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Ozzie Guillen of the Chicago White Sox turned down President Bush
I am a venezuelan and I can say this: this son of a bitch is a Chavez's supporter as it was clearly seen when, he and his family, chanted "Viva Chavez" during the celebration following the world series. He found time to go to Venezuela and share the joy with that asshole Chavez but cannot find time to go to the white house? To make matters worse, the asshole just became an US citizen!I want this SOB boo at every game. Do the rantburgers living in Chicago have ideas on how to go about it? Baffled Ozzie: My house comes first February 11, 2006 BY CHRIS DE LUCA Staff Reporter Ozzie Guillen's long-awaited vacation suffered a jarring interruption Friday when the White Sox manager learned his decision to skip the world champs' visit to the White House on Monday created such a buzz in Chicago. Reached in the Dominican Republic, Guillen expressed surprise at the controversy after he picked family time -- a precious commodity on the eve of spring training, after a seemingly endless World Series celebration -- over face time with President Bush. "Spending time with my wife and family [is] more important than a couple of hours with the president,'' Guillen told the Sun-Times. "I'm sure Mr. Bush would understand because I know how important his family is to him. I care about my family and my baseball players.'' Guillen pointed out that wives, children and even batboys accompanied the Florida Marlins to the White House after they won the World Series in 2003. Guillen was the Marlins' third-base coach in 2003. During that visit, Guillen said, President Bush spent several minutes speaking privately with him and his family. Guillen said he would have considered interrupting his vacation if his family could join him on the Sox' visit. But chairman Jerry Reinsdorf decided the trip to Washington will be restricted to the team's regular traveling party of players, coaches, trainers, equipment managers and top front-office officials, such as general manager Ken Williams. "I decided wives and children wouldn't be invited,'' Reinsdorf said during an appearance on WSCR-AM (670). "If we had too big a party, it wouldn't be very intimate.'' The Guillen issue made headlines after Mayor Daley, who will accompany the team to the White House, questioned Guillen's decision during a news conference Thursday. "I'm disappointed,'' Daley told reporters. "It's a great honor to be invited to the White House. I don't care who you are. Maybe you think you're too important. "Ozzie's on vacation or something. That's up to him. But you don't realize how precious that is. Very few Americans have ever been in the White House. To me, that's a privilege for anyone.'' Reinsdorf joined Guillen in his surprise over the fallout. "I really don't understand what the big deal is because I don't think any team has had 100 percent participation,'' Reinsdorf said. "I'm not disagreeing with the mayor. I think Ozzie should go. But it's just not that big a deal. If he can't make it, he can't make it. "Believe me, George Bush is not going to lose any sleep over it.'' Guillen insisted his decision was not based on politics. He stressed that he has already been to the White House, though he has never visited Venezuela's White House, home to President Hugo Chavez. "It's not a political statement,'' Guillen said. "It's a statement that I would rather spend time with my wife and family. It's a family-values statement. If we had it during the season or if my family could come, I would go.'' Pitcher Freddy Garcia will skip the trip for the same reason, choosing to stay in Venezuela with his family before reporting to spring training. Second baseman Tadahito Iguchi also will miss the visit because he is being honored with his own day Monday in Tokyo. Left fielder Scott Podsednik is on his honeymoon. And closer Bobby Jenks won't attend because of unspecified personal business. Slugger Frank Thomas, who left the Sox in the offseason, also declined the invitation. But a handful of former players who were let go after the season are expected to rejoin their teammates, including center fielder Aaron Rowand, designated hitter Carl Everett, infielder Willie Harris, reliever Damaso Marte and utilityman Geoff Blum. A White House spokesman said President Bush will host the Sox in the East Room on Monday and plans to shake hands with each member of the Sox' party. Illinois' congregational delegation also has been invited. cdeluca@suntimes.com Guillen wins another title: U.S. citizen http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-ozzie21.html Posted by: Gromp Thrutch3855 2006-02-11 |
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