John Rocker gets released from Long Island roster

COMBINED DISPATCHES
NEW YORK -- John Rocker, who infamously insulted No. 7 train riders in New York, is on the fast track to Palookaville.
Rocker hit rock bottom Monday when he was released by the minor league Long Island Ducks.
The one-time major league star, who has been serving up batting practice to Ducks' opponents, invited the move by telling the team he wanted to reassess his future.
"After pitching for two months with the Long Island Ducks, the consistency required to pitch at the major league level, and the consistency I demand from myself, are not where they should be," Rocker said in a statement released by the team.
Rocker joined the Ducks in April and went 0-2 with a 6.50 ERA in 23 games.
The 30-year-old reliever's best year was in 1999 when he had 38 saves for the Atlanta Braves.
That same year he ticked off New Yorkers by telling Sports Illustrated, "The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners. . . . You can walk an entire block of Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. . . .
"Imagine having to take the 7 train to [Shea Stadium], looking like you're [riding through] Beirut next to some kid with purple hair next to some queer with AIDS next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids."
Angels win in court
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Angels can continue using Los Angeles in their name, a state appeals court ruled Monday.
The 4th District Court's ruling was revealed by the city of Anaheim. The ruling upholds a decision by an Orange County Superior Court judge denying the city's bid for a preliminary injunction to block the name change.
The team is billing itself as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
"Though we are disappointed, we are not dismayed at the ruling and are anxious to read the justices' opinions," said Andrew Guilford, co-counsel for the city.
Attorneys for the city argued that the new name, which the team adopted in January, is a violation of the stadium lease agreement and should be blocked immediately to prevent damage to the city's image and tourism-based economy.