Suggestions for Pete Rose

Pete Rose is obviously a selfish, narcissistic man. He cares only about Pete Rose and baseball. He could care less about the fans except that they made him who he is; they feed his ego and his desires.

Rose also has issues. Why else would he put out a book entitled "Pete Rose: My Prison Without Bars." He wants people to feel sorry for him because of the situation he put himself in. It's flat out pathetic.

Everyone respected him because he was an obsessive person on the field. He hated to lose and played every game like it was his last.

However, what he didn't realize is that you can't be that way off the field. You have to learn that in life some things are more important than winning.

No one should think Rose feels bad about gambling on Major League Baseball games. He knew that what he did was wrong, but no matter what he says, he thought he was above the law and, therefore, could get away with betting on baseball. He thought that because he was well loved and tried hard on the field that it really didn't matter what he did off the field. He believed he still would be respected and loved enough to get into the Hall of Fame and remain in baseball.

Well, Rose should be in the Hall of Fame. Sure he bet on baseball (and he admits as much now), but from what I've read and heard there is no evidence that he bet on his team. He's also had to wait 15 years, sufficient punishment for his crime.

Rose doesn't belong in baseball and should show more remorse before he is let back into the game he claims to love, but, in fact, doesn't love more than himself.

He shouldn't be aloud to re-enter the game for two major reasons:

1. He bet on the game at one time, and still gambles on sporting events. Therefore, baseball should assume that he would bet on the game again.

2. He lied for 15 years about betting on the game and lied to several commissioners of baseball and to the public.

What does Rose have to do, in my opinion, to convince everyone that he is truly sorry he threatened the integrity of the game and that he is a changed man?

He should have to sign a written apology to every commissioner he has lied to. he should have to apologize to the public for compromising the integrity of the game. He should also have to sign a written agreement that says if he places bets on any baseball game, he will be suspended from the game for life and will be prosecuted.

As far as Rose's induction into Cooperstown, if the writers or Veteran's Committee see fit to elect him, he should not get a ceremony. He should be inducted and should have a plaque, but should not be allowed to speak at the ceremony and should not be given the fanfare of a typical Hall of Famer.

In fact, let Bud Selig give Rose's speech so that everyone, including Rose, realizes that he is being inducted so that his accomplishments on the field can be celebrated and so that future generations have the memory of him as a great ballplayer. This will help him realize he's not being inducted because the public loves him or for any other reason that would feed his ego.

It's time for Pete Rose to learn that baseball is bigger than he was or will ever be.