PETE ROSE ADMITS BETTING ON BASEBALL IN NEW BOOK

ESPN ^ | 1/3/2004 | ESPN.COM

[Ghengis]

I grew up worshipping Pete Rose. I tried to emulate everything he did on the ballfield. I took a lot of ribbing and was given the nickname "Pete Moss" from my pals.

When Rose was banned in 1989, I was literally sick. I was angry at Bart Giammatti, John Dowd and any other accusor towards Pete. Over the years, I pulled the blinders off and became disgusted with Pete's in your face denial when it was evident to me that he had bet on baseball. He is, in a nutshell, baseball's Bill Clinton.

I will never look up to another man or woman as I did Pete Rose again. I suppose that's a healthy thing.

[dakine]

This is a touchy subject, times were different then... Ty Cobb's attitude was the norm back in those days...

You can't hold folks raised back in those days to the standards of today, there are only so many brave folks (baseball reference i.e. Branch Rickey) that are outside the norm of their day...

[smith288]

You think Rose doesn't hate Bart Giamatti or John Dowd?

No. Its my opinion Rose and Bartlett had an agreement about reinstatement in the near future after signing but Bartless died. But I dont think anyone can say what is in Rose's heart compared to Cobb who was openly hateful.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Come on, next thing you'll tell me President Clinton really did have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Your winnings, sir.

[fhayek]

The problem is that if he lost enough to the wrong people, he might be "induced" to take actions that would not be in the best interest of the team he was managing. Little things like leaving a pitcher in too long, or fielding a weaker team on a given day. You cannot serve two masters.

[RossA]

There are more questions to be settled. Namely, did he bet on his own team? against his own team?

[Mr. Mojo]

After pointing his crooked finger in our faces for 15 years and telling us (as if he were offended that we'd even question him) that he never bet on baseball, Rose has a lot of nerve changing his story now. This guy is pure scum, and I hope he never gets inducted in the HOF.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

If Rose is to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, I hope it is done posthumously, so he never gets the satisfaction.

[OldFriend]

Let Rose into the Hall of Fame, after all the economy was good during his playing years.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Oh.

Never thought of it that way.
I guess since I never bet on anything but me, I never considered the cost of losing.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Of course, if morality doesn't matter....

Rose deserves a portrait hanging in the Clinton Library.

[tallhappy]

Keep Rose out of the HoF and Baseball.

[Mr. Mojo]

Ty CObb was a well documented hateful racist. Rose is not. Rose is flawed but isnt hateful.

So? Is it illegal to be a racist? (I'm sure there are plenty of racists in the league right now). But it IS illegal to bet on MLB baseball if you're employed in the game. .....And that's what Rose did. And then he lied about it for 15 years. Cobb belongs in the Hall, Rose doesn't. Period. And btw, The Georgia Peach was a considerably better player.

[dennisw]

I love Ty Cobb and Tommy Lee Jones movie too.

[AmishDude]

I believe it was Ted Williams who advocated putting Shoeless Joe Jackson into the HoF because, upon his death, he had served his lifetime ban.

[pbear8]

"I did not have sex with that woman..."

"I did not bet on baseball..."

So what 's the difference?

[smith288]

And that's what Rose did.

As a manager, duh. Put him in the hall as a player. Ban him forever post career (never mention his managerial career).

And no, being racist isnt illegal but if this is about character, Rose is one of many who arent exactly boy scouts DURING his playing career.

[dakine]

I named my cat T.C....

[sinkspur]

If Pete is not admitted into the Hall of Fame. especially in an era where cocaine users are repeatedly given new life by greedy owners, then there is no justice.

Rose was the greatest player of my generation and to not admit him, regardless of the circumstances off the field, is a damn joke.

Well said. The Hall is full of drunks and wife-beaters.

If Rose admits and apologizes, he ought to be in.