Pete, Tell us something we don't know...
January 6, 2004
"The banishment for life of Pete Rose from baseball is the sad end of a sorry episode. One of the game's greatest players has engaged in a variety of acts which have stained the game, and he must now live with the consequences of those acts. It will come as no surprise that like any institution composed of human beings, this institution will not always fulfill its highest aspirations. I know of no earthly institution that does. But this one, because it is so much a part of our history as a people and because it has such a purchase on our national soul, has an obligation to the people for whom it is played-- to its fans and well-wishers -- to strive for excellence in all things and to promote the highest ideals." - A. Bart Giamatti, August 1989
Pete Rose surprised no one Monday, in finally admitting that he had bet on baseball. We knew. We have known for almost fourteen years now. So finally the question moves from, "What did Pete Rose do?" to "What do we do with Pete Rose?"
First of all, the idea that Mr. Rose suddenly had an epiphany and realized, "Oh yea, now I remember, I did happen to bet on some baseball games after all," seems a little far-fetched. As does the thought that his conscious finally caught up with him. More likely, the need to sell a new book in order to feed a gambling habit that continues fits the bill (according to Rose, he has reformed and now only bets legally, and visits to the racetrack have become less frequent). Why not make the admission 14 months ago after your initial meeting with Bud Selig?
But it now begs the question. Is Pete telling us everything? After he has vehemently denied any accusations for the past 14 years, we are now asked to believe him when he says he bet on baseball, but not the Reds. I propose this: Here you have a man that is obviously addicted to gambling, and is accruing massive debt in the process. And give any gambler the chance to improve his odds, he will take it in a minute. So, by betting on his own team, Rose would have the opportunity to have some control over the outcome of his bets. Could he have passed that up? Some would say that his love for the game would have prevented it. I say his love for the game was obviously no match for his obsessive habit.
So the spotlight shifts back to Selig. What will he do? He is now surrounded on every side by prominent persons of differing opinions. Also at stake is his already troubled legacy as commissioner of baseball (e.g. ending the All-Star game in tie). Will he challenge a ruling made by one of the most popular and well respected commissioners of the 20th century, Bart Giamatti? Rose seems most interested in returning to management of a major league team, probably the Reds who are about the only, if not the only, team who would consider him. How this could ever be an option for baseball is beyond me. As Giamatti said in his statement on Rose, "Let it also be clear that no individual is superior to the game". In an era in which baseball has led the way in the ethics of its players over the NFL and NBA, allowing Rose to return to manage, with no clear indication of reform or remorse, would be one step forward, five steps back. And as for the Hall, let him in for all I care...put a big statue out front if you please. But if you do, get ready to review the ghosts of baseball's past, particularly "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.
In the end, I am ultimately reminded of the conclusion of Giamatti's speech: "The matter of Mr. Rose is now closed. It will be debated and discussed. Let no one think that it did not hurt baseball. That hurt will pass, however, as the great glory of the game asserts itself and a resilient institution goes forward."
After all is said and done, does anyone really care anymore? Giamatti was right, we have moved on and baseball has seen great moments since '89. The game will survive with or without Rose around. The generation which spent its childhood idolizing him has grown up to forget his greatness on the field, and become weary of his ineptitude off of it. Even his new book title My Prison Without Bars tries to paint him as the ultimate victim of unfair circumstances. How about turning back in the sports pages and reading about Phillies great Tug McGraw, who died of cancer at the age of 59 Monday. Then lets talk about unfair circumstances.
So go away Pete, we have no need of thee. Live out the rest of your life and be happy, just stop bothering us and the game of baseball.
Read Giamatti's entire statement.
Comments
Kevin says:
Hey B, great subject and very well put.
As someone who has a Love for the Game that probably dates back to birth, and a newfound goal of having success as a baseball coach at the high school or college level, I have wrestled with this issue on several occasions. Having a father with a childhood love for Pete, that took he and my Grandfather to Crosley Field to see him play, and myself loving the way Pete played the game, doing whatever it took to win, and getting as dirty as possible in the process with the great head first slide. There is no doubt, what Pete did was wrong. He committed this sin, as far as we know, as a manager. I believe the solution here is clear. Give Pete Rose the player, his well deserved spot in Cooperstown. Give Pete Rose, the manager who broke the rules a lifelong sentence in exile from the Game. This will hurt him more than anything, but I do not believe that Baseball can take a risk of this magnitude when the popularity of the game itself has declined. The new question...Is Bud Selig wise enough to make this decision? Time will tell. You also mentioned Shoeless Joe Jackson. I think a great thing to do would be to put both of these great players in their rightful spot on the same day. That scandal is a lengthy discussion for another evening.
"The one constant through all the years has been Baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers, it's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again, but Baseball has marked the times. This game is a part of our past, it reminds of of all that was good, and that could be again." -Terence Mann, Field of Dreams
Brad Daily says:
Well put KC, time will tell...I'm sure Pop will appreciate the Field of Dreams quote...
Zyban says:
does anybody know how i can add a blog to my site
Effexor says:
if you are using Linux or unix you can take a look at sourceforge.net
Comments are closed for this entry
Ace says:
ABSOLUTELY! I agree 100%!! Well written.