Extractions: Charles Darwin's theory that the strongest species will find a way to outlast the weaker ones can easily be applied to Major League Baseball as well. Especially this time of year. The strongest teams go on a winning streak, the best players get hot , and issues like injuries and playing time work themselves out for the good teams and bury the bad ones. The strong are outlasting the weak. At the same time, intangible elements about the baseball season begin to take their toll. Pitchers who have spent the whole season giving up gopher balls in hitter-friendly parks wear down and either get hurt or burn out mentally; batters get weary of trying to pump home runs out of SBC Park or Petco Park and go into slumps. Yes, even the ballparks themselves play a role in determining which teams are the fittest to survive.
John Rocker CNN/SI john rocker http //cnnsi.com/baseball/mlb/ml/players/5992/inde http //ww1.sportsline.com/u/baseball/mlb/players/p MLB john rocker http://cybersleuth-kids.com/sleuth/Sports/Baseball/Players/Rocker_John/
Extractions: NBCSports.com news services NEW YORK - Former major league pitcher John Rocker, who is struggling in the minor leagues, recently told ESPN that he compares his struggles to gain acceptance with fans to those of Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron. Rocker currently is a member of the Long Island (N.Y.) Ducks. According to ESPN, Rocker remains bothered by the criticism that has followed him since he made disparaging remarks about gays and minorities in a Sports Illustrated article in 1999.
Extractions: Commentary by Doug Pappas Originally published by Doug Pappas on the Boston Baseball website in March of 2000 On January 31, Commissioner Bud Selig suspended John Rocker of the Atlanta Braves until May 1 and fined him $20,000 for a series of tasteless remarks about, among others, immigrants, homosexuals, and Japanese women drivers. (There is apparently no truth to the rumor that Rocker has been hired to write speeches for Pat Buchanan.) Announcing that the MLBPA will appeal Rocker's suspension to baseball' s impartial arbitrator, union spokesman Gene Orza claimed, "It is literally unprecedented to impose a penalty on a player for pure speech, offensive though the speech may be."
The Rocker Ruckus | The BASEBALL Page baseball immediately reacted with outrage. Hank Aaron ripped rocker s remarks, MLB has no right to order john rocker to have psychological testing. http://www.thebaseballpage.com/columns/holmes/991209.htm
Extractions: The problem with baseball's reaction, as was the problem when Schott made her remarks, is that it's unnecassary and self-serving, not to mention highly hypocritical. In fact it's almost certainly unconstitutional. MLB has no right to order John Rocker to have psychological testing. No more than your employer or school has the right to submit you to drug testing or psychological testing based on something you
Extractions: Get SI's 2005 NFL Team Package FREE! Subscribe to SI Give the Gift of SI THE WEB SI.com cnnWriteMenuEntries(cnnMenuEntries); Updated: Wednesday April 6, 2005 7:22 AM TEAMS Select Team Angels Astros Athletics Blue Jays Braves Brewers Cardinals Cubs Devil Rays Diamondbacks Dodgers Giants Indians Mariners Marlins Mets Nationals Orioles Padres Phillies Pirates Rangers Red Sox Reds Rockies Royals Tigers Twins White Sox Yankees PLAYERS JOHN ROCKER Pitching Batting Fielding Tampa Bay Devil Rays ... P Bats: R Throws: L Ht., Wt.:
Extractions: Taking action Click here for more on this story Posted: Friday January 07, 2000 04:01 PM John Rocker drew the ire of many after making disparaging remarks about blacks, gays and other minorities. Al Bello/Allsport ATLANTA (AP) John Rocker was ordered by baseball to undergo psychological tests before deciding whether to punish the outspoken reliever for remarks he made disparaging gays, minorities and immigrants. Commissioner Bud Selig said Thursday he will await the evaluation of the Atlanta Braves star before deciding on any disciplinary action. "Mr. Rocker's recent remarks made to a national magazine reporter were reprehensible and completely inexcusable," Selig said in a statement. "I am profoundly concerned about the nature of those comments as well as by certain other aspects of his behavior." Selig said he will take "whatever additional action that I consider to be necessary" after Rocker's evaluation.
