Today's paper has a story that infamous racist and homophobe John Rocker had a workout with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and impressed Lou Piniella enough that Lou is considering offering him a minor league contract! eek!

With personalities like Lou Piniella and John Rocker on the same team, there'll be at least a few controversial incidents involving objects being thrown around, and no shortage of verbal abuse either. What a fun-loving team this is turning out to be. I guess since the Rays are on a tight budget, they have to go after bargain-basement players. wink

I'm not a fan of Rocker, but neither do I think that's he's irredeemably evil.

But if he's going to turn his baseball life around, this would seem the perfect situation for his shot at redemption:
(1 No pressure. It's not like he's ever going to pitch in a critical situation. In Tampa Bay, there are no critical situations.
(2) Piniella will keep him under control. One temper tantrum and he's gone. Lou's the only one allowed temper tantrums on Lou's teams.
(3) Job security. He can't be any worse than the relief pitchers they've already got.

It's his last best shot. But is he biologically capable of taking advantage of the situation? We'll know soon.

man... all I can think of though is how hot Rocker is. You gotta admit. he is one fine looking man. ok so I'm shallow. sue me.

Is there more than 2 or 3 drops of water there, ung?

For God's sake, the man may be well hung, and gifted in the glutes department, but to fantasize about somewho would probably say it's OK to see to murdered for your race, or your sexuality...that's taking it too, too far.

I am not judging you, as I realize that the loins sometimes influence the brain and heart, but think of what your comment and adoration may mean to Aryan sportsmen all over.....

- - - - -

A baseball manager I'll never (want to) be, but Rocker, IMHO, is a dispensable slap in the face to everything baseball is trying to accomplish.

[ April 11, 2003, 05:47 AM: Message edited by: bluebird48234 ]

ok. this is really rich.

I'm getting criticized by BLUEBIRD for not thinking? eek!

Rocker has NEVER said that. True he won't be joining PFLAG anytime soon. But it's just ridiculous to say that he will condone murder based on my race or my sexuality. Get real!

Ok. I give..... you tell me what my comments mean to \"aryan sportsmen all over\". Do you even know what your comment means?

again.... why don't you tell us.... What is "everything baseball is trying to accomplish" exactly? I thought baseball was a game? But obviously, according to your statement, the true goal and sole focus of baseball is gay rights.
Am I understanding you correctly?

Hey, ung, I got a question.

The same crowd who are telling us we can't hold the anti-War views of Hollywood celebs against those celebs ... are they the same ones who are saying you have to hold Rocker's stupid comments against him in perpetuity and, therefore, can never have even the remotest positive thing to say about him?

Just wonderin'.

Charlie, you may be right. Although I tend to believe that Bluebird flies in a flock of his own.

What's good for the goose isn't good for the gander I guess. wink

Hey, there's a first time for everything.....

You're official now!

Doesn't it feel great? wink

Hey, Charlie, I got a question: weren't you the guy who thought Navratilova should be booed wherever she goes for her supposed anti-American (more anti-Bush, really) statements?

I don't get it: what about a man's body would make you lust after him when it's obvious that he's virulently homophobic AND racist?

He's done nothing to show that he has had a change of heart, which, in his case, would take several months, with professional assistance.

It's not like he hasn't made several public faux pas that were clearly offensive, AND...

his attitude towards those that don't look/live like him is not an "error of judgement" or a "bad day" or a "misstatement without having thought".

His behavior represents his character and what he truly believes.

There are TOO MANY good looking, well "gifted" men in MLB to give someone like Rocker a second look.

- - - - -

If your lust takes you there - perfectly fine with me. But, I made my break with Rocker A LONG WHILE AGO. I know of too many players whose personalities would, at least, be neutral.....

[ April 11, 2003, 11:33 AM: Message edited by: bluebird48234 ]

Yup. And I still think that. And I think celebs are a fair target, too. And, guess what? I don't have a problem if people don't want to let it go with regard to Rocker. If Rocker pitches in St. Pete, go ahead and have at it. Boo away.

