OZZIE GUILLEN HAS LEFT THE BUILDING

Reports are out that Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is leaving the team. Can't say I didn't see it coming but I'm still bummed. I grew up watching Ozzie play. During the 2005 season I warned my editor at Playboy magazine that the White Sox were going to win the World Series. Nobody could beat them. They were just too good. As the playoffs got closer my editor told me to start tracking down Ozzie. 


He agreed to do the Playboy Interview and we met up in Dallas during the winter baseball meetings. A horrible snowstorm delayed my flight out of NYC and I didn't get in until the middle of the night. The only thing open was a Hooters and I was the only guy there. I needed batteries for my voice recorders (I use two or three at a time. Call it OCD.) and decided to pick them up in the morning before my afternoon meeting with Ozzie. I went to sleep. About seven in the morning my phone rang. "Alo? This is Ozzie Guillen. Let's meet for breakfast instead." I jumped out of bed, threw on my clothes and ran downstairs. The concierge gave me directions to a Walgreens and I drove like a madman to buy batteries. Back at the hotel, I ran across the parking lot and entered the hotel just as Ozzie was crossing the lobby, bullshitting with people, laughing, calling people names. We had a long breakfast and talked about everything from the baseball to politics in Venezuela to his love of Jerry Springer. All swearing and cursing and passion. Undeniable passion. My favorite assignment ever. I have a framed copy of it hanging on the wall of my office.


"Whatever you did last night means shit today. That's history. Today is another game." -Ozzie Guillen


You'll be missed, buddy.