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La Russa says Ozzie Smith 'not welcome'

'I don't want to be anywhere that he is,' Cards manager says of ex-star

La RussaGetty Images
St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has made it clear that he wants nothing to do with Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith.

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith have revisited their feuding ways, 10 years after the skipper made him the backup, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Monday.

In response to Smith's comments to the newspaper that he still considers himself a Cardinal and didn't want to elaborate his disagreements with the team any further, La Russa fired off some angry comments.

"Speaking personally, I don't think he would be good for our ballclub," La Russa told the Post-Dispatch. "For him to repeat those comments is really unreasonable. That invitation is no longer there. He's not welcome."

La Russa also said Smith was no longer welcome at spring training as an instructor.

"When my time is up, they can welcome him with open arms, but I don't want to be anywhere that he is," La Russa added. "I won't ever be around when he's around. Cardinals fans can embrace him all they want to, and it won't be uncomfortable because I won't be there.

"I won't be in the area. I want to be able to look at myself in the mirror."

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Smith had told the newspaper that "at some future point, when things change, when management changes, I'm more than willing to come back because it's where I belong. I know it's where I belong. That time will come. When it does, I'll welcome it with open arms."

In Smith's final season in 1996, the shortstop and then first-year Cardinals manager La Russa argued publicly over Smith's playing time after La Russa installed Royce Clayton as the starter.

© 2011 NBC Sports.com

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