It would be difficult to find a thoughtful individual who was not in some way troubled by the comments attributed to former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker over the winter prior to the 2001 major league baseball season.
At the time, Rocker was a young man, in his mid-20's, an emerging star with the Atlanta Braves, a perennial contender.
Reports indicate a writer from Sports Illustrated approached him over the winter to, more or less, 'spend a day' with the young left-hander.
A couple of weeks later a story appeared in the national sports magazine that quoted Rocker extensively. Sadly, many of Rocker's comments were harsh, hurtful-at best insensitive, to many observers much more than that.
Clearly, Rocker's comments, regardless of whether he was expressing what he really felt, or was 'playing up to the reporter', were disappointing - and hurt - many people.
That what the young athlete evidently said was thoughtless and harmful is not in question.
But the entire scenario raises some questions when it comes to the relationship between athletes and reporters.
The question is not necessarily, "Did Rocker mean what he said?" Or, whether he should have said what he reportedly said. Of course, he was wrong to do so.
The issue is not whether he thought he was 'off the record'. That should not make any difference. If a high profile business leader, entertainer or athlete talks to a reporter, he or she should expect to be quoted-regardless of whether they believe there is some spoken or unspoken agreement that their comments will not be attributed to them.
The question is not even "Was he taken out of context?" His comments were so specific, so thoughtless, that that excuse seems implausible.
The question we must ask is: "Where was Rocker's support system?"
The point is not to absolve Rocker of blame. He has been 'punished' for stating his harmful views publicly. The reactions included extensive negative media reaction, teammates reportedly avoiding him, a suspension, two trades and a recent demotion to the minors that leave his career and future under a cloud.
Again, the question is: "Who helped him prepare for this interview? Where was his agent? The team's public relations advisors? Was no one aware of the plan to have this young athlete spend an entire day with a reporter? If not, why not?"
Who took the time to sit down with a young athlete, perhaps naive regarding the ways of the media, and explain to him the "do's and don'ts" of speaking with the media?
Again, no one should seek to absolve Rocker of responsibility for his comments. We as individuals - including professional athletes - are accountable for our actions.
But it only makes sense that young athletes should have someone to help guide them in the best ways to handle themselves 'off the field'.
Hopefully someone to remind them that, like it or not, they are a role model for many youngsters. They have an image. Their public thoughts do matter, and can cause harm.
Those thoughts, expressed publicly, can harm an individual's future, too.
That someone feels the things that John Rocker evidently felt when he spoke to that reporter is sad. That he uttered them for public consumption leaves an empty feeling as well.
That no one was there in advance to lend a hand reminds us that virtually all young athletes - sometimes even million-dollar athletes - need support sometimes, too, from very early on in their career.
