A narrative for a baseball team is always very important,
especially in the beginning of a season. The Miami Marlins have found their narrative in Ozzie Guillen's comments about Fidel Castro. Ozzie Guillen is the manger of the Florida Marlins, who had some words for the Cuban dictator. However, some believed the comments were not as bad as they seemed. In the article, "What Guillen Revealed about Miami," there is a disturbing twist to the narrative of Ozzie Guillen's comments. The article argues that Miami is changing, no longer are Cuban Americans worried about Castro. There is no more personal connection to the dictator, rather Cuban Americans see him just as any other dictator. The article continues to argue that the older generation is sort of nostalgic for the old times of personally hating the dictator. One member of the older generation says of Castro, "I don't hate. Normal people hate. I don't know aht hate is. I don't hate anyone. I don't hate Castro. If I could kill him tomorrow, I would kill him as a benefit for Cuba." However, when you ask the younger generation they seem to have a more casual view; they seemed not even to notice. The older generation wants them to care; they want to go back to the time when Castro was more than hated.
Just like the old generation reaches for the past, so do the main characters in Underworld. One of the main themes is nostalgia in Underworld. The characters believe that the time in the 1950's was the best time in the world, the Giants made a massive comeback and everything was great. However, people don't remember the terror they lived in. The Capitalism verse Communism was in full swing, and so was the Cold War. Though this is quickly forgotten about when looking back on history. We choose what we want to remember; and we remember the Giants comeback and the Honeymooners. This is the same as the old generation now. Yes, they want Castro to be hated like he was in the 60's. However, do they really want the fear of Castro back? No one really believes Castro can do anything anymore, thus they don't see him as a threat to America. But back in the 60's he was a threat and people lived in fear. The older generation only remembers the hatred, not necessarily the fear.
This argument all stemmed from one baseball manger's comments. Thus this shows how much power the baseball industry has over media. Who knew a comment about Castro would turn into two generations clashing over the fear of a dictator?
Good post, I really enjoyed the discussion on the different generations. That was a perspective I hadn't heard, despite the overwhelming coverage of this story. I also think it is interesting how nostalgia like that works regionally. Ozzie made similar comments while in Chicago but that connection wasn't as strong and didn't inspire the debate between generations.
ReplyDeleteI find it very interesting how at the end you stated how one manager's statement has this huge effect on American's, and this shows how mch influence baseball still has on our culture. I believe this line is very significant because Baseballs popularity does seem to be fading out behind football and basketball. I think that baseballs voices are still heard loudly shows that our favorite American past time is not actually disappearing ad that it never will fully disappear. I think it's important that something that was such a huge part of our history and can still be tied into recent history is kept alive forever.
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you tied the OG incident into "Underworld." That being said, I comment only to defend poor Ozzie Guillen and his recent comments.
ReplyDeleteI hate how the press blows all things out of proportion. Any sensible person would look at Guillen's statements and understand exactly what he said. Unfortunately, a good chunk of America is dumb- and another chunk is so liberal that they can't control themselves when a statement like this is made (these liberals are most likely dumb as well).
Guillen never said he liked Castro. He said he "respect(ed)" him for the fact that people have been trying to kill him for decades, yet he's still alive. How many people respect Al Pacino as Scarface? (Millions, easily- I see his depiction nearly everywhere I go. And that's not wrong, to respect him- people wouldn't do what he did, but they can respect what it took for the fictional character to carry out his life) Guillen clearly wasn't supporting Castro, but was giving his perspective on the fact that the man is still there, running things, after so long.
Based entirely on what he said in the interview, it is clear that he did not mean he respected Castro for the violence and sorrow he has caused. He respects him for getting away with it. Not that he thinks that's a good thing, but that he is more in awe of the fact that he can escape from conviction for such atrocities.
Is this a quality of a baseball player? Getting away with a steal? Or a bad call for ball four? Or a faked HBP? Actually, it's probably just a trait of a human being. It's there, trust me. Sorry if your head is too far up your own ass to see it. Hey America, give Ozzie a break or fuck off.