Ozzie Guillen Suspended 5 Games For Insensitive Remarks
Major League Baseball has suspended Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen five games for his insensitive remarks regarding Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
“Fidel Castro,” Guillen said in an interview with Time magazine. “He’s a bull—- dictator and everybody’s against him, and he still survives, has power. Still has a country behind him. Everywhere he goes they roll out the red carpet. I don’t admire his philosophy. I admire him.”
Cuban-Americans make up roughly 65.8 percent of Miami. The fact Guillen has the audacity to say something as ridiculous as he “admires” one of the most hated and evil men in this part of the world is downright disrespectful to the Miami fan base. He should be absolutely ashamed of himself for talking highly about a man that destroyed so many innocent lives.
Castro built a political system back in the late 1950’s that suppressed freedom and violated human rights. He imprisoned political opponents who ran against him and tortured them while not allowing them to defend themselves. He is a socialist and a dictator that did things his way with no regard for the safety of his people.
Guillen is Venezuelan, not Cuban, which means he has no right to say what he said. According to ESPN.com, Guillen praised controversial Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez in 2005 by saying “Not too many people like the president. I do.” Guillen explained in a press conference to address his comments on Castro that he does not approve of what Chavez is currently doing in Venezuela as he is hurting the country.
Five games are simply not enough, especially when the Marlin fans are calling for Guillen’s termination immediately. Setting up a press conference to explain how sorry he is just does not cut it. How do we know if he is truly apologetic or just simply trying to keep his job?
“I’m here on my knees apologizing to the Latin-Americans,” said Guillen in his press conference. “I am learning more and more about Cuba.”
I understand in this great country of ours we have the freedom of speech, something many other countries, such as Cuba, do not have. However, Guillen is the manager of a team that has a mostly Cuban fan base therefore he must be respectful of what he says.
“I am very embarrassed, very sad,” Guillen said. “When I was in this room last it was very happy, every question was positive. Now it is not. I hoped the next time I was in this room with this many people it would be with a World Series trophy. Unfortunately, it is not.”
“I do not admire Fidel Castro,” Guillen added. “This person has hurt so many people and I am surprised he has been able to stay in power for so long. Everybody in the world hates Castro, including myself.”
Guillen and the Marlins will have to figure out a way to do some serious damage control. There are several fans who want to see him gone for good, which is not ideal considering we are in the first week of the regular season. Guillen was supposed to be a great fit for the Marlins and the city of Miami because of his Latin background and fiery attitude. His comments completely buried that idea and now his career might be next.
