Posted on 02/11/2005 5:19:13 AM PST by wingblade
The Unrepentant Pete Rose By Jonathan Leshanski January 9, 2004 ---------------------------------------------------
Well, it was no surprise to anyone that Pete Rose in his new book Pete Rose: My Prison without Bars has finally admitted to gambling on baseball and no surprise to anyone but the most naive of believers that he had gambled on his own team. What astounds me is the outpouring of support that Pete still seems to be getting.
I know that I personally have run the whole gamut of emotions and feelings as to just what should be done with Pete. I know that I respect what Pete accomplished on the field but I have more than a little trepidation about any sort of reinstatement - except in a very conditional and restrictive way. Before the book and the whole brouhaha I actually felt more charitable towards him than I do now. He has played this hand badly and he appears to think that acknowledging his gambling is the same as apologizing for it. He is wrong.
First off, Pete is to put it bluntly a liar. Folks, he lied to all of us for 14 years, proclaiming loudly and publicly that he NEVER bet on baseball to anyone that would listen. Now he insults us by changing the story. Anyone that had ever read the Dowd report knew the truth long before now - and realized that Pete was not being truthful - now everyone knows the truth. Second of all Pete is not contrite.
Now I am a reasonable and moderately charitable human being and I could accept forgiving an alcoholic or an addict that had repented, acknowledged that they had a problem, sought help, and atoned for all the evils that they had bestowed upon their friends, associates and neighbors. But Rose has done none of that. He doesn’t care about anything, or anyone but Pete. That’s his way -it's who he is, and he has not changed an iota over the last 14 years. He’s still a regular in Vegas and other hotbeds of gambling, has not acknowledged that his gambling is a sickness nor has he apologized to the fans, owners or game that he violated.
It's more than just his lack of contrition that gets on my nerves; he either has no understanding or he just doesn't care that he disgraced, and endangered the game that brought him fame. As he himself said in his interview last night “Baseball owes me nothing.” He’s right, it doesn’t - he owes everything to baseball, his money, his fame, his career, his fans and he was and still appears willing to damage the game’s credibility and integrity even today. It is certainly something that baseball should be wary of in light of the resurgence of the game over the past few seasons.
Pro Pete fans have argued that he only bet on his team to win and because of that, what he did was an error but a forgivable one. It ignores the rule that bans anyone associated with gambling, or game fixing from the game forever*. The argument is insane. What bookie in his right mind would have taken a bet from a baseball manager who was betting against his own team? I mean a manager might not be able to make his team win - but any manager who cannot make his team lose really is totally inept.
Now Pete wants to be reinstated - and he has an ulterior motive beyond hoping someone would be stupid enough to let him manage again or the cash that his book will bring - it’s because he only has 5 years left in which the writers can still vote him into the Hall of Fame.
Of course, this will be remembered as commissioner Bud Selig’s defining moment - the one thing for which he will be remembered -but only if he re-instates Rose. Most of us don’t expect a lot from Bud anymore and his caving into Pete over unconditional re-instatement would be the ultimate insult. Selig has a chance to show class here.
Selig should turn and say, “thanks very much for the admission Pete, we knew you gambled - and that you were a liar too. Now the public knows it and there is vindication as to why you received a lifetime ban. We’ll live up to that ban and the word lifetime - you can be reinstated for Hall of Fame consideration posthumously, when the veterans committee - and not the writers and public will determine if you have a place in the hall. This is an internal baseball matter not one in which the writers and public should decide your fate. You’ll get the ultimate in justice - trial by a jury of your peers - the best players living. They can decide if you deserve a place among them in the Hall of Fame or if you should be like Joe Jackson - acknowledged in the hall, but never allowed to enter - unless of course you pay the $9.50 admission fee like everyone else.”
That being said, Pete did accomplish a lot on the field. No one will ever forget what he did or the fact that he is the all time hits leader - but as far as his character he leaves much to be desired. I’d be ok with a conditional re-instatement. Who better than Pete to teach clinics inspire love of the game and to lecture players on the evils of gambling?
As an ambassador of the game he would find no shortage of groups to lecture, kids to teach, and even serve as an example for the future - it might mitigate the damage Rose did to the integrity of the sport and one day even influence the Hall of Famers to consider admitting him to their ranks - but there is no way that Pete Rose should ever be allowed to work for any organization again in any way in which he could ever influence action on the field.
And Pete you should know, that if you ever found an organization stupid enough to hire you in any capacity beyond being a figurehead - you’ll be under a microscope for the rest of your days - if you slip up even once there will never be another chance for forgiveness.
*This is MLB Rule 21(d): BETTING ON BALL GAMES. Any player, umpire, or club official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform shall be declared ineligible for one year.
Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.
My beef with Baseball is that they can forgive drugs, steroids, they can forgive spitting in an Umpires face, but they cant give Pete Rose what is due him.
Every record made in the last ten years is under suspicion of the Steroid problem, who actually broke a record without the use of steroids? But yet they cant have Pete making a bet. Its time they got over it. They and the writer of this article believe Pete hasnt gotten on his knees enough for them , hasnt kissed their asses the proper amount yet.
Your argument is somewhat valid as baseball has a number of ills it needs to cure.
However, those ills compared to Rose betting on games is like the difference between viewing porn and actual adultery.
Rose receives his due every time someone pays for his autograph.
Fans receive their due when Rose and others who denigrate the game, its traditions and records are denied HOF credentials.
Your post #3.....well said. Thank you.
My beef with Baseball is that they can forgive drugs, steroids, they can forgive spitting in an Umpires face, but they cant give Pete Rose what is due him.
You can argue about what sorts of behaviors should lead to be banned or suspended, but there can be no argument that gambling on your team can only be answered by a lifetime ban.
Anything less would lead baseball fans to question whether what they’re seeing on the field is an actual sporting contest or a rigged pro-wrestling-style waste of time.
Using your logic a Jockey would not be able to bet on a horse he is riding.
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