The Return of Pete Rose

[wrveres]

It really is simple ...

The entire object of baseball is to hit the ball. Period. The person who has the most hits must somehow be represented. Give him a plaque. Call him a Wife Beater, Drunk, Murder, Druggie, Gambler .. Long haired greasy eyed son of a bitch ... it doesn't matter. Heck put all of that on his Plaque. It doesn't matter.

A piece of wood with bronze on it is not going to effect the game as it is played today. Soon doctors will report what I have known for years, "That in excess of 95% of the population has Adult A.D.D." and this Pete thing will be a non story within 6 months.

Do we all get to be on medication ???

[blankman]

The flawed argument of a double standard always arises during a debate about Pete Rose. You know, "Darryl Strawberry...Steve Howe… drug dealers…wife beaters...rapists… why can't Pete get a second chance when these guys have been given so many chances?"

This is bogus logic. Nothing in baseball's rulebook says a player caught snorting coke, smoking pot or beating up his wife will be banished for life. This isn't about the laws of society. Rose was banned because he violated a rule posted on every clubhouse wall in major league baseball: anyone betting on the game will be banned for life. It leaves no room for interpretation and there's no fine print at the bottom, listing possible exceptions.

Pete's pride/stubbornness/arrogance will not allow him to admit guilt or remorse or apologize for betting on baseball, including games played by the Reds, the team he was managing at the time (how some folks think that's no problem is beyond me). He has done nothing to demonstrate to the powers-that-be that he is attempting to overcome his gambling problem. That's up to him. But then, baseball can't be blamed for refusing to reinstate him. Pete "can't do nothing" and expect reinstatement.

By betting on games in which he had a hand in the outcome, Pete compromised the integrity and credibility of the game.

well said.

He broke THE rule and has done nothing at all to rectify his huge error. Leave his stuff(baseballs, bats) in the hall, but leave Pete where he belongs, out of baseball and the hall. He is still represented in the hall, so anyone who goes there will know about him. He does not need to be enshrined for people to know about his accomplishments and based on his actions and the rules, he does not deserve to be enshrined.

The whole sympathy-based arguement holds no water, since allowing him in would undermine the intergrity of the sport. Its their rule and their rule needs to be enforced.

As Lofunzo said and I fully agree: "The game will be spineless if they back down now."

[HOOTIE]

[quote=
Please provide me with an example as to where Ty Cobb is a vicious criminal. You obviously are just basing this on what the media has said because Ty Cobb was a great man on and off the field. [/quote]

Cobb was a racist, and was charged with manslaughter after pistol whipping a man, although i'm not sure he was convicted. Cobb was a mean sob, who would spike his mom if it would help him.

[HOOTIE]

[quote= As for the issue at hand, Rose deserves to be in the hall. He bet on games but so what? [/quote]

So what? BB #1 rule is quite simple, you cant bet on games. Its posted in every locker room. Once you allow betting, bb has no integrity. Once that happens, who would go? Would you go watch a game knowing maybe Zito bet to lose his game? Maybe Torre sits Giambi and Jeter when he bets against NY. This isnt a simple rule being broken. As far as bb is concerned, theres nothing more wrong a player could do.

[Transmogrifier]

Betting on games vs. any other crime outside of baseball makes a huge difference. OJ Simpson is a killer, but still a Hall of Famer.

But Rose bet on baseball. His records should be in the Hall, as they are, but he should not be. He should be banned from baseball for life.

[BeautifulBrunette]

Hootie hit the nail right on the head, because that is the issue here. One of the things that makes sports so much fun is that no one knows for sure what the outcome of any given game will be. One team can be so much better than the other but there's still a chance the underdog can win. But if even one person has any motivation other than giving his utmost to win, the game is tainted.

[The Dude]

"I even took the Lord's name in vein"

whoa. shooting up on blasphemy? i didn't know that you could do it that way. did you get a more intense buzz? you junky.

b

just use a copy of the Gideon bible to role your joint... hehe