Champs corner looks at Pete Rose

As baseball season is here, I look back at an injustice -- Pete Rose is not in the Hall of Fame.

Before you roast me, I first want to start off by saying, I initially wanted to write this story without doing my homework. By homework I mean, not reading the infamous "Dowd report."

I initially thought about writing this story when I was watching ESPN "Classic Sports." It was a story looking back at baseball, focusing on Pete Rose. Timeline, I believe it was, and it was fascinating.

I then started to write, but decided that it wouldn't be fair for me as a journalist not to look at both sides of the story. Thus, I painstakingly read the Dowd Report -- the whole thing. It took hours.

Now I will write on and here are my views.

Growing up, Pete Rose was my idol, my hero. I wore 14 like he did. I slid in head first, watched every pitch into the catcher's glove, spiked the ball at first, crouched at the plate, and just hustled. This from a kid not from Cincinnati not even from Ohio. I was harassed by people, who razzed me on Pete. They didn't know why I didn't like the "flavor of the day." Why I stuck by 14.

I watched Rose on TV. I listened to him on radio. I followed him from Cincinnati to Philly to Montreal, back to the Reds. Player-manager. I kept the newspaper when he broke Ty Cobb's record. I rooted for the Reds, as they finished second for a few season.

Then it happened. The investigation. The banning. The end of a legend.

I saw Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan badmouth Rose. How Jim Gray made a fool out of himself. How the Yankees backed Rose. The fans going wild when Pete made the All-Century team. How Bud Selig has refused to even answer questions about Rose.

The fans have spoken -- Rose should be in the Hall of Fame.

Baseball is not better off without Peter Edward Rose. Baseball is Rose. No other player gave as much as Rose did. With limited ability and skills and speed. How he hustled. How he broke records. How one summer he had a 44-game hitting streak. How it captivated the nation. The MVP's. The All-Star game in which he bowled into Ray Fosse. His championships. How he played seven positions. I could go on and on.

The Hall of Fame isn't about character or personalities. Its about what one did between the lines, not outside of them.

Look at the Hall of Fame. Those guys aren't saints. What about guys who beat their wives or do drugs. How can Steve Howe get nine chances, while Rose gets none? What about the convicts? The drinkers? The "bad" guys?

The Dowd Report is damning. No question. It doesn't look good.

Did Rose bet on baseball?

With his personality, probably. But, Rose signed the agreement, saying baseball never proved he bet on baseball. His understanding was he would be able to reapply one year later.

Baseball never proved, in my opinion, that Rose did -- definitely -- bet on baseball.

Why did Rose sign? Not to drag baseball in the mud. It was before the World Series. He knew he was not bigger than the game. He loved the game. For 24 years he gave his heart, guts, blood, sweat and tears.

Unfortunately for Pete, Bart Giamatti died. As Pete has said, "and his chances of being reinstated died along with Bart."

Would have Rose been back in the game if Giamatti would have lived? I think he would have. But, since Selig was Giamatti's friend, he let Rose "die" as well.

Selig comes across as a pompous arrogant person. Talk about double standards.

Hey Bud, two words -- Milwaukee Brewers. He ran that team.

Now he wants to talk about re-alignment? About getting rid of teams that don't make money? Look in the mirror Bud. The Brewers should be the first to go. Of course, his daughter runs the team, so that's his excuse. A shame.

Bottom line is Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame and in baseball.

I'll say it again -- baseball is not better off without Peter Edward Rose.

Read the report. Make your own judgement.