Pete Rose

[bluetailfly3]

He has been in the news alot lately, and I needed to vent some frustrations.Pete Rose was one of the greatest baseball players of all time.He bet on baseball.So what.To me, there are alot worse things he could have done.It kills me to watch as players today (ie Barry Bonds) are being invested for steroids, corked bats, etc.In my opinion, using those things are alot worse than gambling.There is no one out there that can say Michael Jordan didn't bet on basketball while he was playing.If everyone remembers right, they started to investigate him, and then all of sudden the investigation and story just sort of dissappeared under the rug.I don't get why sports writers hate Pete Rose so much.You have guys like Darryl Strawberry who got busted like 5 or 6 times for using coke, but they don't ban him from baseball for like.Which would you rather have your kids see, drug, steroid, and corked bat using players, or some guy who bet on a few games of baseball?

[NitnayLion]

Fact is Pete pissed off the comissioner

[Nilly_Chipples]

I personally do not know too much about baseball BUT, this incident seems to me like they were just looking for a tiny little reason to piss on him. JMO

[FrYGuY]

Repeat after me.

It's the Hall of FAME.

Pete Rose is a FAMOUS baseball player.

Induct him.

[Roadblock]

I now have mixed feelings. I am a huge Pete Rose "the player" fan, always was, always will be. I also believe that he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, as a player for what he did on the field. But, Pete doesn't care as much about being in the hall, as he does returning to the game as a manager etc .

Here is the problem. In order to be voted into the Hall, his lifetime ban must be lifted. If the ban is lifted, he would eligible to re enter the game in any capacity. That is the way the rule is written. If he were to return as a mananger etc, their would always be a cloud of suspicion over his head. He lied so easily for 13 years, that it is doubtful that he could ever be trusted again. Had he come clean several years ago, all might have been forgiven eventually. We will never know that now.

As I said, I have been a lifetime Reds and Pete Rose fans, going back to 1969 when I was 9 years old. Nobody played the game with as much intensity, desire and passion that Pete Rose did. I would easily be in favor of him becoming eligible for the hall of fame, but in order to have that happen, the ban must be lifted, allowing him to return to the game. This is truly a quandry, unless they change the current rules :(

[NealT]

I say he can be inducted into the Hall of Fame...once he is dead. Until then, the ban has to stay in place and he stays out. To do otherwise would be a slap in the face to those players who did stay clean.

[bluetailfly3]

what is the definition of clean?Dennis Eckersley got inducted this year, and he wasn't a "clean" player his entire career.Babe Ruth was anything but an upstanding citizen.

[Roadblock]

BTF makes a great point. The Baseball Hall of Fame isn't about being clean. Many of the players there are far from it, and have committed many "questionable" acts during and after their playing days. The problem with gambling on the game, is that it goes to the heart of the integrity of the game it's self. I still feel that Pete deserves to be in the hall, based on what he did as a player. The problem continues to be the way the rule is currently written (or has been since 1989). He cannot be considered eligible for the hall as long as he is banned, unless they change the rule(s). If they could lift that part of the ban, I would be in favor of it. I can't right now say that it would be good for baseball or fair if he was let back in the game it'self. There would always be a cloud of suspicion and doubt over his head. I believe that he is a gambling addict, and still in denial about it. If I were in his shoes, I would want to remove myself from gambling of any sort, to convince people of how sorry I was, and how intent I was on making changes in my life, but that is me. ;)

[NealT]

Originally posted by Roadblock
BTF makes a great point. The Baseball Hall of Fame isn't about being clean. Many of the players there are far from it, and have committed many "questionable" acts during and after their playing days. The problem with gambling on the game, is that it goes to the heart of the integrity of the game it's self. I still feel that Pete deserves to be in the hall, based on what he did as a player. The problem continues to be the way the rule is currently written (or has been since 1989). He cannot be considered eligible for the hall as long as he is banned, unless they change the rule(s). If they could lift that part of the ban, I would be in favor of it. I can't right now say that it would be good for baseball or fair if he was let back in the game it'self. There would always be a cloud of suspicion and doubt over his head. I believe that he is a gambling addict, and still in denial about it. If I were in his shoes, I would want to remove myself from gambling of any sort, to convince people of how sorry I was, and how intent I was on making changes in my life, but that is me. ;)

I think he tried doing that with his interview with Charlie Gibson I believe...but he did not come across as sincere to me. And perhaps I did not articulate myself enough when I said "clean". No...no one is 'squeaky clean'. However, there are certain things that cross so far over the line that I personally just cannot excuse them...That is why I say he can be inducted, after he has passed on (which I hope is not soon because I would not want anyone dead). That way, people still understand that he WAS great...but there is no chance that he comes back to the game.

[bluetailfly3]

I agree with RB..I wish they could just lift the ban on him being in the hall of fame.I think he has a very serious gambling problem, and like any addiction, it's hard to face the truth about your problem.I think that's why he lied for so long and I think he continues to lie about some details.