Ozzie Guillen Doesn't Back Down From Controversial Comments

DETROIT -- For the record, Ozzie Guillen said he likes sushi. It's one of his favorite foods. And he likes Japanese baseball players, too, and enjoys talking to the Japanese news media.

Guillen, the Chicago White Sox manager who is from Venezuela, took more than 30 minutes before Tuesday's day-night doubleheader with the Tigers to explain his recent controversial comments regarding different treatment for Asian and Latin American baseball players.

On Monday, an off day, Guillen said he heard reaction from team owner Jerry Reinsdorf and general manager Ken Williams. Later in the day, the White Sox issued a statement that seemed to contradict Guillen's opinons.

Guillen softened his comments, a little, on Tuesday at Comerica Park in his clubhouse office and expanded on what he meant in context. But Guillen also said he would not take back his words.

"I never said Major League Baseball doesn't care about Latino players," Guillen said. "I don't disrespect Major League Baseball at all. Maybe the message was right and the messenger was the wrong one. They might think I was incorrect; I know I wasn't incorrect. I don't feel guilty. I don't owe anyone an apology."

Guillen has said similar things before about players and has expanded about larger issues. Earlier this season, when Arizona passed its controversial immigration law that is still being contested in court, Guillen was outspoken in support of Latin-American immigrants.



Share His comments this week came in a discussion about rookie infielder Dayan Viciedo, from Cuba, and how difficult it was for him to adjust to a new language and culture.

"Why do we have Japanese interpreters and we don't have a Spanish one?" Guillen said. "Why do they have that privilege and we don't? Don't take this wrong, but they take advantage of us."

Guillen also said Tuesday that shortstop Alexei Ramirez, from Cuba, sometimes calls Guillen late at night in the team hotel for help in ordering food from room service.

Japanese players in the U.S. majors often travel with interpreters who act as aides and help with such things. But when pressed Tuesday on the issue of interpreters, Guillen said it was not necessary for Spanish-speaking players to have them.

The White Sox' statement on Monday said: "This is an issue Ozzie Guillen obviously feels very passionately about," and added that Guillen was "entitled to his opinions."

But the statement also went on to say "his views are incorrect." Guillen said Tuesday that the White Sox have recorded all his words for the last two seasons during his press briefings.

"They might think I was incorrect; I know I wasn't incorrect. I don't feel guilty. I don't owe anyone an apology."
- Ozzie Guillen A White Sox spokesman said Tuesday that such recordings are made as a matter of routine to help with coverage on the team website and they are not specifically to monitor Guillen's opinions.

Guillen's comments have generated a favorable response among many major league players from Spanish-speaking countries.

Freddy Garcia, a White Sox pitcher from Venezuela, said interpreters would be helpful for Spanish-speaking players.

"Why not?" Garcia said. "If they do it for Japanese players, why not for other players? The Latin guys don't have translators."

But Garcia also seemed to minimize the controversy.

"I don't really care," he said. "I don't talk too much. I don't really need a translator to say 'I got my butt kicked.' "

When asked about his mastery of English, Garcia smiled and said, "I'm still learning, man."

Two New York Mets players, Carlos Beltran and Francisco Rodriguez, supported Guillen in interviews with The New York Times.

Beltran said it was harder when he was younger. "You couldn't always communicate with the manager or the trainer and a lot of things slipped through," Beltran said.

Rodriguez said: "What Ozzie said is not a secret."

Although Garcia, Beltran and Rodriguez said interpreters would help Latin American players, Guillen stopped short of demanding it.

"On this ballclub, we don't need one," Guillen said. "I'm not saying Major League Baseball has to do anything."

Bobby Valentine, the former manager who has worked in both the U.S. and Japan, said on ESPN Monday that Guillen might have a valid point.

"Ozzie's right when he says there are many situations that should be different for the Latin players," Valentine said. "That's Ozzie being Ozzie. I would take it as a message that things need to be better."