ATLANTA -- John Rocker apologized for his comments against foreigners and gays, but that didn't stop the tide of criticism building against him from fans, teammates and even Hank Aaron.

John Rocker first drew the ire of Mets fans last September. "Even though it might appear otherwise from what I've said, I am not a racist," the fiery Braves reliever said Wednesday in a statement. "I should not have said what I did because it is not what I believe in my heart."

Rocker told Sports Illustrated he would retire before ever playing for a New York team and then added:

"Imagine having to take the (No.) 7 train to (Shea Stadium) looking like you're (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-old mom with four kids. It's depressing.

"The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners," the 25-year-old Georgia native said. "You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country?"

Rocker then retracted those remarks.

"I want everybody to understand that my emotions fuel my competitive desire," Rocker said. "They are a source of energy for me. However, I have let my emotions get the best of my judgment."

Commissioner Bud Selig called Rocker's remarks "inappropriate and offensive" and said they are being reviewed. "We will take appropriate action," Selig said.

On Thursday, about 15 protesters gathered at Turner Field to urge the team to fire Rocker. Atlanta City Councilman Derrick Boazman said he would introduce a resolution condemning Rocker next month.

Aaron, the Braves' Hall of Famer, said he was "very sick and disgusted about the whole situation" and questioned how Rocker could continue in baseball.

"I have no place in my heart for people who feel that way," Aaron told Chicago syndicated radio sports talk host Jay Mariotti on Thursday.

Braves general manager John Schuerholz spoke with Rocker for 10 minutes Wednesday and said he planned to meet with him after the holidays "to discuss what actions the organization will take."

"The viewpoints attributed to John Rocker in no way reflect the views of the Atlanta Braves organization," Schuerholz said. "He works for us, but in no way do the comments, attitude and feelings represent those of the Atlanta Braves."

Rocker's teammate, Brian Jordan, told Atlanta's WQXI-AM: "You can't respect a guy that makes comments like that publicly."

Pitching coach Leo Mazzone also took offense.

"Baseball's a very humbling game. The first thing I think about is after I hear about this, he's going to go out and blow himself out," Mazzone said.

"One of his teammates might punch him out. Something's going to go wrong now with his career. And you watch it, it'll end up going straight down the tubes."

Schuerholz said he did not think Rocker's remarks would be disruptive to the team. He said Rocker told him that "he has as many good friends on this team that are African-American or Latin as he has that are Caucasian."

The comments weren't playing well with other Atlantans.

"His racist opinions are just, to me, a representation of a very ignorant and uneducated person," said Sara Gonzalez, president of Atlanta Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Terri Watson, shopping at the Braves Clubhouse store Wednesday, described herself as a Rocker fan -- or maybe a former one.

"I sure hope I don't get a Rocker jersey for Christmas now. And I asked for one," she said. "If he can't come up with a good explanation for why he's a bigot and a racist, he needs to change his views and do some soul-searching."

Rocker has been the focus of hatred from New York Mets fans since September, when he said he enjoyed beating the team. During the playoffs, he said Mets fans insulted his mother and threw batteries at him.

Tony Braswell, executive director of AID Atlanta, said he attended the playoff game in New York and was shocked by the rude behavior of Mets fans. But he was even more offended by Rocker's comments.

"Welcome to the real world, Mr. Rocker," he said. "The world is made up of people from India and Korea and Vietnam and Spain and Russia and people with purple hair and queers living with AIDS. There are men, women and children of all walks of life living with AIDS."

Rocker said he fully intends "to learn from this experience."

"Everyone makes mistakes," he said, "and I hope everyone can put this aside and begin with a fresh start in the 2000 season."

ATLANTA -- At least John Rocker's boss is in his corner.

Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner says the eccentric reliever should be given another chance to redeem himself over his disparaging comments about immigrants, minorities and homosexuals.

"He's just a kid," the CNN founder and Time-Warner vice chairman said of the 25-year-old Rocker during an interview on CNN's "Moneyline" on Wednesday. "I think he was off his rocker when he said those things.

"He's apologized. I don't think we ought to hold it against him forever. Let's give him another chance. He didn't commit a crime," Turner said in his first public comment on Rocker since the furor began last month.

The Braves organization has been under pressure to discipline Rocker, who apologized during an ESPN interview on Jan. 12 for remarks published in an issue of Sports Illustrated last month. The Braves closer said he was trying to get even with New York fans who harassed him during playoffs against the Mets, and the World Series against the Yankees.

"The New York fans really did get on him," Turner said.

