Rangers' Rogers apologizes; no call on All-Star Game

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers apologized on Wednesday for last week's tirade against two TV cameramen that sent one of them to the hospital and prompted a police investigation, but said he has not decided if he will play in next week's All-Star Game.

Rogers, who is appealing his 20-game suspension for the outburst, apologized to fans and the cameramen in his first public comments since the June 29 incident. He declined to take questions, and said he was speaking against the advice of his lawyer.

"I feel compelled to come before you and express my deep regret for my actions," Rogers said. "An incident that should have never occurred."

Rogers read from a two-page, handwritten statement. He was soft-spoken and paused several times, but rarely looked up during his two-minute address in a room packed with reporters and about a dozen cameras.

When he started to walk away from the podium, Rogers was asked if he planned to go to Detroit for the All-Star Game.

"I have made no decisions on anything else," Rogers said. "This is the incident I wanted to address and nothing else, I don't want to confuse anything else."

Kenny Rogers has been suspended 20 games and fined $50,000 for his outburst. (AP)

Commissioner Bud Selig suspended Rogers and fined him $50,000, the same amount of the bonus in his contract for being on the All-Star team. The players association appealed the penalty, allowing Rogers to keep playing until after a hearing and a decision.

Last week, Rogers lashed out at the cameramen as they filmed him walking to the field for pregame stretching. The episode was captured on videotape and led to KDFW cameraman Larry Rodriguez being treated at a hospital. A day earlier, he ordered cameras turned off around him in the clubhouse.

"I've been around this game for over 20 years. I prepare myself every day to control my emotions and act accordingly," Rogers said. "In this instance, I failed miserably."

Arlington police spokesman Christy Gilfour said Wednesday that Rodriguez and David Mammeli, a Fox Sports Southwest photographer who was first shoved but not injured, had filed assault reports.

No charges were filed, but Gilfour said Rogers would likely be issued a Class C citation for shoving Mammeli, a citation usually mailed to suspects and punishable by a fine of $500 or less.

Since Rodriguez was injured, that could be a Class A misdemeanor and remained under investigation, Gilfour said. That would be punishable by a fine up to $4,000, up to a year in jail, or both.