Really Good Pete Rose Article

[muddie]

From Yahoo Sports page David Brown does a really good Q&A plus with Pete. I don't see this posted elsewhere. If I'm missing seeing it please delete.

Can it really be 25 years since Pete Rose retired as a Major League Baseball player? The man called "Charlie Hustle" collected 4,256 career base hits for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos, more than any other player in history.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big...rn=mlb-wp27466

[MartyFan]

Understanding that Rose is 70 and has never really been known for his social graces, I laughed out loud as I cringed by this exchange!

DB: We know you like Elvis. What other kinds of music do you listen to?

PR: All kinds. Eminem's the best. Usher. Michael Jackson was a great entertainer. But Eminem — who would have thought that the best rapper in the world would be white and the best golfer in the world would be black, in Tiger Woods?

[GADawg]

Understanding that Rose is 70 and has never really been known for his social graces, I laughed out loud as I cringed by this exchange!

no matter your age it IS amazing that the best golfer in the world is a black man(despite what the most recent rankings might tell you)....and the eminem thing? I dunno about the best but he's no Vanilla Ice!

[alexad]

I think it was a great story. I have never met Pete but hope to some
Day. Pete Jr lives up the road from me in the next subdivision. Who knows maybe I will run into him soon.

[Hap]

I loved Pete the player and Pete the manager as much as anyone else, and I also enjoyed most of this article. However, I feel as if I must play the role of Buzz Killington by disputing what I perceive to be some glaring inconsistencies.

Pete says he hasn't bet on baseball since 1987. Although I have no concrete proof that he is lying, I disagree completely with that statement. As a compulsive gambler, he is/was an addict, just the same as someone who is compulsively addicted to alcohol or drugs. I seriously doubt that he suddenly stopped. And I seriously doubt that he no longer feels the compulsive urge.

He says he never bet on baseball as a player. Again, I disagree completely. John Erardi states in the introduction to his book Wire To Wire that he heard from Pete's own mother that Pete "lost a bundle" on the 1984 World Series (while he was still an active player). These two statements cannot both be true at the same time. Regarding Erardi and Rose, which one of these gentlemen has more credibility? The respected journalist, or the compulsive liar/gambling addict?

He says he doesn't go to casinos And when he goes to baseball games, he pays for his ticket? I seriously doubt both of these statements also.

And at the end of the article, he becomes a Paterno supporter? Yikes.............

[MartyFan]

I loved Pete the player and Pete the manager as much as anyone else, and I also enjoyed most of this article. However, I feel as if I must play the role of Buzz Killington by disputing what I perceive to be some glaring inconsistencies.

In a Pete Rose story????

Pete says he hasn't bet on baseball since 1987. Although I have no concrete proof that he is lying, I disagree completely with that statement. As a compulsive gambler, he is/was an addict, just the same as someone who is compulsively addicted to alcohol or drugs. I seriously doubt that he suddenly stopped. And I seriously doubt that he no longer feels the compulsive urge.

No concrete proof? Any Proof?

I'll share a story.

My dad smoked from the time he was 14 years old. At the age of 68 he went to the docotr and the doctor said, "Jim, we need to get that spot tested on your gums...spot tested, not cancer but my dad stopped smoking that day. He is 84.

It is rare but it can happen when people can simply walk away from things...Hopefully Pete is one of them.

He says he never bet on baseball as a player. Again, I disagree completely. John Erardi states in the introduction to his book Wire To Wire that he heard from Pete's own mother that Pete "lost a bundle" on the 1984 World Series (while he was still an active player). These two statements cannot both be true at the same time. Regarding Erardi and Rose, which one of these gentlemen has more credibility? The respected journalist, or the compulsive liar/gambling addict?

Agreed.

He says he doesn't go to casinos And when he goes to baseball games, he pays for his ticket? I seriously doubt both of these statements also.

Why? Pete wasn't one to go to casino's before and he "according to the rules of his banishment" has to buy his own ticket...maybe he does, maybe someone buys him a ticket, maybe it is a staffer? I don't know either but I do know it isn't paid for by the commissioners office nor is it paid for using MLB funds.

And at the end of the article, he becomes a Paterno supporter? Yikes.............

Agreed...YIKES!

Also, he like O'whatshisname

For the record, I do not think Pete should be allowed back in MLB at any level and I think his induction to the HOF should only come after his passing.

that's just me.

[westofyou]

Someday someone from Cincinnati will sign an autograph, "I'm sorry I bet on Pete Rose."

[LvJ]

One of the best interviews with Pete that I've read!

[George Anderson]

Pete always has given a good interview.

He always says something interesting.

[savafan]

Rob Neyer adds his $0.02

http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/11/27/2...lig-suspension

[dougdirt]

Never let him in. Ever.

[mbgrayson]

Never let him in. Ever.

I couldn't disagree more. A 22 year ban is enough punishment. I am just shocked by this sentiment. After all, we have Mark McGuire back in the game, coaching the Cards. We have had cocaine users, juicers, drunks, racists, criminals, drunk drivers, and other gamblers (like Ty Cobb) continue in baseball with barely a peep.

Let Pete have his eligibilty for the Hall, and keep him out of baseball if that's what we have to do as a compromise. Let him have a fair shot at the votes needed to get in.

Pete Rose is a liar, a compulsive gambler, and yet the most competitive (and in many ways the best) baseball player I have ever seen. I won't go back to the HOF till they let him in.

