12/22/24
February 17, 2006
Ozzie Calls A-Rod A-Hypocrite: "Alex was kissing Latino peoples' asses. He knew he wasn't going to play for the Dominicans; he's not a Dominican!"
You have to love a guy who speaks his mind, and one who prints it.
posted by hump9n at 09:16 AM on February 17, 2006
Number one, I wish this World Baseball Classic would just disappear. Number two, I give Ozzie Guillen credit for leading the White Sox to a championship, but I'm already getting tired of hearing about him. He needs to learn he's a manager now, not a slap-hitting shortstop. Sometimes he needs to keep his mouth shut or find a bit more diplomatic way of saying things.
posted by dyams at 09:20 AM on February 17, 2006
Since we are talking about this, here are the current confirmed members of the Venezuelan team:
Catchers:
Infielders:
Outfielders:
Pichers:
posted by zippinglou at 10:02 AM on February 17, 2006
I think Guillen's statements were mean-spirited and unnecessary. A part of being an American is that people like to hold on to their heritage and it becomes an important part of their life. Just because he doesn't understand the legitimate conflict that Nomar and A-Rod experienced, he doesn't have to call them out.
posted by bperk at 10:26 AM on February 17, 2006
[Ozzie Guillen] also has a habit of shooting his mouth off for the press to hear As for the Venezualian team: Great googly moogly! That pitching staff is amazing. If they had a LITTLE better infield (other than Cabrera, you've got some slap hitters and guys coming off injuries), I'd run off to Rick Tocchet and place a bet on them to win the tournament. You have to love a guy who speaks his mind, and one who prints it. So, when O.G. insults ARod, it's something people love. When Barry Bonds insults the media, it's something people hate? Just checking.
posted by grum@work at 10:54 AM on February 17, 2006
he's not a Dominican so his dual citizenship doesn't mean shit? i guess that Ozzie's recent naturalization doesn't mean shit either.
posted by goddam at 10:56 AM on February 17, 2006
Let's play ball and leave the diatribe for the grounds crew to sweep up.
posted by KD at 10:56 AM on February 17, 2006
It's the same with [Nomar] Garciaparra playing for Mexico. Garciaparra only knows Cancun because he went to visit. Heh.
posted by justgary at 10:59 AM on February 17, 2006
My only problem with Guillen's remarks is that it's a lot more outspoken than other people in the game have been able to get away with. If a Venezuelan in baseball can say that A-Rod isn't a Dominican, shouldn't an American broadcaster get some slack for making the observation about "brain-dead Caribbean hitters"?
posted by rcade at 11:08 AM on February 17, 2006
It's time for Ozzie to shut his trap! A-Rod was born here in America he should play here. I am latin american also, and I feel if you have the choice the choice is yours. Everybody, Pedro to should mind there business..
posted by tool2310 at 11:51 AM on February 17, 2006
Man, it's clear that a lot of MLB players just really don't like A-Rod. Whatever that may mean is kind of secondary to the fact that Guillen is being a complete asshole. A-Rod should be able to choose. Ozzie's never met a microphone he didn't like. And rcade is right - there is a pretty vicious double standard running around these days.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:56 PM on February 17, 2006
Oh my gosh, what some guys say to sell tickets or get quoted in the media. What ever happened to, "if you can't say something nice, keep your mouth shut". This statement does no good for baseball, or for that matter sportsmanship.
posted by westcoast at 01:22 PM on February 17, 2006
I enjoy anyone who is outspoken and speaks there mind. Not alot of people like that anymore. Tell it like it is, if you like it, great. If not, wah.
posted by hump9n at 03:08 PM on February 17, 2006
I'm sick of Ozzie. A-rod should be able to choose if he wants to play on the Dom. team if he wants. A-rod isn't a Dom., he is Dom. (there is a difference).
posted by nort_12345 at 03:11 PM on February 17, 2006
Maybe someone should ask him how he feels about Mark Mulder playing for the Netherlands. That should stump him enough to get him to stop bitching about A-Rod.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 04:03 PM on February 17, 2006
That is the first roster I've seen but I am a casual fan. Is every player from every team already in the bigs? Seems like an all-star game divided by country of origin. I'd like to see a good showing buy some unknowns. So would the scouts, no doubt. rcade makes a great point. The media will give Ozzie a pass on this. It will take another manager calling him out to really expose him but we know that won't happen.
posted by geekyguy at 07:52 PM on February 17, 2006
From Yahoo.news:
"I don't call him a hypocrite in that way. Alex is not a hypocrite. I was just trying to say he doesn't have to please people. He doesn't have to make people from the United States or from the Dominican Republic or from Venezuela happy. When you do that, you sound like you are a hypocrite. You say, 'Hey I want to play for the United States and that's the team I belong on,' move on and that's it."
Guillen said he didn't want Rodriguez to have to deal with the issue at spring training when he reports and would call him, if necessary.
"I apologize to Alex Rodriguez, his family, his fans, the New York Yankee organization, to the White Sox organization," Guillen said.
"Full Article
posted by zippinglou at 01:26 AM on February 18, 2006
Ozzie should be given credit as a good baseball manager, but --- how can such a small man have such a large mouth?? Also how can he spit so much and so often??
posted by jiminnc at 10:56 AM on February 18, 2006
i agree with guillen. i was over in the dominican this winter and the sentiment over there was they could care less if he played for the d.r.. they wanted guys from their country representing them. i wouldn't go as far as to call him a hypocrite, but his agonizing over who to play for and his decision to almost not play for any team seemed a little fake to me.