Guillen’s suspension undeserved

How many times have you heard some variation of the following from a baseball manager: “We just need to work hard and play solid, fundamental baseball for nine innings, and then we’ll be in every game.” How cliché and how boring, you think. Can’t a coach act more like a person than a robot? Well, he certainly can, but why would he when he inevitably gets punished directly for his statements?

Last week, in his typical stream-of-consciousness, Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen remarked: “I love Fidel Castro,” and went on to say that he “respect[s] Fidel Castro, you know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that motherfucker is still here.” Guillen could not have chosen a worse person to talk about: He is managing in Miami, which is full of immigrants from Cuba who despise Castro and consider him a brutal dictator. After public outcry among Latino-American groups in Miami, Guillen apologized for his remarks. The Marlins organization also suspended Guillen for five games for his comments.

But wait a minute, what exactly did Guillen do wrong? He voiced his opinion. It is a controversial opinion, certainly, but why should that matter? Every person has opinions. No matter what opinion you have, there will be many others who disagree with you, sometimes vehemently. However, that doesn’t mean that you should be discouraged from voicing them. It is much more dangerous for society to censor and excoriate unpopular opinions than it is for a person to actually utter such beliefs.
Ultimately, the Marlins’ decision to suspend Guillen is entirely business-related. If the organization did not punish the manager in some way, the Marlins would risk severely straining its relationship with much of the team’s fan base. And as a private organization, the Marlins have a legal right to suspend Guillen, but it does not mean that they were right for doing so.

Recently retired St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was arrested in 2002 for driving under the influence when he was found asleep in his car in the middle of an intersection. La Russa later pled guilty to the DUI charge. He was never suspended by the Cardinals or by Major League Baseball. In 1995, former Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox was accused of punching his wife and pulling her hair in a domestic dispute. Though the criminal charges were later dropped, Cox was ordered to complete violence counseling and an alcohol evaluation. Not only was no action taken by the Braves or the MLB, but Cox managed the team to a World Series victory that year, celebrating with the team as was traditional: with as much champagne as one can imagine.

However, maybe Guillen’s comments were worse than committing a crime that endangers others’ lives. Words can be hurtful, right? Imagine if Guillen said that “Sneaky goddamn Jews are all alike,” or that he banned his players from wearing earrings because “only fruits wear earrings.”
Those remarks would be hurtful and offensive to entire groups of people. I’m sure if someone uttered those remarks, he or she would be punished immediately. Oh wait, someone did say those exact things: former Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott. She also made derogatory comments against African-Americans and Japanese people. However, she was able to stay owner for two years after making these remarks before Major League Baseball decided that she might not be in the league’s best interest and suspended her for a year. Of course, she was reinstated, continued to make derogatory and insensitive remarks, and fired her manager because he was living with his fiancé, all within the next three years.

Ozzie Guillen’s comments had no impact upon Fidel Castro’s leadership. He never endorsed violence nor did he insult a group of people. All Guillen did was casually voice his opinion that happened to make national headlines. Since when is that worthy of a suspension? When Guillen returns, don’t be surprised if he utters clichés about a “team” and “playing hard the whole game.” Because people aren’t allowed in a clubhouse anymore.