120 replies to this topic

[Carl Everetts Therapist]

So Ozzie Guillen did a lengthy interview with Time Magazine and in it he said many Pro-Castro statements. Paraphrazing he said he loves and respects Fidel Castro's ability to perservere through multiple assassanation atempts worldwide scrutiny etc.

Now of all places you can't say Pro-Castro things is in Miami where they have a sizable Cuban community of people who left Cuba to get away from Castro. Members of Anti-Castro groups say they will Boycott/Pickett Marlins games until Guillen is fired. They say that protestors will go as far as blocking the entrances of the Marlins stadium on game days.

Guillen is on his way back to Miami where he says he will address any and all questions about his comments.

I think this spells the end of the loudmouth.... I don't see anyway he survives this one.

I'll try and post a link

[AimingForYoko]

I waiting for this thread.

And yes, probably. And I hope he goes out hilariously.

[rembrat]

I seriously doubt it. He'll apologize and everyone will move on.

[Carl Everetts Therapist]

Here's the link to the story http://espn.go.com/m...castro-comments




For what it's worth Heyman was on Mike Francessa's show and they both said that they think Ozzie is fired or quits by the weekend...

[glennhoffmania]

Heyman also said it was the dumbest thing a manager has ever done in the history of baseball.

I've never been an Ozzie fan and I wouldn't be sad to see him go. But I don't see the Marlins eating $12m unless things get to the point of being completely unworkable.

[AimingForYoko]

I seriously doubt it. He'll apologize and everyone will move on.

If he was still in Chicago, I might agree with you. Fidel is a touchy fucking subject either way.

eta: Although it might be his saving grace that he didn't say "Castro was amazing and Cubans should stop whining."

Edited by AimingForYoko, 09 April 2012 - 03:37 PM.

[moondog80]

Strictly speaking, one can like all those things about Castro and still think he's an evil douche, right?

[rembrat]

Strictly speaking, one can like all those things about Castro and still think he's an evil douche, right?

I do.

[InsideTheParker]

I seriously doubt it. He'll apologize and everyone will move on.

I would bet money that this is what happens.

[Sprowl]

I would bet money that this is what happens.

The apology will be forthcoming, along with a ritual perp walk for Ozzie to face the music and grovel for forgiveness.

[dynomite]

Heyman also said it was the dumbest thing a manager has ever done in the history of baseball.

"Ya'll talkin about me?"

[BucketOBalls]

Heyman also said it was the dumbest thing a manager has ever done in the history of baseball.

I've never been an Ozzie fan and I wouldn't be sad to see him go. But I don't see the Marlins eating $12m unless things get to the point of being completely unworkable.

This. They may make a show of punishing him. Suspend him for a week or something.

Unless they can somehow fire him and get out of the contract(doesn't seem like it to me) ...he's not getting fired. We are still talking about Jeff Loria right?

[URI]

They also gave up talent to get him. They aren't canning him after 4 games just because he's doing Ozzie things.

[Soxy Brown]

@OldHossRadbourn

If only O. Guillen had committed a minor managerial infraction like Driving Under the Influence this could have been swept beneath the rug.

Firing him over this would be infinitely stupider than his ill-conceived comments. There's no way that happens.

[Sprowl]

Cuba sí, Castro no
Cuba sí, Ozzie no

[Dogman2]

They also gave up talent to get him. They aren't canning him after 4 games just because he's doing Ozzie things.

I hope he gets a really long fake beard and then makes his public apology.

After all, he is Ozzie.

Edited by Dogman2, 09 April 2012 - 04:36 PM.

[terrynever]

If Ozzie does get fired, he'll have a baseball job waiting for him in Cuba. At a serious cut in pay.

[Yaz4Ever]

Can we trade Bobby Valentine for Ozzie and Heath Bell?

[Sampo Gida]

Thats almost like Joe Girardi expressing admiration for UBL ( worse than Bobby V doing a weekly show with Michale Kay), it's beyond dumb. Sometimes you have to put your beliefs in your back pocket. Ozzie is a major disruption and the Marlins will be worse off for having him. The tactics some of these anti-Castro groups can be extreme and very disruptive, it's a very emotional issue. They spent a gazillion dollars on FA and have a new stadium and it's all going to come to naught due to Ozzie. Can him and give Tito a call (I will miss him on ESPN though).

