MLB
Scores
Schedule
Pitching Probables
Standings
Statistics
Players
Transactions
Injuries: AL | NL
Minor Leagues
MLB en espanol
Message Board
CLUBHOUSE


FEATURES
News Wire
Daily Glance
Power Alley
History
MLB Insider


THE ROSTER
Jim Caple
Peter Gammons
Rob Neyer
John Sickels
Jayson Stark
ESPN MALL
TeamStore
ESPN Auctions
SPORT SECTIONS
Tuesday, January 18
Updated: January 26, 10:44 AM ET
 
Protesters turn up heat on Braves

Associated Press

ATLANTA -- About 75 people marched and chanted in front of CNN's headquarters Tuesday to protest a lack of action by the Atlanta Braves against pitcher John Rocker.

The Braves -- owned by CNN's parent company, Time Warner -- have done nothing to punish Rocker for his derogatory comments about immigrants, minorities and gays in last month's Sports Illustrated, said Michael Langford, president of the United Youth-Adult Conference, who led the protest in a misty rain.

"They're treating a cancer with an aspirin," he said.

State Rep. Tyrone Brooks, D-Atlanta, head of the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials, also took part in the march. The protesters carried signs saying, "Fire John Rocker," "Shame on Major League Baseball," and "M.L.B. -- Major League Bigot."

"We are calling on CNN and the Atlanta Braves to take corrective action against John Rocker. We think there should be some sort of punishment. CNN and the Braves have been too silent," Brooks said.

Braves officials declined comment.

Rocker told Sports Illustrated he would never play for a New York team because he didn't want to ride a train "next to some queer with AIDS." He also said, "I'm not a very big fan of foreigners. ... How the hell did they get in this country?" and he called a black teammate a "fat monkey."

Rocker apologized and said he was not a racist.

Earlier this month, commissioner Bud Selig ordered Rocker to undergo psychological tests and said he would await the results before deciding on any discipline.




 More from ESPN...
Jeter 'wouldn't sit in the same room' with Rocker

Ted Turner's take: Give Rocker another chance

Heavy metal band 'not gonna take' Braves reliever's comments

Simon denies Rocker's explanation of comment as clubhouse humor

Rocker gets mixed reviews in first public appearance

Rocker admits he sounded like 'a complete jerk'



 ESPN Tools
Email story
 
Most sent
 
Print story
 
Daily email