Surprised no thread on this given the Robin hate:

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/28685453 ... 8akoEDwqc8

Updated: July 16, 2014 11:06AM


MINNEAPOLIS — It’s easy to rewrite Ozzie Guillen’s history since he left the White Sox after the 2011 season. Guillen, who now works for ESPN and ESPN Deportes as a baseball analyst, is fine with it. He’s done fighting that fight. If the lasting memory of him on the South Side is that of a ‘‘loud-mouthed Venezuelan,’’ so be it.

He’ll sleep well knowing the numbers he left behind: from 2004 to 2011, a 678-617 (.524) record — the third-most wins by a manager in Sox history — two playoff appearances and the Sox’ first World Series title in 88 years in 2005.

But three years away from the Sox and two seasons out of baseball have changed the man. The days of insisting he wouldn’t attend SoxFest for the 10th anniversary of the championship team are over.

For Guillen, a lot is over.

‘‘I changed my mind — I’ve talked to [the Sox], and if I’m in town, of course I’ll go,’’ Guillen said before Tuesday’s All-Star Game. ‘‘I don’t know where I’ll be at that time. Last two years during SoxFest, I was in Colombia watching bullfights.

‘‘I don’t have any problems with the Sox. During the summer, I will be a part of any activity they need. What’s the big deal? I love Sox fans. I respect the Sox front-office people. If I don’t show up, it’s too easy for people to say, ‘You see, it’s not us, it’s him.’ I don’t want that. The 10-year anniversary is for the fans.’’

That’s a much different attitude than in previous years, when Guillen said he would never attend if former general manager Ken Williams was there or unless the Sox paid him.

The change of heart by Guillen, who is still collecting a salary from the Miami Marlins and the Sox, didn’t stop with SoxFest. Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is a New York guy and well-versed in the Billy Martin-George Steinbrenner on-again, off-again owner-manager relationship. Could Guillen as manager be the future of the Sox?

‘‘I wish,’’ Guillen said. ‘‘But if I say yes, then I don’t respect [current manager] Robin Ventura. But that’s not where I’m coming from. When Robin gets tired of managing or he’s had enough, I would like to be back. But it’s up to them. If I wear a uniform and it’s the White Sox, that will be special.’’

Reinsdorf and the Guillen family already have moved toward getting ‘‘back to the way we were,’’ Guillen said. Reinsdorf attended the wedding of Guillen’s oldest son, Ozzie Jr., last weekend.

‘‘It was important for me, important for him, too,’’ Guillen said. ‘‘All of my family. We are where we are as a family because of Jerry. Jerry gave me the opportunity to play for his team, opportunity to manage his team, opportunity to be a success as a manager and a player. That was a special moment as a family, and it was great he was there.

‘‘We had a chance to talk about a lot of things — baseball, life. For both, it was very important — I’m not going to say ‘break the ice,’ but to go back to the way we were.’’

For now, maybe that’s good enough for both sides.

Email: jcowley@suntimes.com

Twitter: @suntimes_hoops

no thanks

ozzie, jr. is huge these days

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Ozzie was a great manager but that great manager is long gone. I don't buy that he's a changed man for a second. His ego got too big. Put him back in a position of power and he'll be the same me-first assbag he was in his final two seasons with the Sox. I don't ever want to see him back in a Sox uniform.

Maybe he can take over for Farmio. Not like you have to be understandable to be on the White Sox broadcast team.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

He'd certainly spark interest in the team again. Maybe boost attendance???

Hahn would be a good fit with Ozzie. Smart enough to ignore him. Doesn't feel the need to put his nuts on the table and compare.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Is he willing to take a discount? Otherwise can't see it happening.

So are the measles.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

I would rather Ozzie even with the circus than Ventura at this point.

Joe Orr and I have talked about this a few different times and we both agree that Ozzie will manage this Sox (at least) one more time at some point in the next 10-15 years.

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Yes please.

Hopefully he was humbled a little bit.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Please let this happen. Even for the entertainment value, it is worth it. Let Oney be the pitching coach.

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Big Frank hitting coach, you have to leave Coop as pitching coach for max entertainment value.

Bring back Maggs as OF coach

Carlos Lee as 3rd coach

AJ in the Bullpen

and I am sure there is someone else ozzie had an issue with who can coach 1st.

I just love how NOW he is a bad coach, but before he was good. It's not like he is Lou who just got too old and fell asleep. Ozzie is a damn good manager.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

The sad thing is, you may be right one day.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

To me, Ozzie as a manager is like Hawk as an announcer. I don't like either of them when they're here but I miss them when they're gone.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

I was glad to see Ozzie go, but Robin is so much worse.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

the only thing that bugged me about Ozzie's managing was his Sunday lineups giving like 3 regulars the day off all at once. I don't mind resting players, but you don't have to do them all at once. nowadays it wouldn't matter since they only have one real hitter in the lineup anyway.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

That is a good point by you. Also, Leary made a point that I wonder if Ozzie will be Jerry's Billy Martin.

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Elections have consequences.

Especially when your biggest crowd might be Sunday. Rest on Tuesday for fuck's sake.

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Elections have consequences.

2 major issues

-His kids

-His contract

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

you should have heard the nattering ninnies this AM talking about this. sounded like two church ladies talking about a flasher. all titillated.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

He is a good coach, not a great coach. You don't deal with all the residual drama for someone who was just good.

Ozzie teams were noted for their fades in the second half of the season

On a personal note, how many times can you mf fans on your way out of town and still be considered beloved?

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

It's gonna have to be a slow process with plenty of lube involved.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

One great thing about Ozzie for both sides of town was that he was the P.T. Barnum of the crosstown series. He played that rivalry up in the papers for at least a week before the game, getting interest for everyone even when the teams were bad.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Didnt Manuel change his rotation for the series?

I think Ozzie back on the S side in any capacity is a fabulous idea.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

I would love to see Ozzie replace any of the Sox's current radio or TV announcers. That would be fantastic.

Alternately, I wouldn't mind seeing him take the reins as GM either.

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This is my signature...

3-man booth: Hawk, Ozzie, Stone Pony

Too much ego?

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Ozzie needs the spotlight so no way he'd want a GM job and no way is he qualified to make those types of decisions anyway IMO.