Marlins manager had said he loves Cuban dictator, respects him for staying in power so long
updated 8:53 p.m. ET April 7, 2012
CINCINNATI - Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen apologized on Saturday for telling a magazine that he loves Fidel Castro, a comment that prompted to team to issue a statement denouncing the Cuban dictator.
Guillen told Time magazine that he loves Castro and respects him for staying in power so long. When Guillen read his comments Friday, he said he felt sick because he knew how people would react.
Guillen called the team's beat writers for a closed-door meeting before a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night and apologized.
"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."
In response to the magazine story, the Marlins released a statement saying, "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."
It's not the first time Guillen, from Venezuela, has made a strong comment about a controversial leader. During his first news conference as Marlins manager in September, he bristled at a suggestion he supports Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez."Don't tell my wife that, because she hates that man. She hates him to death," Guillen said. "I supported Chavez? If I was supporting Chavez, do you think I would be manager of the Marlins? I never supported Chavez."
Guillen said he has never spoken to Chavez, but in fact he appeared on the Venezuelan leader's national radio show twice in October 2005, when Guillen led the Chicago White Sox to the World Series title. At the time, Guillen said: "Not too many people like the president. I do. My mom will kill me, but it's an honor to talk to the president."
Guillen became a U.S. citizen in 2006, and he has been more critical of Chavez in recent years.
"It's not my fault Chavez is the president," Guillen said. "I didn't put him there. ... We got what we deserved."
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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