armchairgm
all sports, all you
+ Add Friends
You are not logged-in.
Sign Up - Log In
Main Page
Sports
Write
Articles
Hot Links
Images
Meet People
Fun
Explore
MLB - NFL - NBA - NHL - College Basketball - College Football - Soccer - Nascar - Other
Article - Locker Room Discussion
All Articles - New Articles - Today's Articles
Submit a Link - Approve Links
Picture Game - Ratings - Polls - Pick Game - Quiz Game - Spring Silliness
Random Page - Random Image - Random Fan
Edit
Page history Discuss pageWhat links here

Guillen did nothing wrong

7
Vote

by user Rizzo42789

America is way too hypersenisitive these days and people in the public eye are always forced to apologize for things they say. While Ozzie Guillen did go overboard in criticizing Chicago Sun-Times sports writer Jay Mariotti by using a derogatory slur to describe sexual orientation.

The term "fag" is almost like using the word "gay" to describe someone. A lot of people call each other fags without even thinking about what it means.

"One thing I'm going to make clear is I apologize to the community, but to Jay, no chance."

--Ozzie Guillen

The whole situation came about when Mariotti criticized Guillen's handling of a young rookie pitcher, Sean Tracey, who refused Guillen's order to hit opposing batters. Guillen's badgering of the rookie made him cry in the dugout and he was sent to the minor leagues later in the week.

While Guillen may have put Tracey in an uncomfortable position, Guillen has to protect his players. A.J. Pierzynski had been hit twice by pitchers in the game against Texas and the White Sox needed to show they would not allow the Rangers to throw balls at their batters.

But the part of the whole ordeal that gets me is how Bud Selig decided to step in. If the issue had stayed within the limits of Chicago, he may have never interjected. However, since the issue spread to ESPN and became a topic of discussion around the country, the pencil-necked dweeb (Commissioner Selig) decided to take action.

Selig decided to fine Guillen and make him attend sensitivity training. Imagine the poor bastard who has to try and teach Guillen about sensitivity. A man who called an umpire a liar and went on a profanity filled rampage against one of his own countrymen - Magglio Ordonez. This guy is never going to change who he is. If he wants to use a racial slur or derogatory slur to describe someone, nothing will stop him. It is his right as an American citizen to say whatever he wants. And Selig thinks he can stop him, yeah right.

"Ozzie Guillen used language that is offensive and completely unacceptable," Selig said in a statement. "Baseball is a social institution with responsibility to set appropriate tone and example. Conduct or language that reflects otherwise will not be tolerated. The use of slurs embarrasses the individual, the club and the game."

-- Bud Selig

Baseball is a social institution with responsibility to set appropiate tone and example? Mr. Selig must not have been paying attention since he was named interim commissioner back in 1992.

Major League Baseball has more scandal and conduct detrimental to the moral and social status of the league now than at any other time in history. There have been steroids and HGH scandals, a strike that wiped out the World Series. He folded like a house of cards during the labor negotiations because he lacked the spine to lock out the players to ensure a salary cap to keep the small market teams competitive.

But he believes that what Guillen did was harmful to the game's integrity. All Guillen's statement was was an igonarant manager reacting angrily to criticism of the way he managed the game.

Major League Baseball does not need to censor Guillen because he is not going to listen anyway. No matter what happens, Ozzie is going to be Ozzie.


Date

Sat 06/24/06, 5:52 am EST

Enable Comment Auto-Refresher
Alex HolowczakHall of Famer
1259 days ago
Score 0+-
"But he believes what Guillen did was harmful to the games integrity." Perhaps they should worry about steroid users, which in my opinion, harms the game more. The 'roiders ruin the game's records, history, tradition, and reputation, whereas Guillen is just making himself look stupid, not so much the game.
Permalink | Reply
ASwaffAll-American
1259 days ago
Score 3+-
Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. First of all, on the issue of Chad Tracey, he wasn't just sent down later in the week. He was sent down the very next day. The very next morning, in fact. Twelve hours after the game's conclusion, the team had announced he was headed down to the minors. Secondly, I think Selig did give Chicago a chance to keep this in Chicago. But they did nothing. They did nothing to reprimand Guillen, so Selig was forced to step in. As I've said before, if Chicago had handled this the way they should have, instead of acting like they always do ("that's just Ozzie being Ozzie - he's quirky"), Selig would not have had to do what he did. And he still didn't do enough, and no amount of childish name-calling by you is going to change that.
Permalink | Reply
The sharkDraft Pick
1259 days ago
Score 2+-
Got to agree with ASwaff on this one. MLB gave the White Sox 48 hours to deal with this matter "in house" and subsequently arrived at the proper conclusion. Owner Rheinsdorf and GM Williams have no interest in taking much deserved action against Guillen. Selig has his issues - but this time, he got it right.
Permalink
ASwaffAll-American
1259 days ago
Score 0+-
"a strike that wiped out the World Series"


That happened 12 years ago. It hardly consitutes a current issue that is detrimental to baseball.
Permalink | Reply
ASwaffAll-American
1259 days ago
Score 3+-
"It is his right as an American citizen to say whatever he wants."


