Ozzie Guillen has never been shy about giving his opinion. After the White Sox 4-1 loss in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, Guillen went off on Tony La Russa.
During a four-minute-long rant on the White Sox Postgame Show, he called La Russa “Rick Renteria with credentials.” The night before, he called out the lack of leadership and accountability and even went as far as to say, “I don’t know if they want to be there.”
While the Rick Renteria comment may have been uncalled for, much of his criticism is valid. He echoed a similar sentiment that vast the majority of White Sox fans have been complaining about for weeks now.
Many have speculated that Guillen smells blood in the water and is gunning for La Russa’s job. Apparently, MLB Insider Jon Heyman is amongst them. Heyman caught word of Guillen’s comments and responded on Twitter with:
“Will be interesting to see if it’s possible to get someone’s job by insulting them on a postgame show.”
Guillen did not take too kindly to Heyman’s sarcasm and quickly fired back.
“My wife will be mad but tired of this liar talking about me. Your a jelous man that me with sh*t English do the job you do. All you do is lie about stories. I get paid to talk baseball just like you. I said I love Tony but I gave my opinion and he know how I feel. You always hate”
My wife will be mad but tired of this liar talking about me. Your a jelous man that me with shit English do the job you do. All you do is lie about stories. I get paid to talk baseball just like you. I said I love Tony but I gave my opinion and he know how I feel. You always hate https://t.co/YpmksSBngv
— Ozzie Guillen (@OzzieGuillen) July 13, 2022
Then the gloves came off. The argument quickly shifted from baseball to personal attacks. Guillen fired off a string of Tweets.
“Hate me why? Because of bad English? Because I won? Am loud? Good looking? Rich? I don’t need to insult anyone to get a job. Maybe you think I do. Tired you putting me down. Maybe you think you can because your privilege and I am not?”
Hate me why? Because of bad English? Because I won? Am loud? Good looking? Rich? I don't need to insult anyone to get a job. Maybe you think I do. Tired you putting me down. Maybe you think you can because your privilege and I am not?
— Ozzie Guillen (@OzzieGuillen) July 13, 2022
“I have always defended Tony because I love the guy in many ways. So don’t talk shit without knowing who I talk to and what I say. My wife will be piss and I have changed but you asked for it. You clown. You will never be better than anything you do in life, including tv. Payaso.”
I have always defended Tony because I love the guy in many ways. So don't talk shit without knowing who I talk to and what I say. My wife will be piss and I have changed but you asked for it. You clown. You will never be better then anything you do in life including tv. Payaso
— Ozzie Guillen (@OzzieGuillen) July 13, 2022
In Guillen’s defense, he has defended La Russa in the past. He has also played for him and looks up to him as a mentor. It is his job to analyze the way the team is playing and given the current state of the White Sox, criticism was warranted.
Guillen continued his Twitter rant by saying.
“I apologize to @NBCSChicago and my family but tired of Jon Heyman using me as his punching bag. He is not here in Chicago he don’t know anything stop lying stealing people money with bad stories. Am a man before it all and I won’t let him insult me like that.”
I apologize to @NBCSChicago and my family but tired of Jon Heyman using me as his punching bag. He is not here in Chicago he don't know anything stop lying stealing people money with bad stories. Am a man before it all and I won't let him insult me like that.
— Ozzie Guillen (@OzzieGuillen) July 13, 2022
“Jon you hate me and always bad mouth me. Let’s settle it. Let’s raise money Jon me and you the ring. Whatever money we raise goes to charity. I am not perfect, but tired you hiding behind you a writer.”
Jon you hate me and always bad mouth me. Let's settle it. Let's raise money Jon me and you the ring. Whatever money we raise goes to charity. I am not perfect, but tired you hiding behind you a writer.
— Ozzie Guillen (@OzzieGuillen) July 13, 2022
“Your opinion has always sucked from me. I am not insulting anyone to get no job. If they call me to be commisoner I might take it don’t mean I wanted it. Your a loser and always will be one.”
Heyman finally reacted with a shot across the bow.
“You’re claiming when you said he’s Rick Renteria w/credentials that was a compliment? That’s u being negatuve, not me. I also know you interviewed in SD after saying u didn’t want to manage. It is true I’ve been negative on u after observing u up close in Miami — just my opinion.”
https://twitter.com/OzzieGuillen/status/1547264345909886977?s=20&t=ML3_vGS5G4wvcABlaoAWhQ
To which Guillen replied:
“Not even about baseball anymore with you is personal so Lets make it personal”
You’re claiming when you said he’s Rick Renteria w/credentials that was a compliment? That’s u being negatuve, not me. I also know you interviewed in SD after saying u didn’t want to manage. It is true I’ve been negative on u after observing u up close in Miami — just my opinion.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 13, 2022
Those sound a lot like fighting words. The notion of these two coming together in a boxing match is absurd. But if you think Guillen was joking about the boxing match, think again. He doubled down on it during an appearance on 670 The Score. You can hear his Interview below.
Guillen finally ended his desolation of Heyman with the following.
“My wife will be mad but tired of this liar talking about me. Your a jelous man that me with sh*t English do the job you do. All you do is lie about stories. I get paid to talk baseball just like you. I said I love Tony but I gave my opinion and he know how I feel. You always hate”
My wife will be mad but tired of this liar talking about me. Your a jelous man that me with shit English do the job you do. All you do is lie about stories. I get paid to talk baseball just like you. I said I love Tony but I gave my opinion and he know how I feel. You always hate https://t.co/YpmksSBngv
— Ozzie Guillen (@OzzieGuillen) July 13, 2022
Who knew a frustrating White Sox season could provide this much off-the-field entertainment?
I’d rather see the team winning and kicking ass on the field than the circus act this organization has become.
The one person who can fix this here and now doesn’t seem to care. He hides in the shadows from the fans and media. And, lets others deflect and defend.
Ebenezer Reinsdorf… you let this go on far too long. You alone are responsible for state your this once proud organization. You have ruined and turned away countless fans of the game with you actions.