Marlins
Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen sets Tuesday press conference to
explain Fidel Castro comments
Ozzie Guillen will return to Miami to address a Time Magazine article in
which he is quoted as saying he respects Fidel Castro for having been
able to remain in power in Cuba as long as he has. Guillen later apologized.
BY ANDRE C. FERNANDEZ
A1fernandez@MiamiHerald.com
PHILADELPHIA -- Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said prior to
Monday's game against the Phillies that he would travel back to Miami
after the game and hold a press conference Tuesday to address comments
in a recent Time magazine article concerning Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
Guillen was quoted as saying he respected Castro for having been able to
remain in power in Cuba as long as he has.
Guillen later apologized for the comment during the team's road trip
this past weekend to Cincinnati, saying: "I'm against the way he
[Castro] treats people and the way [he has treated] his country for a
long time. I'm against that 100 percent."
The press conference is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Marlins Park.
"I was planning to do something Friday, but [Tuesday] we have the day
off and I want to make everything clear so people can talk to me
face-to-face," Guillen said. "They can ask me whatever questions they
want, and the sooner the better for the people, for the ballclub and for
me. I want to tell people what is going on in my mind and what I believe."
Guillen said he has been struggling with the situation the past three
days and hasn't been able to sleep.
"I want the people there," Guillen said. "I feel embarrassed. I feel
guilty not because I'm lying, but because this thing hasn't let me sleep
for three days. Only my wife knows how bad it's been last few days. I
feel very guilty, sad and embarrassed. Anyone who wants to be there,
feel free. I want the Cuban people to understand what I'm going to say
because everything I'm going to say is true."
Guillen said he wasn't surprised by the reaction and knew how deeply it
would affect the Cuban community.
"I have to face it," Guillen said. "I have to make people feel good
about themselves. I will say what I said a couple of days ago. I don't
want to just make a statement and that's it because I think when you do
that, that's a bunch of crap.
"I feel sad because I know I hurt a lot of people," Guillen added. "I'm
Latino. I live in Miami. I have a lot of friends and players [that are
Cuban]. They know who I am. They know how I feel."
Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez, whose parents were born in Cuba,
declined to comment before Monday's game.
"I'm focusing on baseball and the Phillies right now," Sanchez said.
Guillen said he had not spoken to Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria about the
issue and didn't think this would affect his job status. Guillen said
the saddest part for him was to apologize to Marlins Spanish-language
broadcaster and Hall of Famer Felo Ramirez. Guillen said he also
apologized to Cuban-born Phillies pitcher Jose Contreras.
Ramirez and fellow Marlins broadcaster Yiki Quintana did not wish to
speak about the situation but Ramirez said he felt Guillen was doing the
right thing by returning to Miami.
"Obviously it's something that was going to affect people a lot and
[Guillen] realizes that," Ramirez said. "I think he will answer
everything [in Miami]."
The ripple effect reached members of the Cuban community even in
Philadelphia.
Phillies spanish radio announcer Rickie Ricardo, who was born in New
York but whose family migrated from Cuba, said the situation was
something that could be more damaging to the team's image than anything
negative on the field.
"Let's hope Ozzie addresses it and clears things up," Ricardo said.
"That's a subject that's untouchable. This team could go 0-50 and it
wouldn't hurt the Cuban community as much as him saying something like
that."
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/10/2739168/ozzie-guillen-will-return-to-miami.html
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