Baseball to Examine Remarks by Rocker

Major league baseball is investigating published remarks attributed to Atlanta Brave relief pitcher John Rocker in which he attacked gays, Japanese-Americans and several other minority groups.

Rocker said he regretted the comments and that they don’t reflect his true thoughts.

That didn’t stop New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and the Anti-Defamation League from demanding that baseball take action against Rocker.

“Nothing is an excuse for hate,” said Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League. “What kind of hero is this? This outrageous behavior needs to have a swift and strong condemnation from major league baseball.”

Rocker has been involved in a war of words with New Yorkers, particularly Met fans, since the teams competed against each other last season all the way to the National League championship series.

In a story in the current issue of Sports Illustrated, Rocker is quoted as saying:

“Imagine having to take the [Number] 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.”

Major league baseball is investigating the matter, although no meeting is scheduled with Rocker or Brave officials.

“The attitudes and opinions expressed have no place in our game or in our society,” Commissioner Bud Selig said. “The remarks are under review and we will take the appropriate action.”

In the Sports Illustrated article, Rocker refers to an overweight black teammate as “a fat monkey.”

In a statement released through the Braves on Wednesday, Rocker said he went “way too far in my competitive zeal.”

“I have let my emotions get the best of my judgment and said things, that when read with cold, hard logic, are unacceptable to me and to my country,” Rocker said in the statement.

Rocker said in the statement he is not a racist and the remarks “are not what I believe in my heart.”