John Rocker tells magazine he’s close to publishing memoir
Post career, John Rocker appeared on ESPN's "Pros vs. Joes" show in 2006. (AP photo)
John Rocker: Published author?
Rocker, the Braves’ former pitcher and ticking time bomb, has been referenced frequently in the past couple of weeks. He was an historical reference point for observers after Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell’s verbal altercation with fans in San Francisco, which allegedly included homophobic slurs.
Rocker, who still lives in Atlanta, apparently is self-publishing a memoir. Title: “Scars and Strikes.” It’s due out in June. The current issue of Atlanta Magazine has a profile on Rocker in its May issue. The story, written by Charles Bethea, doesn’t really break new ground, but it has a few amusing comments. Included:
♦ Rocker says the book will be a mixture of baseball and politics, with some of his “philosophy and feelings.” He adds that it will be “how the conversation would have gone had that writer gotten it right.” The reference was to the Sports Illustrated story in 2000, in which he bashed, among other things, homosexuals and “foreigners” (specifying, “Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people.” His punchline in SI: “How the hell did they get in this country?”
Rocker's campaign is on the shelf for now.
♦ Rocker says he rarely speaks with reporters (or they with him) and adds, “I’ve sworn off doing print interviews.” In Rocker’s world, I guess this means a magazine doesn’t qualify as print. Bethea was allowed to read the first chapter of Rocker’s book. His mini-review: “The only disparaging word in its thirteen pages, which earnestly chronicle the day leading up to his World Series debut in New York City against the Yankees, is reserved for the pregame clubhouse reporters. Rocker uses a widely accepted, species-specific slur for them: ‘piranhas.’ Again, progress.” (For the record, I prefer, “vultures.”)
♦ Rocker has backed off his controversial “Speak English” campaign. The link on his website for “Speak English” T-shirts is no longer active. He tells the magazine that the campaign was “misunderstood.” Of course. Quoting here: “People have tried to tie it into the racist overtones that Sports Illustrated created, that Speak English is biased, bigoted. Coming to America, if you want to truly realize why you came here—for a better life, better opportunity for your family— the only way to do that is to speak English.” (Editorial response: The kernel of truth to that last sentence is obliterated by the messenger and his resume. Also, putting “Speak English” on T-shirts falls short in the finesse department.)
♦ He remains close friends with former Braves teammate Otis Nixon, an African American, who battled cocaine addiction during his career. Nixon calls Rocker, “Like a brother or a son. He came to the majors looking like he thought he owned half the locker room; he did and said things I didn’t agree with, but he’s grown. I told him the other day that I’m proud of him. He’s finally getting past that article.”
Others may never get past it. Not sure I’ll buy the book but it should be interesting if he has a book signing in Atlanta. Or in New York.
By Jeff Schultz
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Last post: How they really stand — from Braves (1) to Jacket hoops (10)
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179 comments Add your comment
Bobby Wilkes
May 5th, 2011
10:50 am
Jeff your article above sucks. You know good and well that there are millions of southerners that would have a lot of bad stuff to say if they had to ride the New York Subway everyday. I can barely stand riding Marta here in Atlanta. John may have not pointed out the obvious with the best words, but I assure you that his comments were rooted in patriotism even though his choice of words could have been much more polished. I know it is politically correct for you to act as if you love every creature on every subway but reading your politically correct column makes me much sicker than listening to John Rocker. But keep this article handy. You will need it the next time you are on Marta and a group of young black guys start to jump you to steal your wallet. If you can get this article out in time to show them, I am sure they will skip you!
Good news, bad news « The Watson Files
May 5th, 2011
11:46 am
[...] Braves LHP John Rocker is going to write a book? And check out the picture in that article… is that not the scene from “Eastbound and [...]
Tide Rising
May 5th, 2011
12:15 pm
Speak English campaign? Nothing wrong with that. My German grandparents dropped the guten tag in favor of English because they were now in America- not Germany. I see nothing wrong with not wanting to see the country further Balkanized.
jarvis
May 5th, 2011
1:34 pm
Just like most other rednecks, he’s dumb and angry. Always has been.
Dawg Tired
May 5th, 2011
1:52 pm
“Self-published” sums the whole thing up.
impression of "Observer"
May 5th, 2011
2:20 pm
“hey, all youse “UBER” lib’rals, & UBER sociaiolisticas, I has an UBER undersized genititialias…I bet Georgie W Bushes taint tastes like UBER carnation milk…did I say Uber yet?”
Time
May 5th, 2011
2:21 pm
You know what’s funny. You got a whole bunch of people who thought the racist ramblings of the Reverend Wright were fine including this newspaper, but are still all shook up by over decade old perceived racism of a relief pitcher. Hypocrite much people?
@Jarvis, let me clue you in on your little commentary. You’re no better than what you think John Rocker is. Not that I expect you to be able to figure out why.
LawDawg
May 5th, 2011
3:31 pm
Here is the contents page from the 32 page book (illustrated by a slow child with crayons)
Chapter 1: How steroids made me a good pitcher for about 2 years.
Chapter 2: Boy do I hate Mexicans.
Chapter 3: I’m friends with Southside Steve (not sure if he has ever mentioned that).
Chapter 4: I wrote a book because I am desperate for money.
Cherok
May 5th, 2011
4:05 pm
Johnny Boy…I remember ye well. I was a huge Rocker fan. He just ran his mouth too much for the profession he was in. You can speak your mind in America: Nobody locked him up for it. He just lost his livelihood…about the same time he lost control of his fastball.
