Here at
OMGreds.com, you're usually getting one opinion at a time with our posts. Given the flurry of news surrounding the possible re-instatement of Pete Rose, we thought it would be good to get opinions from a couple of our staffers.
Dan
It's been a crazy two days. I've been catching up on a lot of the Pete talk today and as expected, personalities around baseball are conflicted over re-instating Pete or not. You have Hank Aaron, one of the most respected men ever in baseball, saying he deserves his shot at the Hall. On the other hand, you have Ray Fosse, involved in the infamous collision at home plate with Pete in the 1970 All-Star game, reminding everyone that Pete broke the cardinal rule in baseball: no better. To folks like Mr. Fosse,
it's pretty cut and dry. To others, it's not. If he does eventually get elected the Hall of Fame, one Mr. Bob Feller will have a fit. Didn't he once threaten to take down his own plaque is Pete ever got in the Hall?
I can't help be a homer on this one and want Pete to be in the Hall. I would like to be forgiving and hope that Pete is truly remorseful and has done his time. That said, I'm not 100% for Pete getting reinstated. Only mostly. I guess it's the hard-core Reds fan in me wants him there. The baseball fan in me is questionable at best.
Dave
I don't think it'll be long before Bud Selig lifts the ban and reinstates Pete. Regardless of how Selig feels personally, he's at least considered it previously ... and once guys like Hank Aaron and Joe Morgan and Frank Robinson start making noise that they think Pete belongs, Selig really has no choice but to listen.
Do I think he deserves to be reinstated? I don't know ... I still have mixed feelings. Hard-core fan in me says "yes" and the voice of reality reminds me about the betting slips in the Dowd Report.
Rob
I'm so indifferent these days whether Pete Rose gets in the Hall of Fame I think if he ever does I'll be more happy that we don't have to have this discussion anymore. The stats certainly say he deserves it. The kid in me who remembers watching him play wishes he would make it in. Although watching him today and how he's handled himself and handled the whole thing really makes it hard to root for the guy. I mean really hard. And when he wears
some of those hats...even harder. Seriously though he brought the whole thing on himself, broke the rules and lied about it. Then only came clean when it benefited himself. Its been embarrassing. I guess we'll see what happens in the coming days and hopefully we're not having the same discussion next year.
Mike (West Coast Correspondent)
He lied to you. He lied to me...for 18 years he flat out told us he never bet on baseball. Never . People went on radio, tv, print and defended him. Then he told us he was lying...so he could sell his book. Classy.
Pete tarnished his own image. Made his own mistakes and now pays the price. He is no victim.
I was a huge Pete Rose fan. He was the best. There’s no bigger fan of all things Cincinnati than myself. But he is getting what he deserves.
Illegal betting on a sport you participate in is the ultimate sports sin. You get entangled with seedy criminal elements who don’t care about the game. (make no mistake. Pete was hanging with some real scumbags) They care about making money and they will use any tool they have to make that happen. That includes managers with huge debt.
“You owe us $50,000. We want it NOW....OR you can help us with that game in Pittsburgh.”
Personally, i think everyone gets too worked up about the Baseball Hall of Fame to begin with.
I do think someday Pete should/will be in the Hall of Fame. i just have a problem with people thinking the punishment is excesive. Its not. They guy betrayed the game and every one of you.
If fans believe baseball is fixed, it will be the death of the game. It will become wrestling.
When he is inducted i'll celebrate the achievements, but the man is another story.
I like baseball more than I like Pete Rose.
Labels: pete rose
