John Rocker Biography - Hometown Talent Drafted By Braves, At Full Blast, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments, A Nationwide Argument

American baseball player

John Rocker caused a tempest among New York Mets fans and the general public in 1999 when he publicly

John Rocker

vented his feelings over what he saw as character flaws of the people of New York City. In his comments, originally published in a Sports Illustrated article, Rocker took umbrage at the city's immigrants, single mothers, homosexuals, and, of course, Mets fans. The nationwide reaction that erupted not only resulted in Rocker's temporary suspension from Major League Baseball, but also sparked a debate on the definition of free speech versus political correctness in America.