# John Rocker **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 11, 2000, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225 "2000-01-11T22:45:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/21 "2000-01-11T23:40:00Z")
**JJ** , this thread is essentially a rehash of [this one](http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum7/HTML/000810.html) . My post here was meant for the OP. I’ll forego the cheap shot about my not being surprised at you failing to be shocked by his comments. And on that note, I’ll leave this thread in the capable hands of **Yue Han**. Beersawaitin! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/22 "2000-01-11T23:43:00Z")
Mikey said: > [@](#): > > Sad isnt it? that the fragile eggshell of a few in a society can keep the majority from speaking and saying what they really think and feel. Have we taken our own rights away? Have we done this to ourselves? Oh, _puhlease_. “Fragile eggshell”? This from a guy who was constantly whining because a few posters assumed he was someone else? No one’s rights have been taken away. Has the government suggested arresting Rocker for a hate crime? Has the Senate passed a bill banning Rocker from playing baseball again? Rocker can say whatever he wants. So can you. Rocker then has to face the consequences- that people belive he’s a bigot and a raging asshole. You have to face that people reading the SDMB assume, by your posts, that you aren’t to be taken particularly seriously. But nobody’s stopping you from posting, and nobody’s stopping Rocker from continuing to shoot his mouth off. BTW- Which football player hit a ref? If you’re talking about Tre Johnson of the Redskins, that was an accident. * * * JMCJ **_Not Even Mentioned_ Most Popular Poster of the 20th Century Competition As overseen by Coldfire** ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/23 "2000-01-11T23:44:00Z")
hmmm Ouch. okay whatever ---
**Author:** ![JCorre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3da27b/32.png) [@JCorre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCorre)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2000, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/24 "2000-01-11T23:56:00Z")
Let me start out by saying that I think the guy is an idiot and that his comments are reprehensible. However, i don’t think that Major League Baseball should do anything but publicly condemn his comments and state that they are not the views of MLB. Rocker can have any opinion he likes (even if they do make him look like a complete moron) but I don’t think he should be ‘fired’. And I really don’t think he should have to submit to any sort of psychological testing. And if If the braves or whatever team he plays for wants to cut him thats their business however I don’t think that would be financially or strategically wise. I think this guy is going to really feel the impacts of his state ments when he takes the mound especially in New York. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/25 "2000-01-12T00:05:00Z")
First, I’m new here, and I wasn’t aware that this matter had been a thread previously. Next, John Rocker is a 6’7" white boy, and he’s my hero. Anybody don’t like it lump it, and go live in South Jamaica. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/26 "2000-01-12T00:07:00Z")
As of now JCorre has my agreement, fully. Let nature takes it course. 🙂 And that redneck fat monkey can get his A\*\* kicked by Mets and Yankees fans. Batteries for sale, batteries for sale. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/27 "2000-01-12T00:07:00Z")
Note i was kidding folks… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JCorre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3da27b/32.png) [@JCorre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCorre)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/28 "2000-01-12T00:11:00Z")
Sorry that he’s your hero Captain and the he may be the best pitcher ever as far as I know of him but based on his comments he is a complete ass. ---
**Author:** ![John\_John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@John\_John](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_John)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/29 "2000-01-12T00:15:00Z")
John[for G-d’s sake] What does this mean? Why do you not spell it out - GOD? ---
**Author:** ![John\_John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@John\_John](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_John)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/30 "2000-01-12T00:19:00Z")
Manhattan, I swear, I did not mean that as any kind of shot, cheap or expensive. I’m not shocked by what I have seen posted here that Rocker said,so far. ---
**Author:** ![Yue\_Han](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/eada6e/32.png) [@Yue\_Han](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yue_Han)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/31 "2000-01-12T00:26:00Z")
OK, so JCorre, John John and Mikey feel that Rocker is an idiot but want to argue about the appropriateness of his punishment. That’s fair; it’s Great Debates afterall. Cap’n Ed’s defense is that Rocker is his hero. I get the feeling that this guy isn’t really interested in debating anything. John John: I use G-d out of respect for the Jewish poster on this MB. Traditionally, any written medium with that word on it becomes holy, and if such a medium is destroyed in teh wrong way it is sacrelige. Now, there is debate as to whether this applies only to the Hebrew version or to translations, and whether a MB counts. At least one poster here uses G-d to be on the safe side. I do it to show respect, since my personal beliefs are descended from Judaism. -John ---
**Author:** ![JCorre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3da27b/32.png) [@JCorre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCorre)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/32 "2000-01-12T00:27:00Z")
What difference does it make if you were shocked by what he said, what matters is if you agree, disagree, kinda agree etc… I wasn’t shocked by what he said, I’ve heard a lot of that same idiotic crap before. ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/33 "2000-01-12T00:36:00Z")
