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 He was an historical reference point for observers after Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell’s verbal altercation with fans in San Francisco, which allegedly included homophobic slurs.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 The link on his website for “Speak English” T-shirts is no longer active.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
Emory Road
May 4th, 2011
10:55 am
Bill Campbell would be proud.
bulldog_keith
May 4th, 2011
10:56 am
He reminds me of Kyle Farnsworth a little bit on the pitching mound. A little herkey herkey, but a blazing fastball. Hate he flamed out, pardon the pun.
Bdubs
May 4th, 2011
10:57 am
157th?
Barblefart
May 4th, 2011
11:02 am
John Rocker = Kenny Powers
Reid Adair
May 4th, 2011
11:03 am
I don’t agree with things that John Rocker has said, but why should he be any different from some of the other people who have written books? If he wants to do this, I say let him do it.
Just because he writes a book, even has it published, doesn’t mean people will buy it.
DawginLex
May 4th, 2011
11:05 am
guy was unhittable in his prime. Still remember him going to Fenway and striking out the side in the 9th and getting out of the bases loaded no out jam in Houston.
His dad told him to let his arm do his talking the day before he got into the car with the reporter.
Too bad he didn’t listen
Jeff Schultz
May 4th, 2011
11:11 am
Comments are great, folks — but please, no preaching. Thanks.
Emory Road
May 4th, 2011
11:13 am
Is Atlanta Magazine going to publish a profile
on ex-convict and former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell also ?
Remarkable
May 4th, 2011
11:17 am
Jeff do you plan to read this. I can’t imagine more than 6 people actually buying a copy unless you are a sportswriter. We’ll get all we need from the blogs and articles. I’ve already had all I need.
Texas Red
May 4th, 2011
11:21 am
Nice article until you had to insert your own “editorial response”. Stick to the facts please.
preacher
May 4th, 2011
11:22 am
19 “foreigners” died and went to hell on 9/11/2001.
Benjamin
May 4th, 2011
11:23 am
The SI article destroyed Rocker. Granted, a lot of that was Rocker’s fault, for obvious reasons, but I can’t help but think that Pearlman showed about two ounces of journalistic integrity in handling that situation the way he did. I feel like they took advantage of a 24 year old kid on a lot of levels.
Crash
May 4th, 2011
11:25 am
I knew John Rocker in high school. Unfortunately for him, Rocker epitomizes the line “million dollar arm attached to a 5 cent head.” I expect this memoir to be little more than an excercise in patting himself on the back. Even so, I can’t see him having enough material to fill much more than a pamphlet.
what of it?
May 4th, 2011
11:28 am
Has anyone told him that HBO already did it with a series called “East Bound and Down”?
1eyedJack
May 4th, 2011
11:30 am
Will the book come with crayons or will we have to purchase them separately?
Rashard Mendenhall
May 4th, 2011
11:30 am
John Rocker must be a member of the Tea Party.
Time
May 4th, 2011
11:41 am
Oh goody, another opportunity for pompous liberal elite media types to show off their never ending hypocrisy. John Rocker gets destroyed, media types camping outside his parents house on christmas, spewing lies and hatred at him and anyone who didn’t hate him. Yet they still line up to read Bob Ryan’s columns, and still wax poetic wishing for the days when their beloved democratic senator Robert Byrd was still in office.
1eyedJack
May 4th, 2011
11:43 am
Rashard Mendenhall: Sloping forhead, thick protruding brow ridge, underdeveloped lower jaw and a lazy eye.
Stand up straight man and quit dragging your knuckles.
John Rocker
May 4th, 2011
11:44 am
Hey Rashard, get out of this country!
Him Tudson
May 4th, 2011
11:44 am
The guy who wrote that SI article was probably a Mets fan, but yeah, all the crap Rocker said AFTER the backlash just confirmed his boneheadedness in a way that a past-its-prime sports mag really couldn’t.
james
May 4th, 2011
11:48 am
john rocker story photo captions says espns pro vs joe it was spike tvs pro vs joe i love ur braves coverage thanks
Lobosolo
May 4th, 2011
11:52 am
Who would even want to read a book by this guy? I mean, really? Could one be so pathetic that they would want insight into the life of John Rocker? A juicing, less-than-mediocre-minded, flame-out of a pictcher? Just as soon watch re-runs of the royal wedding, and that sure ain’t gonna happen…
Time
May 4th, 2011
11:58 am
Lobossolo -”Who would even want to read a book by this guy? I mean, really?”
Probably the same folks who would vote a KKK member into the US Senate. Or give passes to Boston sports columnists who said things a 1000 times worse than Rocker.
