He was a darn good shortstop. Nothing overly spectacular. Climbed his up the coaching ladder. First with the Expos. He was then an assistant for the 2003 World Series champion Florida Marlins prior to his current gig. That gig is running the show on the southside of Chicago (makes me think of the lyrics to Bad, Bad Leroy Brown) with the White Sox.
Of course, I’m referring to manager Ozzie Guillen.
During his days as a player, Guillen was voted the American League Rookie of the Year in 1985. He was also selected to three All-Star Games and snared his only Gold Glove in 1990. Ozzie also received some MVP consideration for 1990 placing 17th. Yes, a nice career he had. But Guillen has made his mark since arriving in the Windy City as the White Sox skipper. Even then, it’s not so much for his managerial style. It’s his thoughts, words and tweets.
I would go so far to say that Guillen cemented himself as one of baseball’s biggest personalities and one of its most outspoken individuals. Some may view him in a negative light due to his sometimes profanity laced after game gatherings. Maybe even an off-center tweet as Gullen is a member of the Twitterverse. Makes no difference to him. Hence, the saying “Ozzie being Ozzie”. Yes, it’s a derivative (of sorts) of the line attached to Manny Ramirez. Or is it? Guillen has earned the “right” to have such a saying all to himself.
But the road has been a bumpy one. Not his managerial road. He’s led the White Sox to a championship in his second season (2005) and a divisional title (2008). It’s Ozzie’s “other” involvement that tends to raise more than an eyebrow or two.
In 2006, Guillen called then-Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti a rather derogatory term that used in reference to homosexuals. Oh, and there was an expletive attached to that as well. Guillen’s “defense” was the Mariotti continued to write columns that were taking shots at either Guillen or his team and Mariotti was not a common sight in the clubhouse. If those allegations were true, I would have thought of many other terms to use and not the one Guillen chose. Out of all of this, commissioner Bud Selig fined Guillen and ordered sensitivity training.
Still, Ozzie being Ozzie. He will say what he wants when he wants. He will not be stifled. Good or bad.
And when Guillen made the decision to open an account on Twitter, that didn’t sit right with his superiors. White Sox GM Kenny Williams made his thoughts known on that (via Chicagoist).
"“No comment … and make sure you write that it is a no comment with a head shake from side to side.”"
But again, Guillen took his position.
"“I feel like I was doing something wrong,” Guillen said. “People are treating me like I was a murderer or something, or steal someone’s money or didn’t pay my taxes.”"
What may have sent this all out of whack was that Guillen tweeted about former White Sox player Jermaine Dye and why he had “no job”. The White Sox brass perceived that as a possible slap at them.
Another case in point. Remember the rift brought about by the immigration law passed in Arizona? Yes, it provided another platform for Ozzie to insert his opinion. (In case you haven’t guessed, if you don’t want Guillen’s opinion, don’t ask. Even then, you’re likely to get it anyway.) The uproar was that baseball should pull the All-Star Game from Arizona due to the law. Guillen grabbed the stage and stated he would not attend if he were chosen to go (via the New York Post).
"“I’m not going. I have to support my people, people I believe in. If those people were bad people, hell no I wouldn’t support them; but they’re good people,” Guillen said. “I’m very proud to be a [U.S.] citizen, but meanwhile I ask, “Wow, why did this happen?’ We didn’t do anything wrong here. We support this county and this country supports us. That’s why I’m confused about this thing.“As a coach, no [I won’t go]. As a player it’s a different thing. If the commissioner wants to play the All-Star game in Arizona, we have to show up. As a coach, I’m not going. They don’t need me. The show’s going on without me.”"
But Ozzie’s take didn’t end there on this issue (via New York Daily News).
"“Most (immigrants) are workaholics,” Guillen said. “This country can’t survive without (them). I’m sorry but a lot of people from this country are very lazy. We aren’t. A lot of people from this country want to be on the computer and sending e-mail to people. We do the hard work. We’re the ones who have to go out and work in the sun all day long.”"
That statement in itself ruffled a few feathers as well. A common theme.
But I’d like to point out the merit in this. No, I’m not going all political here. I’m not enough in the know to do such. Guillen does show backbone. He does that anytime he’s addressing the gathered throng of media. He takes a stance, digs in, and swings. Moving forward.
Guillen swung again last year when the issue of players from Spanish speaking countries. He addressed that in saying that Asian players receive an almost unfair advantage compared those of Latino countries (via Fanhouse).
"“They take advantage of us,” the White Sox Venezuelan-born manager Guillen charged Sunday of baseball, when it comes to Latino players. He said there was a lack of interpreters for them as well as poor information about performance-enhancing drugs. “We bring a Japanese player and they are very good and they bring all these privileges to them. We bring a Dominican kid … go to the minor leagues, good luck. Good luck. And it’s always going to be like that. It’s never going to change. But that’s the way it is.”"
Guillen also tackled the seemingly growing issue of PEDs and Latino players (via New York Daily News).
"“I’m the only one to teach the Latinos about [what] not to use,” he declared.“I’m the only one and Major League Baseball doesn’t care.”"
MLB issued a statement with a completely opposite view, but the point was now out there whether you agree with it or not.
And that really is what makes Guillen an even bigger target. He won’t back down. He won’t give up for something in which he feels is right. He won’t take anything lying down. It’s simply not his style. Back in 2006 Mariano Duncan put his spin on Guillen and his accomplishments.
"“He’s opened so many doors to Latino coaches,” said former Yankee second baseman Mariano Duncan, who is now a coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers.“But he’s throwing everything away by the way he’s behaving,” Duncan said in a 2006 interview with the Los Angeles Times. “He embarrassed every Latino player, coach and front-office person.”"
But the Venezuelan is not afraid. He’s more than willing to do it.
Yes, Ozzie being Ozzie. But you have to love and maybe even admire his candor.