Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers had another run-in with a cameraman Monday when he turned himself in on misdemeanor assault charges stemming from an earlier tirade against two cameramen. The three-time All-Star, who is appealing a 20-game suspension and $50,000 fine, was released after posting $1,500 bond. Rogers jawed at a cameraman for Dallas-Ft. Worth TV station WFAA as he was booked in county jail. WFAA reported on its Web site Monday that photographer Mike Zukerman was videotaping Rogers when the pitcher turned to him and said, "You're getting really close; you know that? Do you hear me?" A few seconds later, Rogers again turned to the camera, saying, "You must be pretty proud of yourself too." After Zukerman replied, "It's just my job, Kenny." Rogers responded: "Yeah. Your job. That's just your excuse." The team declined to comment, referring questions to Rogers' attorney, who didn't return a call. On June 29, Rogers lashed out at two cameramen as they taped him walking to the field. Rogers faces up to a year in jail and fines totaling $4,500 for the two charges.

Assault charge could result in jail time, fine

Associated Press


ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers turned himself in to authorities Monday on a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from his videotaped tirade against two TV cameramen that sent one of them to the hospital.



Rogers, 40, faces a Class A misdemeanor charge of assault with injury in the shoving of KDFW-TV cameraman Larry Rodriguez, Arlington police spokeswoman Christy Gilfour said.

Police also will mail to Rogers' attorney a Class C misdemeanor assault citation for the shoving of Fox Sports Net Southwest cameraman David Mammeli, Gilfour said.

A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000, or both. A Class C misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of up to $500.

The three-time All-Star is free on $1,500 bond. He's appealing a 20-game suspension and $50,000 fine, allowing him to keep playing until after a hearing and a decision.

Neither the Rangers nor Rogers' attorney returned telephone calls seeking comment.

On June 29, Rogers lashed out at the cameramen as they filmed him walking to the field for pregame stretching. The episode led to Rodriguez being treated at a hospital after the camera was ripped from his hands and thrown to the ground.

Gilfour said Fox Sports -- which owns the camera Rogers damaged in the shoving of Rodriguez -- has declined to press criminal charges.

Rogers was booed at last week's All-Star game, but he said he came because he wanted the players who voted for him to know he appreciated it. He didn't want those votes to be wasted.

Before giving up six runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings at Los Angeles on June 22, Rogers won nine straight decisions, a career best, and was the AL ERA leader. It wasn't known until after he pulled out of a start June 28 against the Angels that he had a broken bone in his non-pitching hand by punching a water cooler eleven days earlier.