Free Republic

Cincinnati Reds legend Johnny Bench apologized Sunday for an antisemitic comment he had made a day earlier during a team event. Bench was in attendance Saturday at a news conference to honor former Reds general manager Gabe Paul, who was Jewish, and former pitchers Danny Graves and Bronson Arroyo. The trio was being inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame. Paul, who died in 1998, was represented at the event by his daughter, Jennie Paul. Near the end of the news conference, Pete Rose recalled his first contract negotiation with Gabe Paul, saying: "When I got out of high school...

Baseball legend Pete Rose took a shot at his former teammate and Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench on Thursday during an appearance on “The Brian Kilmeade Show.” Rose fired back after Bench refused to budge from his view that the former Cincinnati Reds star should be excluded from the Baseball Hall of Fame for gambling on the sport in 1989. “It don't bother me but you know Johnny Bench is one guy who should thank God I was born,” Rose told host Brian Kilmeade. “Because he never would have made the Hall of Fame if I wasn't born.” Kilmeade...

Earlier today, former Cincinnati Reds catcher Johnny Bench introduced President Bush at a rally at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati: In Cincinnati, I have to think Bench's endorsement is worth some votes. President Bush has gotten some striking athletic endorsements--Bench, John Elway, Curt Schilling, and quite a few others--while, as far as I know, Kerry has gotten none. Maybe that's why Kerry is so obsessive about throwing balls around at airports. Now, if only the Bush campaign could land Brett Favre... UPDATE: Hah! It's true what they say about Karl Rove. Dusty Tryggestad writes: Actually, my mom recieved a...