BREAKING: Ozzie Guillen Fired By Miami Marlins

Here’s a shocker, well not really.  The Miami Marlins fired manager Ozzie Guillen. 

In his one and only year with the Marlins Guillen did something only Ozzie could do, take a promising line-up into a new ballpark which had what little fan base the Marlins have excited and killed that enthusiasm by being an obnoxious jerk and alienating his players.

You kind of knew this marriage was on the rocks from the get go when back in April Guillen praised of all people Fidel Castro in a Cuban-American magazine, Miami’s significant Cuban population make up a large segment of the Marlins fan base. 

That lead to a suspension delivered right in front of Showtime’s cameras during their behind the scenes show last season “The Franchise, A Season With The Miami Marlins”.  (Thanks shosports)

Ozzie Suspended For Five Games

((HT: WFOR-TV Miami))

Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen blamed the Fidel Castro quote from his upcoming Life Magazine article on a mis-translation from English to Spanish, but he fell on the sword anyway...

Here's the apology...


The Marlins came out with a prepared statement before the presser:

"The Marlins acknowledge the seriousness of the comments attributed to Guillen. The pain and suffering caused by Fidel Castro cannot be minimized especially in a community filled with victims of the dictatorship."

Marlins bench coach Joey Cora will be the manager in the interim...

Guillen, smartly, addressed the problem in Spanish first before answering questions in English... MLB is looking at the "situation..."

Somehow, the HQ doesn't think this over...

Ozzie Guillen May Or May Not Love Fidel Castro

((HT: Telemundo51-Miami/youtube))

Well, Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen first thought this...


But, then a day after the quote praising one of the hemisphere's most oppressive rulers, he had to apologize...

"If [people] are disappointed or upset with what I said, I don't blame them, but I'm with them," Guillen said, according to Juan Rodriguez's article in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

"I lived in Miami for 12 years. I know exactly what [Castro] means to the town ... Everybody is upset and kind of sad with what I said. I'm a grown man. I can take it.

"I want to let them know I apologize, but in the meanwhile I was not talking about politics. The reason I say I admire him is because a lot of people want to get rid of this guy and they couldn't yet.

"That was personal, not politics. If you don't read the article, it sounds ugly. The first time I read it I was like, 'Wow, that's going to get me in trouble.' I understand that. I'm not hiding from anybody, especially people in Miami."

The team then went ahead and issued a statement on their own: “We are aware of the article. There is nothing to respect about Fidel Castro. He is a brutal dictator who has caused unthinkable pain for more than 50 years. We live in a community filled with victims of this dictatorship and the people in Cuba continue to suffer today.”

The HQ thinks that the article in Time Magazine will be worth reading, and that anyone who had "a week" as the over/under on Ozzie saying something offensive just lost their bet.

Ozzie To The Marlins...And Away From Chicago

But not before his final pre-game salvo toward the White Sox front office...
((HT: CSNChicago))


After an afternoon meeting with members of the ChiSox front office, it was divulged that Ozzie was released from the rest of his contract...

And, now, depending on who you believe Guillen is allowed to proceed to the Marlins in exchange for a few minor leaguers. He should be perfect for the franchise and the fan base the team will try to attract with their new logo- very 80's logo...