[babygene]

"and why there was so much concern over gambling with the Black sox through to Pete Rose."

Your having a hard time with this it seems...

Actually Pete Rose is one of my favorites. I remember one play he made when he was with the Phillies. where a fly ball bounced out of the mitt of his team mate and Pete was there to catch it before it hit the ground. Outstanding!

It was great to watch these games at the Vet.

And I don't care if he gambled or not.

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

I went to more games than I can count at Riverfront back in the Big Red Machine days, and Pete Rose was second only to Davey Concepcion in my hero-worship. I still hate the aptly-named "Dick" Wagner for breaking up that team. Morgan, Perez, Rose..they never did any good after their Reds days, did they? Whatta Maroon!

It doesn't matter to me personally that Pete Rose gambled, and I think he should be in the Hall of Fame, but I don't think he should ever be allowed to be involved in the competitive end of baseball again. He has proven repeatedly that, great player though he was, he cannot be trusted. Despite the cynicism and big dollars, trust in the integrity of the game is still the lynchpin. If you lose that, you're not really a sport anymore; just a boring version of Survivor