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John Rocker: Baseball was more entertaining in steroids era

John Rocker played for the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers from 1998 to 2002.
(Jim Mone / Associated Press)
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John Rocker, the hard-throwing left-handed reliever who often opened his mouth and inserted his foot while playing in the majors, was at it again this week, saying baseball was more entertaining and a better game when players were using performance-enhancing drugs.

Rocker, whose rants in the past were sometimes racist and usually offensive, told a CBS Sports Radio show on WRKR-FM in Cleveland on Tuesday that people were getting their money’s worth when the players were juiced.

“Honestly, and this may go against what some people think from an ethical standpoint, I think it was the better game,” Rocker said of the steroids era. “At the end of the day when people are paying their $80, $120 whatever it may be, to buy their ticket and come watch that game, it’s almost like the circus is in town. They are paid to be entertained.

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“They want to see some clown throw a fastball 101 mph and some other guy hit it 500 feet. That’s entertainment. You’re paying to be entertained.”

Yes, the 38-year-old Rocker is trying to justify the use of PEDs. He figures if chemists are going to cater to athletes, who want to pass tests while continuing to use banned substances, just make it all legal.

He, or she, who juices best, entertains the most.

“They’re going to cost you, but the guys who want them can certainly pay for a chemist to build them,” Rocker said.

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