than scum -- you take tax/theft money in exchange for committing violence against individuals who dare to exercise their own judgments.
But you are "just doing your job", aren't you???
THE MESSAGE HERE IS STOP HARMING THOSE WHO HAVE HARMED NO ONE ELSE!

4-08-2009 @ 5:26PM

skianderin said...

Amen. I'll be telling my kids to stay away from all of those things that can effect your judgement like drugs and alcohol. Personally I never drove drunk and never went near the drugs. I hope that I can steer my children in that direction. If they never go near that stuff in first place then drunk driving will be a moot point.

4-07-2009 @ 9:24PM

Thaddeus said...

This guy should be setting exsample.Any fool knows dui is no joking matter. gitting drunk can cost you more than your money.it can cost you your freedom or job.

4-07-2009 @ 9:31PM

of course you shouldn't drink and drive, nor should you d dog and pony shows for cops