John Daly Goes to Hooters, Gets So Drunk Cops Take Him to Jail to Sober Up

For most golf fans, the 2008 PGA Tour season ended with last month's Tour Championship. (Or, more realistically, the Ryder Cup since the FedEx Cup is basically the unofficial start to the silly season.) Which means that there's not much to talk about until January's Mercedes Championship, or until Tiger Woods decides to tee it up again.

That was the case until about an hour ago, anyway. Thanks to alert FanHouse reader Heather we've learned that John Daly, the Joe Six-Pack of professional sports, has been cuffed, stuffed, poured into an orange jumpsuit and detained.

According to News-Record.com, Daly was held in custody Sunday after police said he was drunk off his arse in a Winston-Salem, NC restaurant. And as if it needs clarification, yeah, it was a Hooters. (Inveterate FanHouse blogger, Winston-Salem-area local, and Hooters regular Will Brinson somehow wasn't on the scene.)

Police officers were called at 2:17 a.m. to the Hooters at 120 Hanes Square Circle on a medical call. When officers arrived, Daly, who had earlier lost consciousness, was being treated by EMS.

Daly "appeared extremely intoxicated and uncooperative," police stated in a news release. Daly repeatedly refused to be escorted to the hospital and was eventually asked to leave the restaurant by workers there.

If this weren't so depressing it would be hilarious. But Daly is 42 years old, not 21, and he has a long history of substance abuse, often played out in public.

Daly spent the night in the can to sober up and was later released. No idea where he goes from here; he's still without his PGA Tour card and he's mentioned playing on the European Tour in 2009. I could climb up on my soapbox and give my "you're going to drink yourself to death" speech, but I'm pretty sure Big John's heard that one a time or 50.

Of course, if the professional golf thing does eventually fall through (which optimistically assumes it already hasn't), there's always the circus. It's good to have a fallback plan, I suppose.

Arresting Images

John Daly: The golfer was taken into custody Oct. 26, 2008, by Winston-Salem police after he was found drunk outside a Hooters restaurant. Officers said Daly "appeared extremely intoxicated and uncooperative."

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, AP

Larry Johnson: Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson turned himself into police on Oct. 27, 2008 and was charged with simple assault following an incident in a nightclub, where Johnson reportedly spat his drink in a woman's face and threatened her boyfriend's life.

Kansas City Mo. Police Department/AP

Willie D. Clark: The 25-year-old was indicted Oct. 8 on first-degree murder charges in the drive-by shooting death of Darrent Williams. Click through for more sports-related mugshots through the years.

Denver police department / AP

Stacy Elizabeth Beshear: The 34-year-old Lakers fan was arrested on Sept. 18 after being accused of stalking NBA star Luke Walton.

Manhattan Beach Police Dept.

Thunder Collins: The former Nebraska running back was arrested on Sept. 24, nearly 24 hours after a shooting left one person dead and another seriously wounded. Collins faces first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and felony weapons charges.

Omaha Police Dept. / AP

Michael Golic Jr.: The Notre Dame center was arrested on a misdemeanor alcohol charge on Sept. 21.

St. Joseph County Police, AP

Ed Johnson: The Indianapolis Colts starting defensive tackle was arrested on a drug possession charge on Sept. 10 and waived by the team shortly thereafter.

Koby Clemens: The son of the former major league star was arrested with two minor-league teammates for disorderly conduct on Sept. 1 outside a restaurant in Salem, Va.

Salem Police Department

Maurice Simmons: A day of deliberations ends with another black eye for Trojan football. USC recruit Maurice Simmons, arrested in March, was sentenced to four years in prison Sept. 24 for his part in a robbery.

Los Angeles Sheriff's Department / AP

Julio Castillo: The Peoria Chiefs pitcher was charged with felonious assault in late July after throwing a ball towards the opposing team's dugout. He was accused of striking a fan with the pitch, causing enough injury to send him to the hospital.

Montgomery County Jail