Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen made a formal apology last night for using the word “fag” to insult Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti. His word choice may have been inappropriate, he says, but not his message.
“I shouldn’t have mentioned the name that was mentioned, but I’m not going to back off of Jay,” Guillen said, using another profanity to describe Mariotti.
“The word I used, I should have used something different. A lot of people’s feelings were hurt and I didn’t mean it that way.”
Meanwhile, Mariotti’s column today is calling for Guillen’s suspension. Sure, it takes him four paragraphs to get into his argument, but he’s got a good case: This is the second time in less than a year Guillen has made disparaging remarks toward homosexuals; last year, he “greet[ed] a friend warmly” by saying “Hey, everybody, this guy’s a homosexual! He’s a child molester!’
Mariotti wants Guillen handed a two week suspension – just enough time for some decency to settle in and realize what a public embarrassment he’s become for his team and the city of Chicago. Perhaps ironically, Mariotti actually supported Guillen getting the team manager spot, knowing he might be insensitive at times. But never egregiously so.
White Sox manager apologizes for ‘fag’ remark [AP]
Sensitivity the issue, Guillen the problem [Chicago Sun-Times]
Earlier: White Sox’s Ozzie Guillen: I Can Say ‘Fag’ Without Being Homophobic
Earlier: Perhaps the White Sox’s Ozzie Guillen Isn’t So Anti-Gay, After All
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dizzy
There’s no doubt Guillen’s a total douchebag (my apologies to actual douchebags), but why should he be suspended? Isnt he free to say what he wants? Given the actual crimes (rape, drug abuse, assault) so may pro athletes commit, his harsh words seem almost quaint. Someone calls me a fag, I call them an asshole. I dont run and tell Daddy to punish them. Mariotti sounds like a whiney windbag–maybe Guillen shouldve called him a pussy instead of a fag