GaryMrMets
10-23-2005, 02:04 PM
Baseball-Venezuelan pride on the line for White Sox manager
By Emily Kaiser
CHICAGO, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Ozzie Guillen, the first Venezuelan-born manager in Major League Baseball, has earned a reputation for being more than a little unorthodox.
He allowed his pitching staff to throw an unprecedented four consecutive complete games in the American League Championship Series, admitted to vomiting after key White Sox losses, and repeatedly threatened to quit his job if his team won the World Series.
And on Saturday, he added one more unusual fact to his resume -- he caught the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the World Series here, something that is normally done by a player. Ozzie wanted the job because the pitch was thrown by fellow Venezuelan Luis Aparicio who, like Guillen, is a former White Sox shortstop.
"It's amazing. I think he's the best player ever to come from my country," Guillen said of Aparicio, who had two stints with the White Sox from 1956 through 1970. "I know in my country people are going to feel great about this."
The White Sox aren't even the most popular team in their home town, where the rival Chicago Cubs have long enjoyed a bigger fan base and far more national attention. But with Guillen leading the White Sox to their first World Series since 1959, this team is finally getting respect -- in Venezuela if not at home.
Guillen is a national hero in the South American country that now produces some of the top players in the league, including reigning Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana and home run derby champion Bobby Abreu.
Guillen was presented with an award named for Aparicio on behalf of the Venezuelan people before Saturday's game.
"He's got Venezuela people crazy," Aparicio said of Guillen. "Everybody was asking if he had a chance, if he's going to win -- and he's got the team. He's got the team."
Aparicio was one of the Venezuelan trailblazers, and a member of the American League Champion 1959 White Sox. He and Chico Carrasquel -- another Venezuelan who played shortstop for the White Sox and died in May -- were Guillen's role models.
The White Sox manager choked up during a press conference when asked what Carrasquel might be thinking about the White Sox's success this year.
Guillen is studying for his U.S. citizenship test and requires that his players -- who hail from countries including Japan, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic -- stand at attention on the field for the national anthem. On other teams, players often linger in the dugout during the song.
But he hasn't shied away from showing his Venezuelan national pride. He was draped with a Venezuelan flag after the Sox clinched the American League pennant last week, beating the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.
He was a guest on President Hugo Chavez's radio address earlier this month, which angered some Venezuelans who oppose Chavez's policies. Guillen later told Chicago media that he likes Chavez but doesn't agree with all his ideas.
"I feel good right now because I know my country is happy talking about baseball," Guillen said. "They're not talking about politics or crime or what's happening in the country. What I say about Chavez, I say I like the man because he works hard, he says what's on his mind and he loves his country."
10/23/05 00:47 ET
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
By Emily Kaiser
CHICAGO, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Ozzie Guillen, the first Venezuelan-born manager in Major League Baseball, has earned a reputation for being more than a little unorthodox.
He allowed his pitching staff to throw an unprecedented four consecutive complete games in the American League Championship Series, admitted to vomiting after key White Sox losses, and repeatedly threatened to quit his job if his team won the World Series.
And on Saturday, he added one more unusual fact to his resume -- he caught the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the World Series here, something that is normally done by a player. Ozzie wanted the job because the pitch was thrown by fellow Venezuelan Luis Aparicio who, like Guillen, is a former White Sox shortstop.
"It's amazing. I think he's the best player ever to come from my country," Guillen said of Aparicio, who had two stints with the White Sox from 1956 through 1970. "I know in my country people are going to feel great about this."
The White Sox aren't even the most popular team in their home town, where the rival Chicago Cubs have long enjoyed a bigger fan base and far more national attention. But with Guillen leading the White Sox to their first World Series since 1959, this team is finally getting respect -- in Venezuela if not at home.
Guillen is a national hero in the South American country that now produces some of the top players in the league, including reigning Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana and home run derby champion Bobby Abreu.
Guillen was presented with an award named for Aparicio on behalf of the Venezuelan people before Saturday's game.
"He's got Venezuela people crazy," Aparicio said of Guillen. "Everybody was asking if he had a chance, if he's going to win -- and he's got the team. He's got the team."
Aparicio was one of the Venezuelan trailblazers, and a member of the American League Champion 1959 White Sox. He and Chico Carrasquel -- another Venezuelan who played shortstop for the White Sox and died in May -- were Guillen's role models.
The White Sox manager choked up during a press conference when asked what Carrasquel might be thinking about the White Sox's success this year.
Guillen is studying for his U.S. citizenship test and requires that his players -- who hail from countries including Japan, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic -- stand at attention on the field for the national anthem. On other teams, players often linger in the dugout during the song.
But he hasn't shied away from showing his Venezuelan national pride. He was draped with a Venezuelan flag after the Sox clinched the American League pennant last week, beating the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.
He was a guest on President Hugo Chavez's radio address earlier this month, which angered some Venezuelans who oppose Chavez's policies. Guillen later told Chicago media that he likes Chavez but doesn't agree with all his ideas.
"I feel good right now because I know my country is happy talking about baseball," Guillen said. "They're not talking about politics or crime or what's happening in the country. What I say about Chavez, I say I like the man because he works hard, he says what's on his mind and he loves his country."
10/23/05 00:47 ET
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.