(Chicago Mayor) Daley caught off base when it comes to invites (Guillen vs. the White House)

Chicago Tribune ^ | February 11, 2006 | Mike Downey

[Chi-townChief]

Richard M. Daley is as wrong as a man could be in knocking Ozzie Guillen for skipping the team's scheduled trip Monday to the White House.

The mayor should be ashamed of saying, "I don't care who you are. Maybe you think you're too important."

What a cheap shot after everything Guillen has done for this city.

I hope this isn't Daley's way of getting even for a joke Guillen recently made. On his test to become a naturalized U.S. citizen, one of the questions Ozzie had to answer was this: "Who is the mayor of Chicago?"

"Me!" he said.

Daley's dad once did a lot to put a man in the White House: John F. Kennedy. I do not think provoking Guillen is the way to put him there.

Somebody better explain a few things to the mayor about how "precious" this invitation is.

For example very few of the Florida Marlins' players went to the White House on Jan. 23, 2004. Juan Pierre, A.J. Burnett and Josh Beckett were there, but a great many of their teammates were not. They had a schedule conflict, just as Guillen has now.

Guillen, however, did go. In fact, George W. Bush that day singled out the Marlins coach, congratulating him on accepting a new job "where you can bring a world championship to the South Side of Chicago."

Which he did.

So since he already has been there, why can't Guillen simply let Jerry Reinsdorf, Ken Williams and Sox players represent his team this time? The guy has a family obligation. Daley is a family man himself. He owes Guillen an apology.

Or will the mayor chastise World Series stars Bobby Jenks, Freddy Garcia, Tad Iguchi and Scott Podsednik next? None of them can make it to the White House either.

[wrathof59]

Flub fans state: "In Dusty we Trusty"

Are they losers or what?

[KeyLargo]

Poll to freep:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/

Should Ozzie Guillen visit the White House?

37.2%
Yes (836 responses)

62.8%
No (1414 responses)

2250 total responses
(Poll results not scientific)

[Chi-townChief]

Man, that pic certainly could use some kind of BARF ALERT.

[struwwelpeter]

Tiger Woods Learning Center? For children who don't read very good?

I wonder how they get the kids in that little building ;-)