MLB1 CRACKSMOKERS OF MAJOR LEAGUE baseball. rocker, john john rocker had a confrontationSunday with the Sports Illustrated reporter who wrote the story in which http://www.cracksmoker.com/MLB/MLB RockerJ.htm
Extractions: A minivan is rolling slowly down Atlanta's Route 400, and John Rocker, driving directly behind it in his blue Chevy Tahoe, is pissed. "Stupid bitch! Learn to f-ing drive!" he yells. Rocker honks his horn. Once. Twice. He swerves a lane to the left. There is a toll booth with a tariff of 50 cents. Rocker tosses in two quarters. The gate doesn't rise. He tosses in another quarter. The gate still doesn't rise. From behind, a horn blasts. "F- you!" Rocker yells, flashing his left middle finger out the window. Finally, after Rocker has thrown in two dimes and a nickel, the gate rises. Rocker brings up a thick wad of phlegm. Puuuh! He spits at the machine. "Hate this damn toll." With one hand on the wheel, the other gripping a cell phone, Rocker tears down the highway, weaving through traffic. In 10 minutes he is due to speak at Lockhart Academy, a school for learning-disabled children. Does Rocker enjoy speaking to children? "No," he says, "not really." But of all things big and small he hates New York Mets fans, sore arms, jock itch the thing he hates most is traffic . "I have no patience," he says. The speedometer reads 72. Rocker, in blue-tinted sunglasses and a backward baseball cap, is seething. "So many dumb asses don't know how to drive in this town," he says, Billy Joel's
Why I Like Baseball, By Cecilia Tan Just imagine rocker as an elder statesman of baseball, able to look back on a Only if john rocker can change in his heart and in the minds of those http://www.ceciliatan.com/Entry16.html
Extractions: March 1 2000: John Rocker: Respectable? OK, I just had to send this to the Sporting News "Fan's View" column today: So, John Rocker's suspension has been trimmed in half, and his fine cut from a whopping $20,000 to a paltry $500. But just because Rocker's official penalty has been lightened, doesn't mean his road to respectability is any easier. I was going to say "road BACK TO respectability," but let's face it, Rocker was not a respectable character before this. If he was, then he wouldn't have been in the situation of having batteries and harsh words thrown at him by New York fans. The question now is, can Rocker survive without his "bad boy" image? Was the pumped-up snorting bull act necessary for those 95 mph fastballs? Or can Rocker still deliver the goods on the field even while changing his attitude off it? Just imagine Rocker as an elder statesman of baseball, able to look back on a long and storied career and maybe even comment intelligently on the "mistakes" of his youth. Think it will happen? Only if John Rocker can change "in his heart"and in the minds of those watching. If Rocker wants to gain respectability now, there are three places he needs to repair relations.
Why I Like Baseball, By Cecilia Tan Cecilia Tan s baseball journal. Where will john rocker be in ten years,mentally, and ethically? Will anything change? http://www.ceciliatan.com/Entry12.html
Extractions: Feb 25 2000: The Strawberry Rocker Soap Opera The news is fairly well-plastered these days with two types of negative articles about baseball. Those about Darryl Strawberry's relapse into cocaine use, and those on John Rocker's December Sports Illustrated interview, where he offended just about everyone with his racist, homophobic, and generally ass-headed comments. It has been interesting to see how few people have come out in support of Rocker, at least in the mainstream press (I don't read the KKK's newspaper so I wouldn't know...) Ted Turner, media giant and owner of the Braves, who has been in controversies over his own foot-in-mouth statements, basically said, well you have to give the guy another chance. Several ballplayers have also come out saying that we can give Rocker at least a little benefit of the doubt for being dumb enough to act like a tough guy the only way he knew how, even if he doesn't really feel that way "in his heart"as Rocker said in his statement of apology. Hank Aaron didn't exactly embrace Rocker, but cited his youth and inexperience with the spotlight of fame. So, if you want to give the guy the widest possible leeway, he appears redeemable. If you want to take his comments at face value, though, you have to pretty much believe that white militias everywhere will soon be carrying flags with his face on them. Where will John Rocker be in ten years, mentally, and ethically? Will anything change?
Extractions: Press Release Categories Anti-Semitism: USA Anti-Semitism: International Black-Jewish Relations Christian-Jewish Relations ... Miscellaneous Resources Press Releases Militia Watchdog Archives Legislative Action Center Regional Offices ... Security for Community Press Release Discrimination/Racism/Bigotry ADL Calls on Baseball to Condemn Atlanta Brave John Rocker for His Racist and Bigoted Statements About NYCs Diverse Population New York, NY, December 22, 1999 The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called on Major League Baseballs players and management to swiftly and strongly condemn the racist and bigoted remarks made by John Rocker, Atlanta Brave pitcher, about New York Citys diverse population, in an interview in the current issue of Sports Illustrated. Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement: John Rockers racist and anti-gay comments about New York Citys diverse population, many whom are immigrants or of immigrant backgrounds, are outrageous and should be swiftly and strongly condemned by Major League Baseball. They have no place in our beloved national pastime, which epitomizes the ideal of fair play and today is a mirror of our society, with players from all backgrounds. John Rocker may be tall on the mound, but his comments lower him into the sewer. Everyone connected to the game, especially his Atlanta Braves teammates and management should soundly condemn him.
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John Rocker john rocker is a baseball pitcher who plays in the major leagues for the AtlantaBraves. Next month will mark the one year anniversary of the beginning to http://sun.menloschool.org/~sportman/ethnic/individual/rocker/
Extractions: "Imagine having to take the Number 7 train to the ballpark nex to some kid with purple hair, next to some queer with AIDS right next to some dude who just got out of prison for the fourth time right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It's depressing." file:///MMR%202/Desktop%20Folder/portman%3Akix/rocker.gif "I'm not a racist or prejudiced person. But certain people bother me." Related Links Bibliography John Rocker is a baseball pitcher who plays in the major leagues for the Atlanta Braves. Next month will mark the one year anniversary of the beginning to Rocker's bumpy ride in the spotlight. Not only did his offensive comments cost him the respect of his fans, teammates and country, he temporarily lost the privilege to do what he loves most, play baseball. An interview with Sports Illustrated sparked rumors that this Rocker character was for real. When asked about New York City, Rocker replies, The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners. I'm not a very big fan of foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country?(Sports Illustrated, December 27, 1999) While some, and even most Americans find that type of mixed culture interesting and enriching, Rocker does not. He not only disagrees with this new wave notion, but voices his opinions in uncountable ways. His feelings are so strongly voiced that he has been compared to such hate-filled and driven icons as Charles Manson.