I’d much rather hear about Wohlers, too. Johnny always said, “I want to throw a ball 100 mph in a major league game.” Don’t know if he ever did, but Mark Wohlers did it all the time. And then suddenly, he couldn’t hit the ocean with a rock. Wonder what happened ?
MountainDawg
May 5th, 2011
4:59 pm
Rocker was a true force in his prime. He was a little foolish to alway himself to be targeted by SI’s hit piece, but the repercussions were totally over the top. The (largely contrived) reaction was pure cultural marxist horse squeeze. There’s minion of pro athletes who commit legitimate crimes & get 2nd, 3rd chances. The “lamestream” media had an obvious agenda against Rocker. The hypocrisy was so evident (especially via that pro-caste rag SI).
Delbert D.
May 5th, 2011
10:07 pm
Some memoirs are better to be published posthumously.
braver t
May 5th, 2011
10:20 pm
will I be able to buy the memoir online, using my Ipad 2? Will they take debit cards?
Southside Steve
May 5th, 2011
10:36 pm
*SNIFF*
Waleska Dawg
May 6th, 2011
12:28 am
As soon as I finish reading the memoirs of Ed Olwine, Tony Brizzolara, and Mike Lum, I’ll read John Rocker’s.
Gen Neyland
May 6th, 2011
7:58 am
Rocker might have been regarded in a different light had he simply just spit on a fan instead of offering up a verbal. So much for the old saying that actions speak louder than words…
Macon Resident
May 6th, 2011
9:35 am
JSS, we now know what you think of Macon, Ga residents.
Would you tell us what you think of Rev Jeremiah Wright, and maybe kick in a couple of sentences on the New Black Panther Party?
jody
May 6th, 2011
10:21 am
John Rocker = THUG!
jarvis
May 6th, 2011
10:35 am
Was I called dumb by a person that used “hypocrite much” in a sentence?
Time
May 6th, 2011
12:00 pm
Yes Jarvis, you were. Again, not that I expect you to understand why. You’re just another hypocrite that is fine with racism, as long as it’s racism you can agree with. And since you likely aren’t intelligent enough to figure it out, I also called you a bigot.
Time
May 6th, 2011
12:04 pm
Yes Jarvis you were, in addition I called you a bigot, not that you were able to figure that out.
Lum
May 6th, 2011
12:12 pm
John Rocker got effed by the media in his day
Try not to prejudge Rocker’s literary plans
May 6th, 2011
3:18 pm
[...] As you can imagine, the idea of Rocker’s book is generating a lot of skeptical buzz, starting with Atlanta Journal Constitution sportswriter Jeff Schultz’s blog post. [...]
Speaking of people I don’t want to have dinner with … | ATLmalcontent
May 6th, 2011
5:08 pm
[...] Pimping his upcoming tome in Atlanta magazine, Rocker says he rarely speaks with reporters, adding, “I’ve sworn off doing print interviews.” Jeff Schultz quips, “In Rocker’s world, I guess this means a magazine doesn’t qualify as print.” [...]
JSS
May 6th, 2011
7:37 pm
Macon Resident
May 6th, 2011
9:35 am
“JSS, we now know what you think of Macon, Ga residents. Would you tell us what you think of Rev Jeremiah Wright, and maybe kick in a couple of sentences on the New Black Panther Party?”
I tell that they have absolutely NOTHING to do this with John Rocker, Jake Rocker, and Mrs. Rocker. And that Red herring that you are trying to throw into this with your Erik Ericcson, Kenny B, and Calder Clay talking points are nothing but a smoke screen.
I was born in the old Macon Hospital, attended school (elementary and high school) at the two flagship schools of the County system. I played in the once proud Vine-Ingle Little League. I played Pony ball at Morgan Field. I still pay Bibb Co and City of Macon property taxes. I pay S. Pasadena and L.A. County taxes as well, therefore I can speak on the real issue. So if you think that those snakes that move just outside the City Limits or into adjacent Jones and Houston counties; and then try to preach Talk radio napalm at someone who lived, lives, and KNOWS about the real residents of Macon, GA. And it is not the fake residents of Macon who live in Castlegate, Lake Wildwood, or just beyond the city limits and still try to drive the debate on the future of Macon from their gated communities out Forsyth, Zebulon, and Peake Road. You are a freakin’ coward!
NickGranite
May 8th, 2011
10:58 am
Trying to figure out what is wrong with learning to speak english if that is the official language of the country. That’s how you assimilate if you want to be a citizen. Does any other country change their official language?
chief pitchanono
May 8th, 2011
2:47 pm
Yeah Rocker was a little misdirected and needed a little guidance back in the day, but he was a great talent on the mound. No one will ever forget him though, he sure threw gasoline on the fire that was the Mets and Braves rivalry back then. Packed Shea Stadium and him comeing out of the bullpen with all the security, that was crazy!, but allot of fun to watch. I miss those days, we haven’t really had another rivalry since, untill last year. Kinda got it going on with philly a little bit
last year, but they kinda squashed us and walked away with the division at the end of the year. Hopefully we can finish strong this year and really give them a run up untill the last day. Go Braves!
bravesfanforever
May 9th, 2011
12:31 am
I just wonder.If I buy the book when it comes out and after I read it will I be crosseyed like rocker.If only his brain was as good as his arm,but I got to admit whne he came in it was exciting.The more the crowd heckled hime the harder he threw.Just wish he had kept his mouth shut and just thrw the ball.
John OTC
May 10th, 2011
1:56 pm
Is he close to publishing memoirs or being able to spell memoir? I think I smell a ghost writer…
Steven Lemon
May 10th, 2011
3:39 pm
Try as I might, I can’t find anything all that bad about what John Said. I think the only reason people got so upset was that they were jealous that they didn’t have the guts to say it.