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Rocker has a major MULLET!; Ducks' Spring Training begins
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Topic Started: Apr 17 2005, 12:55 AM (213 Views)
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Mattingly23
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Apr 17 2005, 12:55 AM
Post #1
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Posted Image
Look at that mullet! It's like old school Big Unit and Wild Thing Mitch Williams combined into one!
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Now Rocker Wants to Be Near City He Scorned By IRA BERKOW
Published: April 17, 2005
OMESTEAD, Fla., April 16 - "Got a rosin bag anywhere?" asked the lean left-handed pitcher with the shoulder-length hair, checking around the mound before beginning his batting-practice pitches for the Long Island Ducks
"Good question," said Bud Harrelson, the former Mets shortstop and now co-owner of the Ducks.
Dave LaPoint, the former major leaguer who is the pitching coach of the Ducks, called to the equipment man, "Hey, bring the rosin bag."
So began the first day of spring training Saturday for the defending champions of the independent Atlantic League. The players appeared in green caps, gray T-shirts and gray shorts on this cozy, sun-dappled baseball field of the Homestead Sports Complex, and behind them palm trees peeked over the outfield fence.
And so began what the lean pitcher, John Rocker, hopes will be the start of a new career in the major leagues - if he can work himself back to the kind of pitcher he was when saving 83 games as the closer for the Atlanta Braves from 1998-2001.
"This league, for a lot of guys, is a place for a second chance, or a last chance," Harrelson said. "Last season, we had a bunch of guys sign major league contracts. Scouts are always at our games."
Was it not ironic, though, for Rocker to be pitching for a team that plays its home games in Central Islip, N.Y., some 35 miles from Shea Stadium, after the heated reaction to his inflammatory remarks about New York City in a Sports Illustrated article in December 1999? "The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners," he said in the article. "I'm not a very big fan of foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English."
He went on to ridicule the notion of riding the No. 7 subway train to Shea Stadium, a ride, he said, that was akin to traveling through Beirut, because of the homosexuals, the single mothers, the minorities, foreigners and so forth.
"He was 24 and stupid," Harrelson said. "He admitted that. I think our fans are open-minded about it now. I think they're willing to give him another chance. We all should."
The last time Rocker pitched in a professional baseball game was last winter in Venezuela, in a league that included Randall Simon, his former Braves teammate who said he believed he was the player Rocker referred to in the Sports Illustrated interview as a "fat monkey."
The crowd in Venezuela booed Rocker mercilessly, according to Sports Illustrated, and chanted "Out! Out! Racist, out!" He pitched to just three batters that night, giving up two walks and one hit.
He threw only two and two-thirds innings in three games in his stint in winter ball, then returned home to Georgia. Those innings were the only innings he has pitched in a game since he had shoulder surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in July 2003.
But it was not the first time he heard such a reaction from the crowd. Rocker was the object of jeering as well as thrown bottles, among sundry implements, when he pitched for the Braves against the Mets at Shea Stadium in 1999 and 2000.
Now, Rocker, six years older and a veteran of six seasons in the major leagues, is attempting to make a comeback, after his trade from the Braves in 2001 to the Cleveland Indians, then to the Texas Rangers the next season and finally to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003. That season, his arm was hurting and the velocity on his fastball had dropped from as high as 97 miles an hour to the high 80's. Then came the surgery.
Rocker arrives with the Ducks with hopes that LaPoint can get him back to where he can be of aid to a big-league bullpen.
"John had five or six other options on places where he could pitch, but we thought the Ducks and Dave were the best fit," said Joe Sambito, Rocker's agent. "John has worked very hard to rehab his arm, and he's excited about this opportunity."
The first batter to face Rocker on Saturday said, "You gonna tell me what's comin'?"
Rocker, laughing, said: "Are you kidding? Not without a screen, I'm not."
The screen that usually shields a batting-practice pitcher had been withdrawn to simulate game conditions.
The batter was Pete Rose Jr., now 35 and still trying to find a spot in the major leagues. He swung, he missed. There was a ball in the dirt. Rocker groaned at a pitch that got away. Rose, batting left-handed, sliced another offering to left field; it would have dropped in for a hit.
