Kenny Williams' decision

It is time for Ozzie to be quiet and concentrate on overcoming the Tigers as we march to our next championship. This season has been too much about Ozzie and not enough about the White Sox. We want Ozzie to manage the team because we know what kind of job he can do, but he has to stop drawing all this attention to himself, as it can become a distraction. So Ozzie, take your sensitivity class, put what you learn into action and lets win another World Series.

This is the best thing that happened to Thome and Crede. Ozzie knows what he is doing and does it intentionally. As a player or manager he has always wanted evrything to be about Ozzie. Now that he is a manger he chases anyone who gets bigger headlines than him. Just ask Mags, C-Lee, and Frank. It has and always be about Ozzie. Fact is we have the talent to win with any manager (except Dusty). Fire Ozzie and hire Fisk to be the manager.

I won't by your paper anymore

First of all, This controversy is being blown way out of proportion. The word "fag" is a derogatory term for homosexual, however, it does mean several other things. It is sometimes used as just a derogatory term in general for, as Ozzie said, coward. I have two older brothers who used the term against each other all the time, were they calling each other gay??? No. They were simply saying that they were less of a man. Beyond this, Guillen's comment was directed toward one person. This is not something by which a general community should be offended. This is simply a comment that he made about one person. This country has become emotionally weak. We are constantly suing people because they hurt our feelings. If I sued people everytime my feelings were hurt, I'd be richer than Bill Gates. The fact of the matter is, everybody makes comments that are offensive to someone, they're just not all caught by reporters. And as for Jay, he's taking this thing out of control. He needs to stop crying about it and get back to being a sports reporter, if he even was one from the start.

Right or wrong, I think Jay Mariotti should just stay away from Ozzie and the rest of the Sox. This thing is just escalating to the point of absurdity.

Mariotti is spending way too much time ripping Ozzie and with enough guys in that locker room that hate him, maybe it's just better that he stay away.

Kenny Williams has to step in and put a stop to it or it will grow from a distraction into a crisis. Ozzie's never going to change, and sports writers last way longer than managers in MLB. In a few years this won't matter.

Right now, they both should just leave each other alone and concentrate on bringing another pennant to Chicago and writing about it.

I agree with the above comment that the issue is totaly blown out of proportion. To understand the "word" usage by Ozzie, you need to understand the whole scenario.

Roman, you are missing something very important in your comment and are showing an amazing lack of insight as to "how the Sox were built".

Kennie himself has on MANY occasions said that this team and many of its players were built around Ozzie's wishes and or Ozzie's "vision" for a club he wanted.. - a vision Kenny himself had bought into.

So please give credit where credit is due - Ozzie deserves at least as much credit as Kenny.

You also miss where Kenny says he will involve himself in protecting Ozzie from such things in the future - from a "personal/friend" point of view.

The Sox are not stupid. They know what they have in Ozzie. It'll take a meltdown of incredible proportions for them to boot him.

It'll take a lot more than a clown like Marriotti, especially his whining in the wake of the incident. Several other columnists, including just now, Telander, in a shocker, have come out and admitted that it IS an issue whether a columnist faces the music in a clubhouse.

I'd say public opinion is running 90/10 % in favor of Ozzie on this.

I'm a little shocked at your ignorance at how the "Sox were built" though.

Roman responds: I may have read too much into what Williams said, but I did think it was interesting that the GM said if it continues to happen he'll have to fire Ozzie. GMs usually go into a hyper-protective mode in such cases and say things such as "I'm sure he'll never do it again." Maybe that was just Williams appeasing MLB, but we all know Ozzie will say something again that will tick somebody off, and it will be interesting to see what happens then. He won't use the F-word again, but like Mike Ditka said in our paper today, Ozzie still will be Ozzie. Personally, I hope he doesn't become another boring manager who does nothing but give cliche, coach-speak answers. As I said before, I love his candor.
As far as how the team was built, it's one thing for the manager to say "I want another quality starter and more speed." It's another for the GM to negotiate trades and signings. Williams built this team, Ozzie manages it. And they've both done a great job.

Dear KS:

It doesn't matter whether your brothers called each other 'fags' and didn't mean it, just like people may call a black person the 'n-word' and not mean it. The fact of the matter is simple - it is an inappropriate word and shouldn't be used - period.

As a culture, we rationalize why it's okay to hate one group, yet defend the next. Not too long ago black people were called all kinds of inhuman names, yet today this same group of folks have joined the bandwagon regarding gays. Why? Because we've rationalized what is 'acceptable prejudice' and what's not, instead of saying all of it is no good.

