Ozzie Guillen could write 20 books full of memories from the annual Crosstown series between the Cubs and White Sox, he said, but one expletive-filled story would definitely get the nod for Chapter 1.
In the May 2007 edition of the Addison-Sox/35th Red Line showdown, Guillen called into 670 The Score to defend his sitting of A.J Pierzynski in a 6-3 loss to the Cubs to host Mike North, who was arguing in Pierzynski's favor.
Unassuming of what Guillen had in store, North started the call by asking the manager how he was doing.
Mike North: "How ya' doin Ozzie?"
Ozzie Guillen: "Aw, shut the f___ up."
After dropping a few more choice four-letter words, North explained that Pierzynski is disappointed with being benched to which Guillen responded, “I don’t care what A.J. thinks.”
After a few more futile attempts by North to stop Guillen from making the FCC knock on his door, the then White Sox manager hangs up.
Radio sports hosts are infamous for their various hot takes — so why was Guillen listening and why did he call in? He was in the car with his kids, wanted to hear what people were saying about the series and decided his own two-cents as the team’s decision maker needed to be heard.
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Guillen relived the memory in a special Crosstown rival podcast.
“I remember my kids were with me in the car, saying ‘Please dad, don’t do it,’” Guillen said in the podcast.
Later that day, North later showed up in Guillen’s office before the game with a bag of candy as a peace offering. Guillen’s response? “Get out of my office right now.”
He defended his argument by saying he would even go to jail for “10 days or 100 years” to be able to say what he wants.
“When you work in radio or tv, you can have your own opinion, and people have to respect the opinions you have. That’s living in the United States of America.”
We’ll be here waiting for those books, Ozzie.