Ozzie Guillen Suspended For Five For Fidel Castro Comments

Ozzie Guillen loves Fidel Castro. The Florida Marlins do not. The MLB manager was suspended for five games by the Marlins for comments he made about the retired Cuban leader.

Guillen apologized for his comments. Guillen said:

“I’m very sorry about the problem, what happened. I will do everything in my power to make it better. … I know it’s going to be a very bumpy ride. This is the biggest mistake I’ve made so far in my life. When you make a mistake like this, you can’t sleep. … When you’re a sportsman, you shouldn’t be involved with politics.”

The Florida Marlins released a statement, saying:

“The Marlins acknowledge the seriousness of the comments attributed to Guillen. The pain and suffering caused by Fidel Castro cannot be minimized, especially in a community filled with victims of the dictatorship.”

Guillen told Time Magazine last week that he loved Fidel Castro and respected the dictator’s ability to retain power for as long as he has. Guillen attempted to explain the comments, saying that there was a miscommunication from his Spanish thinking brain to his English speaking mouth.

Guillen said:

“He has done a lot of bad things… That’s why I am surprised he has stayed in power so long…. I don’t want to make excuses but I meant that I was surprised Fidel Castro stayed in power so long. That’s what was missing in the translation. … I’m not saying the journalist was wrong. I was wrong. I was thinking in Spanish and I said it wrong in English.”