JJ
May 4th, 2011
11:58 am
It’s a good thing that 99.99% of 18-25 year olds in this country don’t have access to the media. Otherwise, what Rocker said would not even cause you to blink an eye.
And please don’t mistake this for me condoning what he said or making excuses for him.
Mike
May 4th, 2011
12:04 pm
It makes sense. Kenny Powers is loosely based on the persona of John Rocker. I can see John now in Mexico with corn rows making an audio recording of his book.
JackDennis
May 4th, 2011
12:14 pm
Talent squandered. Nothing he says interests me.
Larry
May 4th, 2011
12:16 pm
Such irony…John shows up at our hunting club last season with his hard bodied, black girlfriend. Unfortunately we had to kick him out of the club for conduct detrimental to men of sound mind and stable emotions.
John’s not a bad guy, just incredibly immature and a low cognitive ceiling. He’s just a strong armed, dumb old country boy that hasn’t the pure common sense to keep his opinions to himself.
Drew
May 4th, 2011
12:25 pm
It is okay John. I WILL BUY IT. Truth is if you had been a rapper spouting off hate speech against cops, America, or white people, then you would have been considered a poet!
Ryan
May 4th, 2011
12:27 pm
Nothing was more exciting at the Braves game than when “I Wanna Rock” would start blaring over the speakings and Rocker would come charging out of the bullpen like a mad man – especially in October.
Gwinnett Fred
May 4th, 2011
12:30 pm
Absolutely East Bound & Down was loosely based on Rocker. From his ‘flame out” to his political UNcorrectness to his initial team being in Atlanta.
Surprised Rocker hasn’t sued HBO!
Hilton
May 4th, 2011
12:32 pm
John Rocker
Good old white boy, who learned
to hate everyone, and the big problem
with that is that his parents never taught him
any different. That my friends is the problem
Gary
May 4th, 2011
12:32 pm
Who would care what that idiot has to say? The story I want to read is Wohlers. At one time unhittable as a closer. Then dude cuts his hair and all ot the sudden cant find the plate. Samson II. That’s a story.
Hilton
May 4th, 2011
12:34 pm
If you look at history, foreigners who come here
acclimate within a period of time. Look at their
children, who not only speak their native language, but English also.
Revised Headline
May 4th, 2011
12:35 pm
Shouldn’t this read “John Rocker to narrate his version of events to someone who can actually spell and write”. There is a reason he’ll have to wait until the audiobook comes out to read his own memoir.
Robert the Redneck
May 4th, 2011
12:35 pm
Dang straight – They took our jobs!!!!
John Rocker is going to publish a memoir | HardballTalk
May 4th, 2011
12:38 pm
[...] Jeff Shultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes that John Rocker, seemingly unable to persuade any of the big publishing houses to give him a deal, [...]
UGA=YAWN
May 4th, 2011
12:40 pm
Gross. And Otis Nixon is a friend – like that should make Rocker look like an angel?
PMC
May 4th, 2011
12:41 pm
hey, if Snookie can write a book…..
KWalker
May 4th, 2011
12:41 pm
John Rocker said things that everyone else thought. Plain and simple. I’ve heard others say a lot worse, yet they don’t get slammed by the media because they are not white men.
elroy
May 4th, 2011
12:41 pm
I want a “Speak English” T-shirt. Rocker’s problem was that he expressed too much of what he thought. Most, if not all people have some negative thoughts about some things/people. Most are smart enough to keep those thoughts to themselves.
journalist jimmy smith
May 4th, 2011
12:42 pm
journalism is not for sissies.
Dave
May 4th, 2011
12:44 pm
“An historic”? Seriously? Do you also say “an home run”? C’mon Jeff!
Randle Patrick McMurphy
May 4th, 2011
12:45 pm
Jeff Pearlman… scumbag, always was and always will be… lights a match, starts a fire and then runs away like the p*ssy he is… typical…
Welcome
May 4th, 2011
12:49 pm
Welcome to America where the right to free speech applies as long as you don’t tick anybody off.
What it really means is that you have the right to think whatever you want but you better not say it.
Rob
May 4th, 2011
12:51 pm
Just remember UGA offered this moonbat a baseball scholarship. I guess times haven;t changed when it comes to the people UGA recruits.
Supes
May 4th, 2011
12:52 pm
I would be interested in reading it.
People that outright dismiss it are being ignorant and short sighted themselves.
Jimmy
May 4th, 2011
12:53 pm
Most people who rip Rocker never read the SI article. He said nothing that isn’t true. Might be unpopular to say, but it is true. Find the article and read it yourself.
And someone stated above “that hasn’t the pure common sense to keep his opinions to himself.”
Isn’t that what we are doing on this blog?
