Pete Rose saga continues

[Iced Tea]

Rose admits he bet on Reds
March 14, 2007

Sportsnet.ca -- Pete Rose admitted Wednesday that he bet on the Reds "every night" while he was managing the team and that the Dowd Report was correct when it said he did so.

Rose made the revelation to Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann on ESPN Radio while discussing the new Pete Rose exhibit that will be on display at the Great American Ballpark as part of the Reds Hall of Fame.

"I bet on my team every night," said Rose. "I didn't bet on my team four nights a week. I was wrong," Rose said.

Rose said that he believed in his team so much that he bet on them to win every night.

"I bet on my team to win every night because I love my team, I believe in my team," Rose said. "I did everything in my power every night to win that game."

Rose accepted a lifetime ban for gambling in 1989, but denied for nearly 15 years that he bet on baseball.

In his January 2004 autobiography, he said that he made baseball wagers while he managed the Cincinnati Reds.

Rose said he doesn't worry about getting into the Hall of Fame anymore, but if he is reinstated, he hopes to manage again in the majors.

"I quit worrying about it," Rose said about the Hall. The former Reds great said that he thought he was going to be reinstated when he met with commissioner Bud Selig before his book came out. Rose said he met with Selig about a year before the book came out and told him everything that was in the book.

"I really thought I was going to be reinstated. Something changed [Selig's] mind," Rose said.

Rose said he believes it should be up to each individual owner whether he should manage in the majors again.

"[It's] all about dollars, Dan and Keith. If I was ever reinstated. If an owner don't want to win and draw people, don't call my number," Rose said.

Major League Baseball's Hit King also said he thinks that Mark McGwire is getting a raw deal from the writers voting for the Hall of Fame. The reason he said he supported McGwire is because nothing has been proven and they're all "allegations."

"Don't penalize McGwire because you think other guys are taking steroids," Rose said.

Rose admits he made a mistake in betting on baseball.

"I made a big mistake. It's my fault, It's nobody's else's fault," Rose said. However, he said he should be reinstated because "I'm the best ambassador baseball has."

Because of the ban Rose is not allowed to be involved in most on-field activities, which has prevented the Reds from retiring his uniform No. 14.http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/article.jsp?content=20070314_160913_5416

I hope Rose is never reinstated but the realist in me says he will be eventually because too many people seem capable of separating his career as a player and his stupidity as a manager. I can't separate the two just like I can't accept what Bonds is doing on the field as opposed to the steroid issue.

Rose should never be allowed in the Hall of Fame or allowed to manage a baseball team.

One final point, the years Rose managed the Reds, they stunk so Rose isn't a very good gambler.

[KB in Kelowna]

I have family in Cincinnati, and there are people there who defend Rose with the line that he "always bet the Reds to win". This guy wouldn't admit to betting on baseball for 15 years! The he writes a book where he admits it and he recieves a nice fee form th epublisher for selling a book. The main reason he wants in the Hall of Fame is that his autograph and memorabillia goes up in value if he is a Hall of Famer.

[Amoroq]

His on field accomplishments are enough for me to allow him in the HOF. By all means do not re-instate him, but come on, you can't argue with his stats.

Even if he was betting on his team to win while playing, no one can argue that he never not once played to lose. There is a reason they called him Charlie Hustle. And lets face it, there are people in the HOF that have far worse character then Rose. For the League to say no to the HOF for Rose is kind of hypocritical, the owners character was proved when they colluded against the players.

[KB in Kelowna]

His on field accomplishments are enough for me to allow him in the HOF. By all means do not re-instate him, but come on, you can't argue with his stats.

Even if he was betting on his team to win while playing, no one can argue that he never not once played to lose. There is a reason they called him Charlie Hustle. And lets face it, there are people in the HOF that have far worse character then Rose. For the League to say no to the HOF for Rose is kind of hypocritical, the owners character was proved when they colluded against the players.
Two points, he can't go into Cooperstown if he is on the ineligible list. Second most of the gambling occurred while he was a manager. Another point in comparing the character issue is that one of his associates(the guy who picked up the winnings, or delivered the winnings to the bookie), was convicted of selling steriods, if I recall correctly. Pete Rose's pursuit of the hits record bordered on selfish by the end of it. His effectiveness as a palyer was diminishing. Pete Rose the manager should have benched Pete Rose the player.