By: E&P Staff Chicago White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen has been punished for his verbal barrage against Chicago Sun-Times sports writer Jay Mariotti. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig fined Guillen Thursday for an undisclosed amount and ordered him to attend sensitivity training after Guillen's slur-filled tirade was published nationwide.
Though Guillen issued an apology Thursday for the remarks, he continued to taunt the sports writer and demand a meeting to end the battle. Mariotti did not oblige, choosing instead to return fire through his column in yesterday's Sun-Times.
In addition to the fine and sensitivity training, Guillen has been suspended for one game after his pitcher David Riske threw at Chris Duncan of the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday night. Riske is also suspended from play, but is appealing the decision.
In today's Sun-Times, Guillen was emphatic about his stance on Mariotti.
"I went to the dictionary and learned different ways to say stuff to people," Guillen said. "I got a couple of things to say in a couple of days to Jay Mariotti, and he might not like it. I'm going to continue to be the same way. I'm not going to change."
As for Mariotti, the latest turn of events provoked surprise and disappointment.
"I'm viewing this not as the subject of a slur, but as a sports columnist,'' he said in the Sun-Times. "And in regard to baseball justice, this [punishment for Guillen] seems awfully soft. It's hard for me to believe a purpose pitch would warrant a one-game suspension and a slur that hurts millions of people would merit only a fine and sensitivity training."
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