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Arbitrator Das cuts Rocker's suspension

J M Shenoy

John Rocker, the Atlanta Braves pitcher who had made racist remarks in an interview with Sports Illustrated magazine in which he sneered at Africans Americans, Indians and other Asians and gays and lesbians, had his suspension cut from 28 days to 14 and his fine reduced from $ 20,000 to $ 500.

The announcement came on Wednesday.

Rocker had also told the magazine he would never play for a New York team because he did not want to ride a subway train 'next to some queer with AIDS.'

Rocker certainly had not expected an Asian American arbitrator. But to his surprise, he got away with a wrap on his wrist, sports observers say.

The arbitrator: Shyam Das, a respected professor and arbitrator, with degrees from Yale and Harvard universities.

Rocker's remarks came for scathing criticism across America, and even after he apologized for them and met with Andrew Young, the African American leader and former American ambassador to the United Nations, demonstrations were held in Atlanta and in New York demanding Rocker should be punished.

"Let him be punished first and then we will talk about reconciliation and Gandhian ways of forgiveness," said Subash Razdan, former president of the Federation of Indian Associations and now the chairman of its trustees.

Razdan, who took part in demonstrations at CNN headquarters demanding Atlanta Braves boss and CNN founder Ted Turner should sack Rocker, was referring to Young's comments. Young wanted Rocker to study Gandhi's works and try to change his thinking and behavior.

This time, however, it is Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig who is angry with the Indian arbitrator. Also angry were many groups who had said the initial punishment for Rocker itself was mild and are now preparing to hold more demonstrations against the 25-year-old player who makes about $ 1 million a year.

Selig, who had said earlier that Rocker's comments in a December issue of Sports Illustrated 'offended practically every element of society,' said the arbitrator's decision was too minor a punishment for Rocker.

He said Das's decision completely ignores the sensibilities of people who were maligned by Rocker and 'disregards the player's position as a role model for children.'

Selig also asserted the arbitration decision 'does not reflect any understanding or sensitivity to the important social responsibility that baseball ... has to the public.'

Shortly after the ruling, a group of protesters gathered at Turner Field in Atlanta, saying the arbitration was unfair. An Orlando-based activist group planned a similar demonstration at one of the main entrances to the Disney World complex where the Braves train, the Washington Post said.

Selig had banned Rocker on January 31 from all 45 days of spring training and the first 28 days of the season.

Rocker and the players association sought out arbitration to overturn the decision, saying it was not consistent with past sanctions.

Rocker has scheduled a news conference this week.

'He can issue all the apologies he wants. That's the easy thing to do,' Braves pitcher Tom Glavine told the media. 'But we'll see if he means it by how he acts every day after that.'

Though Rocker did not immediately comment about Das's decision, Gene Orza, the union lawyer who argued the case for Rocker, was quoted in the Washington Post" 'We are disappointed'' the penalty was not reduced even more.'

Das accepted the union's claim that the most players can be fined for off-field behavior is $ 500, the Post added.

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