This is the absolute final word, from Ozzie Guillen himself, on whether he will attend sensitivity classes Commissioner Bud Selig has ordered:
“I will do that. I don’t know when and how. I’m not going to go over [the head of] the commissioner of baseball. It’s not like I don’t want to do it. I have to take English classes before I do it so I understand what everything means, that’s all.
“The commissioner is the man, he’s the boss. Ozzie is nobody to go over the boss’ head.”
Guillen was asked the question again Saturday after a very strange Friday night when ESPNdesportes quoted Guillen as saying, “I don’t think I’ll be going.”
When asked after Friday’s game, Guillen reacted angrily and ended his news conference. Later, a team spokesman said Guillen would attend.
So, to clear up the matter and to hear it from Guillen, the subject was broached one more time Saturday, when he was much calmer and even apologetic for his abrupt Friday answer.
Guillen said the ESPN story basically misquoted him, even though the interview was conducted in Spanish.
“The guy was lying,” he said. “When people [write] those type of comments, after you hear exactly what I say, that’s the thing. . . . It’s not fair for me to sit here for hours [Friday] . . . for something I didn’t say.”
A White Sox spokesman said the team has not received a report on how or when the “training” would be done.
It has been a whirlwind week for Guillen. He had to fend off charges by the Cardinals of lying and stealing signs, hear Houston manager Phil Garner say he might need to get some therapy, be rebuked by the commissioner for derogatory remarks about a columnist and serve a one-game suspension for a beanball incident.
Asked if his controversial week–much of it self-induced–had an effect on his players, Guillen replied: “They could care less because they know who I am.
“I would do anything for my players because they are good guys. We have great people. They are honest, hard-working, gamers, good friends, good teammates. One thing about this ballclub, it’s great to hang around with these guys. You don’t have superstars, egos.”
Asked again if his troubles were a distraction, Guillen said: “Last year was worse.”