I'm a Sox and Ozzie Guillen fan, but he was wrong, wrong, wrong, and should be suspended by the team.

For the record, I'm black AND gay. I'm 6'2 inches tall, weigh 230 pounds, workout 4 days per week and have less than 15% body fat. Do you think many people are likely to call me a 'fag' or a 'n*$$*r'? Think about that before you start casually call someone 'less of a man' in the future, for the teeth you save might be your own.

Dave

I agree with the previous comment.Enough already. Since Mariotti is unable to cover the Sox or Ozzie objectively, he should not be allowed to cover them. If Ozzie needs to be silenced, so does Jay.

Mariotti now cries that the Sox have been threatening him over the years and that is why he does not come to the park. Poor Jay, never to have known what it is to be a man.

I just wanted to give my two cents on this entire Ozzie situation. I personally believe that this entire episode is nothing more than bad timing. When Ozzie made the comments, it was the day after the NBA Finals, two days after the NHL Finals and the US was out of the World Cup (so most have lost interest for soccer). Add to that, that is was the middle of the week, (too early for NASCAR and a weak NBA Draft), and you have a perfect storm for the media, who has nothing to talk about, to take a small story (that if had happen even a day before wouldn't have made this much noise) and make it Watergate.

I mean look at Brett Myers, he punches his wife in public, in front of witnesses and yet he is able pitch the next day, the media doesn't talk about it until 2 days later, at no where near the ferocity at which they attacked Ozzie, and the GM didn't come on TV saying that these actions have to stop. Watching ESPNews, they subtlety threw in the fact about the Myers incident while they were playing the highlights of the Phils game, and didn't even do a follow up after the highlight. It surely wasn't important enough to be leading the story last night, because now we can talk football. I guess verbal abuse is a more serious a crime in the court of public opinion than physical spousal abuse. Again it was just good timing for Myers and bad for Ozzie.

Kenny Williams hasn't thought about it once. 23 games over five hundred 2 back in the division. Do you think this would have happened with Jerry Manuel? Terry Bevington? No it wouldnt of. Mariotti is an idiot. He is exactly what Ozzie said he is and I know exactly the meaning of the word. Everyone hates him in Chicago. Wake up Sun Times and fire this piece of !@#$ ESPN 1000 didnt have a problem doing it. If you have time fire Greg Couch as well. That guy is terrible.

You know, why do you hate Chicago? What qualifications do you have to run ANY blog, let alone a Sports Blog.

Please don't read into what Kenny Williams might be thinking. Just use facts. And the facts are exactly what William said on Saturday.

Sports Writers may last long, but memories or sports writers disappear quickly. Ozzie Guillen is ageless, Scariotti is not.

Dave,

I didn't say it was ok to hate anybody. I have a lot of gay friends, and I personally never use the word "fag" in relation to any of them or anyone else for that matter. I was simply using my brothers as an example of a situation in which the word was used in the same way Ozzie meant it.

Did you know that before the "n" word was used to describe black people, it actually was a word to describe lazy white trash? All I am saying is that there are different connotations to every word and they should be interpreted in the context used not by one definition of the word only. There are several words in the english language with multiple meanings. If we only pay attention to one of the meanings, we wouldn't comprehend when someone is using it in a different manner.

I never said it was ok to be "prejudice". I only said that Ozzie's use of the word was taken out of context.

KS

Kenny is an idiot. Solidarity should be kept amongst team members, and that includes him. I cannot believe that he took the media bait and opened up his big mouth to downtalk Ozzie. Even though I love watching the White Sox under his leadership, I think Ozzie should walk into Kenny's office, spit in his face, and say "Screw you, traitor - I quit!". Ozzie would have a new job in under two weeks. That was BULL, Kenny!

Hey Dave the large black gay guy who works out alot...This isn't about you man ok but the fact that you want people to think about violent acts that will happen to them says a whole lot about you...Get some help...Yer a bully in type...I think it's pretty darn hilarious that you are projecting violence on a typewriter...You know what they say...The things you dislike about other are what you don't like in yourself...Sounds like you have some anger issues...Like I said, this isn't about you.

Hey Dave I respected you until you added that last paragraph. Lighten up!

Kenny Williams has a big ego. Look how he handles the Frank Thomas situation. He's making this "all about him". If he fires Ozzie, he would have to become more invisible than Bartman!!

