WaitingForNextYear

Congratulations go out to all the Jewish readers of WFNY.  Apparently you too can now be added to the list of people that John Rocker has ill will toward.  And for all you Indians fans out there, do you feel as badly as I do for giving Rocker a standing ovation on his first trip out of the bullpen as an Indian?  I do.  I remember thinking, “Wow.  If this guy can somehow be sorry for all his mistakes and resurrect his reputation here in Cleveland, the Indians might have the most dominant closer in the game!”  34.2 innings and a 5.45 ERA later, it was just a dirty, icky feeling left like a film left on a bathtub.

Rocker is back in the news this week regarding an incident at an Atlanta hotel opening and a confrontation with Jewish media member Steak Shapiro. Said Shapiro,

“Basically, John proved he was everything I’ve said he was over the years.  I saw him staring me up and down. I told him, ‘John, let’s be civil here, that was a long time ago.’ He told me, ‘It wasn’t that long ago, (expletive).’ And right away, he pulled out the ‘Jew’ card.”

Solid.  Nothing like being on the record as someone who will use epithets against yet another group.

Rocker has had his share of problems since leaving the game after 2 innings with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays circa 2003.  He got caught up in the steroid scandal by admitting he was on the juice.  In fact, he said that the MLB knew he was on the juice and that MLB doctors told him how to take drugs effectively.  Then he said that at least 50% of the majors was juicing when he was in the game.  Then he came back and contradicted all that other stuff saying that MLB doctors had NOT in fact told him how to do drugs and that maybe only 10% of players were on the juice.

Don’t worry about Rocker now.  He is spreading the practical message of anti-immigration with his “Speak English” campaign in Atlanta.  See, now I wish I was kidding, but I really don’t think I could make this stuff up.  Someone tell me why Rocker hasn’t found his way to a celeb-reality series on VH1.  Tell me you wouldn’t watch it.

Finally, I was surprised to learn that Rocker is 34 years old.  He should be un the long tail of his MLB career cashing in bullpen paychecks, which as Paul Assenmacher proved, just keep showing up as long as you throw with your left hand.  Talk about squandering opportunities, burning bridges and making a mockery of yourself.  I don’t mean to sound so self-righteous.  It is a very easy target and all.  He just makes it so easy.