Guillen is out of control
There is no defense for Ozzie Guillen.
There is nothing anyone can write or say that can justify his latest outburst. Actually, the Chicago White Sox manager’s past diatribes have been pretty questionable. But Guillen went further than ever before, referring to Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti as a derogatory term for homosexuals.
For his remark, Guillen should have faced more than a fine and sensitivity training. Baseball does have a precedent for this kind of thing, and from the looks of it, Guillen didn’t receive a slap on the wrist. It was more of a firm handshake.
For his remark, Guillen was fined an undisclosed amount and told to undergo sensitivity training.
Most of us would be on our knees thanking the commissioner for his kindness (and spinelessness). But Guillen still thought the punishment was too harsh, implying in an interview he wouldn’t go to sensitivity classes.
Forget what Guillen said he meant. He knew very well what he was saying. Most of us, I’m sure, have been called the term he called Mariotti at some point in our lives.
Of course, the last time I was called that was in eighth grade. It hurt then, but I look at it now as 13-year old immaturity. It didn’t make it right, but it was at least explainable.
The 42-year old Guillen has no such excuse. Instead of apologizing, the manager continues to dig.
He defended his remarks by saying he went to WNBA games. One can only guess what he was implying there.
Mariotti is not a very sympathetic character (I call him such because he appears to play one on Around the Horn), but to his credit, he has taken the high road on this one, saying he’s been called worse. He has not lashed back at Guillen so much as said what most of us seem to think: Ozzie needs help. He suggested a two-week suspension for Guillen in a Chicago Sun-Times column Thursday. He also suggested Guillen use the time off to think and go to sensitivity classes.
Of course, Mariotti is right. But Since Guillen does not seem so keen on the sensitivity training, perhaps a more radical course is needed.
When Reds owner Marge Schott referred to former players Dave Parker and Eric Davis with derogatory racial remarks, she was suspended a year. After years of incidents, Schott was eventually forced out of the league completely in 1999.
That same year, Atlanta Braves reliever John Rocker was suspended for a month (later cut to two weeks by an arbitrator — gotta love that player’s association) and forced to go through sensitivity training. Curiously, Guillen was a teammate of Rocker’s in Atlanta for two seasons. He apparently learned nothing.
Schott got a year, and Rocker got a month. Why nothing major for Guillen?
I have no answer for that. But in light of his lack of understanding, a suspension is in order. Two weeks, as Mariotti said, is fine. The sensitivity training will probably have as much effect on Guillen as a band-aid on a broken arm. Still, baseball should take one more step.
A Chicago skipper has never managed an All-Star game. Even though the manager earned that right with a World Series title, I’d keep that streak going and remove Guillen from the festivities. Let Buck Showalter (a former target of Guillen’s) manage. Don’t let Guillen select any players.
Baseball needs to prove it can get tough. But more than that, the Chicago manager needs to be stopped, before he becomes a bigger story than the game on the field.
Maybe it’s too late for that.
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