BillS
May 4th, 2011
12:57 pm
: Jeff, you’re “not sure I’ll but the book but it looks interesting.” What in the world seems nteresting about it? Rocker hasn’t been a player for nearly a decade, he had no coherent thoughts then and seemingly has acquired none since. Why would anyone want to buy his self-published book????
Mike
May 4th, 2011
12:57 pm
I really like the HBO series “East Bound and Down” and can’t believe I didn’t see the Rocker comparisons. In hindsight, he has got to be the inspiration for that show.
Bobby Walden
May 4th, 2011
12:58 pm
Rocker is an idiot. Mariano Rivera is his superior in every way. As recently as 2009, he humiliated the Braves on consecutive nights.
BillS
May 4th, 2011
12:58 pm
I’m making typos as stupid as Rocker. I intended to quiote Jeff saying “not sure I’ll buy it”. My apologies. But Rocker is still stupid.
Lefty
May 4th, 2011
12:58 pm
“An historic” is correct Dave. Words that begin with h are not always preceded by “A”. It’s a tough rule for anyone who didn’t finish fourth grade, so I’ll spare you the details. Look it up…if you know how.
Roswell Braves Fan
May 4th, 2011
12:58 pm
@Ryan ‘Nothing was more exciting at the Braves game than when “I Wanna Rock” would start blaring over the speakings and Rocker would come charging out of the bullpen like a mad man – especially in October.’
I agree, The ballpark went electric when he was brought into the game. When you stop and think about it, why do we continue to expect ANY athletes or celebs (just to name a few) to act as role models? They’re no different than the rest of us…
Mel
May 4th, 2011
1:00 pm
I don’t in any way, shape or form agree with Mr. Rocker’s views or his previous statements to the press. HOWEVER… if there’s anything positive in all of this (bear with me here), he at the very least is being open and forthcoming about his views. He’s not hiding them. I’d rather know where I stand with someone than not.
Lefty
May 4th, 2011
1:01 pm
Dave, get back to me in “a hour” [sic] if you can’t figure it out.
Mike
May 4th, 2011
1:04 pm
Here is a great game I just found on the interenet, called “Who said it: Kenny Powers or John Rocker.”
1.”Imagine having to take the 7 Train to the ballpark looking like you’re riding through Beirut next to some kid with purple hair, next to some queer with AIDS, right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time, right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids.”
2.How do you like playing in New York?
-”You mean Jew York? It’s f-ing great…”
3.“I thought the blacks in Baltimore were bad,sh*t, they’re nothing compared to these f*gs you got here in San Francisco”
4.”I’m not a very big fan of foreigners … How the hell did they get in this country?”
5.”They turn from the wrong lane. They go 20 miles per hour. It makes me want — Look! Look at this idiot! I guarantee you she’s a Japanese woman.”
6. “The biggest thing I don’t like about New York are the foreigners. I’m not a very big fan of foreigners.”
7. “Sure I’ve been called a xenophobe, but the truth is I’m not. I honestly just feel that America is the best country and all the other countries aren’t as good. That used to be called patriotism.”
BO U
May 4th, 2011
1:05 pm
Enter your comments here
BO U
May 4th, 2011
1:05 pm
LOL!!!!
Todd
May 4th, 2011
1:09 pm
I was enjoying the article until the comments started.
Rockerbabe
May 4th, 2011
1:09 pm
I liked John Rocker and his folibles. I think he just was not mature enough to hand those rotten NYer’s and their throwing rocks, batteries and other items at him. In fact, I’m not sure I would even be able to shrug that off. It seems there were a lot of hurtful words surrounding John and NY, but John shouldn’t be penalized any more than he already has been, given that Michael Vick has been elevated to the vaulted QB position. I mean really.. .he harmed a lot of dogs and cats in his greedy quest for money and thrills. What John Rocker did nor did not say and do, seems aweful benign by comparison.
Fire Frank Wren
May 4th, 2011
1:12 pm
Is it going to be a pop-up book?
Bill
May 4th, 2011
1:12 pm
Whats the big difference in what McDowell did and what Rocker has done? Why show RM the love and Rocker the hate? Don’t blame Rocker for not trusting Media…they all out for big story no matter who they kill getting it. Except Jeff, Mark and DOB who sometimes lean to the left. The last I heard this is still the USA and everyone has right to their opinions. I will buy book to see his side of it. Live and let live. GO Braves!!!!!!!
Worm
May 4th, 2011
1:19 pm
Last time I ran into John was at a UGA tailgate and he had his Black girlfriend with him..
Bill
May 4th, 2011
1:20 pm
not kill but destroy .
claymanbob
May 4th, 2011
1:25 pm
Honestly, who cares?
Jimmy
May 4th, 2011
1:25 pm
Bill – The only real difference is that RM was having direct contact with fans and Rocker was asked if would ever play for either New York team. He said he wouldn’t and gave the reasons why.
