Cuban bar group backs out of Marlins event over Guillen flap

Miami Herald ^ | 4/12/12 | DOUGLAS HANKS

[Kevin C]

Miami’s Cuban American Bar Association on Wednesday dropped out as a sponsor of Lawyer Appreciation Night at the Marlins ballpark next week.

The Miami-based legal group said it can’t support the event after Marlins Manager Ozzie Guillen declared he had “respect” for Fidel Castro’s ability to remain alive and in power. The comments sparked a furor throughout Miami’s Cuban-American community, and led to an apology by Guillen and the team suspending him for five games.

“CABA will not support any organization whose public spokesman expresses sympathy for that regime,’’ the group’s statement read.

The April 17 event consists mainly of a pre-game seminar on legal ethics, which qualifies participants for two hours of state-mandated educational credits. Part of the $100 registration fee includes a ticket to the game versus the Chicago Cubs after the talk.

Organizer David Rothman said the several bar groups sponsoring the event don’t pay anything, but only agree to promote Appreciation Night to their members.

“I appreciate their concerns,’’ Rothman said when informed of the Cuban Bar group’s withdrawal Wednesday afternoon. “It was an incredibly poor choice of words.”

[Kevin C]

I don't think that the Marlins' management fully appreciates how big of a problem this is. There a people living in Miami who have has family members murdered by Castro's regime.

[pgkdan]

Ozzie Guillen is a first class asshole. He’s always been an asshole and he will always be an asshole.

[EyeGuy]

Continually shat upon WHITES in this country, could take a lesson from vocal, boycotting, legally active “minorities”.

[cripplecreek]

Ozzie Guillen, the gift that just keeps on giving.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“Ozzie Guillen, the gift that just keeps on giving.”

“Ozzie Guillen, the gift that just keeps on giving us $hit”

Fixed it.

[FlingWingFlyer]

It took a while for me to understand this whole “bar” thing. I’ve got to stop listening to Garth Brooks songs. LOL! I can understand a beer joint sponsoring a sporting event but not lawyers. I didn’t sleep well last night.

[TheLawyerFormerlyKnownAsAl]

Ozzie Guillen is a first class asshole. He’s always been an asshole and he will always be an asshole.

Jimmy Buffett, is that you?

[RetiredArmy]

Is the Oz still trying to get his foot out of his big fat profane mouth? He has been saying this crap for years. Finally got caught doing it in the wrong place. He got away with a lot in Obamatown. He did not get away with it from the Cuban-American community down there. More power to them. Hope they get him fired.

[GladesGuru]

As a white, third generation Floridian, I am a bit embarrassed by the sad fact that the Cuban Bar Association spoke out, but the Florida Bar did not.

Jimmy Carter earned his “Goofy Tooth” nickname when he assumed Cubans would be Democrats/commies.