Marlins Suspend Ozzie Guillen Five Games For His Comments About Fidel Castro
The Marlins just announced they have suspended Manager Ozzie Guillen five games for telling Time Magazine “I love Fidel Castro.” Guillen essentially said the same thing about Castro in 2008 while managing in Chicago, but nobody cared.
And I asked him this: “Who’s the toughest man you know?’’
His response, which took me by surprise: “Fidel Castro.’’
Why?
“He’s a bull—- dictator and everybody’s against him, and he still survives, has power. Still has a country behind him,’’ Ozzie replied. “Everywhere he goes, they roll out the red carpet. I don’t admire his philosophy; I admire him.’’
More later.
- Jozy Altidore Scored Fourth Goal in Four Matches, Gave U.S. 1-0 Lead Against Honduras [Video]
- Tim Duncan Scores 25 in the First Half Against the Heat, Miami in Trouble
- Attractive Female Heat Fan Groped and Nearly Exposed Behind Bill Simmons During NBA Finals Halftime Show
- Dwyane Wade Again Fools Gary Neal With a Euro Step [Video]
- Kawhi Leondard Slapped Mike Miller in the Face as He Dunked on Him in Game 6 [Video]
- A.P. on Kawhi Leondard Slapped Mike Miller in the Face as He Dunked on Him in Game 6 [Video]
- Dr. Tom on Kawhi Leondard Slapped Mike Miller in the Face as He Dunked on Him in Game 6 [Video]
- Some Random Old Dude on Kawhi Leondard Slapped Mike Miller in the Face as He Dunked on Him in Game 6 [Video]
- A.P. on Kawhi Leondard Slapped Mike Miller in the Face as He Dunked on Him in Game 6 [Video]
- A.P. on Kawhi Leondard Slapped Mike Miller in the Face as He Dunked on Him in Game 6 [Video]
aroundtheweb
97 Responses to “Marlins Suspend Ozzie Guillen Five Games For His Comments About Fidel Castro”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
![Raul Meireles & Wife Ivone Viana Both Love Tiny Bathing Suits, Tattoos and Partially-Shaved Heads [Photos]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13716060800-thumb0.png)
Raul Meireles & Wife Ivone Viana Both Love Tiny Bathing Suits, Tattoos and Partially-Shaved Heads [Photos]![Tim Tebow Was Nearly Drafted by the Anaheim Angels [NFL]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13715694901-thumb1.jpg)
Tim Tebow Was Nearly Drafted by the Anaheim Angels [NFL]![Riddick Bowe Promoted His Unsuccessful Muay Thai Debut By Allowing Monkeys to Climb All Over Him in Thailand [Photo]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13715653472-thumb2.jpg)
Riddick Bowe Promoted His Unsuccessful Muay Thai Debut By Allowing Monkeys to Climb All Over Him in Thailand [Photo]![Alex Morgan Met the Gronkowski Brothers, Awkwardness Ensued [Video]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13714840573-thumb3.jpg)
Alex Morgan Met the Gronkowski Brothers, Awkwardness Ensued [Video]![Chad Johnson Headbutt Opens Gash on Forehead of Ex-Wife [Photo]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13715694234-thumb4.jpg)
Chad Johnson Headbutt Opens Gash on Forehead of Ex-Wife [Photo]![Florida Gators LB Antonio Morrison Arrested After Allegedly Punching a Bouncer [College Football]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13714728105-thumb5.jpg)
Florida Gators LB Antonio Morrison Arrested After Allegedly Punching a Bouncer [College Football]![Stephen A. Smith Wants to Be on NBA Countdown. He Could Get His Wish if Bill Simmons Leaves [ESPN]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13713479876-thumb6.jpg)
Stephen A. Smith Wants to Be on NBA Countdown. He Could Get His Wish if Bill Simmons Leaves [ESPN]![Bob Costas Calls Mets Victory Celebration 'Indication of The Decline of Western Civilization' [Video]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13715769777-thumb7.jpg)
Bob Costas Calls Mets Victory Celebration 'Indication of The Decline of Western Civilization' [Video]![Atlanta Radio Hosts Fired For Making Fun of Former Saint Steve Gleason [Media]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13715770638-thumb8.jpg)
Atlanta Radio Hosts Fired For Making Fun of Former Saint Steve Gleason [Media]![Tim Duncan Scored 25 Points in the First Half Against Miami [Video]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13716091729-thumb9.jpg)
Tim Duncan Scored 25 Points in the First Half Against Miami [Video]
April 10th, 2012 at 10:24 AM
Marlins Suspend Ozzie Guillen Five Games For His Comments About
I don’t read the posts. Just the headlines.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:26 AM
A wordsmith.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:27 AM
Everyone take a deep breath and re-read Ozzie’s quote. Give me a break.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:27 AM
