Bay Area sports figures need to lay off the bottle

Remember Esteban Loaiza? We're sure you do. But on the slim chance you don't, we'll remind you that he is a pitcher for the Oakland A's. Oh, and about two and a half months ago, he was pulled over for doing 120 MPH and was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.

Smart, no? Hey, at least he didn't hit anybody.

Well, the same can't be said for San Jose Sharks forward Mark Bell. Bell, who, based on the picture to the side, is a bit, ugh, aggressive, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and felony hit-and-run after an accident this past weekend.

Great. Just great. Really, what's up with these athletes in The Bay? We can understand drinking; they're young athletes who like to indulge in an occasional one of these. But what's up with the drunk driving? C'mon, fellas, you know better than that. Well, maybe Loaiza doesn't. But we'll let that go.

But back to our hockey friend, Mark Bell. The AP story describes the scene of the accident and it appears that Bell crashed into a Datsun pickup. But Bell didn't exactly crash into him with his Hummer of Porsche. He hit the truck with a 2003 Toyota sedan.

You've got to be kidding? Bell just inked a $6.5 million deal with the Sharks and he's driving a fucking Camry? We suppose he could have been borrowing the car, but frankly, that'd just be worse. Drunk driving and a hit-and-run with somebody else's car isn't really a good thing.

Though, if there was an accomplice to the crime, it surely would be a Bay Area athlete. We're thinking Young Alex Smith. Yeah, that'd work.

In other news: The University of Texas climbed to No. 2 in the AP Poll Tuesday and will face No. 1 Ohio State next Saturday for the National Championship.