I remember reading a little about the Exxon Valdez spill in elementary school but never heard the full story until a few years ago. It's a real shame that the effects of the oil hit many wildlife groups so hard.
The only thing I ever followed about the Exxon Valdez was that my dad kept a newspaper clipping of a photo of the ship ran aground with the caption "It's shallow, but I think I can make it". Tacks it to the wall in every office he ever works in.
It was a pretty big thing in the mid-to-late 90's as well. There'd always be commercials regarding the spill.
The BP oil spill was pretty terrible as well since they also decided to drill on the moon and then unleashed Lovecraftian monsters from the deep.
It's about drinking and driving. He coulda hired some punk eskimo kid to steer while swilled. Just sayin