(the Jewish Jackie Mason)
The Chicago Sun-Times’ Jay Mariotti, rejecting the notion that Ozzie Guillen is (in the words of Jerry Reinsdorf) “the Hispanic Jackie Mason”, proposes a two-week suspension for the White Sox manager, adding,
I am hardly alone in thinking Guillen, if he doesn’t wise up, is headed toward a bad ending in Chicago. As somebody who lobbied hard in print for Ozzie to get the job, I knew he would be a politically incorrect load at times. But little did I know he would become a national embarrassment to a city, a franchise and a sport. The incidents are coming a little too frequently for comfort, and anyone who thinks he’s just deflecting attention from his team isn’t living on a sane planet. The shame of it is, his antics are taking away from the enjoyment of a rare World Series championship in this town, a title he made happen. As long as the Sox are winning, I suppose there will be enough Neanderthal fans who would defend a manager for an ax murdering. But when a lightning rod starts struggling and losing — see Bob Knight, Indiana — even the big bosses lose patience with the nonstop stunts.
Guillen’s beef with me involves his belief that if I criticize him, I should rush down to the ballpark immediately and let him litter me with insults. If that sounds like high-school macho nonsense, realize it’s the general mentality of baseball clubhouses. Imagine a critic panning a movie, then being required to take a tongue-lashing the next day from an angry Vince Vaughn. Imagine a restaurant critic not liking an Italian joint, then having to show up so the chef can throw meatballs at him. Sorry, guy, I’m not a beat writer who covers the team every day. Tuesday night, I was at Game 6 of the NBA Finals, where I should have been. Next week, I’ll be at the NBA draft. Next month, I’ll be at the British Open.
Yeah — why do I find it hard to believe that between Dusty and Ozzie, it’s Ozzie whose job is on the line? I love the irony-free attitude of a journalist at a major newspaper who thinks people should be fired for being critical. Does the Trib own the White Sox too?
Ben
Er, uh, let me rephrase, for the CSTB record … Ozzie is lame for calling Mariotti a “fag.” Not thinking too hard when I posted my earlier response, which is all knee jerk anti-Mariottism. Force of habit!
“fag”? All this useless b*llsh*t is over the word “fag”? You’re kiddin’!
yeah, you’d think Ozzie was living in a country where homosexuals were routinely discriminated against.
I still think Guillen’s “I went to a Madonna concert, I’ve been to a WNBA game” excuse was kind of poor, though I’m not sure if I agree with Woody Page that such claims perpetuate more negative stereotypes against gays (presumably, Woody would prefer Her Madgeness not collaborate with Les Rhythmes Digitales).
There’s still a way for O.G. and the White Sox to demonstrate there’s no hatred in their hearts for gays. Ozzie can use the power granted to him by MLB and the State Of Illinois to conduct same sex marriage ceremonies at the Cell before an upcoming White Sox game. If the Moonies could take over Yankee Stadium, I don’t see why this wouldn’t be permissible. Who knows? Maybe William Ligue met someone nice in prison?