John Montgomery Presents This Week's	February 5, 2000	Creep Logo by Alan Fraser
	Bud Selig
	Who's Off His Rocker?

First, the facts: John Rocker, relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, is a disgusting, sorry excuse for a human being. His narrow mind is overflowing with hatred for blacks, women, gays, immigrants, New Yorkers, and anyone else who doesn't share his twisted view of the world. You wouldn't want him for a neighbor, friend or co-worker. Last fall, he gave an interview to Sports Illustrated where he managed to cram all his prejudices into a few concise, colorful comments such as, "Imagine having to take the train to the ballpark ... 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." How about those foreigners in New York City, John?  "I'm not a very big fan of foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English." He also called one of his black teammates a "Fat Monkey."

From the ensuing reaction, you would have thought John had attacked the rush hour crowd at Grand Central Station armed with an AK-47 and a hard on. Sports fans and writers were outraged, demanding John's ouster from baseball and vowing never again to attend an Atlanta game. The first official reaction from Bud Selig, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, was to order John to get tested by a psychologist. The results of that testing must have been, "Yup, John's a swinish redneck all right!" because this week, Bud came down from the throne to deliver the results of his sage deliberations on a proper punishment for the crime: $20,000 fine, sensitivity training and a one month suspension.

For what, Bud? Because a player spoke his mind, as disturbed as it might be, on his own time? There was no violence, no drugs and no threat to anyone. You know what players in the National Football League do when they're not on the field? They don't make despicable remarks, they kill people. Be glad you only have to deal with a big mouth and a small mind. Bud justifies himself by saying, "The terrible example set by Mr. Rocker is not what our great game is about and, in fact, is a profound breach of the social compact we hold in such high regard."

Social compact? Quick, get me Roberto Alomar's batting helmet so I can puke in it. Professional athletes are not any kind of example or social compact role model for anyone but other athletes. For the most part, they are arrogant, pampered, overpaid, swaggering, steroid-abusing, pill-popping, girlfriend-beating dumb jocks. Who cares what they think or say? Let them do their thing on the field and ignore them the rest of the time.

Let's face it - there are plenty of people who think exactly like John Rocker does. We've all been subjected to similar intolerant swill in living rooms, school yards, locker rooms, water coolers and bars all our lives. Actually, John's comments aren't that much different from a Pat Buchanan campaign speech.

What's the proper punishment for John? A few days of that sensitivity training will have him screaming in agony. And I'd be content to just sit back and see what happens the next time John meets the Fat Monkey.