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Pete Rose Again

News Type: Opinion — Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:32 PM EDT

You bet your baseball life Pete and lost it all.

'Sorry Charlie Hustle, too little too late.

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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.

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{"commentId":587204,"authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}
Michael Sautter

So what do you think, does Pete's recent admission change your mind about him?

{"commentId":587204,"threadId":"85090","contentId":"615735","authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#1 - Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:33 PM EDT
{"commentId":587232,"authorDomain":"jasonford"}
Jason Ford

Pete Rose is an embarrassment to baseball.

{"commentId":587232,"threadId":"85090","contentId":"615735","authorDomain":"jasonford"}
  • 3 votes
Reply#2 - Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:53 PM EDT
{"commentId":587990,"authorDomain":"spookybf"}
Spooky Boyfriend

I used to really admire him; Hard worker, gives the game his all, all knuckles and know-how. ( I have an immigrant's love of the game)

Now, I feel he was trying to dupe the world. Charlie "Hustle" indeed... *sigh*

{"commentId":587990,"threadId":"85090","contentId":"615735","authorDomain":"spookybf"}
  • 2 votes
Reply#3 - Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:59 PM EDT
{"commentId":588961,"authorDomain":"eco-geek"}
Eco-geek

Personally, I'd prefer that someone like Rose, whose indiscretion was unrelated to his performance, was in the hall of fame over someone like Bonds, who more than likely needed a little outside help getting there.

{"commentId":588961,"threadId":"85090","contentId":"615735","authorDomain":"eco-geek"}
  • 3 votes
Reply#4 - Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:58 AM EDT
{"commentId":590971,"authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}
lauhal

I agree. As a player, Rose deserves the nod from Cooperstown. If baseball is going to punish someone for behavior that hurts the game, then they have a long, long, long list of guys who should be banned/punished. There are plenty of players who have brought shame on the game...directly or indirectly.

How about Roberto Alomar spitting in an umpire's face and making a nasty comment about the ump's dead son? How about every player who has gotten busted for steroids? How about guys using corked bats? How about pitchers using pine tar, spit, vaseline, snadpaper, tacks, etc.? How about players who dog it because they want to be traded? How about players who flip off fans or throw things into the stands in anger? How about a player who attacks a cameraman? How about teams that have gotten busted for using technology to steal signs? What about groundskeepers who groom the field to benefit the home team? What about players who are arrested for drugs, domestic abuse, theft, etc.? None of this is good for baseball. Many guys have broken specific baseball rules. Others give baseball a black eye because their association to the game...right or wrong.

Let him in.

{"commentId":590971,"threadId":"85090","contentId":"615735","authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}
  • 2 votes
#4.1 - Sat Mar 17, 2007 9:01 AM EDT
{"commentId":591198,"authorDomain":"spookybf"}
Spooky Boyfriend

If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying

{"commentId":591198,"threadId":"85090","contentId":"615735","authorDomain":"spookybf"}
    #4.2 - Sat Mar 17, 2007 12:32 PM EDT
    Reply
    {"commentId":593780,"authorDomain":"tpanelas"}
    Tom-135345

    In case you're interested, 1968 31-game winner Denny McLain (himself no stranger to gambling problems) comments today on the latest Pete Rose dustup at the .

    {"commentId":593780,"threadId":"85090","contentId":"615735","authorDomain":"tpanelas"}
    • 1 vote
    Reply#5 - Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:25 AM EDT
    {"commentId":593784,"authorDomain":"tpanelas"}
    Tom-135345

    . . . the Encyclopaedia Britannica blog:

    {"commentId":593784,"threadId":"85090","contentId":"615735","authorDomain":"tpanelas"}
    • 1 vote
    #5.1 - Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:27 AM EDT
    Reply
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