Jackson Free Press

For Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker, the 1999 Braves season proved that he could have a long career in MLB. He had just saved 38 games for the Braves and helped the team reach the World Series, which Atlanta lost 4-0 to the New York Yankees. Rocker finished the season with a 4-5 record and 2.49 earned run average.

Rocker wasn't shy about his opinions, many of which were decidedly politically incorrect. Rocker's quotes in a Sports Illustrated article in December 1999 offended plenty of readers.

At the time that Rocker made his comments, Atlanta was at the height of its rivalry against the New York Mets. Throughout the 1999 season and in that year's National League Championship Series, Rocker did little to endear himself to Mets fans.

But it was Rocker's mouth, not his arm, that was most memorable about his time in Atlanta. His quotes to Sports Illustrated caused a backlash and a public-relations nightmare.

Here is one horrible highlight from Rocker's Sports Illustrated interview: "The biggest thing I don't like about New York (is) the foreigners. I'm not a very big fan of foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. (There are) Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country?"

In regards to playing in New York, he told Sports Illustrated, "I would retire first. It's the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the (No.) 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, right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It's depressing."

Rocker spent the rest of the interview offending anyone he missed. As a result of the interview, the Braves suspended Rocker for the first 28 games of the regular season at the start of the 2000 season, but the team later reduced his suspension to 14 games on appeal.

As Rocker's performance on the field began to decline, his controversial behavior rose, including threatening a reporter in June 2000. That season, he saved just 24 games with a 1-2 record, and his ERA went from the previous year's 2.49 to 2.89.

Just 30 games into the 2001 season, Atlanta had enough of Rocker's antics and shipped him to the Cleveland Indians in a trade. At the time, Rocker had a 2-2 record and made 19 saves, but his ERA rose to 3.09.

Things didn't get easier for Rocker in Cleveland. His ERA went up to 5.45 with a 3-7 record and just four saves. Rocker ended up with the Texas Rangers in 2002, but his performance kept declining. He finished the year with a 2-3 record, one save and a 6.66 ERA.

While in Texas, Rocker made anti-gay remarks at Breadwinners Cafe & Bakery, which is located in a predominantly gay neighborhood in Dallas. Rocker ended up in Florida the next season. He made two appearances for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003, but his ERA was a massive 9.0 in his limited field time. At the age of 28, Rocker was out of MLB, and his once promising career was done.

Rocker's next public appearance was on the 29th season of "Survivor, San Juan del Sur: Blood vs. Water," competing on the long-running reality show with his girlfriend, Julie McGee. Of course, Rocker didn't ingratiate himself with his fellow contestants there, either. Other players began to recognize Rocker and bring up his past controversies. The former MLB pitcher was the third person voted out of the game.

This Saturday, April 4, Rocker, along with former Atlanta Braves third-baseman Wes Helms and third- and first-baseman Bob Horner, will sign autographs during Spring Fling Fair and Fan Fest, which is 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Trustmark Park (1 Braves Way, Pearl, 205-715-6000). The trio will sign from 1:30 to 2:45 pm.

In conjunction with the Spring Fling Fair and Fan Fest, Mitchell Bros. and Sons will have a carnival in the main parking lot Thursday, April 2, through Sunday, April 5. The carnival is open Thursday and Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday's hours are noon to 11 p.m. Easter Sunday hours are noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Sunday pricing is $25 for an unlimited wristband ($20 if purchased in advance). Individual ride tickets will also be available.

The Mississippi Braves open their 2015 season on Thursday, April 9, against the Tennessee Smokies.