I must admit that I never heard John Rocker’s name before, but he made a good impression on me already. I think it is great fun watching the leftists, no matter whether they call themselves liberal or conservative, falling all over themselves trying find new ways of being outraged at John Rocker, a relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves baseball
team.
The media circus is in full swing to try and run this guy out ofbaseball. On the Fox News Channel Hannity and Colmes show, one guest
said that the Black football player who demonstrated the newest low level of Nonwhite sportsmanship in professional sports so far, by shoving a ref to the ground (which is the first time in NFL history that has happened) was not anywhere near as evil as John Rocker. The witch hunt is on, and I should expect to see John Rocker be run out of baseball. That is what happens in our country today if you do not worship at the altar of diversity. Rocker has been labeled this new nasty title, “homophobic”. So was St. Paul. You can do drugs, rape women or any other sort of thing you want, and still play pro sports, but you
cannever, ever, disparage the sacred seudo-religion of DIVERSITY. How about celebrating “homogenity”?
I fail to see one thing that John Rocker said that was false. Every word he said was true. The truth as we should know by now has nothing to do with liberals and what they value. Imagine the gall of this ball player
getting up and stating that he would like to live and work around people who speak English as a first language. Imagine this guy who would rather work and live around Non-asians, and even White folks perhaps.
Now is that not really scary? It must be, because you can see the terror in the eyes of all the professional Media Lord puppets tonight. They all want to make sure that they take their own personal little verbal piece out of the reputation of John Rocker, to demonstrate how solidly they are on the diversity bandwagon. They want to make sure that the Media Lords have no doubt at all about the political correctness of their own person position. Nobody is wandering anywhere near the admission that John Rocker just may a point in what he says.
My only complaint with Rocker is that he apologized for his comments. Why? Did he lie? No. Does he live in the USA where his right to free speech is protected? Yes, so why apologize, John?
Succinct, Manny. But let’s make sure that no one misses this little peice of brilliance:
So in the good Captain’s world, Nonwhite sportsmanship = poor sportsmanship.
I always wondered what it would be like to meet the kind of guy who could say “Mighty of white of you” without a trace of irony. It’s about like I expected: Nauseating.
A week ago I posted a smiliar thread, and was run out of town. Since then all I can say, is I agree with most of what you said, but you need to rephrase it, or “they” will tear you apart.
Rocker said what he thought and felt, hes entitled to that. Others dont like him because he said it, they are entitled to that.
To have his head and his job, no one but John Rocker and the Almighty above, are entitled to that. Let him answer for his words, by public behaviour, rather than speech.
Shit I really did it now. (running for nearest bunkers and hills)
I would like to see some quotes of what Rocker actually said. I heard he said that he didn’t want to ride the trains in NY because he didn’t want to sit next to a gay guy with aids or get mugged. Hardly earth shattering, if I have that correct.
As far as what Ed said about South Jamaica, Queens being an armed camp, or was that someone else, it’s true. Murders daily now, but 40 years ago it was a sleeping, quiet place.
Things are not what they seem to be; nor are they otherwise.
[lankavatara Sutra]
His employers are allowed to take his job for his JOB performance, not his personal opinions, nor what he does in his free time.
Otherwise each little corportation and employer in this country will become a small dictatorship, in which any view or feeling conflicting with that of the companies will result in termination, even if you had your thoughts on “your” time.
If we cloud the boundary lines, we expose ourselves to horrible extension into our personal lives. They own us most of the day, do you want to be owned all day, every day?
Hardly earth shattering. I’ve takne the #7 to Shea and it can be like that. It doesn’t bother me because I was born here, but maybe it feels wierd to him.
This statrement is not the type of thing that should get him axed from baseball, just the subways.
Things are not what they seem to be; nor are they otherwise.
[lankavatara Sutra]
Here’s some more of the shit and pissdom of John Rocker. (BTW, these, along with Yue’s are from a recent article in Sports Illustrated.
**John Rocker being a bigot to non-New Yorkers **
Driving on Route 400 in Atlanta: “Look! Look at this idiot! I guarantee you she’s a Japanese woman…How bad are Asian women at driving?” (The “idiot” was white)
On an overweight black teammate: “a fat monkey.”
On his world view: “I’m not a racist or prejudiced person, but certain people bother me.”
**John Rocker being a general all-around A-hole **
Driving on Rte. 400 behind a minivan: “Stupid bitch! Learn to f—ing drive!”
When a toll gate malfunctions on Rte. 400: “Rocker brings up a thick wad of phlegm. Puuuh! He spits at the machine. ‘Hate this damn toll.’” (Road rage lessons to go with his sensitivity seminar, methinks)
Blaming teammates after he blew the save in Game 4 of the NLCS: “If Walt is playing shortstop instead of Ozzie, that’s not a hit, and we win.”
Failing to back his coach: “Cox…told the media before Game 3 against the Mets that he had spoken to the pitcher, requesting that he tone down his act. ‘That never happened,’ Rocker says now. ‘Bobby never talked to me about it, and I never talked to him.’”
Not bad for less than seven columns.
I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for you meddling kids!
Mikey, as a celebrity in the employ of a major sports team, the comments Rocker makes to Sports Illustrated reflect badly on the corporation. They have every right to censure him, if for no other reason than that there’s nothing to stop them from doing it.
If you started talking around the watercooler tomorrow about how you can’t stand foreigners and gays, I’d be very surprised if you still had a job at the end of the week.
And how is that? John Rocker impressed you by being a jerk and a bigot?
Should his employers have the right to fire him for that?
I don’t know what laws would apply in this case, but sports figures play an important public relations role in helping popularize the team and the team merchandising efforts. So obviously his comments can hurt the team “corporation”.
To add to Yue Han’s point (sorry, too many Johns here), more specifically-
If, while on the phone to an African-American customer you began spouting off about all of the n*****s that live in the inner city, how quick do you think your boss would have you out on the street?
Baseball teams live or die by fan support through ticket sales, advertising dollars, product sales, etc. If Rocker makes the product look bad- painting the Atlanta Braves as a bunch of redneck bigots- Braves management not only has the right, but should in fact be expected to take action against him. It’s just good business policy.
JMCJ
Not Even Mentioned
Most Popular Poster of the 20th Century Competition
As overseen by Coldfire
Stop him from talking that way, censure him? Yes, I would agree with that, but not to fire him. I think he is a Public Relations nightmare but that should not get him fired from the team.
He really needs to put a cork in it.
Things are not what they seem to be; nor are they otherwise.
[lankavatara Sutra]
What the hell are you sobbing about Mikey? You have the right to say all the stupid things you want. But if you say them in your official capacity as a person in the employ of a company, then your bosses may not be too happy about it.
John Rocker’s bosses can fire him if they want. He’s their employee, and they employ or fire him at their own discretion.
He hasn’t been ARRESTED, for G-d’s sake; the first amendment is still secure. There is some TALK of some disciplinary action, by his employers. How you translate this into the oppresion of everyone by a few people is beyond me.