Well, he was in Chicago where there isn’t as much of a Cuban-American population and since I don’t remember it being discussed at the time, the ‘story’ likely remained local, so yeah. This is simply the Marlins trying to appease their customers.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:28 AM
So that was the quote? I fucking hate people sometimes. I heard a Miami sports radio guy talk about this in Atlanta and he equated it to a coach saying “I love the KKK,” or “I love Hitler.” His quote was nothing like that at all.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:28 AM
LeBatard on his show yesterday was saying that when he was hired the Marlins told him to cool it on the Hugo Chavez stuff because they didn’t want it to appear like he’s a fan of dictators in general…never considered spelling it out that Castro was the reason
Not being Cuban or living in Miami this is just one of those things where I can’t possibly understand how those comments resonated down there but I’m sure there will be plenty of internet people wanting to tell others what they’re wrong to be offended by
April 10th, 2012 at 10:29 AM
qadaffi > castro
April 10th, 2012 at 10:29 AM
Then Ozzie spoke out about how much he admires Mark Buehrle’a skill at opening a jar of mayo, and the Marlins took three games off his suspension.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:29 AM
The Marlins brought him in to be this Latin ambassador in their community, and what he said does not jive with that vision. They did what they needed to do.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:30 AM
You just quoted what he said in 2008.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Suspension had to be done, but firing him is, as Kramer might say, kooky talk.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:31 AM
5 games is a gesture to the fans. This will blow over in no time. Rosensquirrel’s article that was linked in the Roundup summed it up perfectly.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Not that they’re wrong to be offended. More like they’re wrong to be outraged. This is not an outrage worthy moment in my opinion. People are far too quick to get all hot and bothered over shit that isn’t what they thought it was. They then hear some columnist or radio guy massage the quote to fit a more broad narrative and this is what we get.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:32 AM
The quote above was from 2008. The quote that started the recent Time magazine story was in fact “I love Fidel Castro”
April 10th, 2012 at 10:32 AM
I was a freshman at the U when the Elian Gonzalez shit went down. There was a street protest a few blocks from campus where a car hit one of the protesters as it was driving through. I don’t think it was fatal but I learned quickly to avoid all talk about the country of Cuba during my time there.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Tribe signed Smooth. Tried watching the game last night. Terrible. Cunningham and Lopez don’t belong on a ML roster.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:32 AM
My bad. Well, that was pretty dumb, Ozzie.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:33 AM
lol
April 10th, 2012 at 10:33 AM
Bird Selig caves to the ravenous PC crowd and media vultures. Such a shame.
And yes, you know this came from the home office.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:33 AM
This is what you get for having MLB teams in FL.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:34 AM
*shrugs* nobody reads the posts.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:34 AM
“He’s a bull—- dictator and everybody’s against him, and he still survives, has power. Still has a country behind him,’’ Ozzie replied. “Everywhere he goes, they roll out the red carpet. I don’t admire his philosophy; I admire him.’’
Everyone take a deep breath and re-read Ozzie’s quote. Give me a break.
You’re right. It’s much about nothing. BUT it doesn’t matter to Cuban-Americans living in Miami (where Ozzie works and has to find a fan base).
It’s similar to the tempest comedian Alan Davies kicked off in England by daring to ask why Liverpool wouldn’t play on April 15th (the day the Hillsborough disaster happened).
April 10th, 2012 at 10:34 AM
“While I don’t agree with what he did, surviving for 10 years while the United States military was out to kill him? Badass, I love Osama Bin Laden”
April 10th, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Wrong.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:35 AM
I was overeager to defend Ozzie because baseball needs Ozzie.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:35 AM
This is the Cause of the Week that everyone has to go after.
