"I respect Fidel Castro. You know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that [expletive] is still here."(in an interview with Time's Sean Gregory.)
Those words have created a firestorm in the south beach Cuban community of Miami. Political officials, local community leaders and the general public are outraged and are calling for the MLB Miami Marlins to Fire him or that Ozzie Guillen should step down as manager of the baseball team and resign.
On Tuesday April 10, 2012, the Marlins did announce that they have suspended there manager Ozzie Guillen for FIVE games saying in a statement,
"The Marlins acknowledge the seriousness of the comments attributed to Guillen," read a statement from the team. "The pain and suffering caused by Fidel Castro cannot be minimized, especially in a community filled with victims of the dictatorship."
Ozzie held a press conference on Tuesday at the new Marlins $634 million ballpark — funded mostly by taxpayers — in Little Havana as 30 or so protestors picketed outside. He said,
“What I was trying to say is that a person who has been in power for so long and has hurt so many people can still be in power,” Guillén said. "I'm very sorry about the problem, what happened, I will do everything in my power to make it better. ... I know it's going to be a very bumpy ride. To fix my problem with the community is more important than the suspension and the money. This is the biggest mistake I've made so far in my life, When you make a mistake like this, you can't sleep. ... When you're a sportsman, you shouldn't be involved with politics. It was misinterpreted by what I mean in Spanish."
The first amendment was sited by some as a defense for Ozzie to be able to say and speak what ever he wants without fears of persecution or reprisals. In fact Keith Olbermann was so kind to re-print the amendment for all to read,
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
What Ozzie Guillen said was WRONG, STUPID and UNINFORMED! But this is the USA, NOT CUBA!!!! The 48-year-old Venezuelan manager is no stranger to controversy and has been a favorite of the sports press for his eccentric and sometimes divisive comments.THIS is Ozzie Guillen, a man who has said CRAZY, STUPID, WRONG things before.
Look at his history:
After managing the Chicago White Sox to a World Series title in 2005, Guillen took photographs holding the Venezuelan flag while appearing to yell, "Viva Chavez."
"I like Chavez the man," he said. "I don't say I like him politically, because I don't agree with a lot of the stuff he does and says. But I have a right to like somebody, and I like the man."
When I read about how hard he worked since he was 6-years-old to be president of Venezuela, I felt proud." He twice appeared on a radio show hosted by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in October 2005, when Guillen led the Chicago White Sox to the World Series title. At the time, Guillen said: "Not too many people like the president. I do."
A 2008 Men’s Journal article asked him “Who’s the toughest man you know?” Guillen’s response, according to the magazine:
“Fidel Castro. He’s a bulls— dictator and everybody’s against him, and he still survives, has power. Still has a country behind him. Everywhere he goes they roll out the red carpet. I don’t admire his philosophy. I admire him.”
Players like Jose Reyes came to the ball club for him(and money) and Hanley Ramirez moved to third base cause Ozzie asked him too.
You knew who you were getting. You certainly read the history of the man in local papers or word of mouth. Yet you said NOTHING! He was one of you, until today.
This is who he is. He's done this before, he will most certainly say stupid things again. You can't like him before this latest incident knowing his history and hate him now!
Before he was someone else's manager. Someone else's problem. Who cares what he said!
NOW THEY DO!!!!