Again, nothing Rocker said is/was inaccurate, but the truth “offended” some.
Sensitivity Training = you will have the same values and thoughts that we have, or you can’t say anything without being grilled.
Bill
May 4th, 2011
1:27 pm
Thanks Jimmy. Go Braves!
Jimmy
May 4th, 2011
1:31 pm
Less than three hours to game one.
Hanson will dominate AGAIN!
slowroller
May 4th, 2011
1:38 pm
“He might be a Redneck”….but on steroids, he couldn’t control his anger, so he let slip a few slurs to let off steam. If the title of the book were “Steroids and Strikes”….then people would buy the book.
From that standpoint, I would like to know if Rocker addresses his steroid use, and that of many others on the Braves back then. There is no other way that “Big Cat” could have come back from cancer treatment. And I’m still a little ticked about Gallaraga playing through Cancer when he probably knew he was sick. What was he 1 for 16 in the playoffs that year?
Mitchell
May 4th, 2011
1:40 pm
I saw him in the Atlanta magazine piece. Yes, I actually bought a copy of Atlanta magazine.
I’d read his book. I mean, like at Borders. Not saying I would pay for it but it’s probably worth a skim.
The only thing I can say is he’s one of the few guys to ever play for the Braves who actually had a personality. He was the closest we ever came to having a player that resembled the then owner.
He was Ted Turner in cleats, only slightly more racist. His most redeemable quality is I think he kind of knew he was an idiot, as opposed to not knowing. It’s better to know generally.
Luke Scott of the Orioles, for example, who spent the majority of the baseball winter meetings last year in Orlando explaining to reporters that Barack Obama was born in Kenya and had evidence that his Hawaiian birth certificate is fake is an A-Hole.
There is a difference. Rocker himself may hold the same view but I’m sure he would have a more entertaining and less douchey way of communicating it.
jw
May 4th, 2011
1:42 pm
Rocker-mania was a big deal back when. By forgetting for just a fleeting moment that there is a time and place for things – it all came crashing down.
He was good – destined to be the best Atlanta has had in the reliever corps. My only concern about the whole deal – 10+ years later is his Pete Rose attitude about it.
John – if you’re reading – come clean, quit turning over the dirt and show folks how you’ve changed. We all know it killed your baseball career, but it doesn’t have to kill the rest of your life – right now, you are a hard hearted, Pete Rose minded son of a gun. It’s OK to admit you are wrong – and to admit you messed up – it would be bigger for your Atlanta legacy to see you do something about it – other than tell everyone you didn’t do it. Your big mouth ran – the reporter wrote it down – and you suffered dearly – hard to misquote any of that.
Help yourself and make it right – rather than just publishing babble that someone else can “take out of context” – you gonna unload on the ghost writer when it gets blasted in the press?
seabass
May 4th, 2011
1:48 pm
Screw John Rocker!
Mike Lum
May 4th, 2011
1:53 pm
He was too stupid to even work in one of my old restaurants.
JB
May 4th, 2011
1:55 pm
Hey seabass…………..screw you…….Let us examine your entire life, mistakes and things you wish you hadn’t said.
Brave Fan
May 4th, 2011
2:00 pm
I absolutely agree on one thing – you come here for a better life then learn the language of this Country. I have a neighbor who has been here 12 years illegally and she had the nerve to send her two boys to my house and tell me she said that I needed to learn Spanish to communicate with her – I sent the boys back with the message – she needs to learn English to communicate with me. The two boys speak very good English and in fact were born here.
Rashard Mendenhall
May 4th, 2011
2:06 pm
ME and Otis Nixon are big buddies.
katherine
May 4th, 2011
2:07 pm
I liked Rocker…love him or hate him when he ran out of that bullpen in the 9th inning it was electric…I still have my rocker jersey!
Wisdom-Moderation-Justice
May 4th, 2011
2:09 pm
Screw John Rocker and Rashard Mendenhall both !
idot
May 4th, 2011
2:12 pm
Who in the heLL cares about this? And, why should anyone care about this?
Dawg in Malta
May 4th, 2011
2:15 pm
@crash
So you’re saying this will be the cliff notes of John Rocker’s memoirs??
I hate it but he was a talent wasted!!
katherine
May 4th, 2011
2:15 pm
I think its funny…people will give lots of athletes a second chance after, say, being involved in a murder, beating up their wife/girlfriend, killing tons of dogs, killing someone in a dui accident, raping or groping more than one girl…just to name a few….but they won’t give the same opportunity to rocker. just saying…….
Cynthia McKinney Parkway ?
