The good things occurred over 25 years ago, the game is popular and has/is still weathering the steroid era and its fallout
The game is seeing record revenues, and meanwhile Pete sells stuff at a card table in Vegas... Stuff that says... Sorry I bet on baseball
Baseball has nothing to gain by celebrating the living, breathing enigma Peter Edward Rose. Only one person benefits from that happening and chances are it won't happen while he is alive
Not trying to turn this into yet another in-depth Rose discussion, but here is what has always bugged me:
The Rose "defenders" say things "he loves the game so much" and he "poured his heart into it" etc etc
But here's what gets me: Being the manager of the Cincinnati Reds WASN'T enough for Pete. It wasn't good enough. It didn't excite or energize him enough. He didn't love it enough to be content with what it was. He felt a consistent need to up the ante (literally and figuratively) and that proves to me that Pete probably didn't love the game itself as much as we think he did
that is a different angle for sure and one that I can see....not sure I fully agree but I see your point and its got my brain thinking for sure....my biggest thoughts on Pete are this.....Pete played the game the way I think everyone should play it...I wish my kids knew more of Pete the player as opposed to Pete the cheat, but the way he played the game should be idolized by everyone and anyone associated with the game, especially us Reds fans. The way pete handled himself off the field and the way he has gone about his life post scandal, well that is a chapter that I for one want to forget and I hope Pete realizes it in the same manner that us fans do....Maybe this series will give him a chance to turn that perception of him around...but like stated above, reality series managment wants to see drama.....they dont want a quiet and polite Pete, they want entertainment......lets see how it goes.
I will still forever be a fan and will never forget where I was when 4192 was hit....right there along with Brownings Perfecto.
I thought this was an interesting quote:
Rose says that the show will afford him the opportunity to clear up misconceptions that he believes the public has about him. “People will get a chance to see what kind of personality I have — and she has.”
From the description of one of the episodes it looks like his wife is going to have less personality.
I will bet you that I don't watch this.
I will watch at least a couple shows. I am still a Rose fan, but reality TV I can do without.
And FWIW, I don't see how he can be accurately called 'Pete the cheat'. He didn't cheat baseball, he just bet on the sport. I haven't seen a bit of proof that he cheated.
Now Mark McGuire, you know, the Cardinals current hitting coach, he cheated. ARod, he cheated. Giambi, he cheated. Etc. But Pete did not cheat....
__________________
"I think we’re starting to get to the point where people are starting to get tired of this stretch of ball,” Votto said. “I think something needs to start changing and start going in a different direction. I’m going to do my part to help make that change.”
Didn't he cheat on his taxes? And wives?
Maybe the taxes part isn't right, maybe he just wasn't paying. I don't know. He certainly cheated on some ladies though.
And for the record, Pete absolutely cheated baseball, the Reds and the city of Cincinnati. They could have all been celebrating something great. But they can't because Pete was too selfish and cheated them right out of being able to do it.
Last edited by dougdirt; 07-19-2012 at 09:19 PM.
In my tiny little world, it's still okay to hero-worship, even if that hero is fatally flawed.
"I prefer books and movies where the conflict isn't of the extreme cannibal apocalypse variety I guess." Redsfaithful
there's no denying 'ole Pete is arrogant, probably selfish, and not the guy you want to model your life after BUT to call him out for cheating on his taxes? cheating on women? My accountant and I have had many heart to heart conversations about where the proverbial line is and I'm sure we've crossed over the dark side of it more than once...not exactly gonna get me put in the klink but the same principle nonetheless...ethically speaking. Cheating on women? Do we really wanna take an honest poll on that one?
Like most of you I've always loved Pete the player and cringed at Pete the person but I've always been able to seperate the two because I think he's probably just not that smart of a guy. A regular guy with an extraordinary opportunity to make alot of bad decisions. As for watching that show....the guy is an idiot and that makes for great entertainment....I'm in.
Pete cheated on his income reported, he sold tons of stuff (ie he changed his jersey between innings during the hits record game and sold them and didn't report the income)
He manipulated cash and the folks (ie bobos) that worshipped him, he was a great ball player, he wasn't the best, he was the guy who got the most at bats, his greatness was consistency, tenacity, longevity, aggressiveness.
Unfortunately his weakness (gambling/egomania) coupled with the aforementioned created/creates a toxic batch of YEECH....something MLB will (and should) stay away from.
I LOVED Pete when he was a Red, I was number 14 in everything, when he went FA I was bummed, he came back I was happy.... But now I'm done.
I know what a scam is and Pete makes me feel played.
That said... Here's my Rose fact of the day:
Pete was a doubles machine, but Joey might have him trumped, PR had 9 seasons out of his 24 that he hit more than 36 doubles, his best year was 1978 (walk year) with 51 that was 1/14.3 pa's
Votto has 36 right now in 370 pa's, 1/10.3
BTW that 51 is the team record, Robby also had 51 in 1962, which also was the year he had the Cincinnati record for EBHs
Currently Votto is averaging an EBH every 7.4 PA and at 650 PAs (at that rate) he will still fall about 5 EBHs behind
OK back to PR the hit king and the enigma of seven hills.
It's pretty pathetic to me that baseball forgives steroid users, alcoholics, cocaine addicts, wife beaters, etc but won't forgive a compulsive gambler.
This is the ol Left Hander rounding third and heading for home.
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