White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, his wife, Ibis, and their son were sworn in as U.S. citizens Friday. (JOHN J. KIM/SUN-TIMES)
Posted on 01/21/2006 4:53:15 AM PST by 1rudeboy
Ozzie Guillen had a .264 lifetime batting average as a player, but on his immigration test Friday, he hit a perfect 1.000.
"Ten for ten,'' the Venezuela-born manager of the White Sox said after being sworn in as a U.S. citizen.
Or, maybe nine for 10.
"They asked me who the mayor of Chicago was. I told them, 'Ozzie Guillen,' " he joked.
Guillen, who took the oath with his wife, Ibis, and son Oney, said becoming an American was a bigger thrill than winning the World Series.
"You can only become a U.S. citizen once,'' he said, while -- good news here, fans -- "you can be a World Champion more than once.''
OZZIE PASSED -- COULD YOU?
Ozzie Guillen has a surprise waiting for his players come spring training: he's going to quiz them with questions from the immigration test -- and "they're not going to get 50 percent'' correct, Guillen predicted.
Here's a primer for the Sox players, culled from practice questions provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
1) What holiday was celebrated for the first time by the American colonists?
2) What were the original 13 states?
3) Who is the main author of the Declaration of Independence?
4) How many Supreme Court justices are there?
5) In what year was the U.S. Constitution written?
6) How many voting members are in the House of Representatives? >
7) Who said, "Give me liberty or give me death"?
ANSWERS:
1) Thanksgiving
2) Virginia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Georgia.
3) Thomas Jefferson
4) Nine
5) 1787
6) 435
7) Patrick Henry
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, his wife, Ibis, and their son were sworn in as U.S. citizens Friday. (JOHN J. KIM/SUN-TIMES)
Like the other 35,000 people annually sworn in as citizens in the Chicago area, Guillen had to be a green-card-holding "permanent resident" for at least five years, had to pass a criminal background check and correctly answer six out of 10 history and government questions. He also had to write a sentence in English to prove language proficiency.
But unlike most applicants, Guillen's swearing-in occurred at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office at 10 W. Jackson, rather than in the nearby federal courthouse. Officials said "logistics" was behind the change -- and, indeed, the office waiting room where the ceremony was held was packed with dozens of reporters, cameramen and star-struck government employees.
Guillen, his wife and 19-year-old son were sworn in by U.S. District Judge Marvin Aspen, who first met the Sox manager in 1985, Guillen's rookie year as the team's shortstop. Aspen's son was a Sox batboy.
Back then, Guillen weighed 150 pounds and earned $60,000 a season -- "both of which have increased over the years,'' said Aspen as Guillen, who reportedly makes about $2 million annually, nodded.
Chavez 'mad about it'
Guillen mentioned that being a U.S. citizen will make international travel easier. But he also called the United States "a great country" that "gives you the chance to be what you want to be.''
"I grew up here. I've spent more time in the U.S. than I did in Venezuela. I came here when I was 16,'' said Guillen, who turned 42 on Friday. Offseason, the Guillen family splits time between homes in Miami and Caracas, Venezuela.
Guillen allowed that some in Venezuela might not be happy with his decision to become an American, though he said he will still carry a Venezuelan passport. (An immigration official said the United States does not recognize dual citizenships, however.) One of those who's "mad about it'' is Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, he said.
"I don't care,'' said Guillen. "I've got to do what's best for my family."
Guillen said he had been studying for the immigration test since December, with the family members quizzing each other on such American staples as "Who signs bills into law?'' and "What is the Emancipation Proclamation?''
Guillen's two other children, Oswaldo Jr., 21, and Ozney, 14, were born in the United States.
A new flag to fly
He isn't usually a nervous type, but he did say he was "sweating a little bit'' during the test. Guillen's hearing officer, Julian Acevedo, said the questions actually stopped after Guillen answered the first six correctly.
"Before I started, I told him I had used all the easy ones up on his wife and son,'' Acevedo said. "He laughed it off.''
Guillen, who wrapped himself in a Venezuelan flag at the White Sox World Series victory rally in downtown Chicago in October, was presented with the American flag that flew over U.S. Cellular Field during the championship series.
Holding up the stars and stripes, Guillen said, with a wink, that he expected Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf to charge him for it.
aherrmann@suntimes.com
Maybe he should have waited till another Clinton or Carter became President so he could really be proud.
Anyways ... CONGRATS Ozzie Guillen! We are glad you didn't wait to become an American :)
Two words: Abu Ghraib.
"We are glad you didn't wait to become an American :)"
Huh???
I missed you at the celebration.
They'll let anyone become a citizen now :^)
Poll to freep:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Should Ozzie Guillen visit the White House?
37.2%
Yes (836 responses)
62.8%
No (1414 responses)
2250 total responses
(Poll results not scientific)
I don't see a poll at your link.
It is right in the middle of the page under it's your loss Ozzi.
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