Guillen sparks controversy...again

[blacksilverfan12]

Ozzie Guillen's first contreversial comment of the season. This one, he says that in his opinion, Roberto Clemente is the third best player from Puerto Rico, behind Pudge Rodriguez and Roberto Alomar

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3336775

[Mattingly]

Is Ozzie going to do all the theatrics that Casey Stengel did back in 1962, to keep attention away from the fact that the team, in its maiden voyage, wasn't exactly going on winning streaks? You'd think he was managing the Tigers that Jim Leyland did the way that buffoonish statement came across.

Earth to Ozzie: it's not nice to put down someone whose illustrious baseball career, as well as his distinguishness off the field, including the cause he died for, are well-known both in fact and folklore.

If Ozzie is truly the #1 Roberto fan (which Luis Roberto Clemente could easily be), then Ozzie may try treating such a wonderful player with some amount of respect.

[rockin500]

Is Ozzie going to do all the theatrics that Casey Stengel did back in 1962, to keep attention away from the fact that the team, in its maiden voyage, wasn't exactly going on winning streaks? You'd think he was managing the Tigers that Jim Leyland did the way that buffoonish statement came across.

Earth to Ozzie: it's not nice to put down someone whose illustrious baseball career, as well as his distinguishness off the field, including the cause he died for, are well-known both in fact and folklore.

If Ozzie is truly the #1 Roberto fan (which Luis Roberto Clemente could easily be), then Ozzie may try treating such a wonderful player with some amount of respect.

uh what? i may hate ozzie's antics as much as the next nonwhite sox fan, but how exactly is he disrespecting Clemente?

talk about making something out of nothing.

[Captain Cold Nose]

uh what? i may hate ozzie's antics as much as the next nonwhite sox fan, but how exactly is he disrespecting Clemente?

talk about making something out of nothing.

Ever been to Puerto Rico? What's nothing to you may not exactly be nothing to everybody else. We all have our icons, and shouldn't dismiss something because it doesn't fit our views as to what is important to us.

Clemente has come into discussion the last few years in regards to how reverent he is held among Latino players. Even a smattering of talk of having his number retired. And that does goes beyond on-field performance, much like Jackie Robinson's acclaim has much more to do with what he did with Brooklyn. What Guillen is doing is reducing that icon to just a player. He may indeed not be as great a player as Pudge or Alomar. But that's not the reason why.

This is essentially an emperor's new clothes situation. Guillen thinks Clemente is not the best player. As a Latino, it seems anathema for him to say that. It's a cultural thing, I guess.

[redlegsfan21]

From what Ozzie is saying, it's like me saying that Johnny Bench is better than Hank Aaron. Johnny Bench played one of the most demanding positions and still hit 389 HRs, a team record (Reds). He also managed a pitching staff that won two World Series. My arguments are perfectly legit even though they may be wrong. Hank Aaron, even though hit hit 755 HRs and is the all-time RBI leader, played one of the easiest positions, OF, and only won 1 WS. Nothing wrong here, just an opinion that is opposite of the majority.

[efin98]

My uncle had a laugh at this, his response was simple and to the point: what the heck does he give a damn what a Venezuelan has to say about Puerto Rico's best players.

I'll take my uncle's opinion(an actual Puerto Rican) over Ozzie's opinion any day.




By the way there are many, many people from Puerto Rico who feel that Clemente wasn't the best any more due to the influx of the many great players in the last couple of decades. Just because someone is the first great player doesn't make him the best player ever especially when other greats have come along since his time.

[Captain Cold Nose]

My uncle had a laugh at this, his response was simple and to the point: what the heck does he give a damn what a Venezuelan has to say about Puerto Rico's best players.

I'll take my uncle's opinion(an actual Puerto Rican) over Ozzie's opinion any day.




By the way there are many, many people from Puerto Rico who feel that Clemente wasn't the best any more due to the influx of the many great players in the last couple of decades. Just because someone is the first great player doesn't make him the best player ever especially when other greats have come along since his time.

Clemente's reach is further than Puerto Rico, but your uncle's point is certainly there. I think that would be part of the uproar, it's not for Guillen, who does have the baseball background but not the national heritage, to really judge PR players.

[Brian McKenna]

it's not for Guillen, who does have the baseball background but not the national heritage, to really judge PR players.

Judgments like this are passed everyday at BBF.

It's not what Guillen said but why he said it.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Judgments like this are passed everyday at BBF.

It's not what Guillen said but why he said it.

It seems he was just trying to praise an opposing player, although Detroit and Chicago have yet to play this year.

Jorge Colon seemed to have it in perspective. As did Clemente's son. But it evidently touched some nerves.

[RubeBaker]

What, if he doesn't give any controversy for a while, we're going to start making some? I see nothing wrong with this. He's judging them as PLAYERS, not as humanitatrians. I'm sure if he were judging them as such, Clemente would win hands down. I see no controversy in what he said.

[Captain Cold Nose]

What, if he doesn't give any controversy for a while, we're going to start making some? I see nothing wrong with this. He's judging them as PLAYERS, not as humanitatrians. I'm sure if he were judging them as such, Clemente would win hands down. I see no controversy in what he said.

It's not controversial to you because the subject matter isn't as important to you as it is to those making a deal out of this.

There are certain players who saying anything about that is less than heavenly praise will cause an uproar in certain circles. Or even omitting them from a discussion causes those involved to be chastised for ignoring them. Pete Rose in Southwestern Ohio is an example. Joe Nuxhall, as well. You should have heard the vitriol in various discussion boards because Nuxhall was passed over for this year's Frick award. There's also a certain Baltimore-born HOF'er who has his share of extremely devoted fans who won't stand for anything less than genuflecting. People get defensive when others stand too close to their wheelhouse.

[bluezebra]

Ozzie Guillen's first contreversial comment of the season. This one, he says that in his opinion, Roberto Clemente is the third best player from Puerto Rico, behind Pudge Rodriguez and Roberto Alomar

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3336775

The key word is "OPINION".

Bob

[Wade8813]

So what? He didn't say anything derogatory or inappropriate. He stated his opinion, and even had some amount of justification for it.

[Mattingly]

uh what? i may hate ozzie's antics as much as the next nonwhite sox fan, but how exactly is he disrespecting Clemente?

talk about making something out of nothing.

I just think that comparing Clemente to the others was something that was very questionable in taste. Why would someone want to list Clemente as the "3rd best Puerto Rican" if nothing other than to stir the pot?

Considering that, from what I've heard, baseball and boxing are two of the most popular sports in Puerto Rico, and as much an icon that Roberto Clemente, that he shouldn't be seen as being second fiddle to anyone. I think that had Guillen said that "Pudge Rodriguez and Robert Alomar, Jr were two of the finest Puerto Rican baseball players, in the same company as Roberto Clemente", then I believe that would be a compliment to a legend.

Right now, I have no idea how anyone not named Bill James compares a backstop or second baseman with a right fielder.

I'll admit that I'm a Clemente homer, since I remember his story in 1972 when I was growing up, and I barely knew much about him before that, though I did remember him being a famous baseball player.

[Mattingly]

My uncle had a laugh at this, his response was simple and to the point: what the heck does he give a damn what a Venezuelan has to say about Puerto Rico's best players.

I'll take my uncle's opinion(an actual Puerto Rican) over Ozzie's opinion any day.

By the way there are many, many people from Puerto Rico who feel that Clemente wasn't the best any more due to the influx of the many great players in the last couple of decades. Just because someone is the first great player doesn't make him the best player ever especially when other greats have come along since his time.

Who are the Puerto Rican players that your uncle feels have been better overall players than Roberto Clemente?