May 4th, 2011
2:15 pm
Who cares about ex-con and former Mayor Bill Campbell.
snickers
May 4th, 2011
2:26 pm
The sad thing about people like Rocker is that more often than not his attitude (or former attitude if he’s to be believed now) is/was the product of his upbringing. Racists and bigots are not born they are made, by either their father, mother, or both. That doesn’t excuse the behavior, but it does in most cases make it a little more explainable. Hopefully he truly has awakened and now realizes that the way he was thinking all those years ago was ignorant, childish, and simply dumb.
Phil Clark
May 4th, 2011
2:31 pm
Hilton, you say Rocker’s parents ”never taught him any different’. Got any idea who Andruw Jones lived with when he played in Macon? Jake and Judy Rocker!
Unbelievable
May 4th, 2011
2:32 pm
Why should they learn the language?? We cater to ther every need because their business means we make money. You can’t pull over a car full of mexicans because that’s called “racial profiling” and it hurts the hispanic’s feelings. MOst of the immigrants shouldn’t even be here yet they cry about their rights being violated. Why would the liberals clean house, those are potential voters in the next election.
You can’t say the N- word or “fag” or even say things like “those shoes are gay” because it will offend someone. HOwever, you can say the word “redneck” and nobody bats an eye. You can say “cracker” and nobody cares.
YOu have the right to free speech as long as nobody’s feelings are hurt because apparently nowadays hurting someone’s feelings or being insensitive is illegal.
Ryder
May 4th, 2011
2:36 pm
This country was built from immigration. Immigration is what fueled the constant pride and energy that makes this country different from all others. To hate immigration is to hate what makes America, America. To close the door to immigration is closing the door on what makes us different from all other nations. Know your history.
Unbelievable
May 4th, 2011
2:36 pm
ONly middle to upperclass white people are allowed to be called names. What’s funny is the majority of those people don’t care if some A hole they don’t calls them a “redneck” or a “honky” or a “cracker”. Why should they?? Use the N-word or use a gay slur however and you will find yourself on the wrong end of a lawsuit and the unemployment line.
Unbelievable
May 4th, 2011
2:39 pm
Ryder, that was 100 years ago and more. The country then was still growing and their were jobs and space for everyone. This country is maxed out and their aren’t enough jobs. There’s more people than are needed. Trying to compare where this country is now to where it was 100 years ago just can’t be done.
Joycee Banicheck
May 4th, 2011
2:40 pm
Well let’s see here, I log in, go to the sports page and there’s a tabloid story along with a photo. It must be the biggest story in Atlanta sports right now even though it’s tabloid material. Let’s see who wrote this thing… Ahhhhh ok, as if I needed to check the author to know it’s Jeffy with his routine tabloid trash article. How you stay employed I’ll never know. If I sucked at my job as bad as you do at yours I’d have been given the pink slip long ago.
I’m actually surprised you haven’t been writing a daily blog calling for Roger McDowell to be fired and blah blah blah I used to live in SF and blah blah blah. Uh oh, did I ruin your tabloid blog set for tomorrow’s sports page?
Here’s what we’d like from you, the 2011 Braves, 2011 Falcons, 2011 Hawks, 2011 Dawgs, 2011 Jackets. Can you handle that? Can you think outside the box and give the readers of this sports page something with substance for once in your life? And not like the Limbaugh blog you failed on so miserably the one time you ever tried to look outside the box.
Do you ever say to yourself “I wonder why I’ve never been invited to be on Around the Horn?” or any other nationally syndicated sports show? It’s because you bring very little to the table Jeffy.
1eyedJack
May 4th, 2011
2:45 pm
As soon as Obama and his gang of goons get their way you won’t even be able to think those thoughts. Big Brother you know. Take your soma and shut up.
jw
May 4th, 2011
3:01 pm
Joycee –
2011 Braves – covered
2011 Falcons – covered
2011 Hawks – covered
2011 Dawgs – covered
2011 Jackets – covered
This mess about Mr. Rocker is a direct reflection of reporting about the 2011 Braves – almost TOO good. An incident with a 2011 Brave (that McDowell dude – remember) is digging up them old bones. A sports reporter has to do their job! Jeffy, as you like to refer, is doing his job – he GOTCHA – you commented – right? The man did his job!
Who would want to be on Around the Horn with Woody Paige anyway – especially since being in the same room with Michelle Beadle and Sportsnation would be so much more fun!!!!!! One of the Around the Horn regulars got called out by Ozzie Guillen – remember – so why go on that show? And that was before the new hair took root!
Dawg and Jacket season are in speculation mode – nothing much to report right now anyway
Falcon season is on hold unless we find out someone tied their shoes on the property and got arrested.
Poor Kennesaw and Georgia State – the busiest “other” sports news in the last 2 months and you totally forgot to include them in your rant Joycee – besides that, have a great day.