[johnmd20]

If Ozzie does get fired, he'll have a baseball job waiting for him in Cuba. At a serious cut in pay.

But think of the fantastic medial care he will receive.</michael moore>

[axx]

That's just Ozzie being Ozzie.

[trekfan55]

If Ozzie had said something to the effect of "I did not say anything wrong" or "I stand behind everything I said" then the Marlins would have to fire him or lose their few fans in the area.

But he has apologized, has returned to Miami to face the music, is willing to apologize again, etc. So the team will find a way to make it OK.

That's only my opinion, he probably gets fired anyway.

[collings94]

This is 2012, and not 1952. If you think Communism is a good plan for government, you can say it. If they fire Ozzie, they are basically firing him for his political beliefs, which I believe is illegal.

That being said, Ozzie is Ozzie, and once in a while he is going to say some really stupid stuff, but hey, the guy is one of the most entertaining guys in sports and a good manager. I don't see him getting fired.

And, what he says is the truth. It is impressive that for 60 years, Castro has alluded death.

[ivanvamp]

If Ozzie does get fired, he'll have a baseball job waiting for him in Cuba. At a serious cut in pay.

But he will have free health care....

[phrenile]

This is 2012, and not 1952. If you think Communism is a good plan for government, you can say it. If they fire Ozzie, they are basically firing him for his political beliefs, which I believe is illegal.

I'm curious what other things you believe, but I'd just as soon not know.

[Myt1]

This is 2012, and not 1952. If you think Communism is a good plan for government, you can say it. If they fire Ozzie, they are basically firing him for his political beliefs, which I believe is illegal.

That being said, Ozzie is Ozzie, and once in a while he is going to say some really stupid stuff, but hey, the guy is one of the most entertaining guys in sports and a good manager. I don't see him getting fired.

And, what he says is the truth. It is impressive that for 60 years, Castro has alluded death.

Agreed. That's a terribly long time to indirectly refer to something.

[Sprowl]

Agreed. That's a terribly long time to indirectly refer to something.

It's the world's longest shadow play. Guinness is on the case.

[Seels]

@OldHossRadbourn



Firing him over this would be infinitely stupider than his ill-conceived comments. There's no way that happens.

Completely unrelated, but wow Old Hoss Radbourn's Twitter feed is almost enough to make me get an account.

Almost.

Holy shit that's funny.

[DrewDawg]

This is 2012, and not 1952. If you think Communism is a good plan for government, you can say it. If they fire Ozzie, they are basically firing him for his political beliefs, which I believe is illegal.

Except that they would actually be firing him for completely pissing off a good portion of the fanbase.

Do you think a manager being fired for expressing admiration for Hitler never giving up after his art school dreams were shattered is actually being fired for his political beliefs?

[rembrat]

Live press conference at 10:30am carried live on ESPN.

[loshjott]

Except that they would actually be firing him for completely pissing off a good portion of the fanbase.

Do you think a manager being fired for expressing admiration for Hitler never giving up after his art school dreams were shattered is actually being fired for his political beliefs?

I question whether Cuban Americans with such hard core beliefs constitute a "good portion of the fanbase."

Yes, Castro is a huge polarizing issue in south Florida, and the hard core believers are very vocal and influential. But like most groups with a passion for a cause, their influence is larger than their numbers.

I think there is little chance he is fired. The Marlins simply have too much invested in him.

[mt8thsw9th]

Live press conference at 10:30am carried live on ESPN.

Do you know if it will be live?

Edited by mt8thsw9th, 10 April 2012 - 09:12 AM.

[bankshot1]

This is 2012, and not 1952. If you think Communism is a good plan for government, you can say it. If they fire Ozzie, they are basically firing him for his political beliefs, which I believe is illegal.

If the Marlins believe they will suffer economic harm by employing a pro-Castro Ozzie (ie if the Cuban-American community of Miami decide to boycott Marlin games, or boycott sponsors of the Marlins, and they then drop Marlin sponsorship) I think the Marlins would be justified in firing him for espousing a poltical beliefs that were deeply offensive to the community.

[minischwab]

5 game suspension, for now. We'll see if he can talk his way out of this and keep his job.

[PrometheusWakefield]

Nothing says "I love freedom" like "you're fired for making controversial statements to the press."

