Miami Marlins manager suspended over pro-Castro comments

MIAMI -- Chastened Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen sat alone at a podium and began in Spanish, then halted in the middle of a sentence when his voice wavered. He took a sip of water and cleared his throat, then continued.

Suspended for five games Tuesday because of his comments lauding Fidel Castro, Guillen again apologized and said he'll do whatever he can to repair relations with Cuban-Americans angered by the remarks.

"I'm very sorry about the problem, what happened," said Guillen, who is only five games into his tenure with the Marlins. "I will do everything in my power to make it better. ... I know it's going to be a very bumpy ride."

The suspension by the team takes effect immediately. It was announced shortly before Guillen held a news conference to explain what he said.

Guillen, a 48-year-old Venezuelan, told Time magazine he loves Castro and respects the retired Cuban leader for staying in power so long. In response, at least two local officials said Guillen should lose his job.

At the news conference, Guillen said his comments were misinterpreted by the reporter, and he doesn't love or admire the dictator.

"I was saying I cannot believe somebody who hurt so many people over the years is still alive," Guillen told the news conference.

There was no immediate response to an Associated Press request for comment from government and sports officials in Cuba.

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said he supported the decision to suspend Guillen. He called Guillen's remarks in the magazine "offensive to an important part of the Miami community and others throughout the world" and "have no place in our game."

Guillen took responsibility for the uproar, and said it left him sad and embarrassed. He also said he accepted the team's punishment.

Outside an entrance to the Marlins' new ballpark, about 100 demonstrators wanting Guillen's ouster shouted and chanted during the news conference. The team didn't consider firing Guillen or asking him to resign, Marlins President David Samson said.

"We believe in him," Samson said. "We believe in his apology. We believe everybody deserves a second chance. Politics are a conversation I don't think you're going to be hearing more about from Ozzie."

With reaction to Guillen's praise of Castro escalating in South Florida, he left his team in Philadelphia and flew to Miami in an attempt at damage control. The Marlins and Phillies had the day off and resume their series in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Guillen said he'll be there to apologize to his players - but he won't be in the dugout. Bench coach Joey Cora will be the interim manager. Samson said he expected no further discipline by Major League Baseball.

"The Marlins acknowledge the seriousness of the comments attributed to Guillen," read a statement from the team. "The pain and suffering caused by Fidel Castro cannot be minimized, especially in a community filled with victims of the dictatorship."

Selig said in his statement that "baseball is a social institution with important social responsibilities."

"All of our 30 clubs play significant roles within their local communities," he added. "And I expect those who represent Major League Baseball to act with the kind of respect and sensitivity that the game's many cultures deserve."

The suspension recalled the punishment given to Marge Schott, the late owner of the Cincinnati Reds. Schott so embarrassed baseball in the 1990s with inflammatory racial remarks and fond recollections of Adolf Hitler that she was suspended from ownership duties for a season.

About 100 reporters, photographers and cameramen attended the news conference. Guillen sat alone at the podium and began in Spanish, speaking without notes for several minutes before taking questions. Shortly after he started, his voice wavered in the middle of a sentence, and he paused to take a sip of water and clear his throat.

"This is the biggest mistake I've made so far in my life," Guillen said. "When you make a mistake like this, you can't sleep. ... When you're a sportsman, you shouldn't be involved with politics."

The news conference lasted nearly an hour, with about 80 percent of it in Spanish. Guillen said he was suspended without pay, but Samson later said the manager will be paid and will donate the money to Miami human-rights causes.

The firestorm came shortly after the Marlins opened their ballpark last week in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami. The team is trying to rebuild its fan base with the help of South Florida's large Cuban-American population.

Guillen apologized over the weekend after the story broke, but some Cuban-Americans remained upset. One group planned a demonstration Tuesday before Guillen said he would fly to Miami.

Francis Suarez, chairman of the Miami city commission, said Guillen should be fired. Joe Martinez, chairman of the Miami-Dade County board of commissioners, said Guillen should resign.

Polarizing comments are nothing new for Guillen, who once used a gay slur referring to a reporter, defended illegal immigrants and just last week he said he drinks to excess after road games and has done so for years.

Chavez is unpopular with many Venezuelans, especially those living in the United States. The manager twice appeared on a radio show hosted by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in October 2005, when Guillen led the Chicago White Sox to the World Series title. At the time, Guillen said: "Not too many people like the president. I do."

Tuesday, May 1 2012, 02:34 PM EDT

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Last Update on May 19, 2013 10:38 GMT

NBA PLAYOFFS

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Lance Stephenson's late-game heroics have put the Indiana Pacers in the NBA's Eastern Conference finals for the first time in nine years.

