Ozzie Guillen apologizes for his comments about Fidel Castro

Everyone knows Ozzie Guillen is a loose cannon. He says what's on his mind and doesn't care who he offends. Sometimes it's a breath of fresh air, sometimes you wonder when it's going to come back and bite him in the backside.

His most recent comments did the latter. In a recent issue of Time magazine Guillen said that he loves Fidel Castro and has respect for him for staying in power for so long. In Miami, which has a high Cuban population, those comments didn't sit well with some of the locals. After reading what he said, Guillen said he felt sick about it.

On Saturday in a closed door meeting with beat writers before the Marlins' game against the Cincinnati Reds, Guillen apologized for what he said.

"I will apologize if I hurt somebody's feelings, or I hurt somebody's thought," Guillen told the writers. "I want them to know I'm against everything 100 percent – I repeat it again – the way this man (been) treating people for the last 60 years."


The Marlins also issued a statement denouncing Guillen's comments.


"There is nothing to respect about Fidel Castro.


"He is a brutal dictator who has caused unthinkable pain for more than 50 years. We live in a community filled with victims of this dictatorship, and the people in Cuba continue to suffer today."


This isn't the first time Guillen has had something wild and crazy to say and it won't be the last. When it comes to some of the world's leaders he might want to think before he speaks.

Doug Fister going to the 15 day DL

The Detroit Tigers are one of the favorites to win the World Series. You have to be good to accomplish the feat, but you also have to be lucky. Which means staying injury free.

Today the Tigers' Doug Fister had to leave the game in the fourth inning of their 10-0 win over the Boston Red Sox.

Fister had to leave because of a  left costochondral strain. A rib strain for those not in the medical profession. Fister was placed on the 15 day disabled list and the Tigers called up reliever Brayan Villarreal from Toledo.

The Tigers should hope this is the exception and not the rule for the season.

Kurt Warner says Gregg Williams deserves a second chance

The NFL is a league of second chances. Ask Pacman Jones and Michael Vick about the chances they've had to redeem themselves in the eyes of the league. Kurt Warner is also a forgiving man. That has to do more with his religious background. I know anyone that put a hit out on me would never be forgiven.

Warner believes former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams, should be given a second chance to be on an NFL sideline. Warner was named specifically in the NFL investigation into the bounty program Williams was running while he was defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints.

 “All this talk about Gregg Williams receiving a “LIFETIME” ban from NFL,” Warner wrote on Twitter. “I disagree, we all deserve a 2nd chance!”


A fan responded to Warner’s tweet by pointing out that Williams already got a second chance when the NFL first warned the Saints that bounties would not be tolerated, and that Williams ignored the warning and continued the bounties. But Warner says the NFL should continue its long tradition of giving people the opportunity to redeem themselves.


“Guys that have gone 2 prison? Failed multiple drug test? Taped practices? All got 2nd chance!” Warner wrote.


Warner is the type to let bygones be bygones and just let it go. But Williams and the Saints had been warned before and he failed to heed the leagues warning. And with the recent video about putting specific San Francisco 49er players on the shelf, doesn't help his cause to get another chance.

Ventura and Ryan on speaking terms

It's been nearly twenty years since the infamous Nolan Ryan/Robin Ventura brawl, which Ryan got the best of Ventura and has been a running joke since then. A then 46 year old Ryan took the young Ventura to the woodshed. Numerous videos have been shown and Ventura has never been able to live it down.

The two have never crossed paths until today. Ryan is the CEO of the Texas Rangers and Ventura is the manager for the Chicago White Sox. It was the opener for both teams in Arlington today and they finally had a chance to speak. 

Ryan went over to the White Sox clubhouse and wished Ventura good luck. There was never any ill will between the two over the fight.

"He was a very good player and very successful player," Ryan said Thursday. "It was just a reaction or response to the moment. He and I had no personal interaction prior to that night. There was nothing that precipitated it from something previously."


The video of the fight is a staple at Rangers games but Ventura doesn't seem to mind, although it sounds a little bitter.

"It's not like I haven't seen it," Ventura said Thursday. "It's up to them. They can play it if they want. It's not going to change any decision I make or anything else I do."


I'm sure Ventura doesn't like having to see himself get pummeled by what was deemed an old man.