Is Marriotti gay? Does anyone know? Does anyone care? If he is then "Around The Horn" should be commended for having a microcosm of sport reporters. Woody is the symbol for LSD generation and proof that acid heads can, too, be sucessful. He is also a senior citizen and has elements of that disease where tha peeps lose concentration and forget what they are saying. Ummmmmm I'm sorry I forgot what blog this was...Oh sheesh that's so gay!

Kenny was right to let Ozzie know he was at the end of his leash. We are in the middle of trying to repeat and stay on the heels of the tigers and all ozzie wants to do is cause controversy. The only person in that organization that is loving the attention is Ozzie because he is a hot dog!

I love Ozzie but I think he is starting to get a little too big for his britches and it was right for Kenny to cool him down and redirect him towards our main focus which is a repeat!

Remember what happened when Dusty let his players start getting all upset about the stuff Stoney was saying.....they went down the drain.....Ozzie needs to manage and stop worrying about what some wimpy little reporter says about the World Champs!

I hope Ozzie quits by the end of the year (if he gets there) so that you people in Chicago can have back all the dull and boring managers that you seem to deserve.
It'll be nice to have him back in our country, managing his other beloved team, specially with our sportwriters, whom don't have a rod stuck somewhere up there, and don't print what has been said in confidence. And yes, they all go inside the clubhose.
I totally agree with KS by the way.

I can't believe that we have all of this controversy started because some idiot, who probably is still pissed off because he was never picked to play any sports when he was a kid or adult, tries to tell Ozzie how to manage his World Champion baseball team... He obviously doesn't have the ability to write anything of substance, so he feels he should pick an easy fight with Ozzie... Since we've gone way past what really started this foolishness, Ozzie was right to have that kid plunk a batter after weeks of having a bulls-eye on our players... I actually think that it's good for him to attract all of the attention from the ballteam... Then they just go out and play the game, and these stupid reporters are hounding them about why they are in second place...
Ozzie is the best manager we've had in this city since Tony left... Leave him alone and let him do his job...

Roman, yes Kenny signed and traded for the players he wanted, but the "vision" was Ozzie's - he told Kenny what kind of players he wanted, Kenny "bought into" the vision and made the moves.

Kenny has said it. I don't mean to take anything from Kenny. He's done a fantastic job and I admire the fact even before Ozzie that he'd have the guts to pull big deals for big names. Why can't this happen on the North Side?

Dave, the N word and the F word are not quite the same sorry and KS's point about "context" is right on! Btw, I have gay friends. Thing is, I'd never use the F word to refer to an actual homosexual in a derogatory manner. I'd think of something else.

Where the "F" word is used, each and every day and in a sometimes devastating manner is among straight men. It's used to kid or insult (depending on tone) another presumably heterosexual guy. A hundred years of political correctness and sensitivity training will NEVER wipe this out.

(yes it's assigning "femininity" to a guy, which is where the insult lies, if you're not feminine that's nice, but fact is most gays I know and observed take pains to be more "feminine", seen at its most extreme as the drag queen phenomenon, and to lesser extent in "moodines/PMS" issues one expects from women)

fact is most guys I know think of Marriotti as precisely the words that Ozzie used, and his whining since the incident only confirms it. Ozzie simply needs to learn there are "certain" things he cannot say publicly. He'll learn.

btw.. SUPER HURRAY to Carol Slezak! check out today's column! I have just gained immeasurable RESPECT for that woman! She is SO right!

lastly, I saw John Rocker on cable last night and re-reading what he said I can't believe he got into trouble for THAT!!! (I think that was the beginning of the politically correct lunacy)

Kenny has to protect the Organization, which is the job of Management, so he has to let Oz know that he's skating on thin ice. Wrong is wrong in this case.

As for Mariotti, he dosen't show respect by the language he uses in his column, so he deserves none in return.

I REALLY hope this paper takes a hard look at how Jay represents himself and by extention, the Chicago Sun-Times.

I stopped buying the paper 7 or 8 years ago, primarily because of him.

I feel bad for Ozzie, becoming a citizen of a country that mocks and laughs at its very own Bill of Rights and Constitution. Just because he's a manager of a MLB team or any organization for that manner, doesn't mean he forfeits that right. His remarks were meant for Jay Mariotti, not the gay community. No matter what anyone says. Jay has the right to criticize Ozzie publicy, and Ozzie has the right to do the same to Jay. Plain and simple. Ozzie's not out there on a crusade to insult everyone, only the one person who insulted him. Hey, by the way, Jay called Ozzie crazy, does that mean everyone who is considered legally insane should be offended? Maybe Jay should be fined and suspended for offending the minority of people who occupy sanitariums. I think its time we realize that these are just words, groups of 3 or four letters being put together, or if you will, nothing but sounds being made by a vocal instrument. A mature, self confident person would do nothing but ignore them, thats all. If you don't like the music, switch the radio station, its that simple.

