It seems that it has become somewhat of a tradition that I speak about Ozzie Guillen as the MLB season gets under way. It’s sort of a prelude of the insanity to come. The Latin Casey Stengel is never at a loss for words and is unquestionably my favorite character in the game to follow. This season as you may know, Ozzie has taken his standup routine on the road, no longer performing in Chicago, but in Miami.
Traditionally, throughout the season Ozzie provides plenty for us to write about, and the 2012 season will assuredly be no different. Sometimes he sticks his foot in his mouth and sometimes he sticks it in someone else’s; either there or another human orifice. The enigmatic Guillen, who in 2006 was fined and ordered by MLB to have sensitivity training after using a homophobic slur in referring to a Chicago columnist has a habit of being brutally honest. This weekend Guillen could be found on Time magazine’s website expressing admiration for the most reviled man in Miami, Fidel Castro.
“I respect Fidel Castro,” Guillen said. “You know why? Many people have tried to kill Fidel Castro in the last 60 years, yet that [SOB] is still there.”
The Marlins, sensing that the manager’s words would offend many of their Cuban fans, had to issue a statement on Saturday, saying: “We are aware of the article. There is nothing to respect about Fidel Castro. He is a brutal dictator who has caused unimaginable pain for more than 50 years. We live in a community full of victims of that dictatorship and people in Cuba are still suffering.”
Ozzie did come out with an apology after the fact, but that was because the Marlins had him doing damage control. “I want to apologize for the things (I said) that hurt somebody’s feelings,” Guillen told reporters. “I want them to know I’m against everything … the way (Castro has) treated people the last 60 years. I’ve read a lot about him.”
It’s not really what Guillen says that’s so special; it’s that he has the balls to say anything at anytime, regardless of the circumstances. Ozzie has the freedom of speech thing down better than most American born citizens; in fact he’s mastered it.
When we last heard from the 48 year old manager in a CBS Sports interview he spoke about how he gets drunk after every ballgame, win or lose.
“I get drunk because I am happy for the victory or I get drunk because I am sad and concerned because we lost.” When reporters asked if he was exaggerating, he said, “No. Why should I have to lie?”
I seem to end almost all of my Ozzie Guillen articles in a similar fashion, and this time will be no different. Stay tuned as the Ozzie Guillen stand-up comedy routine comes to a city near you…
The founder and former owner of MC3 Sports Media, Mike Cardano is the Sr. Business Administrator for RotoExperts and the Executive Director here at TheXLog.com. You may email Mike @ michael.cardano@rotoexperts.com or follow him on Twitter @MikeCardano. Listen to Mike on Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Radio with Scott Engel and the morning crew Tuesday mornings at 10am ET.