Let
me start by saying this: I love the game of baseball.
I can't stand the Atlanta Braves. I never liked John Rocker. And I have
no use for his boss, Ted Turner.
In fact, I'm a die-hard New York Yankees fan.
So, you might think I'd be chuckling over major league baseball's
one-month suspension of Braves relief pitcher Rocker for remarks he made
about playing in New York. I'm not. I don't find anything amusing about
it.
Actually, I find his punishment for speaking his mind sickening -- and
dangerous.
It's not really important what Rocker said or the context of his
remarks. But, just for the record, let's go over it. After taunting New
York fans during Atlanta's playoff series with the Mets, Rocker gave an
interview with Sports Illustrated.
"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, next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It's
depressing," Rocker told the magazine.
Remember, Rocker is a hyper 25-year-old jock. He didn't kill anyone. He
didn't steal anything. He didn't gamble or cheat or pick up on some
intern. He spoke from the gut.
"I'm not a very big fan of foreigners," he said. "You can walk an
entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians
and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and
everything up there. How the hell did they get into this country?"
Big deal, right? Wrong. Earlier this week, Rocker was suspended until
May 1 by baseball commissioner Bud Selig for this little tirade.
He also was fined and ordered to undergo "sensitivity training." Do you
believe this? He's being deprived of his livelihood for exercising his
First Amendment rights.
"Mr. Rocker should understand that his remarks offended practically
every element of society and brought dishonor to himself, the Atlanta
Braves and major league baseball," said Selig. "The terrible example set
by Mr. Rocker is not what our great game is about."
Well, you know what, Bud? He didn't offend me. Your action is what
offends me. It's true that Rocker's remarks had nothing to do with
baseball, and that's why baseball should stay out of the situation. If
enforcing political correctness is what major league baseball is about, I
say it's time to teach major league baseball a lesson.
The good news is that the players' association has filed a grievance
over the penalty, one of the harshest levied against a player for an
action not related to drug use or some form of criminality -- even harsher
than some of those. The grievance will force the matter before Shaym Das,
the sport's new independent arbitrator. Let's hope he has more sense than
the cowardly owners and their man Selig.
If the commissioner's ruling stands, I say freedom-loving Americans
should boycott major league baseball until Rocker's back on the mound.
"Oh, Farah," you say, "why are you so concerned about the fate of some
overpaid, inarticulate athlete? Aren't there more important issues to
concern yourself with?"
More important than freedom of speech? I don't think so.
I didn't see major league baseball suspend owner Ted Turner when he
called Christianity "a religion for losers." That statement was one of the
most offensive I have ever heard any public figure make. Nevertheless, I
don't even remember any debate about it among the other owners or any
reprimands issued by the commissioner.
So, it's not simply a question of offensive remarks. It's a matter of
whose ox is being gored -- who is being offended. There are certain things
you just can't say in America anymore. And that is unfortunate and, I
repeat, dangerous. I don't really think very many Americans were that
offended by Rocker. Who cares what he thinks? His remarks hurt no one. No
harm, no foul. If anyone was truly offended, they need thicker skin.
What America does not need is to create thought police and speech
police. That's not what America is about. If it is, I find that far more
offensive than anything Rocker could ever dream of saying.
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