Come to Think of It: A Cubs Fans' Props to Ozzie Guillen

(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Cubs and White Sox fans have a unique love-hate relationship. Basically, we love to hate each other.

Oh sure, I know there are the so-called “Chicago fans”, and while I’ve never really understood not having an allegiance to one team or the other, I do know a good baseball manager when I see one.

That manager would be one Oswaldo José Guillén Barrios.

I have tried awfully hard to never let the die-hard Cubs fan in me cloud my ability to be objective.

Sox fans who have been spoiled by the success of the 2005 team may ask, "what has Ozzie done for me lately?"

While I think it is somewhat natural to feel this way, as a Cubs fan, let me tell you that I would love to have Guillen managing my club.

But I know he would never manage the Cubs, because he would be puking all the time, though there could be a lucrative Pepto Bismal endorsement deal there for him.

With a nod to The Romantics, here’s what I like about you, Ozzie:

• I like the fire and passion he brings to the ballpark every day.

I’m not talking about kicking dirt and throwing bases. I mean, when you hear him talk you can actually feel the real passion he has for winning.

I recognize that he is always saying they should fire him, and all that nonsense. But that’s just his way of letting you know that he feels accountable as the manager. He doesn’t’ really want to quit.

Hey Lou, Ozzie may not be a dragon either, but he does have the fire.

• He manages a very solid game between the white lines.

Ozzie can quite simply manage the hell out of a ballgame. For example, he out managed Lou in today’s series opener at Wrigley, and he consistently makes good decisions on the field.

Is he perfect? Of course not, and I’m sure there are moments when Sox fans just want to scream.

But his managerial strategy is effective.

• He doesn’t coddle his players. Even the so-called superstars.

Ozzie is not afraid to publicly take a player to task if he does something that he doesn’t like, or if he is under-performing.

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