The Pete Rose mess

[kellinator]

I've read many excellent articles on the Pete Rose revelations, many linked by you guys, so I'm not even going to try to narrow it down. I'm just going to post a poll.

[Poll #229771]

My opinion: Pete Rose may have finally overestimated the affection of the fans. I think the assumption that all he had to do was say he was sorry and all would be forgiven was correct -- of course, he hasn't actually said he's sorry, just sorry he got caught. In addition, he's proven himself greedy, self-serving, and disrespectful to this year's Hall of Fame class (congratulations to Dennis Eckersley and Paul Molitor). A backlash would not surprise me at all.

I agree with Terrence Moore on ESPN last night -- there are a lot of players in the Hall of Fame who were not men of character. It's the Baseball Hall of Fame, not the Character Hall of Fame -- and frankly, I think we'd be better off as a society if there was a Character Hall of Fame somewhere, but that doesn't make money. So let him in, because he was undeniably a great player. But for heaven's sake, DON'T let Rose manage again. And while you're at it, let Shoeless Joe in too. If Rose gets in, so should he.

(Oh, and in only tangentially related information, the good folks who make ESPN's Page Two, and especially the Daily Quickie, such a snarky highlight of my day have my heart.)

Comments

[fanagle.livejournal.com]

Living in Cincinnati, it is Pete Rosemania non-stop. I think he's a crappy person, but his baseball record should stand away from that. So sure, let him into the hall of fame, but don't give him another job where baseball is concerned.

Side note: I would like to make a plea to the Cincinnati media, please stop showing his face during every commercial break of every show ever aired, ever. He's not attractive, he oozes slime, and I'm sick of him. And quit with the Marge Schott perspective. She's just as morally repulsive as he is.

[darkmattr.livejournal.com]

The guy bet on baseball games, the guy is one of the reasons professional sports have lost any pretense of being americas golden pasttime.

There were plenty of men who were not of character, and I don't agree with any of them being in the hall of fame, personal life is personal, but this guy is accused of degrading the game for personal profit, not sleeping with a 2 bit hooker in 1928.

[dslartoo.livejournal.com]

Good grief, Terence Moore has actually said something I agree with?

I share your views (and apparently his). My letter to Playboy (which they printed) after their Pete Rose interview published a few years back went something like this:

"I fail to understand MLB's continued refusal to allow Rose into the Hall of Fame. Ty Cobb, for example, was a violent, vicious racist, a foul-mouthed drunkard, and so objectionable that even his own teammates couldn't stand him. But he was also a hard-charging player who raised the bar for what was possible in the game.

Ty Cobb is in the Hall of Fame. Why isn't Pete Rose?"

I see no reason to add to this now. My opinion stands.

cheers,
Phil

[hooper-x.livejournal.com]

Because.

Seriously, Ty Cobb was an asshole and a half, but he was A: a better player than Charlie Hustle, and B: he didn't DIRECTLY VIOLATE THE SANCTITY OF THE GAME.

Being a violent thug is one thing. LOTS of athletes these days are violent thugs, look at the fucking NFL. But that's off the field.
BETTING ON THE TEAM YOU ARE CURRENTLY MANAGING? That's being a fuck-up *on the field*.

If Rose gets in, then they need to let Shoeless Joe in, too.

-HX

[azurelunatic]

I still have no opinion of the fellow, not being a sports fan.