Public Enemy Number 1 Ready To Ride The Number 7

First he hates us. Now he wants to join us.
John Rocker could be singing Take me out to the #7 train this week. However, its highly unlikely that any Queens straphangers will be buying Atlantas foul-mouthed hurler any popcorn or crackerjacks.
And, they dont care if he ever comes back.
The Braves controversial hurler, whose reputation in Queens over the past year has grown more notorious than a West Nile-infected mosquito said last week in an interview with USA Todays Baseball Weekly that he would ride the countrys only moving landmark Thursday, when the first-place Braves come to town for a four-game series with the Mets.
If the Georgia native does decide to take the 25-minute ride from Manhattan to Shea Stadium, the Atlanta relief pitcher will have plenty of company. Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who urged Rocker not to waste his MetroCard, said nine NYPD officers will shadow the fiery closer every step of the way as part of a beefed-up security plan. "Were trying to prevail upon the Atlanta Braves for this not to happen," said the mayor last week.
But, if he does vote for the subway, Giuliani insists "We are going to have security watch him to make sure nothing happens to him. We are going to treat him like a head of state." Other precautions being taken by city officials will include dispatching police officers on every station platform between Grand Central Station and Shea Stadium, and converting Rockers ride to an express train, in order to board the least amount of passengers.
Game-time preparations will be even more elaborate, as over 700 officers will be stationed inside Shea to keep order. In addition, a protective fence will be placed around the visitors bullpen, and surveillance cameras will be stationed in the stands. And, there could be more than a few dry eyes in the house, as stadium officials will halt beer sales in the seventh inning rather than the eighth, and limit purchases to only two per customer.
And, if all else fails, the mayor implored all New Yorkers to "just be nice. The best reaction to his action is to be classy and let them play ball."
Rockers rocky relationship with the hometown team sizzled last October as he taunted Mets faithful habitually throughout the Atlanta-New York National League Championship Series. However, it wasnt until December that Rocker transformed from public nuisance to "public enemy number one." "Imagine having to take the 7 train, looking like youre in Beirut, next to some kid with purple hair, next to some queer with AIDS, right next to some dude who got out of jail for the fourth time, right next to some 20-year-mom with four kids," Rocker told Sports Illustrated Reporter Jeff Pearlman.
The angry tirade earned Rocker a one-month suspension and a special spot within the hearts of all New Yorkers. One man who will never forget the hatred spewed by Rocker is Hiram Monserrate, president of the Latino Action Center, which in conjunction with the New York Civil Liberties Union, Latino Officers Association, Quisqueya Little League, and the Gay Officers Action League will hold a peaceful anti-Rocker protest on Thursday in front of Shea Stadium.
"We are trying to unite the diverse communities of Queens on a common ground," said Monserrate. "Despite his racist remarks, we are going turn this negative into something really positive.
The protest will begin at 4:30 p.m., prior to the first pitch of the Braves-Mets game, and will include a press conference and guest speakers. "This should be a wake-up call that people like this exist," added Monserrate. "He is a black eye for baseball, and for America."