| | Just imagine the Rorschach test ...
"Und vot do you see in das ink blot, Herr Rocker?"
"Two (men) kissing on the No. 7 train to Shea Stadium."
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The Rocker files |
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 In an exclusive interview with ESPN's Peter Gammons, John Rocker goes public: Real Video
1993: Drafted by Atlanta in the 18th round out of high school in Macon, Ga.
1994-97: Pitched four mediocre seasons as a starter in the minor leagues, going 22-28 with a 4.18 ERA.
1998: Converted to a reliever at Triple-A Durham, was called up to the Braves in May. He pitched in 47 games and went 1-3 with a 2.18 ERA. Appeared in all six games of NLCS vs. Padres and didn't allow a run.
1999: When closer Kerry Ligtenberg was injured in spring training, Rocker became the closer and went 4-5 with 38 saves and a 2.49 ERA. Fanned 104 hitters in 72.1 innings.
1999 postseason: Rocker again appears in all six games of the NLCS, picking up two saves. He also gets into it with Mets fans, spitting at them and giving them the finger. Mets fans don't back down.
December 1999: In a Sports Illustrated article, Rocker gives his opinion on various subjects; most of them could be called politically incorrect.
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"Und das ink blot?"
"Times Square filled with immigrants who can't speak English."
"Und das ink blot?"
"A head-on collision between two cars driven by Asian women."
"Verry interestink. Und now, Herr Rocker, could you explain vot
sort of relationzhip did you haff mit your mutter und vater?"
John Rocker presented baseball with a no-win situation last month. An
ignorant, hyped-up relief pitcher confuses his new-found fame with rare
insight into the human condition and spouts off some bile during an
interview with a national magazine. Angry teammates don't want anything
to do with him. Outraged groups demand Rocker be sent to the showers. The
mayor of his hometown wants an apology.
And after some long, thoughtful consideration, baseball takes
swift, firm action by ... sending Rocker to a shrink. Great. That will
solve everything. Either that, or provide grist for a Bob Newhart reunion
show.
BOB: Before we start our session, I'd like us to
welcome a new member to our therapy group, John Rocker. John is a relief pitcher trying to work out some overly aggressive emotions he feels. John, could you explain these feelings of hostility?
MR. CARLIN: Forget explaining his hostility. How about explaining why his team chokes every October?
Of course, there isn't much baseball really can (or should) do in
this situation other than express its dismay over Rocker's comments and
allow the fans to take it from there. Any sort of suspension or dismissal
would draw an instant lawsuit from the players union and the ACLU for
violating Rocker's rights to free speech. And rightfully so. You have the
right to say anything you want in this country, no matter how ignorant or
hateful your opinion.
That, after all, is what keeps talk radio hosts in business.
Still, race is a touchy subject in this country, so much so that
there was far more outrage to Rocker's offensive comments than Arizona reliever Bobby Chouinard hitting his wife and threatening her with a gun on Christmas. Apparently, the lesson there is you can assault women, but for heaven's sake don't say they're bad drivers.
But while we may not like hearing the bigoted opinions of some
people, at least that way we get a truer idea of a player's character than
if he kept his thoughts to himself or spoke only from the script of a
shoe commercial. In that regard, Rocker did everyone a favor. Thanks to
his interview, he gave fans a new Public Enemy No. 1 to jeer, allowing Albert Belle to take a needed breather.
That's because the flip side to being allowed to speak your mind
is that others can speak theirs as well. And because of his comments,
Rocker's season is going to be a living hell (Chipper Jones said he
wouldn't even want to be in the same county with him when the fans get
going). Offended groups may want him banned from baseball, but the abuse Rocker hears from fans, and no longer just in New York, will be a
far more severe punishment.
Actually, the most appropriate punishment for Rocker would be to
trade him to the Mets and require that he live near Times Square, taking
the No. 7 subway to Shea Stadium for every game. Perhaps then he would
actually get to know the people he ridiculed and realize how ignorant his
comments were.
That's assuming, of course, anyone would want to sit next to him on the train.
Jim Caple's Off Base column appears each Wednesday. | |
ALSO SEE
Rocker admits he sounded like 'a complete jerk'
 Klapisch: Rocker immature, not sick
What they're saying
First Amendment doesn't protect Rocker
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