He said he agreed with the approach of baseball commissioner Bud Selig, who two weeks ago ordered Rocker to undergo psychological tests. Selig has not announced a decision on whether he would suspend or fine Rocker. "He's a pretty good pitcher, too," Turner said. "If he couldn't get people out, I don't think it would have been as much of a problem."

NEW YORK -- John Rocker was suspended until May 1 by baseball commissioner Bud Selig on Monday for racial and ethnic remarks that "offended practically every element of society."

The Atlanta Braves reliever also was fined $20,000 and ordered to undergo sensitivity training for disparaging foreigners, homosexuals and minorities in a magazine interview.

The players' union said it intends to fight the ruling.

"Major league baseball takes seriously its role as an American institution and the important social responsibility that goes with it," Selig said.

"We will not dodge our responsibility. Mr. Rocker should understand that his remarks offended practically every element of society and brought dishonor to himself, the Atlanta Braves and major league baseball. The terrible example set by Mr. Rocker is not what our great game is about and, in fact, is a profound breach of the social compact we hold in such high regard."

The players' association said it expects to file a grievance over the penalty, believed to be the longest against a baseball player for an action not related to drug use since Lenny Randle of Texas got 30 days in March 1977 for punching his manager, Frank Lucchesi.

Mon, January 31 I think that Bud Selig felt he had to make a public statement and that this is basically a public-relations move. He knows that he can now throw this into the hands of Don Fehr, who will file a grievance and likely will win it. The question now is everytime someone overhears a player making some comment ...out of uniform and away from the game ... do they have to report it to the Commissioner's office and the player will be suspended? He's opened a tremendous and very complicated can of worms.

"I do not believe it is appropriate that I should be harshly disciplined for my misguided speech unaccompanied by any conduct on my part," Rocker said in a statement released by his agents. "I have previously apologized for my unfortunate remarks and stand by my apology."

A grievance would force the matter before Shaym Das, the sport's new independent arbitrator.

"We have been in consultation with Mr. Rocker and it is our present intention to appeal," said Gene Orza, the union's No. 2 official. "It is literally unprecedented to impose a penalty on a player for pure speech, offensive though the speech may be. That, coupled with the magnitude of the penalty, just as unprecedented, makes us optimistic about the outcome of the appeal."

With the season to start April 3, the suspension technically is to last 28 days. A suspension will not affect his salary, expected to be between $200,000 and $300,000.

Rocker may go to extended spring training starting April 3 and will be allowed to pitch in the minor leagues during the first month of the season.

"It really is about what I anticipated happening," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said of the penalty.

Rocker, 25, was barred from joining the Braves at spring training. A high-ranking baseball official, speaking on the condition he not be identified, said the commissioner's office did not want Rocker to report with other Braves' pitchers and catchers, thus minimizing the number of media descending on Kissimmee, Fla., when camp opens Feb. 17.

Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president for labor relations, disputed that, saying it was not a factor.

Braves president Kasten said he hoped Rocker will not appeal.

"I hope we can separate the legal ramifications from John personally," Kasten said. "It's most important to get through this thing and get through it successfully. That's much more important than winning a couple of days."

Rocker's comments drew a strong response from Braves executive Hank Aaron and civil rights groups. Several Braves players have said they expect Rocker to have a difficult time when he rejoins the team.

"We believe that even after this process is complete, there are still two hurdles that remain," Kasten said. "John still has to reconcile himself with his teammates. After that, he has to reconcile himself with the community. It's not automatic. But with the right effort and the right attitude, I think it's possible."

The pitcher, whose fine will go to groups that promote diversity, was ordered by Selig on Jan. 6 to undergo psychological tests, but the results of those tests have not been disclosed.

Kasten and Schuerholz met about two weeks ago with seven senior members of the NL champions.

"The consensus in that room was that while they believed John should be punished in some fashion, they were willing to give him a second chance as a teammate," Schuerholz said. "But he must redeem himself and rectify the wrongs he has done."

Rocker said in a Sports Illustrated story published last month that he would never play for a New York team because he didn't want to ride a subway train "next to some queer with AIDS." He also said, "I'm not a very big fan of foreigners. ... How the hell did they get in this country?"

He also called a black teammate a "fat monkey."

Braves owner Ted Turner has said Rocker deserves a second chance, and pointed out the reliever had apologized.

"I don't think we ought to hold it against him forever," Turner said. "He didn't commit a crime."

Rocker told ESPN last month that he had lost his cool and said things he didn't mean about New York fans because he wanted "to inflict some emotional pain in retaliation to the pain that had been inflicted on me."

Rocker said he was frustrated by Yankees fans who threw batteries at him during the World Series. He said Mets fans spit in his face and poured beer on him during the playoffs.