Yup Ozzie is getting to big for his britches...Can we let those btitches out for you Mr. Guillen or should we just make you several new pair?????

To The Group:

I read the responses to my words from earlier today. Let me say a few simple things so we are all clear:

1. Ozzie was wrong (no surprise there).
2. Calling someone a 'fag', whether in, out or between context is wrong - period.
3. Just because someone has something to say, has a mouth, can make it move once in a while, and is protected by the First Amendment doesn't mean what they say is intelligent.

All I'm simply asking is for people, like Ozzie Guillen, to think before they speak. Is that such a hard request to make? Some of you were upset by my comments earlier. I'm glad you found them uncomfortable, because that's how many gay Sox fans felt when Ozzie said what he did about Mariotti.

Someone said earlier that the n-word and the f-word aren't the same. As someone who has been called BOTH, I beg to differ. Bigoted words have no 'context', because there is nothing 'contextual' about them. Here's a homework assignment - walk up to someone whom those terms might be applied to, say it to them, then explain 'context' and see if they are willing to listen.

Another person mentioned that this 'isn't all about me.' When I pay my hard earned money to go see the Sox, only to have the most visible member of the team call another person a 'fag', then try to rationalize his words by saying it was in 'context' - it can't be anything but personal.

Friends, I said earlier that there exists 'acceptable prejudice' in our culture, and I stand behind that. Change my mind by putting the offenders in check and demand they stop using such ignorance, whether in public or in private; whether in context, or not in context; whether they manage the World Series Champions or a bottom-feeding ballclub.

Support Ozzie Guillen because he helped put together a quality baseball team, not because he has a mouth and it works, on occasion.

Dave

Yes I do remember when Dusty let his players get Harry Caray's son and Steve Stone...This is different...It isn't the players who called Jay a fag...It was Ozzie...I don't think the Sox players respect Jay too much so Ozzie stepped in like a good manager and took the heat...Whether he planned it this way I don't know but when yer on a roll everything seems to turn to gold...The Sox ran off a nine game streak...It was an innocent slip of the tongue and no more than that...Watch "Around The Horn" a few times and see how Marriotti acts when he doesn't get points or loses..."Around The Horn" is a mindless sports bantering game where points are given by a kid who doesn't even have a brain of his own yet...There is no right or wrong answers... You get points for opinions...No more...No less

It must be a sign of success that the only White Sox thing worth blogging about has absolutely nothing to do with playing the game.

Dave out of curiosity.

Let's say I'm willing to accept banning the "N" word, the "f" word and the "c" word (for women) in public settings, etc.

reading Carol Slezak's column today, where is the line drawn. If it's drawn at those three words, I can live with that.

But my suspicion is that the line extends into ridiculous territory.

I'm Polish - is "Polack" supossed to be considered a slur? it would be if you consider all of the other ethnic monikers, even shortenings and variations like with Chink, Jap and Flip.

if someone calls me a Polack, I laugh because it's merely a crass way of saying what I am. If someone calls me a dumb Polack, it's the dumb part I'd have an issue with.

as Carol asks, where does it STOP?

and once again I'd like to pose the following question which no has answered.

what if Ozzie referred to him as an fing queer?

or an f-ing pansy?

would that be a "slur"
offensive? and if so to whom?

where does one draw the line?

p.s. the difference between the N word and the f word is that actual slave owners used the n word to refer to their slaves as subhuman beings. The f word is simply a slur against gays and gays were never slaves. That's the difference and it's a big one.

mariotti will continue to rip the sox as long as jerry owns the team.

Hey Dave...This isn't about you...Your remarks about violence being done to anyone who called you a black fag to your face...You talk out of both sides of your mouth...Be a man and apologize for that paragraph instead of intellectualizing it under the carpet (Your actions come across just like Jay Jay's actions do...You intellectualize everything....Educate us!!...Again...This isn't about you.

Bogey

I like your thinking. At least you ARE thinking, and I appreciate that - but what I want people to understand is that this country has accepted certain levels of discrimination and over time it has engrained itself within our daily language. People may say being politically correct is getting out of control, when the reality is that certain groups in our society that have been discriminated against using such language are making it known it's no longer acceptable. I agree with you that things can get a bit silly and do extend into dangereous territory - but in this case, people have used the f-word prior, during and after members of the gay community have been assaulted physically, therefore the usage of the word does signify a negative, and sometimes violent, state of mind.