What I don't agree with is this pattern: people who righteously claim that it is wrong to criticize the Dixie Chicks or Janeane Garofalo, making a big deal of the fact that they have a "first amendment right" to shoot their mouths off, yet somehow thinking that Rocker must be institutionally punished for his idiocy. Al Gore, to exhume one name, said it was a "dark day for democracy" for people to criticize the Dixie Chicks. The Dixie Chicks and Janeane Garofalo do have a first amendment right to speak their minds. News flash: so does Rocker. And everyone's got a first amendment right to criticize all of the above for whatever they may say.

But I do think it is hypocrisy to claim, on the one hand, that by defending the Dixie Chicks right to spew forth (and, truth be told, I'm more offended by their boring music than their anti-Bush politics), you are simply defending the right to free speech, but on the other hand, to attack Rocker for speaking his peace to the news media. From my perspective, the people who are the most hardcore about attacking Rocker for speaking his (small) mind are also disproportionally the ones who are righteously indignant that we need to separate politics from art in patronizing the works of their favorite left wing celebrities.

Pick one horse and ride it, please.

Back to Rocker:
I hope Rocker gets his act together. I believe in forgiveness and redemption. I hope Janeane Garofalo and Susan Sarandon gets their acts together too. The D-Rays are severe punishment. Just like if Ms. Sarandon or Sean Penn were to be reduced to a sitcom on the WB. If Rocker or Navatilova were to genuinely repent their stupid comments, I would be very very happy.

[ April 11, 2003, 06:50 PM: Message edited by: Charlie in the Trees ]

Rocker had a pretty good outing in the minors. From ESPN.com:

I wonder if he'll manage not to go to Tampa's gay community and make a buffoon of himself. Maybe we should send him a brochure, so he can go to restaraunts that allow gay slurs.

I wouldn't be surprised if Rocker finds his way to the gay neighborhood in Tampa. Where else would he check out eye-candy besides the Rays lockerroom?

Rocker's been released by the Devil Rays. He had a 9.15 ERA in 17 games for their double-A team.

I wasn't crazy about Rocker but I wonder why his pitching started to suck. Other players have made comments and are still in the bigs. Was he really that good to begin with? Do those comments haunt him and make him mental on the mound? I really don't think he was that bad of a pitcher. One thing about his remarks, at least you know where you stand with a guy like that. No saying one thing to your face then another behind your back.

He was a terrific pitcher. a leftie with some terrific heat. and have I ever mentioned that he is a hot stud with one of the best ass&leg combos in pro b-ball? wink

Anyway, I think he did let that whole comment flap distract from the game and his pitching. Leading to his dismissal by the Braves (among other reasons) and then that caused a spiral where he lost his confidence therefore further affecting his pitching.

His first outing for Tampa Bay really was awful to see.

and I know he's got too much pride to apologize. But I think the best thing for him would be to make a clean apology and put all that baggage behind him. Maybe then he can concentrate on the game without all the still lingering distractions. It would be too bad to see such a talented player go to waste. (and that's not my libido talking)

I think you're giving Rocker far more credit than he deserves, ung....while I readily admit that Rocker's numbers early in his career with the Braves were impressive I don't think you can attribute his consistenly poor control and staggering ERA (both at the major AND minor league levels) during the past 2+ seasons to simply "a lack of confidence" as a result of the "media flap", which Rocker brought on himself....as for this bigoted homophobe apologizing and putting all the "baggage" behind him that implies that his discriminatory beliefs and true feelings have changed, which I STRONLY doubt is the case -- as with Jeremy Shockey, Todd Jones and Garrison Hearst, they may say all the "politically correct" things for the rest of their careers (or their lives for that matter) but I will forever have doubts as to their sincerity.

well... I stand by what I said and yesterday's AJC article about Rocker seems to support my contention.

AJC article about Rocker's fall

The key was mentioned in the article. He isn't throwing nearly as hard as he was during his best days. Unless you think that somehow that's a psychological problem brought on by his homophobia, his baggage isn't really playing a part in this. It's just a nice bit of karmic justice.

Ung, the guy made those remarks prior to the 2001 season. His numbers with Atlanta AFTER the controversy were 2-2, 3.09 ERA, 19 saves, 25 hits and 36 K's through 32 IP. He did walk more than you'd like to see for a closer (4.5/9IP), but he was still pretty effective. It wasn't until after the trade to Cleveland that he developed a major case of Steve Blass disease and fell apart.