Burton Rocks ’94, who faced severe childhood asthma and spent much of his school years in hospitals, has produced an award-winning documentary almost 40 years later. The 30-minute film, "Burton Rocks Calling," features interviews with sports legends such as Charles Barkley and Nolan Ryan, Hollywood figures like Buddy Hackett and Mickey Rooney, and rare conversations with Negro League legends Buck Leonard and Buck O’Neil.
The project began in 1985 when a bored 13-year-old Rocks, confined to a hospital bed, decided to contact some of his sports heroes. “There wasn’t much to do at the hospital so I figured I’d call former Dodgers player Duke Snider,” he said. Despite the lack of internet or social media at the time, Rocks managed to track down Snider's home phone number and spoke with him.
Encouraged by this success, Rocks continued reaching out to other notable figures over the next 22 years. His last interview was with actor Mickey Rooney in 2007. Years later, after a flood destroyed much of his childhood home’s contents, Rocks discovered that his mother had saved his recordings. “When I asked her why she saved them, she said ‘one day they’re going to be valuable,’” said Rocks.
Inspired by his mother's words and encouragement from his cousin David Dortort, a Hollywood screenwriter and producer of "Bonanza," Rocks decided to move forward with the project. He funded it himself with help from his parents and hired family friend Bob Holtzman as producer.
"Burton Rocks Calling" has since won awards at WorldFest Houston, Oniros Film Awards, International Filmmaker Festival of New York, and the Toronto Documentary Feature and Short Film Festival. Reflecting on the process that led to these interviews, Rocks remarked that it is something that could not be replicated today due to changes in how athletes interact with fans.
Rocks hopes his documentary will inspire a new generation’s interest in journalism. “I would like to see Major League Baseball and the players association work together and have a kid’s journalism day where they can meet and talk to their heroes,” he said.
Extending his outreach efforts further, Rocks and his father Lawrence created a YouTube channel called Larry’s Big Adventures featuring animated cartoons based on Lawrence's scientific work. “They’re science cartoons all based on my father’s patents and life work,” said Rocks.
Reflecting on his own journey through Stony Brook University Honors College as a Chemistry major before switching paths due to health issues triggered by lab work chemicals like formaldehyde, Rocks expressed gratitude for the opportunities that led him into journalism.
— Robert Emproto