Flight 750 with Chad Doing
Guillen's Gaffe, Gag, and Gripe of the Guild
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April 11, 2012, 8:52 am
Ozzie Guillen talked his way into trouble with his controversial comments about Fidel Castro in a Time magazine interview. Now, the new manager in a new stadium found himself without a paycheck or a team to coach for 5 games. Pundits, including Sweet Lou Piniella, react to personal experience dealing with Castro and weigh in on whether or not the punishment is enough.
"He has done a lot of bad things," Guillen said of Castro. "That's why I am surprised he has stayed in power so long.” The press conference followed an announcement that the Marlins will suspend Guillen for five games, effective immediately. He will not be paid, but Guillen said that a paycheck was the furthest thing from his mind.
On Tuesday, the Miami Marlins manager attempted to talk his way out. Guillen spoke to a large media contingent at Marlins Park after flying back from Monday's game in Philadelphia and apologized countless times in both Spanish and English. The session lasted for almost an hour as Guillen said that saying he loved and respected the former Cuban leader was the "biggest mistake in my life."
Guillen said that some of his comment about respecting Castro for staying in power for over 60 years was lost in translation, but stopped short of blaming Time reporter Sean Gregory for misquoting him.
"I think fixing my problem with my community is more important to me than the suspension and money," Guillen said.
Protesters from a Cuban-American group watched the apology on a big screen at the ballpark. Time will tell if Guillen's attempt at making amends was enough.
Was the punishment enough? Gus Farah of Alpha Broadcasting, whose family is from Cuba, talks about what this means to the Cuban community and how Guillen’s apology was received.
Lars Larson of FM News 101 joined the MSP to talk about the context of Castro over the decades, the ramifications of comments like this from a business and cultural standpoint.
Sweet Lou Piniella talked with Chad from China about how he interprets Guillen’s comments, how the perception of the Miami Marlins and Guillen can change, not only in Miami, but throughout the league.
On Tuesday, the Miami Marlins manager attempted to talk his way out. Guillen spoke to a large media contingent at Marlins Park after flying back from Monday's game in Philadelphia and apologized countless times in both Spanish and English. The session lasted for almost an hour as Guillen said that saying he loved and respected the former Cuban leader was the "biggest mistake in my life."
Guillen said that some of his comment about respecting Castro for staying in power for over 60 years was lost in translation, but stopped short of blaming Time reporter Sean Gregory for misquoting him.
"I think fixing my problem with my community is more important to me than the suspension and money," Guillen said.
Was the punishment enough? Gus Farah of Alpha Broadcasting, whose family is from Cuba, talks about what this means to the Cuban community and how Guillen’s apology was received.
Lars Larson of FM News 101 joined the MSP to talk about the context of Castro over the decades, the ramifications of comments like this from a business and cultural standpoint.
Sweet Lou Piniella talked with Chad from China about how he interprets Guillen’s comments, how the perception of the Miami Marlins and Guillen can change, not only in Miami, but throughout the league.
