Cuban-Americans are currently protesting outside Marlins Stadium.
The Miami Marlins announced today the suspension of manager Ozzie Guillen for five games effective immediately.
“The Marlins acknowledge the seriousness of the comments attributed to Guillen,’’ the team said in a statement. “The pain and suffering caused by Fidel Castro cannot be minimized, especially in a community filled with victims of the dictatorship.’’
Bench coach Joey Cora will manage the Marlins while Guillen is under suspension.
Ozzie Guillen later appeared for a news conference in Miami and the Marlins manager apologized:
“I’m sorry that I have hurt a city, a country, a community, without any intention. But I did it. … I feel like I’ve betrayed my Latin community. I feel like I betrayed to my Latin community. I’m here to say I’m sorry, with my heart in my hands. I want to say sorry to all those people who were hurt directly or indirectly. Especially to the Cuban-Americans in Miami.”
Guillen added that he’d show the Cuban-American community that he will not take this lightly and he’ll conduct himself appropriately in the future not just with words but his actions.
Guillen, the Miami Marlins’ first-year manager, has come under criticism locally after saying he has respect for Castro and “I love Fidel Castro,’’ in an interview with Time magazine.