Rocker has said that he is not a racist and that no teammates have ever come forward with such a charge - though some of the Braves were hardly happy with the monkey designation. Among others, Henry Aaron, the career home run leader and a vice president of the Braves, said he was sickened by the remarks. Rocker has also pointed out that the president of the computer company he owns is a black man.
Rocker has said that his remarks were made in the heat of a great rivalry between the Mets and the Braves and that they simply passed for "trash talking." But he apologized to Braves Manager Bobby Cox for escalating tension on the team.
When Rocker finished his stint of some 35 pitches to Rose and another batter Saturday, he walked off the mound, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his T-shirt.
"I'm impressed," Harrelson said. "The ball was jumping out of his hand. I think he's going to be able to help any number of big-league teams within a few months. He just needs innings to get it together."
LaPoint was less enthusiastic, but he said he liked the fact that Rocker was throwing "free and easy."
"He threw with good velocity - high 80's - and that should get better," LaPoint said. "His fastball was moving, but he did hang some sliders. But that's normal for the first outing."
Rocker, who said he was returning for "the love of the game" and not because he needed the money, said, "I'm feeling really good." He paused. "I think it went well."
Link to article
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BostonBoy17
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Apr 17 2005, 01:08 AM
Post #2
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City of Champions
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:lmao:
He looks like the Ahole he is in that picture!!
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Mattingly23
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Apr 17 2005, 01:29 AM
Post #3
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Posted Image
Another Rocker article:
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Rocker tries a changeup
BY BOB HERZOG STAFF CORRESPONDENT
HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- The breeze from the nearby Atlantic Ocean blew across the wide-open spaces of this town that once was virtually destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and is still in the rebuilding stages. The breeze blew the Johnny Damon-length hair across the forehead and into the eyes of John Rocker, whenever the once-and-future relief pitcher removed his green Long Island Ducks hat. But the wind-blown hair could not obscure Rocker's vision. He, too, is rebuilding.
"To say I'm a lot more mature at 30 than I was at 24 or 25 is an understatement. I'm more grown up. There's not a whole lot I haven't been through," Rocker said yesterday in a private interview in the Ducks' dugout after the first day of Atlantic League spring training at the Homestead Sports Complex.
Among the travails Rocker has been through is seeing an All-Star caliber career as a closer with the Braves unravel because of a serious shoulder injury, and his public image wind up in tatters after inflammatory comments he made about New York City fans and citizens in 1999. But that was a long time ago; Rocker insists he's a new man with a new outlook. His hair is longer and, he says, so is his fuse.
Entire article - click here
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Gategem
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Apr 17 2005, 02:14 AM
Post #4
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Member In Exile
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Central Islip may only be 35 miles from Shea but it has very little in common with the City. It is a different world and Rocker may be accepted. At least he won’t have to ride the subways. The only Subways they have out there sells hero sandwiches.
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Yanksfan03
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Apr 17 2005, 03:09 AM
Post #5
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VC 4 Life.
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:laugh2:
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timotime
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Apr 17 2005, 08:24 AM
Post #6
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- Gategem
- Apr 17 2005, 02:14 AM
Central Islip may only be 35 miles from Shea but it has very little in common with the City. It is a different world and Rocker may be accepted. At least he won’t have to ride the subways. The only Subways they have out there sells hero sandwiches.
Youre right, but its probably worse than the city because of the number of Mets fans in that area.
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VICTORious
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Apr 17 2005, 09:15 AM
Post #7
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get him!!!!
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Ray
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Apr 17 2005, 09:16 AM
Post #8
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Army Strong
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Sorry. This scumbag ain't getting no forgiveness from me.
He can rot in hell.
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VICTORious
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Apr 17 2005, 09:18 AM
Post #9
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Posted Image
look, he throws a splitter, if we dont offer him a contract i will be pissed.
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Ray
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Apr 17 2005, 09:20 AM
Post #10
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Army Strong
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- Mr. Sunshine
- Apr 17 2005, 09:18 AM
Posted Imagelook, he throws a splitter, if we dont offer him a contract i will be pissed.
Good. Be pissed. The last thing the Mets are going to do is offer that piece of trash scumbag a contract.
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timotime
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Apr 17 2005, 10:03 AM
Post #11
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No point in signing Rocker. If the Mets want to sign a LH reliever they would be better offwith Tom Martin, who the Braves released.
