I am lukewarm on Pete Rose's reinstatement into baseball; I think he should be eligible for the Hall of Fame, but forbidden from ever working in the game again. He broke the rules (rules against gambling are prominently displayed in every clubhouse from the lowest levels of the minor leagues all the way to the top), and he's finally admitting it in his new book. With the admission of guilt, if he were allowed to manage again, how could a game decision he made ever be free of questions about possible betting? His behavior for the past fourteen years has done nothing to make him shine brighter in my eyes, and here's a column which points out that even the timing of this book is sleazy. The book is to go on sale Thursday, only two days after the results of the latest election to the Hall are announced. Anyone think the new member or members' joy won't be completely overshadowed by the media crush surrounding Rose? It's a damned shame, and it shows once again that for Pete Rose, the game isn't the most important thing.
Posted by Linkmeister at January 5, 2004 11:48 AMHappy, healthy, prosperous New Year, Linkster!!
Posted by: shelley at January 5, 2004 01:36 PMWhat really gets my goat about the Rose situation, particularly after listening to Selig about Rose being a great-player-not-so-good-human?
Why are we holding a sports figure to a higher standard of performance than our politicians or industry leaders -- people who have far greater impact on our lives on a day-to-day basis than a sports figure?
Posted by: Rayne at January 6, 2004 04:26 AMShoeless Joe Jackson hasn't been reinstated. Pete Rose can go stick his head in a toilet 3 times and pull it out twice. I think he'd do it for $14.
Posted by: Bill at January 6, 2004 07:21 AMWatching Charlie Hustle sliding headfirst into the bases and playing balls-to-the-wall baseball are among my earliest memories of the game. I remember catching the games with my Dad and brother on Saturday mornings, after TWIB, of course, and reveling in the sheer beauty of the game being played so hard.
What he did to the game and his players is shameful, and shilling himself over the past twenty years has made it worse. I've yet to see a recent photo of him where he's not wearing someone's logo. And yet, for his accomplishments ON the field, he is among the best of the best, and he should be in the Hall. But so should Jackson, so let them both in.
Posted by: Skatemom at January 6, 2004 09:03 AMTom Boswell of the WaPo has a good column about the situation. Boswell essentially says Rose hasn't really apologized for anything, and Selig ought to refuse to reinstate him. Since I get SI, I'll wait for the book excerpt this week.
Posted by: Linkmeister at January 6, 2004 02:33 PMI keep intending to write a column about P*** R***'s poisonous effect on the game, but every time I start the gorge rises so fast that I have to stop and settle myself down.
I suppose you can tell that I'm not one of his most ardent apologists.
Posted by: N in Seattle at January 6, 2004 10:52 PMPete Rose lied, gambled and lied again. Would this even be an issue; if he were a 250 hitter lifetime? Rose disgusts me. But his sports journalists apologists are the real slime in this farce.
Joe
US ex-pat in Malaysia
Pete Rose lied, gambled and lied again. Would this even be an issue; if he were a 250 hitter lifetime? Rose disgusts me. But his sports journalists apologists are the real slime in this farce.
Joe
US ex-pat in Malaysia