[dougdirt]

I couldn't disagree more. A 22 year ban is enough punishment. I am just shocked by this sentiment. After all, we have Mark McGuire back in the game, coaching the Cards. We have had cocaine users, juicers, drunks, racists, criminals, drunk drivers, and other gamblers (like Ty Cobb) continue in baseball with barely a peep.

Let Pete have his eligibilty for the Hall, and keep him out of baseball if that's what we have to do as a compromise. Let him have a fair shot at the votes needed to get in.

Pete Rose is a liar, a compulsive gambler, and yet the most competitive (and in many ways the best) baseball player I have ever seen. I won't go back to the HOF till they let him in.

What is the only rule written on the wall in every locker room in baseball?

If someone is stupid enough to go ahead and break the only rule that baseball cares enough about to plaster it in plain view in every locker room, then you get what you deserve. What Mark McGwire did is in no way comparable to what Pete Rose did. At all. And for the record, Pete is a criminal as well. So now he has a double whammy.

[mbgrayson]

What is the only rule written on the wall in every locker room in baseball?

If someone is stupid enough to go ahead and break the only rule that baseball cares enough about to plaster it in plain view in every locker room, then you get what you deserve. What Mark McGwire did is in no way comparable to what Pete Rose did. At all. And for the record, Pete is a criminal as well. So now he has a double whammy.

I am sick of hearing that the gambling rule is the only rule posted on the locker room. Now mind you, I have never been in a MLB clubhouse, but I understand that the entire text of Rule 21 was posted therein. Here is that rule:

MAJOR LEAGUE RULES
Rule 21
MISCONDUCT

(a) MISCONDUCT IN PLAYING BASEBALL. Any player or person connected with a
club who shall promise or agree to lose, or to attempt to lose, or to fail
to give his best efforts towards the winning of any baseball game with
which he is or may be in any way concerned; or who shall intentionally
fail to give his best efforts towards the winning of any such baseball
game, or who shall solicit or attempt to induce any player or person
connected with a club to lose, or attempt to lose, or to fail to give his
best efforts towards the winning of any baseball game with which such
other player or person is or may be in any way connected; or who, being
solicited by any person, shall fail to inform his Major League President
and the Commissioner.

(b) GIFT FOR DEFEATING COMPETING CLUB. Any player or person connected
with a club who shall offer or give any gift or reward to a player or
person connected with another club for services rendered or supposed to
be or to have been rendered in defeating or attempting to defeat a
competing club, and any player or person connected with a club who
shall solicit or accept from a player connected with another club any
gifts or reward for any such services rendered, or supposed to have
been rendered, or who having been offered any such gift or reward,
shall fail to inform his League President or the Commissioner
immediately of such offer, and of all facts and circumstances therewith,
shall be declared ineligible for not less than three (3) years.

(c) GIFTS TO UMPIRES Any player or person connected with a club, who
shall give, or offer to give, any gift or reward to an umpire for services
rendered, or supposed to be or to have been rendered, in defeating or
attempting to defeat a competing club, or for the umpire's decision on
anything connected with the playing of a baseball game; and any umpire
who shall render, or promise or agree to render, any such decision
otherwise than on its merits, or who shall solicit or accept such gifts
or reward, or having been solicited to render any such decision
otherwise than on its merits, shall fail to inform the League President
or the Commissioner immediately of such offer or solicitation, and all
facts and circumstances therewith, shall be declared permanently ineligible.

(d) BETTING ON BALL GAMES. Any player, umpire, or club official or
employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in
connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform shall be declared
ineligible for one year.

Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall
bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which
the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.

(e) VIOLENCE OR MISCONDUCT IN INTERLEAGUE GAMES. In case of any physical
attack or other violence upon an umpire by a player, or by an umpire upon
a player, or of other misconduct by an umpire or a player, during or in
connection with any interleague Major League game or any exhibition game
of a Major League Club with a club or team not a member of the same league,
the Commissioner shall impose upon the offender or offenders such fine,
suspension, ineligibility or other penalty, as the facts may warrant in
the judgement of the Commissioner.

(f) OTHER MISCONDUCT. Nothing herein contained shall be construed as
exclusively defining or otherwise limiting acts, transactions, practices
or conduct not to be in the best interests of Baseball; and any and all
other acts, transactions, practices or conduct not to be in the best
interests of Baseball are prohibited and shall be subject to such
penalties, including permanent ineligibility, as the facts in the
particular case may warrant.

(g) RULE TO BE KEPT POSTED. A printed copy of this Rule shall be kept
posted in each clubhouse.

So it is simply untrue to state that only the gambling rule is posted in every clubhouse.

Secondly, I indicated in my earlier post that I have no problem with Pete remaining permanently ineligible, as called for in this rule.

My problem is with the rule adopted that linked being on the permanently ineligible to play list with eligibility for the HOF ballots. This rule was put in place right AFTER Pete made his deal to not contest the commissioner's finding that he bet on baseball. It is also worth noting once again that Pete's deal with MLB specifically provided for his right to request reinstatement after one year. He has made that request, and MLB has left it sit in limbo for YEARS.

Pete Rose had every reason to expect that when he made his original deal with MLB to be placed on the permanently ineligible to play list, that he could still be elected into the HOF.

There is frankly far too little acknowledgement of the fact that although Rose did wrong big time, he has not gotten what he had a right to expect from MLB; a fair shot at the HOF.

And BTW, I think what McGuire did was far worse: he actually cheated in how he played the game by taking steroids, cheapening the single season HR record forever.

[savafan]

And BTW, I think what McGuire did was far worse: he actually cheated in how he played the game by taking steroids, cheapening the single season HR record forever.

Let's not leave out the guy who holds the career homerun record as well.