The Pacers have advanced by taking Game 6 of their conference semifinal series against New York, blowing a 10-point lead in the third quarter before defeating the Knicks 106-99. The Knicks took their last lead at 92-90 on J.R. Smith's three-pointer with 5:43 remaining, but Stephenson scored the game's next seven points to put the Pacers in control.

Stephenson finished with 25 points on 9-for-13 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds. Paul George chipped in 23 points and Roy Hibbert added 21 and 12 boards to help the Pacers reach the conference finals for the first time in nine years.

Carmelo Anthony scored a game-high 39 points for the Knicks, who hit 13 three-pointers and went 18-for-18 from the line but took 28 fewer free throw attempts.

Next up for the Pacers are the Miami Heat, who are 8-1 in the playoffs and 43-3 since Feb. 1.

NHL PLAYOFFS

UNDATED (AP) -- The Detroit Red Wings have snared home-ice advantage from the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL's Western Conference semifinals.

Brendan Smith scored the game-winner and Jimmy Howard needed to make just 19 saves as the Wings beat the Hawks 4-1 in Game 2. Chicago held a 1-0 lead until Damien Brunner scored 2:40 into the second period. Smith put the Red Wings ahead to stay with 3:52 left in the middle stanza.

Johan Franzan and Valtteri Filppula (val-TEHR'-ee FIHL'-puh-luh) provided third-period goals, and Henrik Zetterberg had two assists for the Red Wings.

Patrick Kane finally notched his first goal of the playoffs after leading the Blackhawks in scoring during the regular season.

Game 3 is Monday in Detroit, where the Red Wings are 3-0 in the postseason.

Turnabout was fair play for the San Jose Sharks as they pulled within two games to one in the other Western Conference semifinal series.

Logan Couture (koo-CHOOR') scored a power-play goal at 1:29 of overtime to lift the Sharks past the Los Angeles Kings 2-1. The Sharks were given a 5-on-3 power play late in regulation, one game after the Kings scored twice during a two-man advantage in the last two minutes to beat San Jose.

Antti Niemi (AN'-tee nee-EH'-mee) stopped 26 shots and was perfect after Tyler Toffoli scored midway through the first period. Dan Boyle also tallied for the Sharks, who host Game 4 on Tuesday.

NHL-SHARKS/FINE

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NHL has fined the Sharks $100,000 for general manager Doug Wilson's public comments about forward Raffi Torres' suspension. The league said the fine was issued for violation of rules prohibiting formal team statements to the media during the 48-hour period following a disciplinary decision.

Torres was suspended for the rest of San Jose's second-round playoff series against Los Angeles on Thursday for an illegal check to the head of Kings forward Jarret Stoll during Game 1.

NHL-SENATORS/SPEZZA

OTTAWA (AP) -- The Ottawa Senators will have Jason Spezza (SPET'-suh) back in the lineup on Sunday for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference series against Pittsburgh. Spezza hasn't played since Jan. 27 due to back surgery for a herniated disc.

The Senators need him back on the ice as they trail Pittsburgh 2-0 in their Eastern Conference playoff series.

PREAKNESS

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Another year will pass without a Triple-Crown winner in Thoroughbred racing.

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens rode 15-to-1 shot Oxbow to a wire-to-wire victory in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. It's the sixth Preakness victory for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who said after the race that "I get paid to spoil dreams." Oxbow covered the mile and 3/16ths in 1:57.54 and paid $32.80 to win after finishing sixth in the Kentucky Derby.

It's the third Preakness win for the 50-year-old Stevens, who came out of a seven-year retirement this year. He guided Oxbow to a three-length victory over Itsmyluckyday, with Mylute finishing third.

Kentucky Derby winner Orb went off at 3-5 but was boxed in along the backstretch after starting from the rail. Orb finished fourth, which will stretch racing's Triple-Crown drought to 36 years.

There has not been a Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

MLB-SCHEDULE

UNDATED (AP) -- The Cleveland Indians stayed hot by manufacturing their second straight walk-off win Saturday afternoon.

Mark Reynolds brought home the winning run on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the ninth as the Indians came away with a 5-4 win over Seattle. Reynolds also hit a solo homer and had three RBIs in Cleveland's 16th victory in 20 games.

Jason Kipnis scored the winning run just a night after hitting a game-winning, three-run homer in the 10th.

Also in the majors, Elvis Andrus had a career-high five hits, two RBIs, two steals and three runs scored as Texas whipped Detroit 7-2. Rangers starter Justin Grimm gave up two runs in 6 2-3 innings to snap a three-game losing streak.

Brandon Moss provided the tiebreaking triple while Oakland was scoring twice in the sixth to beat Kansas City 2-1. The Athletics' bullpen tossed three hitless innings of relief after Tommy Milone allowed a run and five hits in six frames.

