“The Blizzard of Oz”

On June 16, 2006 a conflict arose between then Chicago White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillén and Chicago Sun Times sports columnist Jay Mariotti regarding Mariotti’s article, “Judgment Call: Time to Worry About Ozzie?” in which he criticizes Guillén over a hit-by-pitch incident. In that article, Mariotti refers to Guillén as “the Blizzard of Oz” and questions his ability to lead the team. The incident follows established, though problematic, Major League Baseball practice where Guillén ordered rookie relief pitcher, Sean Tracey to hit Texas Ranger Hank Blalock after Ranger’s pitcher Vicente Padilla had hit White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski with pitches in his first two at bats. When Tracey failed in his retaliatory hit attempt, Guillén showed his frustration, resulting in Mariotti characterizing him as “crazy” and via mob epithets such as “thug” which prompted Guillén to call Mariotti a “fucking fag.” The resolution of this incident involved Guillén attending sensitivity training amid criticisms that he was culturally deficient, uneducated and thus “didn’t know any better.”