/Team Kony!
//Or were we against Kony?
///Wait….who’s Kony?
April 10th, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Well, I cant disagree with you there.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Luke Scott agreed with the Marlins’ decision, then continued firing hollow tips at a cardboard cutout of Obama.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:36 AM
/masturbates furiously
April 10th, 2012 at 10:36 AM
It’s similar to the tempest comedian Alan Davies…
Tempest is the new kerfuffle. Definitely under-used.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:36 AM
How in the F can a barista work from home?
April 10th, 2012 at 10:36 AM
He’s a mealticket.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Another fun one was when a boat full of Haitan illegals crashed onto shore in Biscayne Bay and there were refugees running through the streets and on the causeway. Best part was that they cancelled classes and told us to go home.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Go on….
/please don’t let this comment prevent you from going to the Sox game on 5/19
April 10th, 2012 at 10:38 AM
“While I don’t agree with what he did, surviving for 10 years while the United States military was out to kill him? Badass, I love Osama Bin Laden”
keep going
April 10th, 2012 at 10:38 AM
LOL
April 10th, 2012 at 10:38 AM
Kim Il Sung > Castro > Saddam > Qaddafi
April 10th, 2012 at 10:38 AM
Feel free to continue driving drunk and maim or kill people while you’re at it.
But dammit we will draw a line if you say something controversial (to stupid people).
April 10th, 2012 at 10:39 AM
I watched Bill Maher’s closing segment last night and he talked about this and said there should day of no politically correctness. Say what the hell you want since there is freedom of speech and you can’t be suspended or have a special interest group protest you are call for your firing. I have to agree. You can’t say anything anymore without someone taking offense.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:39 AM
no it doesn’t. Ozzie just needs to go away.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:39 AM
Correct. This isn’t the Marlins saying that what Ozzie said was morally wrong. This is the Marlins appeasing the Cuban-American portion of their fanbase, many of whom have an emotional and/or personal stake in Cuban affairs. Basically, if you’re a coach or public figure in Miami, don’t reference Castro in any positive manner, no matter the context, ever.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:39 AM
I was overeager to defend Ozzie because baseball needs Ozzie.
But do they need him as a third base coach?
/just read caption.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:39 AM
I think this is a cultural issue more than a media issue, or baseball issue, or Bud Selig issue. The Cubans are in South Florida for a reason. Former Cubans may be outraged because they have a family member in a prison cell in Cuba because he said something against Castro.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:40 AM
-Joe Girardi
April 10th, 2012 at 10:40 AM
I was thinking about tuning in to Ozzie’s press conference but I’ve already lost my ability to understand his heavily accented english.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:41 AM
“No one turned around an economy faster than Hitler”
April 10th, 2012 at 10:43 AM
you understand why praise for Castro might have some impact on the people living in Miami, right?
April 10th, 2012 at 10:43 AM
..and those who say the “offensive comment” should just tell the special interest people to fuck off and give em a DX crotch chop.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:43 AM
“Fascism has its faults and people get carried away. But at the end of the day totalitarianism works. I’m not saying what Shoshon did was right or wrong, but it worked!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9DajKjOr4M
/RIP TST
April 10th, 2012 at 10:43 AM
This just goes to show that not all Spanish speakers share the same political perspective. Shocking. At least to Americans…
April 10th, 2012 at 10:44 AM
I totally read that in the voice of your avatar.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:44 AM
I think you mean ‘Mericans
April 10th, 2012 at 10:45 AM
“Sure, in theory. In theory, communism works. In theory.”
April 10th, 2012 at 10:46 AM
ive always been more offended by actions than words…i relish opportunities to engage in verbal fisticuffs, but only if it ends there. i don’t care if you insult my heritage or hobbies or whatever…but it would be a different story altogether if those words were realized in action, either in an isolated incident or institutionally.
i guess it’s easy for a white man to knock this type of censorship though, since it’s not like ive ever faced any real type of discrimination. probably would react differently if i were on the other side.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:47 AM
People getting outraged by the outrage needn’t worry, this will all be forgotten in exactly 5 days. Everything will be ok. The PC police have not taken over.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Letting him take questions is pretty questionable judgment by the Marlins PR staff. I know Ozzie wants to clear the air, but these are the types of situations where his filterless style can get him in trouble. He called Jay Mariotti a fag in front of like 10 microphones.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Is he doing the whole thing in Spanish or answering questions in English?
