What does anything he said have to do with baseball? And what does suspending him for his free speech accomplish?
Cubans in Miami fill a lot of those Marlins seats. If they don’t accept his apology it will affect the ball club. As for his right to free speech, nobody made him shut up. He said what he thought but sometimes there are consequences that go along with speaking your mind.
This Gringo lived in Miami for over 10 years. Praising Castro is as bad as Blasphemy! Some things you just don’t say. Many Cuban-Americans lost family members and friends under the Castro Dictatorship!
You don’t have free speech in private employment.
“What does anything he said have to do with baseball? And what does suspending him for his free speech accomplish?”
He is the well paid public face of the franchise. What he says in a public forum matters.
No one is suspending his free speech. Guillen is free to say what he wants, and the Marlins ownership is free to react. Freedom of speech is not freedom from consequence. You should study up on the 1st amendment.
The Marlins are trying to build a fan base in South Florida and Ozzie’s remarks don’t help. THAT is what it has to do with baseball.
Baseball is entertainment; if you upset people you’re less likely to get their entertainment dollars. Ozzie’s free speech only means he can’t be prosecuted for saying whatever he wants about Castro - otherwise, he’ll learn his free speech can be very costly when viewed by his employer.
It will possibly placate the target market for what the Marlins are selling.
Private decision by a private for-profit business.
That’s what I’m asking.
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.