Quote:Just four days after he was hired, Arizona Diamondbacks manager Wally Backman was fired Friday following revelations he was arrested twice and struggled with financial problems.

Former Seattle manager Bob Melvin will replace Backman. Melvin, fired by the Mariners the day after the season ended, was Bob Brenly's bench coach on Arizona's World Series championship team of 2001.

Arizona's management had been unaware of Backman's problems until media reports that followed his hiring. Diamondbacks officials said they failed to do a criminal or financial background check on Backman.

Backman, Sporting News minor league manager of the year this season, had agreed Monday to a two-year contract.

After Backman's problems were first revealed, Arizona said it would stick with him. But, after several days, the team changed its mind and said it was withdrawing the offer.

``He's very disappointed but he understands and respects our decision,'' Kendrick said.

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 on a driving under the influence charge in Kennewick, Wash., in 2000. He pleaded guilty after fighting that charge for two years.

Backman has also had financial problems, filing for bankruptcy several years ago.

Melvin was let go by Seattle and replaced by Mike Hargrove after the Mariners went 63-99.

<a href='http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpNWZic251BF9TAzI1NjY0ODI1BHNlYwN0aA--?slug=ap-diamondbacks-backman&prov=ap&type=lgns' target='_blank'>http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylc=X3oD...ov=ap&type=lgns</a>

Man, that's just strange. Kind of reminds me when Notre Dame hired O'Leary only to fire him, what, two weeks later?

Maybe they should do the background check BEFORE hiring managers.