Res. No. 1146 Title Resolution condemning Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker for his hateful, xenophobic, racist and homophobic comments directed at New Yorkers and urging Major League Baseball and the Atlanta Braves to properly punish him for his actions. Body By Council Members DiBrienza, Linares, Quinn, Reed, Clarke, Malave-Dilan, Freed, Koslowitz, Lopez and Robles; also Council Members Espada, Foster, Leffler, Marshall, McCaffrey, Michels, O'Donovan, Perkins, Rivera, Robinson, Sabini and Spigner. Whereas, In the few months prior to the commencement of the first Major League Baseball season of the new millennium, we must ask ourselves what we have learned from our past and how baseball will be defined in the future; and Whereas, We can only hope, as baseball fans and conscionable citizens, that we have learned from true legends like Jackie Robinson and Joe DiMaggio that determination, sportsmanship and respect rests at the foundation of the great American pastime and that the unenlightened bigotry and tactless hatefulness demonstrated by the comments of Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker has no place in the future of baseball; and Whereas, Mr. Rocker made a number of comments in an interview with Sports Illustrated that, by attacking immigrants and gays among other groups, demonstrated his ignorance and personal hatreds; and Whereas, Among his comments were: "The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners...how the hell did they get in this country?" and he relayed his take on riding the Number 7 train with "some kid with purple hair," "some queer with AIDS," and "some 20-year old mom with four kids;" and Whereas, Mr. Rocker seems not to have benefited at all from studying the unique history of our country and of New York City, whose citizens, all of whom have somewhere down the line, come from somewhere else, contributed immensely to the advancement of the United States, which includes Atlanta and Macon, Georgia, where he plays baseball and was raised, respectively; and Whereas, It is shameful that John Rocker, an athlete in the public eye, felt that he could make such ignorant comments about a city of which he obviously knows very little and about immigrants that continually contribute blood, sweat and tears to this country, not to mention Major League Baseball and the Atlanta Braves ball club; and Whereas, The ridiculous statements of John Rocker constitutes simply unacceptable behavior and being a Major League baseball player, he has disgraced the League and his team and should be properly punished; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York condemns Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker for his hateful, xenophobic, racist and homophobic comments directed at New Yorkers and urges Major League Baseball and the Atlanta Braves to properly punish him for his actions. MW:bg D-Res.#3 LS#2546JohnRocker 12/27/99 |10
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