[glennhoffmania]

Come on, PW. He's free to say whatever he wants. Loria is free to hire and fire whoever he wants. It goes both ways.

[crow216]

Makes no sense. 5 game suspension just tells the fans that they have every reason to be angry with him and shouldn't let it go. It prolongs their anger with him until he comes back.

I give it until Friday that he's fired.

[rembrat]

Do you know if it will be live?

En vivo.

He has been suspended five games.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Completely unrelated, but wow Old Hoss Radbourn's Twitter feed is almost enough to make me get an account.

Almost.

Holy shit that's funny.

Widely rumored to be one of the guys from Fire Joe Morgan.

[Worst Trade Evah]

He should be fired just for being an idiot. Why anyone should care what Ozzie Guillen thinks about politics is beyond me, but it's even stupider that he would go out on that limb. He's just an arrogant talking machine. He makes Valentine look like a model of restraint, and I wish Valentine would talk less. How bad is this for the Marlins? They make a huge investment in a big time Latin manager, who immediately takes the worst dump in public a guy can take in Miami.

Edited by Worst Trade Evah, 10 April 2012 - 12:24 PM.

[rembrat]

ESPN keeps showing the same 8 protesters. This is being overblown as usual.

[minischwab]

ESPN keeps showing the same 8 protesters. This is being overblown as usual.

While I generally agree with this, in this case, it's different. You cannot say things like that about Castro in that community. They spent an entire offseason trying to bring the Hispanic fans to the ballpark. Zambrano, Reyes, Guillen, new stadium, new logo, new colors which were specifically chosen for the Hispanic fans. If you think this is overblown, you just don't understand that culture well enough. This is a big deal.

[Tim Naehrings Girl]

Ozzie speaking in Spanish which is a smart PR move.

Edited by Tim Naehrings Girl, 10 April 2012 - 09:47 AM.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Ozzie's Venezuelan. Has Ozzie spoken out in the past in favor of Chavez? Because Chavez is strongly allied with Castro and Cuba.

[Tim Naehrings Girl]

While I generally agree with this, in this case, it's different. You cannot say things like that about Castro in that community. They spent an entire offseason trying to bring the Hispanic fans to the ballpark. Zambrano, Reyes, Guillen, new stadium, new logo, new colors which were specifically chosen for the Hispanic fans. If you think this is overblown, you just don't understand that culture well enough. This is a big deal.

This exactly. Castro is the equivalent of Hitler down here. This was the stupidest thing he could have done. The Marlins have worked so hard this off season to bring the community in and have them embrace the team and baseball in general and Ozzie just ruined all of their hard work in one interview. I would love to have been a fly on the wall when the Marlins brass heard this for the first time.

[Lose Remerswaal]

Widely rumored to be one of the guys from Fire Joe Morgan.

It's not a rumor /Schwarzenegger

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

While I generally agree with this, in this case, it's different. You cannot say things like that about Castro in that community. They spent an entire offseason trying to bring the Hispanic fans to the ballpark. Zambrano, Reyes, Guillen, new stadium, new logo, new colors which were specifically chosen for the Hispanic fans. If you think this is overblown, you just don't understand that culture well enough. This is a big deal.

Agree. My SiL is of Cuban descent (her parents came over in the late 50s), but has never even set foot in south FL. At Christmas a few years back, I innocuously mentioned that I'd love to see Havana to experience it's stuck-in-the-50's culture. She went absolutely ballistic. I never even mentioned Castro or the govt. or embargos or anything else, just that I'd love to see a beautiful city. I'm sure she still holds it against me........

[rembrat]

Ozzie's Venezuelan. Has Ozzie spoken out in the past in favor of Chavez? Because Chavez is strongly allied with Castro and Cuba.

He has also said he admires Chavez. Here's what I think, Ozzie being in a position power, looks up to other Latin men of power. Shocking.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

He has also said he admires Chavez. Here's what I think, Ozzie being in a position power, looks up to other Latin men of power. Shocking.

Not shocking, but clearly he's an idiot praising Castro while being a public figure in Miami.

[mr_smith02]

MLB and the Marlins really need to think about its image with this one. A five game suspension...is that enough? One wonders how Americans and MLB would react to a manager in NY praising the actions of the 9/11 terrorists, which would be truly equivalent to what Ozzie has done with the interview.