The Miami Marlins have suspended manager Ozzie Guillen for five games for comments he made in which he expressed admiration for Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
I can't find it anywhere, only articles saying he intended to apologize for his comments but I can't find the actual comments themselves. Anyone know what he actually said?
I can't find it anywhere, only articles saying he intended to apologize for his comments but I can't find the actual comments themselves. Anyone know what he actually said?
"I love Fidel Castro" and "I respect Fidel Castro. You know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that [expletive] is still here." That is Ozzie being Ozzie.
On one hand it's America and he can say whatever he wants. No matter how stupid/offensive it is. On the other hand its Miami where there are tons of Cubans. This probably wouldn't be as big of a deal in any other city.
On one hand it's America and he can say whatever he wants. No matter how stupid/offensive it is. On the other hand its Miami where there are tons of Cubans. This probably wouldn't be as big of a deal in any other city.
Ding ding ding – we have a winner! The Marlins built the new park smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood called Little Havana and their marketing is geared almost 100% to the Cuban/Latino community. Almost everything you see in the stadium is in Spanish (menus, ticket booths etc.). If you are a gringo like me, you are a minority in Miami. So the Marlins had to take some sort of action to try & calm some of the furor down. As it is, people are still calling for his head. If you want to understand better, go to ESPN.com and find a clip from Dan LeBatard yesterday, who explained this way better than I can. I am at work now so I can’t link it for you, sorry.
On one hand it's America and he can say whatever he wants. No matter how stupid/offensive it is. On the other hand its Miami where there are tons of Cubans. This probably wouldn't be as big of a deal in any other city.
Very big difference between freedom of speech and freedom of consequence.
As a Cuban-American who lives in Miami I can say that the people making a fuzz about it are basically a vocal minority made up of conservative older Cuban populations...any intelligent person understands that his voicing his opinion just like anyone else exercising his rights in a free country...nevertheless what was Ozzie thinking when he made those comments? Rather insensitive
Like HF, there is freedom of speech, but you can't just go out there and blurt anything out. There are standards. If you say something controversial, you will face strong criticism.
He said he was admiring him for NOT BEING KILLED when A LOT OF PEOPLE want him dead, he never PRAISED the regime... I understand why it makes some people mad, but IMO, it is much noise about nothing.
I still don't think he will make it through this. I don't see the Cuban community letting up anytime soon.
His comments were ignorant and insulting to a large percentage of the paying customers in his market. Le Batard's comments on ESPN were spot on, try finding anyone of Cuban descent in Miami who hasn't had their lives or the lives of someone close to them effected by this man's barbaric dictatorship.
If Marge Schott didn't survive her disgusting comments about Hitler, Ozzie shouldn't survive this one. And before anyone mentions it, I realize Hitler was a far worse person as far as number of deaths, but as DLB said, Castro is just as much a villian to the Cuban community as Hitler or Stalin to the rest of us.
And finally, this is not a freedom of speech issue. No one is saying Ozzie should be prosecuted or jailed for his comments (like you can in Cuba for saying things). But freedom of speech does not guarantee you from not facing the consequences of potentially losing your job if you say something stupid.
Guillen is a media lightning rod and never met a microphone he didn't like, so in many respects the comments are in the vein one would expect of him, complete with the minimal forethought into how his comments would be interpreted after the fact.
On the other hand, that's a special market, and anything pro-Castro is absolutely toxic in the Cuban-American community. He has to now demonstrate extraordinary contrition (he is actually quite good at this) and the organization needs to show it realizes the serious nature of the topic, and levy some degree of punishment; Guillen will realize that too.
To an extent, going through the typical motions will see it die down, but a good chunk of the community in Miami is never going to forgive him for this. At some point, when the front office is debating his future, the degree to which he is loved/reviled will be a factor. When that happens (days, weeks, months, years, etc.) is harder to pin down. Might not last the week.
Hell of a time for it with the new re-branding of the team and the new park.
Guillen is a media lightning rod and never met a microphone he didn't like, so in many respects the comments are in the vein one would expect of him, complete with the minimal forethought into how his comments would be interpreted after the fact.
On the other hand, that's a special market, and anything pro-Castro is absolutely toxic in the Cuban-American community. He has to now demonstrate extraordinary contrition (he is actually quite good at this) and the organization needs to show it realizes the serious nature of the topic, and levy some degree of punishment; Guillen will realize that too.
To an extent, going through the typical motions will see it die down, but a good chunk of the community in Miami is never going to forgive him for this. At some point, when the front office is debating his future, the degree to which he is loved/reviled will be a factor. When that happens (days, weeks, months, years, etc.) is harder to pin down. Might not last the week.
Hell of a time for it with the new re-branding of the team and the new park.
This post pretty much hits the nail on the head. I am going to the games Friday & Sunday so I will be able to tell you all how much, if at all, this has died down because as of now they still expect protestors.
Meantime, for anyone who has time on thier hands, I am going to post a link to a popular Marlins message board I lurk at, where this has been debated ad nauseum since this all came to light. You will get a very accurate feel for the emotions & the culture divide that exists here. Had this linked thread appeared on HF, it would have been shut down days ago LOL! Get some popcorn & enjoy.
He made a terrible judgement ,, You could say this type of #### in Chicago because we have a small Cuban community and the rest of city could give a rats ### about Cuba (Really effects us in no way)
Poor move Ozzie ,, I expect that once he has the Marlins fighting for playoff spot that the rage and anger will go away
Ding ding ding – we have a winner! The Marlins built the new park smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood called Little Havana and their marketing is geared almost 100% to the Cuban/Latino community. Almost everything you see in the stadium is in Spanish (menus, ticket booths etc.). If you are a gringo like me, you are a minority in Miami. So the Marlins had to take some sort of action to try & calm some of the furor down. As it is, people are still calling for his head. If you want to understand better, go to ESPN.com and find a clip from Dan LeBatard yesterday, who explained this way better than I can. I am at work now so I can’t link it for you, sorry.
Is that really his name? It literally means Dan The *******.
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"Our priority is finding the best possible person to help us win." - Geoff Molson
I am pleased to report there were no protestors at Marlins Park from what I could see. Though that could change Tuesday when Ozzie returns. There were 6,000 or so empty seats, but that could be a combination of a rainy day (yeah the roof was closed but still...), the Panthers 1st home playoff game in 12 years, a Heat game & the fact that Houston has a player named Jason CASTRO!
