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Rock on Fans seem willing to give Rocker another chance
Posted: Tuesday April 18, 2000 09:55 PM
ATLANTA (AP) -- With camera in hand, Kim Tolvert worked her way into the first row at Turner Field for batting practice, staking out a prime position to snap some pictures of her favorite player, Andres Galarraga. She wasn't all that interested in John Rocker, who returned Tuesday from a two-week suspension after making disparaging comments about foreigners, minorities and gays. "I don't plan to cheer or jeer him," said Tolvert, who is black. "But I am interested in the reaction of the rest of the fans." For the most part, fans attending the game against the Philadelphia Phillies seemed willing to forgive Rocker for his comments in a magazine article. "I'm going to cheer for him," said Beth Layfield, a friend of Tolvert who is white. "I really think he got carried away in the interview by Sports Illustrated. He said some things he shouldn't have said. But I think he was taken advantage of by the guy at Sports Illustrated." In the interview, Rocker said he's "not a very big fan of foreigners" and spoke with disgust about riding the New York subway "next to some queer with AIDS." He also described a former teammate, who is black, as a "fat monkey." "When I first heard about it, I couldn't believe that he would say what he said in public," said Tolvert, who lives in Rocker's hometown of Macon, Ga. "All of us have a right to our opinions. However, I don't know how he could expect anyone to just brush it aside." Larry Lee of New Orleans attended the game with a group that's in Atlanta for a convention. "I don't know all that he said, but I'm not going to cheer for him," said Lee, who is black. "I was never a big fan of him before and I'm certainly not now. He's too brash." But Charles and Sandra Seagraves, relaxing in the picnic area beyond the center-field bleachers, were unabashed in their support of Rocker. "He's a kid," Sandra Seagraves said. "It's a shame it happened. On the other hand, who's not had to stick a foot in their mouths a few times." Rocker had already pitched in Atlanta during an April 1 exhibition game, drawing loud cheers and just a smattering of boos. The Seagraves planned to cheer loudly if he got in Tuesday night's game. "And we won't be the only ones," Charles Seagraves said. The couple was accompanied by 21-year-old Stephan Skare Nielsen, a native of Denmark who is staying at their home during a three-month vacation in the United States. He seemed befuddled by the whole controversy. "Freedom of speech," he said. "You still have that over here, don't you?"
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