Rocker eager to bite into Big Apple
By Mark Schlabach
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If Braves reliever John Rocker gets his way next week, he'll get to apologize personally to the "kid with purple hair, some queer with AIDS, some dude who got out of jail for the fourth time and some 20-year-old mom with four kids."
In this week's Baseball Weekly, Rocker says he'll ride the No. 7 train to Shea Stadium when the Braves meet the Mets in New York on June 29.
"The first day I get to New York," Rocker said, "I'm getting on the 7 train. I'm taking it to Shea Stadium. I won't be in a cab. I won't be on the bus. I'll be on that train.
"And I'm looking forward to it."
So are New Yorkers, who for months have had next week's four-game series with the Braves circled on their calendars. Since Rocker ripped New York during the playoffs last season, and then made disparaging comments about the city in his infamous Sports Illustrated interview, he has become Public Enemy No. 1 in the Big Apple.
Still, Rocker says he's looking forward to the ride.
"Yeah, I'm not scared," he said. "What are they going to do? I mean, I'm not going to approach anybody or go out of my way to talk to someone, but if someone wants to talk to me, that's fine.
"You saw how they treated me when I pitched in New York last year. How can it get any worse than that? And nothing happened there. I went out in the city, and no one said a word to me. I really don't see that changing."
Braves general manager John Schuerholz declined comment Tuesday when a reporter asked him if Rocker would be allowed to ride the 7 train. Major League Baseball has provided Rocker with a body guard on road trips this season, and his security will be increased in New York.
Baseball Weekly's Bob Nightengale interviewed Rocker during the Braves' four-game series at Philadelphia last week. Nightengale portrays Rocker as a loner, often the last Braves player left in the team's clubhouse.
In the story, Rocker again apologizes for the disparaging comments he made about minorities in Sports Illustrated.
"It was meant as a joke," Rocker said. "Come on, I wasn't serious. I wish like hell I could take it back. I am sorry I ever said those things."
Rocker told Nightengale that he has been surprised by the support he has received. In Philadelphia, at least 75 fans waited for him hours after a game.
"Really, the support around the whole country has been great," Rocker said. "I think people understand that I'm not the way the media is portraying me.... I just wish at some point this whole thing will die, but the media won't let it."
Rocker says the worst thing that could happen to him next week is receiving a warm reception from New Yorkers.
"The worst thing they could do to me there is have no reaction. No reaction at all. That's the thing that would [bother me] the most. I'd hate that.
"I want to get booed. That fires me up. Look at what happened last year in New York. I didn't give up an earned run at Shea or Yankee Stadium in the playoffs. Those people bring out the best in me."
And the worst.
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