You're right. It's also Bud Selig's right as MLB Commissioner to fine people for doing offensive things that are detrimental to the league. I still can't believe people are using the First Amendement in this issue. Does a baseball player say his freedom of speech is suppressed because he gets ejected for aguing balls and strikes? This line of argument is totally without merit.
Permalink | Reply
XinophDraft Pick
1258 days ago
Score 1+-
Yes, ASwaff, a group of bigots hiding behind the first amendment - hardly a new one. Look at Fred Phelps' protests of soldier's funeral. This is the same mindset.
Permalink
Patrickburke1980All-American
1259 days ago
Score 3+-
This argument has already been used in previous threads...didn't apply then, doesn't apply now. Ozzie Guillen can't go to jail for what he said, but he can and should get fired for it.
Permalink | Reply
Patrickburke1980All-American
1259 days ago
Score 3+-
"The term "fag" is almost like using the word "gay" to describe someone. A lot of people call each other fags without even thinking about what it means."

What an argument! If other people do it, it can't be bad. Black people sometimes refer to each other as 'nigga'. What if ozzie had a disagreemednt with Ken Williams and called him a nigger? Can you honestly tell me he would not be fired because he was using his freedom of speech?

I would bet you'd say that scenario is just a different thing all together. Bigotry is bigotry and to call this behavior acceptible is just wrong.
Permalink | Reply
XinophDraft Pick
1258 days ago
Score 0+-
And people calling each other fags casually is just as bad as what Ozzie did. It's a subtle bigotry.
Permalink
Ron Sen, MDRed-Shirting
1259 days ago
Score -1+-
Lots of things happen in the heat of the moment. Perhaps a more articulate manager would have chosen a 'Roxanne' approach, "Jay Mariotti thinks he's Shakespeare. In fact, a chimpanzee could write better", or even "the difference between sportswriters and managers is that we have accountability and responsibility, they have a word processor." The offense taken is in the eyes (or ears) of the beholder. Should Guillen apologize for his irrational outburst? Yes. Fired? I don't think so.
Permalink | Reply
ASwaffAll-American
1259 days ago
Score 0+-
If that's the case, then Ozzie is in the "heat of the moment" at every single moment of the day. Every time I've seen him interviewed, he's said something offensive or foul. As I keep trying to point out, this kind of reaction would be extreme for a first or even rare offense, but this guy offends constantly. That's why baseball should be taking action.
Permalink
Anonymous Fanatic #1
1259 days ago
Score 2+-
This should be a no vote. Guillen did everything wrong. He embarrased his team and the league by humiliating and sending down a pitcher who refused to intentionally hit a batter and get thrown out of the game. He then attacked a member of the press and insulted the gay community. Managing in Major League baseball is a privilege, not a right. In order to maintain your job you must conform yourself with the conduct demanded by the league. Bud Selig did the right thing. Baseball is trying to sell itself to people of all walks of life. Black, White, Latino, Asian, Heterosexual, Homosexual, Man, Woman. Whereas Bud Selig (who I dislike as a commissioner) is trying to make a name for the sport of baseball, Ozzie Guillen is trying to make a name only for himself. I have a few names for Ozzie Guillen. And its a free country so I could spew them all over this board. But just because something is legal does not make it acceptable or wise.
Permalink | Reply
MetsJetsDevilsDraft Pick
1259 days ago
Score 2+-
That was me by the way.
Permalink
ASwaffAll-American
1259 days ago
Score 0+-
I totally agree. Like I said on another thread - Guillen is harming baseball in general and his own club by making himself the story. By trying to bring the kind of notoriety to himself that he did not enjoy as a player. If he would shut up and manage, he'd be a heck of a lot better as a manager and as a representative of baseball.
Permalink
Baseballfiles
1259 days ago
Score 2+-
"The term "fag" is almost like using the word "gay" to describe someone. A lot of people call each other fags without even thinking about what it means."

The term "fag" was used in a derogatory manner, and that's offensive to a minority. What if that minority was a larger one, like African Americans? If Guillen had used the term "ni**er", there would be much more serious repercutions, yet the offense is the same.