The Yankees are 8-1 versus Toronto following a 7-2 victory in the Bronx. Robinson Cano (kan-OH') smacked a pair of two-run homers as the Yankees beat the Jays for the ninth straight time at Yankee Stadium.

Boston clobbered Minnesota 15-2 as David Ortiz homered twice and drove in six runs. Daniel Nava (NAH'-vah) also went deep for the Red Sox, who have won four straight since a 4-10 skid.

Matt Joyce hit a go-ahead, two-run double while Tampa Bay was scoring six times in the ninth to beat the Oriolers 10-6. Joyce also homered and was 3-for-5 with five RBIs against the Orioles, who had won a team-record 109 straight games when leading after seven innings.

The White Sox's four-game winning streak is over after Alberto Callaspo (ky-AHS'-poh) belted a three-run homer during a fifth-run seventh that lifted the Los Angeles Angels past Chicago 12-9. Callaspo also lifted a pair of sacrifice flies and Mark Trumbo went deep as part of the Angels' 17-hit assault.

Kris Medlen went seven innings and combined with two relievers on a two-hitter as Atlanta beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1. The Braves did their scoring in the eighth on back-to-back homers by pinch-hitter Evan Gattis and Andrelton Simmons.

Yonder Alonso hit a solo homer and Everth Cabrera singled home the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning as San Diego knocked off Washington 2-1. Winning pitcher Eric Stults limited the Nationals to a run and four hits in eight innings to outduel Jordan Zimmermann, who was trying to become the season's first eight-game winner.

Jeff Bianchi (bee-AHN'-kee) singled home a pair of runs in the 10th inning to give Milwaukee a 6-4 victory at St. Louis. Juan Segura and Ryan Braun each had three hits and two RBIs as the Brewers won for only the third time in their last 16 games.

Joey Votto (VAH'-toh) was 4-for-4 with a pair of walks, a two-run homer and two runs scored as Cincinnati cruised to its seventh victory in eight games, 10-0 at Philadelphia. Ryan Hanigan added a three-run homer to back Bronson Arroyo, who struck out six and scattered five hits over 7 2/3 innings.

Jason Castro opened the 11th inning with a double and slid underneath the tag of catcher Russell Martin to score the tiebreaking run in Houston's 4-2 win at Pittsburgh. The Astros were on the verge of falling to 0-27 when trailing after seven innings before Chris Carter singled home the tying run.

Colorado scored 10 runs against San Francisco for the second straight day as Wilin Rosario hit a two-run homer and had three RBIs in the Rockies' 10-2 thrashing of the Giants. Dexter Fowler was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored.

Brandon McCarthy went the distance on a three-hitter as Arizona picked up its fourth straight win, blanking Miami 1-0. Neither team scored after Gerardo Parra homered in the top of the first.

The Cubs won for the fifth time in seven games by downing the Mets 8-2. Scott Feldman pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning and hit a two-run double in his fourth straight win.

INDIANAPOLIS 500-QUALIFYING

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Ed Carpenter has bested IndyCar racing's big-name teams by claiming his first 500 pole during the "Fast Nine" qualifying session for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Carpenter's four-lap average of 228.762 mph in the No. 20 Chevrolet held off such marquee outfits as Team Penske and Andretti Autosport, who combined to claim the next eight spots.

Andretti drivers Carloz Munoz, Marco Andretti and E.J. Viso took the next three spots.

Carpenter is the stepson of IndyCar founder Tony George.

NASCAR-ALL-STAR RACE

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Jimmie Johnson has become the first four-time winner of NASCAR's annual All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

He got a fast final pit stop from his Hendrick Motorsports crew to restart the race in second for the 10-lap sprint to the finish. Johnson battled teammate Kasey Kahne (kayn) for a little more than one lap before clearing Kahne and sailing away to the $1 million payday.

Joey Logano finished second, followed by Kyle Busch, Kahne and Kurt Busch.

NFL-CHARGERS

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Seven-time Pro Bowler Dwight Freeney has agreed to a two-year contract with San Diego. The deal to bring Freeney to the Chargers came four days after outside linebacker Melvin Ingram tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a pad-less practice. Freeney is 33 and entering his 12th season. He is the Colts' career sacks leader with 107 1/2.

PGA-BYRON NELSON CHAMPIONSHIP

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Midway leader Keegan Bradley remains on top of the leaderboard after three rounds of the PGA's Byron Nelson Championship near Dallas. Keegan shot a 2-under-68 in round three to take a one shot lead after 54 holes of play. He stands 13-under par while Sang-Moon Bae is 12-under after a third round 4-under-66.

Tom Gillis is two back of Bradley at 11-under after a 67.