John Rocker is always entertaining. He was entertaining as a player during his brief stint. He was entertaining himself by running into a ball game like a wild boar. He was also quite entertaining taking on various fans in verbal exchanges. Finally, he is entertaining during interviews. Of course, that’s the downfall of him.
Rocker is back in the news for his defense of White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen’s use of anti-gay names to describe a newspaper columnist he doesn’t like. The media is licking her chops since Rocker is the perfect profile to chase: white and southern. Like a piñata bag, they keep hitting him. Basically, he wondered out loud what the problem was and said if Guillén wants to use a lewd term, let him. She also criticized the sensitivity training calling it a “sham” and said he skipped his after about 15 minutes when Rocker was sentenced a few years ago. On top of that, he said Commissioner Bud Selig “coils under pressure” in terms of issuing fines and sensitivity training for politically incorrect words. Finally, he said many players “never pay a dime” when fined for such an infraction, including himself.
Guillén created his own stink when he said in an interview that he doubted he would go to sensitivity class. But now it is said that Guillén changed his mind and will leave. You can really bet that now that John Rocker is defending him, the best non-PC guy around.
Baseball is a money machine and it’s no good for the likes of Rocker or the late owner Marge Schott. She made a couple of somewhat favorable comments about Adolf Hitler and, like a fascist takeover, she was forced to step down from running the team and eventually sold the majority stake.
White Christians in particular will be hit the hardest in this world due to fear of “lobbyists” like the NAACP, various immigrant groups, etc. With billions of dollars at stake, paranoia reigns. So “dumb” things like free speech are thrown out the window when one of these corporate or government-funded groups complains about the latest violation.
Of course, Rocker’s implosion dates back to the late ’90s. When he was dominating teams, he actually had the “nerve” to take on the fans. This was especially true in New York, where his Atlanta Braves team would finish off the New York Mets. “Classy” fans cursed, yelled, spit, used sexually rude language at him. He would yell back at them, especially after he blew up another Mets batter. In interviews, he would label New York fans “degenerates” and “Neanderthals.” Tension was building between Rocker and his degenerate Neanderthal enemies. Then came the 1999 Sports Illustrated article in which he criticized New York City, saying he “didn’t want to sit on the subway next to a fag with AIDS.” He also labeled a black teammate, Randall Simon, a “fat monkey.” All hell broke loose and Rocker was never the same player again. Control issues coupled with constant booing in many stadiums ended him followed by an arm injury. A comeback attempt went nowhere as his fastball was slow and his control issues continued. The last shot of him ended up in an “independent league” guess where? NY.
Despite wanting to steer clear of the topic, countless newspapers and ESPN wouldn’t let him. Very recently he was on a show on ESPN and, of course, the conversation went back to 1999. Rocker got fed up and stormed off the set; just like the ESPN hackers wanted.
The truly unfortunate thing about this problem is the total backtracking if it’s a non-target or the simple tolerance of some low behavior while jumping up and down for other behavior. Sports are full of guys with criminal records, domestic abuse, drugs, foul language, greed, etc. Coaches and players cuss all day. During Guillén’s interview, not much would have been done if he had stayed away from the “gay thing.” He was cursing all over the place. That’s ok? That’s just classless and rubbish. How about a standard for that, Selig?
When football player Keyshawn Johnson took down his white teammate Wayne Chrebet a few years ago in a book, little was done about it. ESPN spoke to Johnson when he admitted that he committed looting during the horrific “Los Angeles riots.” He laughed about it and only turned serious when the interviewer repeatedly asked him if he felt bad about it. How come ESPN doesn’t ask you about these things anymore? Because it’s done and gone. Good. Rocker should be treated in the same way.
The same could be said of an infinity of players or ex-players. Charles Barkley, Anthony Mason, Bruce Smith, Mike Tyson, Alan Iverson could be asked about their racial history over and over again as Rocker has been. Every individual has made and some still make outrageous comments that cross politically incorrect lines. But the fact that they are not white is their shield.
Barry Bonds recently said that he was thinking of breaking Babe Ruth’s record and not going after Hank Aaron’s record. Can you imagine a white player saying something similar about avoiding breaking another white player’s record? The cowards of various newspapers and ESPN would have an endless celebration.
John Rocker seems to be a guy with some anger issues. Join the millions of others, John. He is a boy from a small town in Georgia who was met with a bitter buzz when he left for New York. Although most people in New York are cool, he saw the rotten jerks who come to the games to get drunk and yell every name there is to yell. These are the people who are stuck in traffic to get to a game, feel the stress of living in an expensive city, probably raised like the degenerates and Neanderthals Rocker said they were; and they have little time to relax and enjoy themselves while being ripped off by their home team. He should have had a sense of humor and backed off.
At this point you have nothing to lose. He will comment what he wants and that’s fine. The comments Rocker made are said all the time. Whether it’s gays, immigrants, blacks, etc. Just like negative comments about whites, Christians, Jews are said all the time. It is human nature. But in the end so much negativity doesn’t sit well with you. He eventually knocks over a person. ESPN and the newspapers should steer clear of the guy and not look to make trouble. This is certainly true when they applaud cheaters, bullies, greedy worms, and mean guys every day.
