Posted on 04/10/2012 7:50:22 AM PDT by ConservativeStatement
The Miami Marlins have suspended Manager Ozzie Guillen for five games, effective immediately, the team said Tuesday.
Guillen sparked a firestorm when he told Time magazine recently that he respected Fidel Castro for being able to lead Cuba for six decades.
"I respect Fidel Castro," Guillen said in the article. "You know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that son of a bitch is still there."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.blogs.cnn.com ...
Strike Two....
As an aside, I can’t help but remember, every time I hear about or see Jim Rice, the time I was watching a game and I saw him check his swing so quickly it snapped his bat. I know that has something to do with those thin-handled bats that are popular now, but still; I’ve never seen anyone else with the wrist strength to be able to do that.
Once saw Dave Winfield do it.
He got "sensitivity training" dictated by MLB. Not sure if he was suspended for it, though.
Ozzie just insisted on the baseball channel that he is not stupid. He said if this happens again and he doesn't learn from this then he is stupid.
I think this is all so stupid because he didn't say anything that is wrong. But he should just stick to baseball.
Of course he has the freedom to say what he wants. There is no LAW against it. And his EMPLOYER has the right to do what THEY want as he represents the organization.
I have the right to say what I want...but if opening my piehole will cost my company money...I bet I'd be looking for a new job after too many infractions...and rightly so...hypothetically speaking.
No, I agree with BBC’s complaint - I like the team’s nickname on their home uni’s - it’s a tradition I approve of. It’s weird to play the Rangers down in Arlington and see that “TEXAS” blaring across their chest. It’s like a pitcher wearing a single digit number - it’s just visually wrong.
He basically called him a tough son of a bitch. That's offensive high praise? Even the Cuban refugees who hate him know that is fact, and "son of a bitch" isn't terribly supportive.
People who may otherwise give the Marlins their money are offended. If your business depends on other people giving you money, it’s best not to offend those people, be it rational or not.
Marriotti was a terrific columnist. Even if he had personal shortcomings.
Someone on my facebook who normally makes sense said they don’t understand why he should be suspended because “his opinion has nothing to do with his job”.
I brought up my example of a WalMart greeter saying “f-— you” to everyone who walks in. Should they be fired? And:
“Oh, and a lot of Marlins fans are Cuban. They are not pleased. If you’re the owner of the Marlins, do you want to see thousands of empty seats because of what Ozzie says? Baseball is a business.”
Holy crap - Horrifically incorrect statement by me. I got my lame columnists confused - it was Skip Bayless who was recently exposed as a huge liar thru his bs tweets about his fictitious basketball career - shame on me.
It’s a 162 game season, a 5 game suspension is basically nothing. Basically he’s off until next Monday. Not that big a punishment for alienating a fan base they’re desperately trying to grow. The press might like to talk to him for his personal opinions, but as long as he wears the uniform it’s ALWAYS about the company line. People WILL boycott the Marlins because of what he said, they’re hoping the suspension will reduce that number.
That routine was good enough to win him a world series. No they don’t have a problem with it, as long as he wins.
Liberals weren’t concerned about Guillen’s right to free speech when he was being castigated for calling a reporter a “fag”.
A five game suspension does seem disingenuous. If the owners were really outraged, they should have fired him. Otherwise, they should defend his right to free speech. Five games is just patronizing to those who were truly offended by the comments.
If I were the owner, I would acknowledge his right to free speech, and fire him as a business decision. He’s the manager for MIAMI. You know, Miami, home to 95% of Cuban dissidents, many of whom personally experienced the horrors of Castro. If he was still in Chicago, it wouldn’t have been as big a deal. But a Venezuelan (Venezuela is Cuba’s staunchest ally in Latin America) can’t go to Miami and say he loves Castro, in any context.
The Marlins were stupid for hiring him in the first place. Ozzie is known for saying stupid things. A few years ago he was reprimanded for calling a guy a “fag”, which I don’t think is a big deal, but Miami has a big sizable gay population. This guy just seemed like a bad fit for Miami from the get-go. But five games is pointless.
While your point is valid, I can still understand why it may have offended the local Cubans. What the heck is the manager of the baseball team making stupid or misunderstood remarks when you’re trying to sell stadium tickets for the new arena!
Scouting report on Castro......
No speed.....the team mascot can get around the bases faster than him.......can’t field.....claims the sun is in his eyes even during night games......batting average starts with a zero.......couldn’t hit a beach ball if it was pitched underhand.....not a team player......unless he needs oil......give him a scooter-chair and a bobble-head doll......that will keep him occupied until the old reprobate kicks off.
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