The Rocker files: it was just an ordinary day for Dallas restaurant manager Andy Allison--then antigay ballplayer John Rocker came in to eat. (Behind the Headlines).

When Andy Allison, a manager of Bread Winners Cafe and Bakery in Dallas, saw John Rocker and his girlfriend walk into his restaurant on August 4, he barely suppressed a cringe. He knew of the Texas Rangers relief pitcher's antigay reputation from remarks he had made to Sports Illustrated nearly three years earlier. Even so, Allison did not expect what was to happen next.

According to witnesses, as Rocker got up to leave he called two gay men at another table "fruitcakes." Allison said he then got into a shouting match with two transgendered people in the parking lot. Bread Winners suddenly found itself the focal point of a national story about Rocker, who claimed he had been badgered and pestered by other customers, and the homophobia of pro athletes. The Advocate spoke to Allison about the fallout.

What happened? Why do you think Rocker got so mad?

He was clearly upset at a male couple showing affection. Maybe these boys knew who he was and were holding hands on purpose. I don't know. I do know that Rocker should have been mature enough and professional enough not to react to anything. He should have just walked away. Go home and punch a wall if you're mad. After all, his reputation precedes him. He has to know that people may try to get his goat.

What is it like for your restaurant to suddenly be the subject of all this attention?

There is good and bad. We've gotten a lot of phone calls from yahoos calling us "Fudgepacker Cafe." Someone called claiming to be John Rocker and apologizing to "all the faggots." On the other hand, we have gotten a lot of support. I estimate that we have been 50% busier since it happened.

Is Bread Winners considered a gay place?

We draw a mixed crowd. We're near the gay neighborhood of Oak Lawn, so we get a lot of gays. But it's not the kind of place you would call a gay restaurant.

Why would a guy like Rocker show up?

I understand he lives near Oak Lawn, where a lot of the professional athletes here live. Maybe he's homophobic, but he probably knows good food when he tastes it.

Have you had other celebrities?

Ellen DeGeneres and George Michael have come when they were in town.

John Rocker, Ellen DeGeneres, and George Michael: Which name doesn't belong on this list?

[Laughs] We don't make it a habit to fawn over any celebrity. We serve all sons of people and treat them equally.

Perhaps Rocker didn't know the reputation of the place.

You would have to be blind not to know. The majority of the wait staff and management are gay, including me. We have straight owners, and they are very cool about diversity. [Rocker] had come in before with different groups of people, and he'd never caused any trouble at all.

Is he a good tipper?

We comped him a couple of times because we have a business relationship with the Rangers, and let's just say he wasn't very generous with his gratuity. But we have done promotions with the team and try to stay on good terms.

Do you expect him back?

I don't think that will happen. We never wanted this controversy. We would treat him just like we treat all our customers.

Do you think the Rangers management is condoning his behavior by accepting his side of the story?

We are very carefully trying to build bridges with the club. But I'm not sure the world of sports is ready for an alliance with the homosexual community. We are discussing some things with the Rangers. We want the Rangers to know we did not contact the media. We didn't ask for all this. If people want to be bigots, they should be bigots in the privacy of their own homes.