Reverie
May 4th, 2011
3:10 pm
Hilton got it wrong. Jake Rocker taught his boy a lot better than his boy acts. I am inclined to just let this story die and hope he has grown up. As for the press portrayal of John, he never understood that the first thing you do when you have dug yourself into a hole is to quit digging.
kevin
May 4th, 2011
3:22 pm
Interesting. I did not think he could read. What a complete loser.
Stinger2
May 4th, 2011
3:23 pm
Jeff: By writing this article relating to Rocker`s publication of his book, you are obviously helping promote and enhance its sales. If this is your objective, you are doing Rocker a great favor.
bbqdawg
May 4th, 2011
3:36 pm
What an amazing talent he was!
Rawdog
May 4th, 2011
3:36 pm
My buddy wears his Rocker shirt to Braves’ games. He is ready to fight all the blacks/losers/gaywads who ride MARTA there and back from the game. Furthermore, I’ve met Rocker in person and he is just a normal guy who voices the unpopular opinion that everyone is too afraid to say out loud, but deep down are really thinking.
Hillbilly Deluxe
May 4th, 2011
3:36 pm
This is America; he can write a book if he chooses. Everybody else can choose to buy/read it, or not. Simple as that.
Joycee Banicheck
May 4th, 2011
3:38 pm
Wow, absolutely riveting. maybe the ajc should hire you instead…
StingerSplash
May 4th, 2011
3:40 pm
John Rocker’s 15 minutes elapsed a long time ago. Tell him to go sit next to Balloon Boy and William Hung and the rest of the “hey, weren’t you, um, yeah, that guy” crowd.
space monkey
May 4th, 2011
3:44 pm
He was never that good. Fastball had very little movement and rarely broke 96. All mouth and theatrics and no poise.
HBT: Look out, Rocker going to publish memoir » SportsNewsTweets
May 4th, 2011
3:48 pm
[...] Jeff Shultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes that John Rocker, seemingly unable to persuadeArticle source: [...]
space monkey
May 4th, 2011
3:49 pm
JW: Rocker was never destined to be the best Atlanta reliever. He was a moderately OK closer. Wohlers (before 96) and Smoltz were leagues better. Rocker was just a journeyman who got too much publicity way too fast. His stuff was never as good as his showmanship. Always claimed to have hit triple digits, never once did it in a game. And his breaking stuff was only fair.
KC Frenchy
May 4th, 2011
3:57 pm
Lets keep it short & sweet: John Rocker, GO AWAY!!! Nobody cares, get a life & stay out of the Bravos world please!!!!!!
D.Lowe
May 4th, 2011
4:01 pm
Me, McDowell, and Rocker are having a few beers before, during, and after the doubleheader. Then we are gonna race each other home.
Duke
May 4th, 2011
4:09 pm
As a gay man living in the Atlanta Area I don’t agree with what John Rocker said but this is America and he is entitled to his opinion remember freedom of speech is in the constitution, I wish John Rocker no ill will and hope the day come that he will see the error of his opinions towards others! We have all made comments in our lifetimes we wish we could take back I know I have!
chuck
May 4th, 2011
4:16 pm
Everything he said is true.
Daisy Duke
May 4th, 2011
4:20 pm
Rocker got his butt whooped a few years ago by the reddest neck I know….at another hunting club he got kicked out of. His ingorance and offensive behavior wasn’t limited to any particular race, class, or culture. He was an equal opportunity idiot. Still is, I suspect. This book is his last opportunity to support himself.
Amerikongis
May 4th, 2011
4:24 pm
He is dumb.
…the book sucks.
Nir
May 4th, 2011
4:25 pm
Why do smug, self-important and entitled brats like Rocker think ANYONE cares what he has to say every time he opens his trap?
JSS
May 4th, 2011
4:35 pm
I tell my John Rocker Vine-Ingle Little League story one day! John Rocker and his father had a major meltdown one day! It was sad but hilarious, he spent his entire life flaming out that way… Could be worse, his name could be Allen Peake!
Did he say anything about the young woman of color he was dating some years back? I bet Strom Thurmond gave a “Atta boy from the bin Laden Memorial Spot” in Hades!
JSS
May 4th, 2011
4:40 pm
chuck
May 4th, 2011
4:16 pm
“Everything he said is true.”
Somebody must not have not sent out the memo? Seems the USA has spent the last years and about $6 trillion dollars trying to disprove his logic… You guys are a trip!
DBCOOPER
May 4th, 2011
4:46 pm
John Rocker is to Baseball what Jeff Shultz is to Sports Journalism.
nightwalker571
May 4th, 2011
5:17 pm
How many of you that are such pillars of society throwing slurs at Rocker could take the same scrunity? How about your parents? How about you and your mates (s)?
