Former White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen feels disrespected

Former Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is beloved in Chicago despite leaving the team a decade ago.

Guillen managed the Chicago White Sox to the 2005 World Series title. His leadership helped snap an 88-year championship drought on the Southside. He was also a fan favorite shortstop for the White Sox from 1985-1997.

As a player, he was the American League Rookie of the Year and a three-time All-Star during his 12-year tenure with the Sox.

Unfortunately, Ozzie left the team in 2011 on not the greatest terms. After a brief controversial managerial stint with the Miami Marlins, Guillen has not managed a Major League team since.

Guillen is enjoying a second act in life as the Chicago White Sox pre/postgame analyst for NBC Sports Chicago. Like every White Sox fan, Guillen is not enjoying what he is seeing on the field lately. He has not been afraid to voice his opinion and he took a shot at his mentor Tony La Russa.

Former White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has a Twitter exchange with a reporter.

Jon Heyman, New York Post baseball columnist and baseball insider for MLB Network and Audacy Sports, felt that maybe Guillen is angling to replace La Russa.

That set off a Twitter war.

Guillen challenged Heyman to a charity boxing match to settle their differences.

Guillen also went on the local sports talk radio station, 670 the Score, and not only laid down the boxing challenge again but also gave his side of the story.

Guillen made it clear in the interview he is not gunning for La Russa’s job. He also stated he has nothing but respect and love for La Russa.

Guillen made clear it is part of his job as an analyst to give his opinion. No one is more opinionated than Ozzie. For the record, Heyman has declined to put the gloves on.

Heyman is just the latest example of this need to protect La Russa from any detractors. There are sports writers and media personalities that feel the need to defend the Hall of Fame manager.

I get some media members who have developed a relationship with Tony. The man has been in baseball a long time. He has forgotten more about the game than some will learn in a lifetime.

That does mean roses should always be thrown at his feet. It also means he does not need other people to fight his battles for him.

He will feel insulted if you dare question any decision he makes (even if he is wrong). Otherwise, Tony tends to shrug off the criticism.

That is why it is such a head-scratcher for some people to have this need to defend La Russa, especially now.

You are what your record says you are and right now the Chicago White Sox are one of the most disappointing teams in baseball. All the accolades Tony has does not matter right now so long as the Sox are losing.

I could see people rushing to his defense if the White Sox were winning but still out of first place and there was a calling for La Russa to be fired.

Instead, the White Sox is failing and one of the reasons is the manager. Right now La Russa is not showing he is the Hall of Fame three-time World Series winning manager.

It is very hard to defend the job he is doing since he is not doing his job well. There is nothing wrong with Ozzie Guillen doing his job well and calling La Russa out for it.