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TheOne
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Apr 17 2005, 11:39 AM
Post #12
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I'm still better than you!
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- timotime
- Apr 17 2005, 10:03 AM
No point in signing Rocker. If the Mets want to sign a LH reliever they would be better offwith Tom Martin, who the Braves released.
The braves released him for a reason, tom martin sucks!!!
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BaseballFan4
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Apr 17 2005, 11:49 AM
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Who does John Rocker think he is? Eddie Guerrero?
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TheOne
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Apr 17 2005, 12:10 PM
Post #14
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I'm still better than you!
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- BaseballFan4
- Apr 17 2005, 11:49 AM
Who does John Rocker think he is? Eddie Guerrero?
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
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Venom
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Apr 17 2005, 04:02 PM
Post #15
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May the Force be with you
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- timotime
- Apr 17 2005, 10:03 AM
No point in signing Rocker. If the Mets want to sign a LH reliever they would be better offwith Tom Martin, who the Braves released.
The Muets already had Tom Martin, and he sucked.
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Strider
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Apr 17 2005, 04:05 PM
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Legend
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Posted Image
Adam Sandler with a wig.
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amit
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Apr 17 2005, 04:10 PM
Post #17
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Lizard King
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- Apr 17 2005, 11:05 PM
:laugh:
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The Yankee Faithful
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Apr 17 2005, 04:36 PM
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Oh god :lmao:
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Mantlemurcer
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Apr 18 2005, 09:54 PM
Post #19
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Home of Champions
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- amit
- Apr 17 2005, 04:10 PM
- Strider
- Apr 17 2005, 11:05 PM
:laugh:
:laugh:
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Mantlemurcer
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Apr 19 2005, 10:03 AM
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Home of Champions
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- Mr. Sunshine
- Apr 17 2005, 09:18 AM
Posted Imagelook, he throws a splitter, if we dont offer him a contract i will be pissed.
He sucks
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O'Neill21
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Apr 19 2005, 08:59 PM
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Posted Image
I thought I'd never see this Redneck again, but here he is!! He looks so deranged doesn't he? He 's such a punk!! If he pitches well in the minors though I'm pretty sure someone will give him a chance to pitch in the majors again. I really doubt he's changed much from his Brave days!! :no1:
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Mattingly23
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May 10 2005, 07:21 PM
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This moron never learns. Check out his latest asinine comments. For a bonus, I included another good mullet pic.
- Quote:
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Rocker mouths off... again
From Newsday.com
May 10, 2005, 12:59 PM EDT
Long Island Ducks pitcher John Rocker is making news again with his absurd comments, this time for his remarks in a recent ESPN.com article in which he compares his struggles to gain acceptance with fans to those of Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron.
In the article, published on the ESPN web site Friday, Rocker bemoaned the continuous criticism that has followed him since he made disparaging remarks about gays and minorities in a Sports Illustrated article in 1999.
Saying he was taken aback by the "extremely derogatory remarks" that have persisted during his comeback with the Ducks, Rocker lamented, "I've taken a lot of crap from a lot of people. Probably more than anybody in the history of this sport. I know Hank and Jackie took a good deal of crap, but I guarantee it wasn't for six years. I just keep thinking: How much am I supposed to take?"
Rocker's comments are particularly shocking considering he compares himself to two of baseball's all-time greats, both of whom endured racism and death threats to become Hall of Famer players.
Robinson gained notoriety for breaking baseball's color barrier in 1947, becoming the first black to play in a Major League game with the Brooklyn Dodgers. His jersey number 42 is now retired by all 30 Major League teams. Aaron received racist hate mail and death threats throughout the 1970s as he chased Babe Ruth's all-time home run record before breaking the mark in 1974. He retired in 1976 as baseball's home run king with 755.
Rocker has earned 88 saves in six Major League seasons with the Braves, Indians, Rangers and Devil Rays. His career took a severe detour in 2003, when he was forced to undergo reconstructive shoulder surgery. Since the operation, he had not pitched in professional baseball until this spring, when he signed with Ducks.
Rocker is hoping to earn a return to the Majors by pitching for the Double-A independent franchise, which has sent 22 players to the big leagues since its inception in 1999. But his return to baseball has been a disappointment thus far.
