By Mark Gonzales
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Blindsided by all the media hoopla, manager Ozzie Guillen said Wednesday he plans to keep his Twitter account while vowing not to talk about the White Sox.
"Let me start with this," Guillen said during his 14-minute post-practice session. "That's why the world is all screwed up. I want to say (bleep) off, but I can't. All of a sudden we're worrying about something that is personal. I wanted to do something that is fun off the field. All of a sudden, they're making a big deal of this thing."
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Blindsided by all the media hoopla, manager Ozzie Guillen said Wednesday he plans to keep his Twitter account while vowing not to talk about the White Sox.
"Let me start with this," Guillen said during his 14-minute post-practice session. "That's why the world is all screwed up. I want to say (bleep) off, but I can't. All of a sudden we're worrying about something that is personal. I wanted to do something that is fun off the field. All of a sudden, they're making a big deal of this thing."
Guillen was just warming up.
"This has nothing to do with the organization or baseball. It's my life. I don't know why people are making a big deal of it. All of a sudden it's Ozzie Guillen. I didn't know how famous I was. That's pretty interesting. I thought people hate me.
"I feel like I was doing something wrong. People are treating me like I was a murderer or something, or stealing someone's money or didn't pay my taxes. Believe me, a lot of people must like me out there. I thought it was the opposite.''
Guillen spoke Wednesday morning with general manager Ken Williams, who was upset that Guillen had an account and wanted the focus to be on baseball and not a reality television show or Twitter. Guillen said Williams was worried until Guillen explained his intentions.
"If Kenny was upset, I don't blame him," Guillen said. "He wants to know what's going on, why? I said I want to have fun like anyone else. I'm a human being.''
Tampa Bay's Joe Madden and St. Louis' Tony La Russa are among the other managers who have Twitter accounts (and new Sox third baseman Mark Teahen tweets under the name of his dog Espy), but Guillen seemed irritated by his sudden notoriety.
"I guess I can't have fun," Guillen said. "I flunked in school five times, and I never had as much trouble as I'm having right now. Why do I have to explain to people why I'm doing this? Like I said, I talked to Kenny about it, it's not anything that involves the club."
Guillen said he wasn't making money off his Twitter activities. After saying earlier Wednesday that sons Ozzie Jr. and Oney were sending the tweets, Guillen said they set up the accounts and that his tweets were actually his.
"If money was involved in this situation, I'm pretty sure I'd get fired because I'd fight for this situation. But I don't make money out of this."
Guillen said he wouldn't follow anyone else on Twitter: "I never follow anyone, and I never will."
Pitcher Mark Buehrle didn't seem to mind that his manager had a Twitter account.
"I could give two (bleeps) about it," Buehrle said. "I think this whole Facebook, Twitter, all this stuff is ridiculous, if you ask me.
"I think he knows that certain line not to cross. I think he'll be all right with it.''
Guillen did draw a line in his personal life by saying cameras won't film him off the field while filming the Sox's "The Club" reality television show scheduled for this summer.
"Nobody is going to see my house," Guillen said.
"This has nothing to do with the organization or baseball. It's my life. I don't know why people are making a big deal of it. All of a sudden it's Ozzie Guillen. I didn't know how famous I was. That's pretty interesting. I thought people hate me.
"I feel like I was doing something wrong. People are treating me like I was a murderer or something, or stealing someone's money or didn't pay my taxes. Believe me, a lot of people must like me out there. I thought it was the opposite.''
Guillen spoke Wednesday morning with general manager Ken Williams, who was upset that Guillen had an account and wanted the focus to be on baseball and not a reality television show or Twitter. Guillen said Williams was worried until Guillen explained his intentions.
"If Kenny was upset, I don't blame him," Guillen said. "He wants to know what's going on, why? I said I want to have fun like anyone else. I'm a human being.''
Tampa Bay's Joe Madden and St. Louis' Tony La Russa are among the other managers who have Twitter accounts (and new Sox third baseman Mark Teahen tweets under the name of his dog Espy), but Guillen seemed irritated by his sudden notoriety.
"I guess I can't have fun," Guillen said. "I flunked in school five times, and I never had as much trouble as I'm having right now. Why do I have to explain to people why I'm doing this? Like I said, I talked to Kenny about it, it's not anything that involves the club."
Guillen said he wasn't making money off his Twitter activities. After saying earlier Wednesday that sons Ozzie Jr. and Oney were sending the tweets, Guillen said they set up the accounts and that his tweets were actually his.
"If money was involved in this situation, I'm pretty sure I'd get fired because I'd fight for this situation. But I don't make money out of this."
Guillen said he wouldn't follow anyone else on Twitter: "I never follow anyone, and I never will."
Pitcher Mark Buehrle didn't seem to mind that his manager had a Twitter account.
"I could give two (bleeps) about it," Buehrle said. "I think this whole Facebook, Twitter, all this stuff is ridiculous, if you ask me.
"I think he knows that certain line not to cross. I think he'll be all right with it.''
Guillen did draw a line in his personal life by saying cameras won't film him off the field while filming the Sox's "The Club" reality television show scheduled for this summer.
"Nobody is going to see my house," Guillen said.
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@BillChicago -- That would be amazing!! My life would be infinitely better if they would tweet-fight.
I understand if MLB doesn't want people disclosing certain info, but come on. Teahan's tweets are harmless. And Nick Swisher's are just as plain. No team secrets, no bashing any managers or players... what's the big deal? If anything it's more publicity for the club, so shut your hole Ken Williams.
I agree with Mark.
He's a great manager. I'll always like him
Here's another Sox fan who also is a huge fan of Ozzie Guillen. The man is pure baseball. He absolutely knows what is going on. Those who criticize his English language skills (and it happens a lot on these boards) show THEIR ignorance. Literally all of my baseball friends (most are Sox fans, but not all) think the world of the guy too. He continues to get better as a manager. I hope he's around the Sox for many more years. I have no basis for my next statement, but here goes: I'll just bet many, many more people are fans of Ozzie than not.Just an opinion.
They should just stick with the blow up dolls and walking naked in there club house.
Have you guys seen this? www.twitter.com/fakeozzie very funny.
Ozzie is wrong once in a while, but never could he be more wrong about his popularity. There are LOTS of people who love the guy. I'm one of them. Someone needs to do one of those: "Leave Ozzie aloooooooooone!" type things on U-Tube. The guy's all about baseball and he tries to do something for fun and the sky begins to fall? Cut the guy some slack already.
I don't think its wrong for ozzie to have twitter
he brought Chicago a world series championship so quit hating on him.
I would sleep much better if Mariotti and Ozzie got into it with each other on Twitter now! lol
Nothing like some good ole e-fighting!