Pete Rose Again

For some reason Pete Rose decided to speak about his gambling on baseball yet again. He may think his recent admission, that he bet on the Reds to win every game, helps his cause but he is mistaken.

Unfortunately it is way past the point where Pete Rose can reach some sort of reconciliation with baseball. He denied for too long and too adamantly that he never bet on baseball to now say 'ok, I did bet on baseball but it was always for my team to win.' If he had made this admission ten years ago and agreed to never coach, manage or be an executive for a MLB team then maybe Pete Rose would be in the baseball hall of fame today.

Betting on baseball by players and managers brings into question the very integrity of the game itself. Major League Baseball posts a sign in every clubhouse in the league warning players and coaches about the consequences of betting on games. Pete Rose ignored everyone one of those signs everyday that he went to the ballpark knowing he bet on the game which he was involved in. So Pete Rose's lifetime ban must stand.

'Yes, but Pete bet on his team to win,' I hear you say. Well, it still can effect the outcome of games. For instance, say Pete has a lot of money on the Reds to win this game so maybe he keeps the starter in too long or maybe he brings the closer in too early; sure, he's trying to win that game but those actions (and others) could effect tomorrow's game or the starting pitcher's next start. And possibly altering results of games strikes at the integrity of the game itself. So sorry Charlie Hustle, banned from baseball you must remain.

I know other players have been accused of greater crimes than gambling. This is where you're supposed to bring up Ty Cobb who reportedly murdered a man. In society at large, murder is obviously worse than gambling but in the baseball world if fans don't believe the games are honest then baseball will cease to exist. That's why there is the ban on gambling.

So Pete Rose should just keep his mouth shut and just sign his autograph at baseball shows. He probably will never get into the hall of fame but he won't be forgotten by fans who, after all these decades, still remember Shoeless Joe Jackson.