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Guillen Brothers Love North Park, Cheer Dad in World Series
By Stan Friedman
CHICAGO, IL (October 20, 2005) - Why would the two sons of Chicago's latest
hero, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, attend North Park University?
The answer is easy: family, academics and baseball. In that order.
Ozzie, Jr. transferred to the university from Eckard College in St.
Petersburg, Florida, last year as a sophomore, saying he wanted to be
near his father. "Family comes first," he explains.
His brother, Oney, transferred this year from the University of
Southern California, saying that he also wanted to be close to family.
"The chance to play with my brother again was a big draw." The
accompanying photo shows Oney (left) and Ozzie.
Their father has become a media favorite, not only because he has
guided the White Sox to their first World Series since 1959, but also
because he is always good for a quote. Chicagoans wonder what he will
say next. "He tells the truth," says the younger Ozzie. "He doesn't
worry about being politically correct."
The sons have inherited the same directness. For example, on students
who obsess with getting straight As and get distraught with any lower
grade: "They should be glad they get to go to school," says Ozzie.
Unlike many people, the brothers have to deal with criticism of their
father on a regular basis. "As long as the person has credibility, and
he's telling the truth, that's OK," says Oney.
They pay no attention or betray disdain for writers they believe don't
understand the game or are only interested in being critical. "The
farther away from the dugout you are, the better manager you are," says
Ozzie. They take pleasure that their father, who is managing for only
his second year, has proved his critics wrong.
Once the brothers decided to move to Chicago to be close to family,
choosing North Park for their education was easy because of its
excellent business program. Ozzie says the university was the only one
to which they applied.
Both are marketing majors and say they have been impressed with the
academics. "They have great professors here," Ozzie says.
Oney says the professors have been understanding of their unique
position and have made concessions but not lessened their demands about
completing assignments.
Ozzie is the translator for superstar pitcher Jose Contreras during home
stands. He admits that his job does slip in between family and academics.
The two have been able to attend the school in relative obscurity.
"Other than my teammates, I don't think hardly anybody knew I went here
last year," says Ozzie.
The pair, who have lived in both Venezuela and the United States, say
they try not to flaunt their family connection. "My dad has always
taught us that we came from Venezuela," Ozzie says. "The more money you
have the more humble you have to be."
Their father also has ingrained in them that they are to be much more
than athletes. "You have to develop character," Ozzie says adamantly.
Part of that character includes having a realistic outlook on life.
"You get an F on a test or go zero for four with four Ks (strikeouts),
that's frustrating, but the world's not going to end," says Oney.
"Problems are when you have no job and your family is hungry."
The sons speak of their father with the greatest of respect and seek to
emulate him in many ways, but becoming major league players isn't
necessarily high on their priority list. That the pair would choose
North Park, a Division III school, surprises those who don't know them
but know of their decision.
The two prefer an environment in which academics is a priority over
athletics, they say. Coaches at much larger school become obsessed with
their jobs and have their priorities wrong. "You can't be enslaved by
baseball," says Ozzie.
"College baseball is overrated," says Oney, adding that those seeking a
baseball career are better off rising through the ranks of a team's farm
system.
They reject the expectations that they seek a major league career.
"Just because your dad is a lawyer doesn't mean you're going to be a
lawyer," says Ozzie. "I play for the love of it." He adds, "Half the
guys here are better than me."
There are times, however, when baseball does trump attending class.
"I'm not missing a playoff game for school," says Ozzie.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