Observer
May 4th, 2011
5:25 pm
Jeff Schultz wishes he had half the class of John Rocker. Rocker was demonized by clowns like Schultz, who wouldn’t have a job unless he was the uber liberal he is and the fact he is writing for the uber liberal Atlanta Journal.
Square Peg
May 4th, 2011
5:30 pm
Rocker was a guy who had the guts to say what everyone else was thinking. He was blindsided and misquoted by a small tur# of a writer.
jason
May 4th, 2011
5:46 pm
I
Ted Striker
May 4th, 2011
5:48 pm
John Rocker’s website speaks volumes about the topics important to him. Unfortunately, he still comes across as a racist bigot.
Skeezix
May 4th, 2011
5:48 pm
Well, well now. I am sure that John is quite the wordsmith, but I think I’ll pass on his book.
Rich Black
May 4th, 2011
5:57 pm
I hope his book has lots of shirtless pics of him… Hot man. I used to see him every so often at the dry cleaners…..great ass.
Ted Striker
May 4th, 2011
6:01 pm
The folks saying that Rocker was only saying “what other people were thinking” scare me. Count me out of your group.
Roger McDowell
May 4th, 2011
6:04 pm
John is a hero of mine.
DHD
May 4th, 2011
6:16 pm
Once again, the AJC is obsessed with former players.
Glass House Rocker
May 4th, 2011
7:20 pm
Bill Cosby once did a great comedy routine about the New York trains. His description of the people on the trains and at the Station were very similar to Rocker’s comments.
How many remember the cartoon characters Speedy Gonzales and Slow Poke Rodequez? How many recall Jose Jimmez–aka Bill Dana? I guess times change–but, these are
still funny if we take ourselves so seriously.
ron drakeford
May 4th, 2011
7:37 pm
What Rocker said was the truth..get over it.
Coerced interrogation does and did work
May 4th, 2011
8:09 pm
Leon Panetta said so yet obuma and his minions say no even with proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Nice idiots running this country.
$4 gas 25 million unemployed 14 trillion in debt
And a bunch of goofballs who can’t even get their story on ubl correct. Ugh
Alphare
May 4th, 2011
8:20 pm
Among all foreigners, John didn’t mention Chinese. If John knows better, Chinese is the most populous of all foreigners.
Alphare
May 4th, 2011
8:27 pm
BTW, John mentioned all peoples living around China, Vietnamese, Indians, Russians, and Koreans.
Just a little observation, no conspiracy against John.
Paddy
May 4th, 2011
8:49 pm
This book should rival the book about Italian War Heros! About 2 pages long!
Sid
May 4th, 2011
9:52 pm
Somewhat of a difference being published vs being self published.
I know the guy...get off his back!
May 4th, 2011
10:26 pm
I was a personal friend of his. He was speaking like a true American. Get off his back you bunch of liberals. Go Macon, Georgia!
Pitcher/publisher: John Rocker says he’s writing a memoir | Writing to Success
May 4th, 2011
10:33 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal-Constitution has posted a fun summary of an article about Rocker in Atlanta Magazine. In it, Rocker says he is nearly done working on a [...]
JSS
May 4th, 2011
10:43 pm
I love it when certain bloggers try to block all skin color matters as the same as cultural matters. All of my Afro-Caribbean, African, and Asiatic (those dark skinned people from the Middle East and SW Asia) get a kick out of it too! NEWSFLASH: Skin color does not define the African-American culture. Here for the 9 millionth time is a fact; Andruw Jones is not African-American. His culture is more Dutch and Caribbean. They have their own rich history and racial interaction with Whites…
I’m from Macon, played in the same Little League (a decade earlier) that produced that enigma that is John Rocker. There are loads of Caucasians in Macon that would take a person from a foreign country into their homes and be very hospitable. Those same people would never set foot in Unionville, Tindall Heights, or Pleasant Hills or befriend a human being from those neighborhoods to save their life… Sorry, but that is a fact… Luckily for me, I met folks on both sides and walked a fine line between both sides. But goodness knows there was a price to be paid for the effort… The Rockers were North Macon gated community bigots… Stop trying to rehab what he was, is, and continues to be… The same fact goes for Allen Peake…
JSS
May 4th, 2011
10:45 pm
@Jeff Schultz…
Check your filter again… If it is too harsh, let me know…
Hey Marcel
May 4th, 2011
11:24 pm
I know the guy…get off his back!
May 4th, 2011
10:26 pm
*******************************************
What does that say about you?
Horner's Corner
May 4th, 2011
11:28 pm
Rocker should run for office as a Tea Bagger since he has all the proper credentials. Over inflated sense of self-worth and 0 intelligence.