"It is his right as an American citizen to say whatever he wants."

That's true, he did get his citizenship, what, last year? Guillen however is in a position of authority--the manager of baseball's best team in 2006--and he should have better manners and be able to control his tantrums just a little more. Sure, make a dig at a reporter, but don't do it at the expense of alienating fans, gay or straight.

Fired? I don't know, that seems a little heavy handed. Sensitivity training, suspension and a fine? That seems quite appropriate to me. Smarten up, Guillen! And if he's not able to adjust to proper, respectful behavior, can him! This isn't Ozzie's game; it's ours.
Permalink | Reply
Baseballfiles
1259 days ago
Score 0+-
I meant best team of 2005! The White Sox won't win it this year! :)
Permalink | Reply
XinophDraft Pick
1258 days ago
Score 1+-
He especially did nothing wrong if you're a bigot who hates gays.
Permalink | Reply
XinophDraft Pick
1258 days ago
Score 0+-
"The term "fag" is almost like using the word "gay" to describe someone." Really? Then why are people offended by it? Oh wait, in your world they're not. If you think it's OK, it must be OK. Great line of reasoning there. Real logical.
Permalink | Reply
ASwaffAll-American
1258 days ago
Score 1+-
Baseballfiles was exactly right on this issue. It's not just another word, it's a derrogatory, negative word. That line of logic makes it perfectly okay to use words like nigger, spic, kike, gook or cracker. None of them are okay, and I'd expect anyone in the sporting world who used those words to be fined.
Permalink
XinophDraft Pick
1258 days ago
Score 0+-
Exactly. Fined at the very least. My argument was that because of Guillen's extensive history this should be the last straw.
Permalink
All~In~ChicagoVarsity
1258 days ago
Score -1+-
I cant say what Guillen said wasn't out of line, but being a Chicago resident and sports fan I can't stand Mariotti. I speak for a major part of Chicago and the country too I would asume. He's so back and forth on any sports opinions and lets face the fact he pushes the buttons. I can understand the hot temper of Guillen lashing out at him (the manner he did it not being the correct one). But he is also going to soak up every drop of the controversy as he can for his own good. As for sensitivity training, I don't know. I was head security at a bar for a while up here and if I had a dollar for every time I heard a derogatory remark I would buy the White SOx myself. Furthermore, Chicago hosts the PRIDE parade every summer and the route is right by the bar I worked. To attract business that day we hsoted a Drag Kareoke contest and it was, well interesting. Again if I had a dollar for everytime I heard "fag" or "you little homo fairy" called I would now buy the Cubs. My only request is if a minoirty group is going to attack a person who uses these comments, that's fine, and I don't blame you. But...work on people that are gay calling eachother the same names. If you can use them leisurly, why shouldn't I. (Not saying I do but in argument sake).
Permalink | Reply
ASwaffAll-American
1258 days ago
Score 0+-
It goes back to the "nobody hits my little brother but me" kind of mentality. Black comedians can make jokes about black culture, Jewish comedians can make jokes about Jewish culture, etc. It's not kosher (no pun intended) for me to do the same, because I'm not black and I'm not Jewish. It's the same thing with Jeff Foxworthy. It's okay for him to make fun of rednecks, because he is one. If he were black, not only would it not be funny, it would be offensive. Call it a double standard if you want, but that's just the way it is. When you are part of that culture, you can make jokes about that culture. Making fun of someone else's is not cool.


As for what you said about Mariotti - yes, he can be obnoxious. Yes, I can understand Guillen being mad about it. And, as you said, the way he chose to criticize was not appropriate. That's the argument we were having on another thread when people said he was just trying to speak his mind. Nobody's faulting him for defending himself, they're faulting him for the way he did it. It was 500 dollars worth of retaliation for a 5 dollar crime. Guillen needs to learn to cool it. And not just a little bit. A lot.
Permalink
All~In~ChicagoVarsity
1258 days ago
Score -1+-
Permalink | Reply
Alex HolowczakHall of Famer
1258 days ago
Score 0+-
I agree, All-In-Chicago...
Permalink
Add your Comment
ArmchairGM welcomes all comments. If you don't want to be anonymous, Register or Login. It's free


Retrieved from "http://armchairgm.wikia.com/Guillen_did_nothing_wrong"

This page was last modified 12:12, 24 June 2006. Content is available under the GFDL.

Contribute

ArmchairGM's pages can be edited.
Is this page incomplete? Is there anything wrong?
Change it!

Edit this page Discuss this page Page history

Recent contributors to this page

The following people recently contributed to this article.

Embed this on your site

Main Page About Special Pages Help Terms of Use Advertise