I don’t think the comment about the New York subways was so bad … I have ridden them and found them pretty intimidating. 20-year-olds with multiple kids are pretty depressing (assuming it was multiple teen pregnancies and not triplets or whatever). I don’t refer to gay people that way, but I can’t see it as a horrible thing; I don’t expect that only gay people have AIDS - Rocker’s comment reeked of ignorance but I don’t know if it was really hateful. The comment about not liking foreigners sounds very honest and reprehensible. I mean, I applaud him for his honesty and condemn him for his xenophobia. On the whole he sounds like a big jerk. There are plenty of people like that, but most of them aren’t major-league pitchers. Too much can be made of this kind of thing. His team should whack him into line quietly, not that that is going to be easy or even possible. Honesty is the best policy in personal relations; it’s totally different for sports stars and other public figures. If a big league ball player were to say, “I have doubts about our ability to win any games this year” to his psychotherapist, that would be laudable honesty and a GOOD THING. Saying the same thing to a TV reporter would be a BAD THING. What if the player were to take a ton of some nasty drug and still pitch a good game? (It’s been known to happen.) If nobody found out, well, the guy got away with it. Just another victimless crime. If this dude said, “Hell, I pitch better on [nasty drug here]!” he’d be sending a heinous message to his fans and little-leaguers everywhere, as well as raising doubts about his and his teamates’ true abilities. I’m not saying I condone private racism or drug use or whatever, I’m just saying, if you’re like that, at least keep it to yourself fercryinoutloud. * * * That which does not kill me just makes me really irritable ---
**Author:** ![John\_John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@John\_John](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_John)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/34 "2000-01-12T00:38:00Z")
Maybe this is for another thread, but writing G\_D for GOD may offend some Christian posters. I think it’s a non- issue. G\_D to you, GOD to me. Peace ---
**Author:** ![KM2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ec8ea/32.png) [@KM2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KM2)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/35 "2000-01-12T00:42:00Z")
I guess what irritates me most about this Rocker episode is all the press it’s given compared to other offenses in sports. It’s not like he choked his coach, got caught with drugs, had 7 illegitimate children, shot his pregnant wife, stole from Dillards, beat a woman, kicked a photographer, physically assaulted a ref, or gave up a game-winning home run in the ninth. He said something that we deem “politically incorrect” and he’s dragged through the ringer. He even has to undergo “psychological therapy” to “correct” his views. Does this disturb anyone? PS: Called a black player “a fat monkey”, therefore he’s racist against blacks. Geez, that’s a stretch. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/36 "2000-01-12T11:58:00Z")
I’ve still got my Websters 5th Collegiate dictionary, circa 1948. “Racist” does not appear in it, nor does “sexist”. Now, that’a all we hear. God bless the Liberals. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/37 "2000-01-12T12:10:00Z")
For Rockers exact words, click here: [http://www.sobran.com/columns/991223.shtml](http://www.sobran.com/columns/991223.shtml) Other good stuff too, from Sobran, another hero of mine. ---
**Author:** ![John\_John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@John\_John](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_John)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/38 "2000-01-12T12:48:00Z")
Captain Ed, you bring a unique voice to this forum. I applaud your frankness, even if we do not agree on things all the time. Let me say, I have been on the #7 out to Shea and the US Tennis Center and I, too, have been upset with people talking LOUDLY in a foreign language, across your face, into your face and across the subway car. If you did that in their countries people would not like it. * * * Things are not what they seem to be; nor are they otherwise. [lankavatara Sutra] ---
**Author:** ![Yue\_Han](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/eada6e/32.png) [@Yue\_Han](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yue_Han)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/39 "2000-01-12T14:54:00Z")
So, Captain Ed, your heroes are a baseball player who, all political points aside, is most definitely an idiot to jeopardize his career and make a fool of himself publicly, and a right-wing paranoid who believes in a “Universal Propaganda Network”? If Sobran is your hero, do you really believe the trash he says? You really think you’re being subject to the “propaganda you might expect in wartime, where everyone is expected to adopt a uniform attitude or face charges of disloyalty.” Really? That’s funny, this board has seen some amazing bigots, but I don’t think many of them ever lost their jobs over it. And gee, I guess the police just haven’t gotten around to taking you to the White Male Internment Camps. The most staggering thing about Sobran’s column is the complete lack of any kind of logic. First he seems against the concept of diversity; then in the last paragraph, he whines about how everyone is being forced to be the same. So which is it? Which do you and your heroes want? The right to diversity? Or conformity? Oh wait… I know… you want conformity \*\* to your standards, so that everyone is just like you. \*\* Which, of course, is what makes you a bigot. –John ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2000, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225/40 "2000-01-12T15:02:00Z")
Anybody who thinks Orlando Whatsisface was not vilified for shoving that ref to the ground obviously does not live in Cleveland. * * * “It’s my considered opinion you’re all a bunch of sissies!”–Paul’s Grandfather [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rocker/17225.md?page=3)