Making incredibly offensive remarks to reporters is not something Ozzie Guillen invented. Such remarks and gaffes are not anything new in baseball. In fact, baseball’s rich history is full of managers and players thinking they are edgy and controversial.

On April 29, 1983, then-Chicago Cubs manager Lee Elia criticized, in an obscenity-laced tirade, the crowd at a day game in front of the amassed press corps after the game.

Elia said, “What the f— am I supposed to do, go out there and let my f— players get destroyed every day and be quiet about it? For the f—’ nickel-dime people who turn up? The m—f—s don’t even work. That’s why they’re out at the f— game. They oughta go out and get a f—’ job and find out what it’s like to go out and earn a f— living. Eighty-five percent of the f— world is working. The other 15 percent come out here.”

Even with this tirade, Elia continued to lead the team until Aug. 21, 1983. At that point, the Cubs had a 50-69 record, and were in fifth place in the National League East Division. The Cubs finished the year in fifth, with a 71-91 record.

Nevertheless, the worst gaffe of them all came from Atlanta Braves relief pitcher John Rocker, who made Elia’s rant seem a peaceful, zen-like discussion. Rocker was on the verge of stardom in 1999 when a Sports Illustrated article chronicled a drive to a publicity event with reporter Jeff Pearlman [Editor’s note: Pearlman was an editor at The Review during his college years] and began driving aggressively, calling many of his fellow drivers racist names. He continued with his rant, saying he would not play in New York because “The biggest thing I don’t like about New York are the foreigners. I’m not a very big fan of foreigners.” He then called a black teammate of his a “fat monkey.”

Though Rocker came out and apologized for his comments, the Braves suspended him for the remainder of spring training and the first 28 games of the 2000 season. Traded to Cleveland in 2001, Rocker’s Major League career ended in 2003 after he was released by Tampa Bay after two games.

I do not defend what Guillen said. He should have known better, especially when he is a manager of a team in a city where many Cubans fled the oppression of Fidel Castro. If he really wanted to say that, he should have said it in a video interview where people could hear his tone as being sarcastic.

However, I also blame the reporter for his role in this fiasco. If I were the reporter, I would have asked Guillen “Do you really mean to say you like Fidel Castro?” If he continued on his way and said “Yes,” then I would have run the quote, but if he said, “I’m only joking,” I would have included that in the article.

Remarks like this should not happen. Athletes should know that whatever they say can be heard the public and taken seriously. They should know that their fans, especially young children, idolize them, and hang on to their every word. I feel that Guillen will weather the storm, because he seems truly sorry. Tuesday’s apology will be crucial in his career future. Oh, and one last thing: who was Atlanta’s shortstop that Rocker criticized as being old? One Ozzie Guillen. It’s a small world.