Rocker Still Rocky

We all remember what an idiot John Rocker was.  You probably remember that he made some insensitive comments about foreigners and got in trouble.  I randomly went back to re-read those comments from the 1999 Sports Illustrated story and WOW.  Incredible.  They are really bad - take a peek:

For a story published in the December 27, 1999 issue of Sports Illustrated, Rocker made a number of allegations stemming from his experiences in New York City and answering a question about whether he would ever play for the New York Yankees or the New York Mets.

"I'd retire first. It's the most hectic, nerve-racking city. 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. It's depressing... The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speak English.  Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there.  How the hell did they get in this country?"

Holy crap!  He took a flame (pun intended) thrower to everyone!  He was basically a baseball Hitler.  How would this have gone down now with social media so crazy?  At the time, he got demoted from the closer role but still played and was with the Braves for another year or so.  He was a good closer but I think the backlash would have been too much and he would have gotten cut immediately.  I'm not sure anyone in sports has stepped in it that badly and to not get fired is surprising.  The baseball Gods got him back though, because from that story on his career spiraled out of control.

"Considering how much he hates foreigners, he does seem to embrace a European wardrobe."