Heck no Ozzie won't go

by Adam Harris

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen rarely keeps his opinion to himself, so it wasn't suprising when he said the Arizona immigration law would keep him from participating in the 2011 MLB All-Star game in Phoenix, AZ.

"I'm not going. I have to support my people, people I believe in. If those people were bad people, hell no I wouldn't support them; but they're good people," Guillen said. "I'm very proud to be a [U.S.] citizen, but meanwhile I ask, "Wow, why did this happen?' We didn't do anything wrong here. We support this county and this country supports us. That's why I'm confused about this thing.

"As a coach, no [I won't go]. As a player it's a different thing. If the commissioner wants to play the All-Star game in Arizona, we have to show up. As a coach, I'm not going. They don't need me. The show's going on without me."

Well before Guillen can deny going to the All-Star Game, he must either win the 2010 American League Pennant, or be invited by the manager of the 2010 AL Champion team.

Who knows if either of those things will happen, but MLB Commissioner Bud Selig continues to ignore Guillen's stance, and many calls across the majors to move the 2011 All-Star Game from Phoenix.

"Apparently all the people around and in minority communities think we're doing OK. That's the issue, and that's the answer," Bud Selig said today in a news conference after owner's meetings. "I told the clubs today: 'Be proud of what we've done.' They are. We should. And that's our answer. We control our own fate, and we've done very well."

So as of right now, the Arizona immigration law has not caused the 2011 All-Star Game to change locations, but it has given Ozzie Guillen a reason to not attend.