He allowed the winning run in the Ducks' first game of the year, walking four batters and throwing two wild pitches in the ninth inning. He had another poor outing a few days later, walking two batters and allowing two runs in one-third of an inning. He was shut down last Wednesday after suffering from what the Ducks termed a "dead arm."
After sitting out for five days, Rocker is expected to be available to pitch in tonight's home game against the Camden River Sharks at Citibank Park.
Rocker mouths off......again
Posted Image
Actually seeing Rocker with his cap off, I have now noticed that it's not technically a mullet. It looks like it's also long on the sides, but he pulls it back when his cap is on. It's close enough to a mullet though since it looks like one while he's in full uniform.
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Njdevils350
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May 10 2005, 07:35 PM
Post #23
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Obey My Dog
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you deserve a punch in the face for wanting to sign him and his 85 mph HEAT
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TheOne
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May 10 2005, 07:58 PM
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I'm still better than you!
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- Njdevils350
- May 10 2005, 07:35 PM
you deserve a punch in the face for wanting to sign him and his 85 mph HEAT
Silly peter!!! :no1:
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Mattingly23
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May 10 2005, 08:20 PM
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- Njdevils350
- May 10 2005, 07:35 PM
you deserve a punch in the face for wanting to sign him and his 85 mph HEAT
I wanted to sign him???
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TheOne
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May 10 2005, 08:23 PM
Post #26
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I'm still better than you!
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- Mattingly23
- May 10 2005, 08:20 PM
- Njdevils350
- May 10 2005, 07:35 PM
you deserve a punch in the face for wanting to sign him and his 85 mph HEAT
I wanted to sign him???
lol i think he meant peter not you!!!
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Mattingly23
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May 10 2005, 08:28 PM
Post #27
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- TheOne
- May 10 2005, 08:23 PM
- Mattingly23
- May 10 2005, 08:20 PM
- Njdevils350
- May 10 2005, 07:35 PM
you deserve a punch in the face for wanting to sign him and his 85 mph HEAT
I wanted to sign him???
lol i think he meant peter not you!!!
Oh ok, I saw "you" and since I was the person who made the post, I assumed it was for me. Peter is that Mr. Sunshine moron who thinks Beltran sucks and Zambrano is great, right? Figures he thinks Rocker is good too. What a clueless guy.
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YankeeBaseball
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May 10 2005, 08:30 PM
Post #28
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He may have unusual opinions, but Pete's a pretty nice kid. :peace:
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TheOne
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May 10 2005, 08:30 PM
Post #29
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I'm still better than you!
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- Mattingly23
- May 10 2005, 08:28 PM
- TheOne
- May 10 2005, 08:23 PM
- Mattingly23
- May 10 2005, 08:20 PM
- Njdevils350
- May 10 2005, 07:35 PM
you deserve a punch in the face for wanting to sign him and his 85 mph HEAT
I wanted to sign him???
lol i think he meant peter not you!!!
Oh ok, I saw "you" and since I was the person who made the post, I assumed it was for me. Peter is that Mr. Sunshine moron who thinks Beltran sucks and Zambrano is great, right? Figures he thinks Rocker is good too. What a clueless guy.
Yeah peter's an idiot but a nice guy, he's just a kid, he doesn't know any better!!!
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YankeeBaseball
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May 10 2005, 08:34 PM
Post #30
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- TheOne
- May 10 2005, 08:30 PM
- Mattingly23
- May 10 2005, 08:28 PM
- TheOne
- May 10 2005, 08:23 PM
- Mattingly23
- May 10 2005, 08:20 PM
- Njdevils350
- May 10 2005, 07:35 PM
you deserve a punch in the face for wanting to sign him and his 85 mph HEAT
I wanted to sign him???
lol i think he meant peter not you!!!
Oh ok, I saw "you" and since I was the person who made the post, I assumed it was for me. Peter is that Mr. Sunshine moron who thinks Beltran sucks and Zambrano is great, right? Figures he thinks Rocker is good too. What a clueless guy.
Yeah peter's an idiot but a nice guy, he's just a kid, he doesn't know any better!!!
We're all kids at heart! If you're not, you get old fast, mighty fast . . .
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