I understand your point about the actual differences between the n-word and the f-word, but I think you're being too literal about the usage. Let me give you a practical understanding of how the words lend themselves to intent:

Two men approached me on the north side of Chicago, using the f-word. I had to fight them both, since they were brave enough to approach me on the street, calling me that name. Those two men found out otherwise that I'm no pushover, and ran away like cowards. On the flip side, as a teenager I was similarly approached by two men with bats who used the n-word. My point is both sets of men used negative language as a way of classifying me as a person, while in the process of threatening me, and others like me, physically. This is why I'm adamant about Ozzie watching what he says, for he's in such a visible position and whether he means it or not, there is no context for bigotry.

I personally don't use such language because of its implications, but also because it's a stupid thing to say, period.

We've got a long way to go before we understand just how powerful language and its' usage actually is - but it's got to start somewhere.

Even though we may disagree - I think this blunder by Guillen has at least caused others to think seriously about this issue. Lets hope it's also changed some people's attitudes towards using negatives, whether in public or in private.

Dave

Okay, let's put this all into perspective.

Roman, to comment on your statement regarding Ken's thoughts on Ozzie, I really do not think Ken has ever considered another Manager for this team. Both men are cut from the same cloth. Passion runs deep followed only buy action. Their only difference - Ken wears a suit, Ozzie a uniform.

Was Ozzie right by calling marrioti out? YES. Someone had to do it. Anyone who has read mariotti (take note Sun-Times Management) knows the guy is a @&&Hole.

My advice to mariotti is the same advice I give to my kids - IF YOU CAN'T PLAY THE GAME WITHOUT CRYING, THEN DON'T PLAY THE GAME.

Should Ozzie have called him a F@$? If that's what he felt, sure just not around bottom-feeders commonly known as reporters.

Question - when's the last time a reporter gained any recognition for printing a positive story?
Newspaper rule #1 - The only news worth reporting, is bad news.

This brings me to my second point.

The WORLD CHAMPION CHICAGO WHITE SOX have been the best team in baseball going on two seasons now. Since Opening Day 2005 they have 149 wins to 89 losses. This year they are second only to the very dangerous Detroit Tigers. They [GoGo Sox] have had at least 4 men in their line-up batting over .300 since Opening Day. This team is ready to play every day. This is a winning team in every sense of the phrase.

Yet prior to Ozziegate, the only news making Chicago and National headlines, the only garbage being spewed all over sports talk radio centered on Musty Baker and the boys from Rustyville. Following Ozzie's honest assessment of jaybird, the Sox are the talk of the Nation, let alone Chicago!

Even bad publicity is good publicity!

Ozzie - keep on being who you are. Do not change for anyone!

Everyone else - chill out! All he did was use the wrong word at the wrong time. There are far more pressing matters to be concerned with (war in Iraq, rising rates of crime and poverty, our civil liberties being stripped from us under the guise of a Patriot Act) than to judge a man for being himself - even if you don't agree with him.

Side note - Anyone remember last years comedy hit - The 40 Year Old Virgin. Didn't this movie have a three-minute bit where every line began with "you know how I know you're gay?"

I finally know the answer!

You know how I know you're gay? 'Cause your name is jay mariotti!

If Marrioti could write with insight the way Carol Slezak does, there wouldn't be a problem.

She's a writer and he's a self-serving narcissist...big difference.

Mariotti's list of incidents showing how much baseball players (i.e., Thomas, Everett, Rowand, etc), manager Ozzie Guillen, owner Jerry Reinsdorf and announcer Hawk Harrelson hates him makes me wonder if he's to blame. I think it's time for Mariotti to go back to where he came from, oh wait, I forgot, they don't want him back. Pls stop whining and face you're problem/s like a man.

I just want to know how the lawsuit against Jerry worked out. Has he found the center scoreboard camera yet?

I really hope Jay Mariotti's "vacation" is permanent...PLEASE DON'T COME BACK! Sun-Times, you'll be better off without that clown embarassing your paper.

It seems to me that last year Ozzie paid attention to the managing of the White Sox team and getting to the World Series. Now, he is not paying enough attention to the managing of the White Sox team and his pitchers. but making commercials!! What has he gotten to big for his britches?? Mravnic.