Dwight Howard isn't a winning player

There aren't many NBA players that are considered winning players. There are a select few in the league and you can probably count them on one hand. Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Kevin Durant, and no matter what anyone says LeBron James.

Dwight Howard is not one of them. It's not because he hasn't won any championships. It's because of the act he's pulling with the Orlando Magic franchise. He's literally trying to hold the Magic hostage and trying to get coach Stan Van Gundy fired. That all depends on who you ask. Van Gundy and reporters say that Howard has asked for Van Gundy to be canned. Howard denies this rumor.


"I know he has," Van Gundy told reporters after the team's morning shootaround ahead of Thursday night's matchup with the New York Knicks. "That's just the way it is. Again, I've been dealing with that all year. It's not anything real bothersome. You go out and do your job."


It's just like Howard to deny the statement. Just like he wanted to be traded, but later was all in and staying with the Magic. The problem with his trade request is that he wanted to pick his destination. I've always maintained that the franchise should be holding all the cards especially when it comes to trades. No player should be able to hold a team hostage like what Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and Dwight Howard have done recently. Players would hate me if I were a general manager because I'm trading you for the best deal I get, not where you want to go.

About the Van Gundy rumors which Howard denies, it's no secret that Howard would rather have Van Gundy out of town rather than him staying in Orlando. It's a fact of life in professional sports. When the star player doesn't like the coach, usually the coach leaves town and it's not voluntary. Howard has been pretty critical of Van Gundy's coaching style the past few years and now he's playing a game of him or me.

"Whatever happens at the end of the season is not under my control," Howard told reporters. "I am a player for the Magic. I am not the GM. I am not (owner) Rich DeVos I am not (Magic CEO) Alex Martins. So that's not my job. So you guys should stop ... every other week ... trying to find something, because there's nothing.


"I haven't said anything to anybody about anything. Our main concern is winning. So all the other stuff should stop."

In a way Dwight is still immature. He says all the right things and talks about winning, but he isn't about winning. Which means he's not a winning player. If you want photo ops, commercials, and want to sell jerseys then Dwight is your guy. But if you want to win championships, you should go elsewhere.

I'm not saying he's a bad player, but he's what a friend of mine calls a "square button player". Anyone with a playstation should be familiar with that analogy. He just doesn't have the on court demeanor of a winner.

Police pull their guns on Torii Hunter

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Torii Hunter had a pretty harrowing experience while at home. Police responded to an alarm at Hunter's home and the end result was Hunter having to ID himself while the cops had their guns drawn.

Hunter responded to the incident via Twitter and was initially excited by the whole incident, but to his credit didn't make a big deal out of it.



“My alarm went off in my house while I was in it. 20mins later I saw cops checking out the scene. Went outside and they drew there guns on me,” his first Tweet said. “They didn’t believe I lived here in Newport coast so they walked me upstairs at gunpoint to get my ID. When I showed him my ID, he said I’m an angel fan hope u guys have a great season. ARE U KIDDING ME!!!!!! Lol”


Hunter later praised the cops for doing their job.


“The police departmen did a great job of protecting my home. Thanks guys!” he wrote.


I do give Hunter credit for not being too bent out of shape about it.

JaVale McGee was shocked by the trade to the Nuggets

The way Denver Nuggets big man, JaVale McGee tells it, it almost sounds like he would've rather stayed in Washington than being traded to Denver. McGee was totally unaware that he was on the trading block and was caught off guard by the deal. Players are usually informed by friends, agents, family, or entourage about whether they're being traded or not.

McGee says he was shocked and was caught napping literally when he was hit with news of the trade.

“I was sleeping, taking my pregame nap,” McGee told HOOPSWORLD. “When I woke up, I found out that I had been traded. I had a bunch of text messages from different people and I talked to the team. I was shocked. I just asked, ‘When do I leave?’”


Even though there was some shock and awe from the news of the trade, McGee is happy that he was traded to a playoff contender and hopes that he can be with the Nuggets for awhile.

“This is a great organization,” McGee said. “There are a lot of hard working people here and this organization gives their players everything they need.” 


The Nuggets better hope that McGee has less spaceman moments and taps into his wealth of physical talent. If he can do that the Nuggets will be an exciting team to watch. If not, McGee can at least collect some big checks since he does have talent, athleticism, and stands 6-11.