April 10th, 2012 at 10:51 AM
Legend.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:52 AM
All Spanish, CJ. He’s really frustrated by the confusion in translation. The ESPN guy trying to translate is brutal.
Now he’s doing stuff in English though. Just started.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:52 AM
I was thinking about tuning in to Ozzie’s press conference but I’ve already lost my ability to understand his heavily accented english
sounded just like spanish. it’s really getting bad
April 10th, 2012 at 10:52 AM
And then apologized to the gay community for comparing them to Jay Mariotti, amazing…I’d say as a Sox fan he’s missed but this week is a reminder that when things took a turn for the worse it quickly spiraled
April 10th, 2012 at 10:53 AM
“Leopold II was an excellent creator of jobs.”
“Pol Pot was a genius in solving their urban overcrowding problems.”
April 10th, 2012 at 10:53 AM
But that’s true…..so….
April 10th, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Idi Amin > Kim Il Sung > Castro > Saddam > Qaddafi
April 10th, 2012 at 10:55 AM
sounded just like spanish. it’s really getting bad
Is he pulling a Sammy Sosa?
April 10th, 2012 at 10:55 AM
I need to Rosetta Stone spanish ASAP. Should have done it years ago.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:55 AM
nero provided all his citizens had heat and music.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:55 AM
+1
April 10th, 2012 at 10:57 AM
“Hitler was good in the beginning, but he went a little too far.”
Marge was one of a kind. She loved her “million dollar ni88ers” too. Somehow I seem to remember it was some other issue that eventually led to her downfall though.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Kinda weird to suspend him for saying he loves Castro, but I’m not Cuban. Either way, I’m glad he’s not in Chicago anymore, wish he’d taken Kenny with him.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Ha. Fair statement.
April 10th, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Is he pulling a Sammy Sosa?
hot dogs armour hot dogs what kind of kid likes armour hot dogs?
April 10th, 2012 at 10:58 AM
This noise jumble with the guy translating over a full-volume Ozzie is not making for good TV
April 10th, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Idi Amin > Kim Il Sung > Castro > Saddam > Qaddafi
http://www.filibustercartoons.com/monsters.htm
April 10th, 2012 at 10:59 AM
I need to Rosetta Stone spanish ASAP. Should have done it years ago.
sg, for a cheap vacation, i highly recommend a spanish immersion school somewhere in latin america
April 10th, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Why didn’t they just put up a TV screen and have an interpreter close-caption his spanish stuff? I guess that won’t make for great radio…
April 10th, 2012 at 11:01 AM
i agree with this.
however, companies have the right to reprimand employees for saying stupid shit that could impact the people who they want to appeal to.
people have the right to say whatever they want in this country, but that doesn’t mean they have a right to not face consequences from employers if they say something in an official capacity or while representing the company they work for.
April 10th, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Somehow I seem to remember it was some other issue that eventually led to her downfall though.
Schott’s downfall began on April 1, 1996. As Cincinnati is the home of Major League Baseball’s oldest professional team, the Reds traditionally played the first game of the season at home. In 1996, they played the Montreal Expos. The weather was cold and blustery and it had snowed earlier in the day.
Shortly after the game started, home plate umpire John McSherry called a time out and motioned towards the Reds dugout, it was later presumed, for medical attention. After taking a few steps, McSherry collapsed and fell to the artificial turf face first. Attempts to resuscitate McSherry failed and he was pronounced dead at University Hospital about an hour later. The other umpires decided to postpone the game until the next day. Video showed Schott visibly upset that the game was to be postponed; reportedly she groused: “Snow this morning and now this. I don’t believe it. I feel cheated. This isn’t supposed to happen to us, not in Cincinnati. This is our history, our tradition, our team. Nobody feels worse than me.”[8]
Schott later insisted that she was standing up for the fans; critics saw her comments as insensitive. Schott reportedly offended major league umpires in general — and members of McSherry’s crew specifically — by regifting a bouquet of flowers given to her, adding a sympathy note and sending it on to the funeral home.
