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NEW YORK - Ozzie Guillen was fined and ordered to attend sensitivity training Thursday as commissioner Bud Selig punished the outspoken Chicago White Sox manager for using a slur during a tirade against a sports columnist.
In a separate penalty, Guillen was suspended for one game, punishment for reliever David Riske intentionally hitting St. Louis' Chris Duncan with a pitch Tuesday night. Riske drew a three-game suspension, but appealed.
Guillen went into a profanity-laced tirade against Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti and called him a number of names, including a derogatory term that is often used to describe someone's sexual orientation.
"Ozzie Guillen used language that is offensive and completely unacceptable," Selig said in a statement. "Baseball is a social institution with responsibility to set appropriate tone and example. Conduct or language that reflects otherwise will not be tolerated. The use of slurs embarrasses the individual, the club and the game."
Guillen met with reporters Thursday before leaving U.S. Cellular Field to serve his suspension, saying as he did Wednesday that he used the wrong word. He said he agreed with Selig's punishment. He also vowed not to let up on Mariotti.
"The commissioner did what he had to do," Guillen said. "They don't agree with what I say. Me either. I agree with what I say about Jay. ... I'm not going to change. One thing I'm going to make clear is I apologize to the community, but to Jay, no chance. This thing is on and on for good."
Major League Baseball asked the White Sox to set up the sensitivity training and spokesman Scott Reifert said the team would do so, using its employee assistance program, with specifics to be determined.
Guillen said he wasn't sure what sensitivity training would entail, but would abide by the ruling.
"What class? What is it? Mr. Selig said I have to do something about this," Guillen said. "It was not good for me and baseball to be involved in this."
Guillen said team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf "reprimanded me as a friend."
"Jerry is behind Major League Baseball about this decision to fine me. I respect that. It's good for baseball because I put Bud Selig in a spot he's not supposed to be. It's done and hopefully we will learn from this and move on."
Mariotti recently was critical of Guillen's handling of rookie pitcher Sean Tracey, who could be seen distraught in the dugout last week in Texas after Guillen became angry when the White Sox didn't retaliate for catcher A.J. Pierzynski twice being hit with pitches. Tracey was later demoted to the minors.
Riske was suspended three games by the commissioner's office for intentionally throwing at Duncan, and Guillen got a one-game ban. He and Riske were each fined an undisclosed amount by Bob Watson, vice president of on-field operations for Major League Baseball.
Both were ejected in the seventh inning of Chicago's 20-6 victory Tuesday night after the right-hander hit Duncan with a pitch.
The benches had been warned in the bottom of the sixth after St. Louis pitcher Sidney Ponson plunked two White Sox batters with the bases loaded.
Chris Duncan was sent to the minors Thursday. His father, Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan, called Guillen a liar during a radio interview.
Guillen and the pitching coach did talk on the field Wednesday.
"I was upset. I'm still upset. I don't like liars," Duncan said before Thursday night's game.
Guillen, who led the White Sox to their first World Series title in 88 years last season, has gotten into trouble several times with his comments.
In spring training this year, he apologized to Alex Rodriguez for comments he made in a Sports Illustrated article in which he criticized the Yankees' star for waffling on his choice of countries for the World Baseball Classic.
In his first season, Guillen called umpire Hunter Wendelstedt a liar. Later in the season, Guillen sarcastically referred to Buck Showalter of the Rangers as the best manager in the history of baseball and the guy who invented the game — all after Showalter questioned Guillen's knowledge of the rules.
Guillen also went off on a profanity-filled tirade last season against former teammate and fellow Venezuelan Magglio Ordonez, who left the White Sox and joined the Detroit Tigers.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
