Pete Rose “I Should Have Beat My Wife”
By Matt Niehaus
Wife beaters, drug users, racists and alcohol abusers have been a part of baseball since the beginning of the 20th century.
Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Gambling is one of the oldest professions in the world, widely accepted by the entire world and most religions. In the world of baseball though gambling is the ultimate sin, a sin Pete Rose knows all too well.
Pete Rose received a lifetime ban from the game of baseball in 1989 for betting on the game while he was manager of the Cincinnati Reds. He never bet on games he managed. Bart Giamatti then commissioner of baseball forced Rose into taking a lifetime ban. Giamatti and Rose never like each other, Giamatti always seemed to have it out for Rose.
The two men would both likely agree on this though, the use of PED’s is far worse than betting on the game of baseball. With the suspension of the “Dirty 12” from the biogenesis clinic everyone wants to know what Pete Rose has to say about the situation. Including Alex Rodriguez’s unprecedented suspension of 211 games.
Rose has some things to say, which may be surprsing to some but to most of us they make complete sense, unfortunately Bud Selig doesn’t see it the same way.
Rose was talking to 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh on Monday here is some of what the hit king said:
"“You have to understand, I don’t call these guys to do shows, they call me. And of course with all this steroid talk and the 12 guys being suspended and A-Rod appealing, they want my input because I’m suspended for life. Hey, everything is a different case,” Rose said.“I made mistakes. I can’t whine about it. I’m the one that messed up and I’m paying the consequences. However, if I am given a second chance, I won’t need a third chance. And to be honest with you, I picked the wrong vice. I should have picked alcohol. I should have picked drugs or I should have picked up beating up my wife or girlfriend because if you do those three, you get a second chance. They haven’t given too many gamblers a second chances in the world of baseball.”"
Wife beaters are in the hall of fame, drug users are in the hall of fame, alcoholics are in the hall, racists are in the hall of fame. I’m looking at you Ty Cobb and Darryl Strawberry. No PED user is in the hall and don’t look for any to get in anytime soon.
What we can all agree on is Pete Rose has served his time, he did not cheat to win, he did not do anything to affect the outcome of the game, what he did should not have tarnished his name or baseballs. It wasn’t the best decision but it affected no one.
Rose is the only player besides Shoeless Joe Jackson to be banned for life. With all that is happening now it looks like Pete is a saint. Miguel Cabrera the celebrated triple crown winner, poster boy for ESPN and MLB has been accused of domestic violence with his wife as well as being a chronic alcohol abuser.
Cabrera is more of an eye sore for baseball than Rose. Yet one is celebrated while the other is shunned.
Pete Rose has learned his lesson, he is a great ambassador for the game promoting baseball any chance he gets. His comments on the situation are spot on, shocking and not what people want to hear but spot on. Rose should be commended for that.
Carry on Charlie Hustle.