April 10th, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Needs an update for Kim Jong Il
April 10th, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Sounds like Ozzie’s job is fine. Marlins haven’t gotten this much attention in nearly a decade and we’re just 4 games into the season. In 5 days, those of us outside Miami will have completely moved on from this save for the occasional joke. In Miami, it’ll linger because of the cultural context, but I doubt it has more than a nominal impact on ticket sales and team support.
April 10th, 2012 at 11:03 AM
by regifting a bouquet of flowers given to her, adding a sympathy note and sending it on to the funeral home.
you can’t have a fortune by spending all your money. smart move
April 10th, 2012 at 11:04 AM
Can you also not get prosecuted for beating the shit out of people on this day? Because I imagine I’d be wanting to do this a lot.
April 10th, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Some guy working on my floor had his facebook status quoted in a recent Wall Street Journal article and I think he’s waiting to hear whether or not he’s getting fired.
April 10th, 2012 at 11:07 AM
At some point people will learn to stop doing this (assuming it was negative about the company)…I blame a lack of understanding about what the 1st Amendment is
April 10th, 2012 at 11:10 AM
i think our criticisms are a little misguided…the problem isn’t people getting offended by someone’s comments, it’s people getting offended by a BASEBALL MANAGER’S comments*. CONSIDER THE SOURCE, PEOPLE…if it’s an idiot saying something, don’t listen to the idiot. boom…problem solved.
*a baseball manager who’s proven to be completely batshit crazy and is probably both retarded and an alcoholic
April 10th, 2012 at 11:11 AM
The company has been training full time employees to do union jobs in case a strike happens in the near future. The guy posted that the only thing he’s retained is how to provide customers with PPV porn.
April 10th, 2012 at 11:14 AM
stupid on his part, especially if the WSJ asked to quote his status. Dumber on the companies part to fire him for saying what he said on his private facebook page.
smart thing to do: don’t fire anyone, don’t reference your company on your facebook page, tell your employees not to do this shit moving forward.
April 10th, 2012 at 11:19 AM
I don’t know if he was asked. I think maybe WSJ did a search on facebook of people who had the company listed on their profile and tried to see if anyone had any comments regarding the strike.
April 10th, 2012 at 11:23 AM
that’s even shittier if they quoted him like that w/o asking him. but there’s probably some loophole in privacy settings or some shit like that making this possible.
April 10th, 2012 at 11:29 AM
that’s even shittier if they quoted him like that w/o asking him. but there’s probably some loophole in privacy settings or some shit like that making this possible.
I don’t know. I have my page locked down. As far as I know, nobody outside of my friends can see my wall/photos. Maybe this guy got…
The guy posted that the only thing he’s retained is how to provide customers with PPV porn.
Oh, I don’t care. This man is obviously an idiot. Fuck him.
April 10th, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Never ever discuss or bitch about work on Facebook or Twitter. Or even an anonymous blog. I’ve never seen any of these forms of expression end well.
April 10th, 2012 at 11:34 AM
The suspension should be for sheer stupidity and ignorance. Ozzie, you are aware that he “has a country behind him” at gunpoint, right? That they roll out the red carpet because if they don’t, they’ll likely meet a firing squad? You know…the kind of stuff that goes on in Communist countries? The kind of stuff that most of the people in your Miami community risked their lives (at the expense of family members) to flee?
April 10th, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Kony Island, baby.
/ Lou Reed’d
April 10th, 2012 at 11:39 AM
You leave La Russa out of this!
April 10th, 2012 at 12:50 PM
“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.”
Thats the English translation of his recent quote… not sure where he said he loves Fidel Castro. However thats irrelevant semantics since no one actually believes Ozzie Guillen is all about firing squads and imprisonment of the innocent which is what people are reacting to.
April 10th, 2012 at 1:21 PM
CONSIDER THE SOURCE, PEOPLE…if it’s an idiot saying something, don’t listen to the idiot. boom…problem solved.
Boom, indeed. Sums it up for me.
April 10th, 2012 at 1:59 PM
You don’t suspend this guy. You either accept what he says and his right to say it, or you fire him because that is best for your business. But suspending him shows a lack of character and conviction. It is just to appease the critics.