"The events leading up to Nick Adenhart's Death"

Story from ESPN
... :(

almost 3 years ago HawaiiHaloFan35 19 comments 2 recs |

Comments

While recognizing that his family is grieving

as their son is about to be put in jail for the rest of his life, give or take a few years at the end (assuming he can survive 55 years in the slammer), it’s very easy to see how Gallo got the way he is, irresponsible and callous: his family found excuses for everything he did.

“I didn’t think he was out getting into trouble,” Sagahon says. “It was an accident. It’s not like he was a bad kid or a gang member.”

No, drunk driving doesn’t make you a bad kid … twice (that he was caught for) … and killing three people? Just an accident.

I had a teensy bit of sympathy for Gallo’s family. This article pretty much evaporated it.

Witty .sig goes here.

by scareduck on Apr 17, 2009 1:51 PM PDT reply actions

Thanks for posting this

But this just reeks of psycho-babble apologist bullshit.

Gallo’s parents got divorced. Waahh! He had a rough childhood. Waahh!

What’s up with the last line of the story too? Is that supposed to make Gallo look like he’s a caring criminal?

RIP Nick Adenhart, #34

by Higz on Apr 17, 2009 2:16 PM PDT reply actions

actually it incriminates him

even more… in case he was going to use the defense that he was a mentally ill blackout drunk, well that is out of the question now…

by Rev Halofan on Apr 17, 2009 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm sure it does

But IMO the author didn’t use that line to help incriminate Gallo. Its inclusion seems to be a way of humanizing a murderer. I think this essay borders on the offensive.

RIP Nick Adenhart, #34

by Higz on Apr 17, 2009 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Let's read it in a year

and see. the heat of immediate emotions can color our judgement. One of the reasons Gallo is in jail is it would have been the death penalty to have let him out on the street.

by Rev Halofan on Apr 17, 2009 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions

That

and $2M bail.

Witty .sig goes here.

by scareduck on Apr 18, 2009 3:09 AM PDT up reply actions

The fact that this was run on ESPN, I found it ghoulish.

My immediate thought was, would they have printed the same article had it been a Red Sox or Yankee player?

I wonder what responsibility the bartender has serving Gallo a hard liquor shot and a beer on the way out the door, that is a recipe for disaster right there.

The parents were clearly acting irresponsibly by loaning Gallo the family car to go out during the evening hours after he has had two DUI’s and failed his prescribed rehab treatment. (Not that I think praying and raking leaves is a cure for alcoholism.)

by 44FAN on Apr 17, 2009 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Regarding your last point...

If what this author writes is what actually happened, we now know that Gallo’s stepmother was at least partially responsible for this murder. She knew Gallo–he with the suspended license, prior DUI, and drinking problem–was using the car because he told her he’d be back later and there is no mention of her trying to stop him. That is TERRIBLE parenting and criminal irresponsibility.

Also, they say Gallo is a “good kid.” What good kid goes out drinking the night before he’s going to start a new job?

Like scareduck, I now have zero sympathy for the parents.

One last

RIP Nick Adenhart, #34

by Higz on Apr 17, 2009 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Scratch that last line

RIP Nick Adenhart, #34

by Higz on Apr 17, 2009 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions

The author wants to point out what a hard life Gallo lead

His parents got divorced, his step-brother was an alcoholic. blah blah blah.

Courtney’s parents got divorced too but it talks about how she was active in the schools she went too, got straight A’s. I guess her parents’ divorce just wasn’t as rough on her that she had to become an alcoholic.

As a HS teacher I’m always upset when my students give me excuses for their behavior. I tell them that once they get into the real world after HS no one is going to care about their excuses. I tell them that when the going get tough, the tough get going. After reading this article I guess I need to think though what I tell my students. Maybe I should tell them, do whatever you want, and even if you wind up killing 3 people, society will just come up with reasons why you had it so bad and that you really had no choice but to become a no good loser.

No one has a perfect life, everyone can come up with excuses. Gallo knew it was wrong to drink and drive. He had been told so by our Justice System, he had been told so by the people running the rehab center, but he did it anyway. I hope he’s in prison for the rest of his life.

I also hope his step-mother gets thrown in jail. One can only hope it’s a crime to loan your car to someone that has a suspended license.

by MH252525 on Apr 17, 2009 4:56 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Could not agree more

RIP Nick Adenhart, #34

by Higz on Apr 17, 2009 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Well put.

RIP Nick Adenhart - Angel fans will never forget you!

by Downing Rules on Apr 17, 2009 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions

I also hope his step-mother gets thrown in jail. One can only hope it’s a crime to loan your car to someone that has a suspended license.

im pretty sure thats a ticket but no jail time

R.I.P. Nick Adenhart #34

by Vladd#27 on Apr 17, 2009 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions

I believe the point of the article

was to illustrate how f***ed up this whole situation is. I get where most of you are coming from, and this story just completely tears my guts out. But to say it’s offensive, well……

….I agree with Rev – let’s revisit in a year.

*34*

by ViolaHalo on Apr 17, 2009 6:48 PM PDT reply actions

boo hoo

Waahhhh, my parents got divorced when I was 5, you don’t see me mowing people down.

I can only hope this guy gets put in a cell with a gang member/Angels fan who has not seen a woman in 10 years.

by elricsi on Apr 18, 2009 12:29 AM PDT reply actions

An Angel fan in jail for ten years?

what is he gonna say, “This one if for not re-signing Chuck Finley or even offering him arbitration to get a draft pick…”

by Rev Halofan on Apr 18, 2009 12:49 AM PDT up reply actions

maybe Gallo will share cells with Tawny. She’ll kick Gallo’s ass, too.

RIP Nick Adenhart - Angel fans will never forget you!

by Downing Rules on Apr 18, 2009 9:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Gallo's last comments...

served the reader as a glimpse of a man who knew he did wrong, and internally, was preparing himself for the reality in which he is in for. I think people say the damndest things after they have committed a wrongdoing-they don’t know better. Also, every person has a story to tell, from the most righteous one- to the most vile. will always shed a tear for those lost little boys and girls who are now men and women who are truly living a fucked up life, because they were brought up in fuckled up situations (Nature vs. Nurture…always pick Nurture). I am concerned when someone remarks that they don’t have sympathy for a person who can’t rationalize wrong from right. Some are not blessed such as others (i.e. a caring, stable, household, a safe neighborhood, good schools, etc. Do me favor, for all of the ones who don’t understand these “criminals” , get in touch with your parents or guardians, and tell them that you love them, and most of all, thank them (I’m sure many of you have) for instilling in you the type of moral fiber that allows you to be a responsible human being. As for the ones who have parents who are gone (my dads been gone for 16 years, 3 months, and 12 days), take a moment and reflect that it was them (and not you) who gave you a moral compass to steer clear of the bullshit!

Gimme a cigarette

by tmat on Apr 18, 2009 10:27 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs