This year, a close personal friend of Batgirl's described Ozzie Guillen as classy in a national publication. Indeed, all the stupid trash talking and bitching seemed to have subsided this year, and Guillen gave the distinct impression he wouldn't allow it. But Batgirl wonders what her close personal friend thought when she saw this picture:
That's Guillen gesturing to some Cleveland fans on Sunday. The Sox website refers to it as a "joke," but BG is not entirely sure it's that funny. Sure, Ozzie's probably heard it up to his curly locks from those same fans, but the thing about being a professional is you're not supposed to taunt back. And if BG were among those fans, she would have a distinct desire to kick him in the nads, but as regular readers know, BG has anger management issues. And tae kwon do training.
EDIT: It seems from some of our friendly neighborhood Sox fans that Ozzie was clowning around with the Cleveland mascot, who had fake mooned him. One hopes Joe Buck was apoplectic at the fake mooning.
Posted by Batgirl at October 3, 2005 11:29 PMI didn't know BG had tae kwon do training... but that sure is cool. And he is being rather foolish.
Posted by: collegeboy at October 3, 2005 11:41 PMMan, Ozzie looks more and more like a bizarro-world heel Ricky Steamboat each day, doesn't he?
Posted by: Nate P. at October 3, 2005 11:44 PMUMMM, just another reason to dislike the Bitch Sox! That was so not cool.
Posted by: talldrinkowater at October 4, 2005 12:00 AMActually, most reports have been saying that he was screwing around with the Indians mascot Slider. Which would seem more in line with the Ozzie Guillen of this year, definitely a bit nuts but usually respectful to the other teams.
Posted by: spiffie at October 4, 2005 12:28 AMSpiffie, you hit it on the head. The Indians mascot was fake mooning Ozzie, this after he was beating a Sox bobble-head or something to pieces with a bat on top of the dugout. Oz took a shot back at the mascot, which as far as I've heard was not directed at fans. Don't take it too seriously. Ozzie's signal to the pen to bring in Bobby Jenks is to extend his arms out from his sides, ie motioning to bring in the fat guy.
Posted by: kl at October 4, 2005 02:13 AMOzzie was definitely clowning with the mascot.
Context is everything...
Posted by: kojak at October 4, 2005 02:31 AM"Bow to your Sensei!"
Posted by: Goober at October 4, 2005 06:28 AMOzzie spent the last 2 weeks having reporters asking him whether his team was choking down the stretch. His response: "Choking is when you have seven kids and no job. That's choking. This is baseball."
In the picture, he was kidding around.
I'm a White Sox fan living in Cleveland, and all the people I work with during the month of September couldn't stop themselves from telling me about the White Sox choking (we are the only team ever to drop within 3 after having a 15 game lead). I don't feel the least bit bad about dishing it out now that I've taken it. It's not like anybody's crying - it's just baseball.
Posted by: soxdude at October 4, 2005 06:52 AMI read about Ozzie in Cleveland in the last weekend and he handled himself with a lot of class... he had a lot of respect for the Cleveland fans, and mentioned how impressed he was that they stood up and cheered for the Tribe even as they lost the game. It doesn't sound like a guy who'd been taunting the fans.
Like everyone else said, we need context for the photo. Maybe he's just explaining the Sox strategy for the ALDS.
Posted by: Kurtis at October 4, 2005 07:26 AMDidya all notice Bert made a subtler "choke" jesture on one post-game show after the Twins beat the White Sox a little while back?
*whew* I'm glad reports are coming back that Ozzie was joking, because the man has showed a lot of class this year. I'd hate to think that as he was winning he suddenly turned tasteless. If he was having a good time with the mascot, that's more forgivable.
And Batgirl forgot to mention her awesome baseball skills, what with her unassisted triple play!
Posted by: Just Beth at October 4, 2005 07:45 AMDearest Kurtis
"Like everyone else said, we need context for the photo. Maybe he's just explaining the Sox strategy for the ALDS"
that made me giggle
Nope I will not cheer for the Pale Hose - and you can't make me =p
Infact it's hard for me to cheer on any of the AL teams - sigh..................
much love
Wonder Woman
I'm glad it was a joke, but honestly I don't think it's funny.
Posted by: Stacy at October 4, 2005 08:35 AM"Nope I will not cheer for the Pale Hose - and you can't make me =p
Infact it's hard for me to cheer on any of the AL teams - sigh.................."
I totally agree, Wonder Woman. I am sad to say that I am rooting for the National League this year.
Posted by: sacky at October 4, 2005 08:51 AMi think ozzie is a little funny. and i will root for the bitches until they meet the padres in the WS.
ok, so i am dreaming. leave me alone.
Posted by: Say Rah! at October 4, 2005 08:53 AMFake mooning! That's disgusting! What I want to know is, are there plans now to ship the Cleveland mascot off to the A's?
Posted by: Word Smith at October 4, 2005 10:46 AMDearest Sacky -
No need to be sad to cheer for the NL - I love my Twins - but I love the 'NL style' of play! I love that the pitchers hit - love the double switches - etc...
you'll be all right~
Go Redbirds!!
much love
Wonder Woman
The whole world is turning into pro wrestling, at least the parts that get filtered through big media. Whether Ozzie was just joking with the Indians mascot, or meant to taunt the Cleveland fans, it's just theatre in the end. Love Ozzie, Hate Ozzie now--it's all part of the entertainment, as far as I'm concerned.
Who wants a world where the White Sox are all classy and universally admired, anyway? I like them better as bitchy villains driven by an inferiority complex. Theatre needs conflict and a villain. I want Mark Buehrle to whine about not getting any love in the Cy Young vote. I want Carl Everett to spark a feud with the Boston fans this week, which boils over when he makes an obscene gesture in Fenway or attacks a heckling Boston fan at the airport. I want to hear a Bitch Sox pitcher quip, "Who's your Papi?!" at a press conference after David Ortiz was 0-4 and left 6 runners in scoring position in a Boston loss. I want to believe that Ozzie Guillen really meant to taunt the Cleveland fans after seeing their team choke (which the 'Toons certainly did). More fun for me, and it can't be about hating A-Rod and Jeter *all the time!*
Posted by: frightwig at October 4, 2005 11:29 AMWhat Ozzie did was classless--disgusting. What the Indians mascot did was classless--disgusting. Randy Moss is classless-- disgusting, and by his own admission smokes drugs!
My Budwieser commercials, however, are very clever.
That is all.
Posted by: J. Buck at October 4, 2005 01:05 PMOhh related White Sox fun -seems like the majority would rather see the Red Sox repeat - then see the White Sox win their first World Series -
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=1678
Much Love
Wonder Woman
All I know is that there is only one team playing right now that has a player on it in which Batgirl has created an offical Batgirl.com boyfirend tshirt. That team is the yankees and Jeter is the player, so be default I think the batlings should root for Jeter and Yankees :)
Posted by: mike at October 4, 2005 02:35 PMI've never seen a "Spew is my NSMC" shirt...
Posted by: heraldguy at October 4, 2005 02:50 PMgood one, heraldguy. Jeter sucks.
Posted by: Brundlefly at October 4, 2005 03:26 PMFormer Twin Update
In Chicago, A.J. goes-yard-ski.
EOM
Posted by: Flitcraft at October 4, 2005 03:45 PMI'm totally setting fire to my Ozzie Guillen Starting Lineup figure now.
What an ass.
Posted by: Eric at October 4, 2005 05:11 PMWho's not happy for A.J.? Besides foggy San Franciscans, I mean. Who?
I sure am.
Posted by: Flitcraft at October 4, 2005 06:22 PMAnd baked beany Bostonians might not be so overjoyed. Other than that name anybody.
Because that anybody needs a tickle and a hug, maybe, I'd say.
Posted by: Flitcraft at October 4, 2005 08:14 PM*raises hand* I'm not happy for AJ.
and don't freakin' touch me. ;-)
Posted by: kafumbly at October 4, 2005 08:30 PM"One hopes Joe Buck was apoplectic at the fake mooning."
Ha! That made my night.
Posted by: FordHoiberg at October 4, 2005 08:57 PM"...by default I think the batlings should root for Jeter and Yankees :)" - mike
The only problem with that is that it the projectile vomiting it'll cause me. If you don't think of me, think of Angela -- she's the one who has to clean the carpet.
Posted by: kurtis at October 4, 2005 09:14 PMThis is what Ozzie had to say about that photograph:
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-051004soxbrite2,1,2951703.story?coll=cs-home-headlines
Posted by: DJ at October 5, 2005 06:21 AMI bet C.C. Sabathia could take on Ozzie if he was really offened
Posted by: Rivasfan at October 5, 2005 07:50 PMHurray! This is the greatest year in the history of the world! If this continues, I would be totally content with taking the WC to a Twins division title next year!