John Rocker Reappears with Proclamation That MLB Is Better with Steroids

The always-controversial John Rocker has come out of the woodwork, saying that Major League Baseball is better with steroids. The 38-year old left-hander has been out of MLB since 2003, having compiled 88 saves and a 3.42 ERA over his six seasons in the bigs. 

Rocker recently joined Bull & Fox hosts Anthony Lima and Dustin Fox on 92.3 FM Cleveland and discussed his sentiments (via CBS Cleveland):

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Honestly, and this may go against what some people think from an ethical stand point, I think it was the better game. At the end of the day when people are paying their $80, $120 whatever it may be, to buy their ticket and come watch that game, it’s almost like the circus is in town. They are paid to be entertained. They wanna see some clown throw a fastball 101 mph and some other guy hit it 500 feet. That’s entertainment. You’re paying to be entertained.

"

Rocker went on to say:

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And was there anything more entertaining than 1998—I don’t care how each man got there – was there anything more entertaining than 1998?…watching Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire chase 61 home runs?

That was a mesmerizing time for every baseball fan out there…the people were getting their money’s worth.

"

Rocker first made waves nationally when he told Jeff Pearlman of Sports Illustrated in 1999 that he would never play in New York, saying, "Imagine having to take the 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."

Of course, Rocker was not silent between 1999 and his latest comments. Among other controversies, he found himself in hot water in 2002 after directing homophobic remarks toward patrons in a Dallas restaurant.

Rocker used steroids during his career, starting as early as 1999.