I'm kind of shocked there wasn't a thread on this. This is a really big deal in Miami. A lot of Cubans are in the Miami area and Guillen says he loves Fidel Castro! :breakdance: That's a completely idiotic thing to say. Today he is having a press conference to apologize. I think this thing could escalate until Guillen is either suspended or fired.
As they said on ESPN last night he might survive this but it definitely means he already has two strikes against him. Even the slightest gaffe and he is history.
the Marlins are fucked. they spent all that money on players so I doubt they would want to eat his contract. this is going to be a beautiful PR disaster for the team. they better hope they win 95 games, that is their only hope to fend off the protests.
Bud Selig says hello: Seriously, when did we elect the cuban americans in South Florida to run this country. Fidel Castro is a pretty impressive guy, the miami cubans hate him with a passion because he whipped up anyone who stood against him. Not saying he's a nice guy, it's actually the opposite, but I can see why people like Ozzie Guillen would respect him
It's one thing to respect his resilience and ability to stay in power but Ozzie went on record with the words "I love Fidel Castro" which is bad bad. Poor choice of words. Guy never thinks before he speaks.
that's complete bullshit. that is like saying you respect sociopaths like John Gotti. you can't separate how Castro oppressed and murdered people to stay in power from who he is and say he is impressive. if you are impressed by him, you can only be impressed by how he oppressed and murdered his own people because that is how he remained in power and all he was. absent of that, what are you impressed by?
Well, let's get real here..Guillen is from Venezuela where Hugo Chavez really does love Castro and where Chavez goes to Cuba every other week to get his cancer treated because nobody but Castro will have anything to do with him. One despot to another. If he was from any other spanish speaking country it would still draw some condemnation but coming from a Venezuelan was just way too much. He will ultimately be fired for this even if that is not specified as the real reason.
Impressed that he's been able to re-patriate all assets for the Cuban people and withstand the pressure from the United States through decades and several administrations. Crime is also extremely low and everyone has access to high quality medial care. If it weren't for the sanctions on Cuba (mainly because of pressure from Cuban Americans), Cuba would be a pretty prosperous place. You can't condone a tyrant's atrocities but Fidel Castro is an impressive guy for what he's been able to do. I don't see any accomplishments Gotti can hang his hat on
Gotti rigged three juries to avoid conviction if all you are impressed by is someone's ability to stave off prosecution or upheaval. so, he is only less impressive because he didn't have an island sanctuary to completely stay out of the U.S.'s hands. Castro has withstood pressure from the U.S. because he doesn't give a shit about the affect it has on the people. it isn't as if he has done so while individuals have flourished and live happy lives.
Believe it or not, many people think Castro genuinely did what he did for the collective good of his people, as opposed to megalomaniacs like Kim Jung Il, Joseph Stalin, etc... The people would have much happier lives if the economy wasn't so restricted by trade sanctions that the US just can't let go of because Castro seized American owned land & property, and because of the political pressure from South Florida
The suspension is so stupid. How are praising a random political figure and intentionally throwing at a batter equally detrimental to the game?
Actually, support from the international community has allowed Castro to withstand pressure from the U.S.
Mad Dog was all over this 1999 Cuba exhibition today, pointing out the hypocrisy of them suspending Guillen after going down there and sitting with Castro at the games. Hard to argue with him.
It makes a difference who imposed the suspension, but, personally, I only compare suspensions in terms of length.