JSS
May 4th, 2011
11:39 pm
Billy Ramsbottom, that is why Rocker won’t go away… He took Johnny to the cleaners. That super First Presbyterian education had some holes in ethics! Try to Google the name some time…
JB Stoner
May 5th, 2011
12:13 am
Rocker is a steroid freak with an IQ of 65. Why waste time on this sack ‘o shiite?
MitchC
May 5th, 2011
12:28 am
Jeff, in addition to the infamous article about New York, I just looked up Rocker in the Wikipedia, and it claimed that. at one point.. he launched a tirade of obscenities about Braves President John Scherholtz. I hadnt seen that before. Were you aware of such? I’m aware, of course, that the Wiki can be edited, but.. if Rocker really did make the comments that I saw listed in the Wiki, I have an even lower opinion of him now, than I did before I read those comments.
As to whether I’ll buy the book: Likely not. When my grandfather didn’t understand the reasoning behind something.. he always used to say “What for?” Knowing Rocker’s behavior in the past, the “book” will likely be more a rant of his very short sighted, and somewhat.. biased. views. No Thanks. I have better things to spend my money on.
If I see the book in a bookstore, I will probably glance at it, out of curiousity, but.. it doesnt seem worth buying.
idot
May 5th, 2011
12:42 am
ROCker
Pitcher/publisher: John Rocker says he’s writing a memoir | Popular Events
May 5th, 2011
2:38 am
[...] Atlanta Journal-Constitution has posted a fun summary of an article about Rocker in Atlanta Magazine. In it, Rocker says he is nearly done working on a [...]
Pitcher/publisher: John Rocker says he’s writing a memoir | Popular Events
May 5th, 2011
2:38 am
[...] Atlanta Journal-Constitution has posted a fun summary of an article about Rocker in Atlanta Magazine. In it, Rocker says he is nearly done working on a [...]
UGASlobberknocker
May 5th, 2011
7:50 am
Im sure that book will sell 3 maybe 4 copies..to his immediate family
UGASlobberknocker
May 5th, 2011
7:51 am
I see Rocker at UGA football games..I am always embarassed as a fan that he is identified with UGA,
phil
May 5th, 2011
8:19 am
Roger McDowell
May 4th, 2011
6:04 pm
“John is a hero of mine.”
I have to laugh at that…
Rocker is obviously not very smart. We’ve all known that for a very long time. He doesn’t seem to know it, but that’s ok.
His mother is a fine woman, and his father is deceased from a terrible car wreck about 5 years ago. He’s also an only child spoiled beyond belief obviously. While the past may be prologue, it wouldn’t kill us all to cut the man a bit of a break…
I still wouldn’t buy his “book”, however, if it was the only thing on the shelves…
phil
May 5th, 2011
8:22 am
I know the guy…get off his back!
May 4th, 2011
10:26 pm
“I was a personal friend of his. He was speaking like a true American. Get off his back you bunch of liberals. Go Macon, Georgia!”
Congratulations….Macon is relieved to count you among its dwindling numbers….
phil
May 5th, 2011
8:25 am
crabapplejoe
May 4th, 2011
7:55 pm
@Hilton who wrote: “John Rocker
Good old white boy, who learned
to hate everyone, and the big problem
with that is that his parents never taught him
any different. That my friends is the problem”
So this “good old white boy” and his “racist parents” used to have black players, like Andruw Jones, stay in their home in Macon when they were in the minor leagues….fed them…woke them up to get to practice, etc. We just can’t have “racists” like that in our society. All Rocker did was dog on NYC and riding the #7 train to Shea Stadium…this after he had batteries thrown at his head by Mets “fans” who also dumped a beer over his girlfriends head. But in our silly PC world, Rocker is the racist villain and the Mets fans get a bye…..LMAO…if it weren’t so pathetic.
This was, in fact, the case. Rocker doesn’t neatly fit the racist profile so many want him to fit….
dtanner
May 5th, 2011
8:37 am
john rocker lived with my cousin for a while, and beat her like a dog several times, she was a true gold digging bitch and probably deserved it, but still don’t make it right,but was the kind of guy he was.
Trooper Taylor's Backwards Hat
May 5th, 2011
8:55 am
He’s an idiot on a lot of levels, but the scene he described in the article about a depressing commute to Shea is 100% spot on. Sorry people, get over it.
Coerced interrogation does and did work
May 5th, 2011
9:01 am
jeff schultz listens to this guy
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/05/04/lib_talker_when_will_navy_seals_take_out_george_bush.html
Buzz ME
May 5th, 2011
9:02 am
didn’t know Rocker could read or write…or is it a coloring book
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.