CollegeMarketPlace.com - John Rocker Before December 22, 1999, only avid baseball fans knew who john rocker was.Not even all baseball fans knew who he was. However, not many days later http://www.collegemarketplace.com/articles/jrocker.html
Extractions: OAS_AD('Top'); document.write(secTimeStamp); SEARCH Bush Official: President Backs Base Closing Plan writeFeature(0); writeFeature(1); writeFeature(2); E-MAIL STORY PRINTER FRIENDLY FOXFAN CENTRAL John Rocker Exclusive! Friday, July 29, 2005 PHOTOS VIDEO writeScroll(openTab1,'1'); ARCHIVE SHOW INFO writeScroll(openTab2,'2'); This is a partial transcript from " Colmes ," July 28, 2005, that has been edited for clarity. Watch Hannity weeknights at 9 p.m. ET! SEAN HANNITY, CO-HOST: But first, former Atlanta Braves search ) pitcher John Rocker. He began his career in the big leagues in 1998. He pitched in two National League championships, one World Series search ). And now the outspoken Rocker has apparently retired from the game for good. So what's next? Joining us now is former Major League pitcher John Rocker. John, thanks for being with us. JOHN ROCKER, FORMER MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER: You're welcome, guys. Thank you for having me. HANNITY: Are you out of baseball now for good? Is that for sure? ADVERTISEMENTS adsonar_pid=144757;adsonar_ps=399668;adsonar_zw=440;adsonar_zh=120;adsonar_jv='ads.adsonar.com';
WorldNetDaily: Free John Rocker I never liked john rocker. And I have no use for his boss, Ted Turner. Earlier this week, rocker was suspended until May 1 by baseball commissioner Bud http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=14908
Extractions: Printer Friendly Version E-Mail This Article Published on Monday, February 7, 2000 in the New York Observer John Rocker Is The Latest Hero For The Webs Far-Right by William Berlind John Rocker, the Atlanta Braves relief pitcher whose opinions about New York and its citizenry has earned him a monthlong suspension from baseball, may seem to be one of the sporting worlds great villains. But if baseballs commissioner, Bud Selig, really believes that Mr. Rockers comments "offended practically every element of society," he doesnt know his audience. In fact, Mr. Rocker has become a hero to thousands of non-New Yorkers who have made him a digital poster boy for on-line racists, bigots and New York-haters. For example, at Stormfront.org, the Webs largest and oldest white supremacist organization (now theres a claim to fame!), chat rooms are buzzing with hundreds of tributes to Mr. Rocker, who made news in December by castigating New Yorks gays, immigrants and single mothers. One chat room participant wrote a poem entitled "Off Your Rocker?" The poems sentiments can be summed up in four lines: "So you think that the countrys becoming/ A little bit over-exotic./ If you were a baseball player,/ Theyd suspect that you were psychotic." Not the sort of writing they teach in graduate school, although it does make its point clear. Another participant in the chat session said that "what the Jews and liberals fear the most, they fear the truth What we need to do is support John Rocker " The on-line magazine
WorldNetDaily: Is John Off His Rocker? league baseball better hope Atlanta Braves relief pitcher john rocker is not Last Monday, baseball Commissioner Bud Selig announced that rocker will http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=14909
John Rocker Career Statistics Career baseball statistics for john rocker including minor league statistics andbiography information. Also includes salaries, high school and college http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/john_rocker.shtml
Extractions: Year Team Lg Age Org Lvl W L ERA G GS CG SHO GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO WP BK whip Danville App Atl Rk Eugene Nwest Atl A Macon SAL Atl A Durham Caro Atl A Macon SAL Atl A Durham Caro Atl A Greenville Sou Atl AA Richmond IL Atl AAA Atlanta Braves NL Atl MLB Atlanta Braves NL Atl MLB Richmond IL Atl AAA Atlanta Braves NL Atl MLB Atlanta Braves NL Atl MLB Cleveland Indians AL Cle MLB Tulsa Tex Tex AA Oklahoma PCL Tex AAA Texas Rangers AL Tex MLB Orlando Sou Tb AA TB Devil Rays AL Tb MLB MLB Totals: 6 years Minor League Totals: 8 years MLB Average:
-- Beliefnet.com john rocker, however, did not cool down. Perhaps he forgot that baseball is justa game. But his grudge remained deep and volatile, and it was destined to http://www.beliefnet.com/frameset.asp?pageLoc=/story/13/story_1331_1.html&boardI
