The Game On Pete Rose...
Some of you are aware of my loathing of the current Lords Of Baseball, and their fall guy, Bud Selig. If not, read on...
Selig has been negotiating for the return of Pete Rose to baseball. Why? Because Rose has become a cause celebre among Joe Fan. Everywhere Rose goes, he gets huge ovations. Selig and his ownership group are so desperate for any kind of positive PR boost, they see a Rose reinstatement as a way to represent their humanity, after spending so much of the last several years showing us just how little they really care about the game, or anything not preceded by a dollar sign.
As a condition to Rose's reinstatement, Selig is insisting on three things:
1. An admission that Rose bet on baseball
2. An apology for betting on baseball (and presumably for lying about it for 13 years).
3. A probationary period (rumored to be around 6 to 8 months)
Again, the early reports are that if Rose meets those conditions, he will not only be eligible for the Hall of Fame, but also free to work in baseball again.
There is so much wrong with this, I'm not sure where to start. First of all, let's establish right off the bat that Rose DID bet on baseball. You would think his admission would squelch the masses of Rose apologists who continue to deny Rose was guilty of any wrong-doing, but these are not rational people. I will base my case that Rose is guilty on this piece in Baseball Prospectus. It's a bit long, but I think it's as comprehensive as you can get without actually reading the Dowd Report.
So, there is a lot of evidence that he bet on baseball, and apparently Rose is willing to admit that he bet on baseball (which would be the second such admission.)
Then, Rose will apologize to us for lying. I'm not sure what purpose this serves. Let me see if I get this straight:
Pete Rose: "I'm sorry I bet on baseball, and I'm sorry I lied about it for all of these years to build sympathy. Of course, now that I'm being reinstated, I guess it worked, huh?"
Bud Selig: "That was very contrite, Pete. We accept your apology."
Then, Rose will serve a symbolic eight month suspension, after already having been out for 13 years. Why?
Turns out, Selig is meeting some resistance from Hall of Famers. Seems they don't want an admitted baseball gambler and fibber amongst their ranks. Good for them.
My own view is this: I don't feel great about Rose being in the Hall, but I can see arguments for it, even if we accept that he bet on the game. I can at least understand why Selig would throw his election to the media members and veterans. If they reject him, well, too bad for Pete. And I feel they should reject him, absolutely, as much for his conduct the last 13 years as for what he was initially banned for.
But how do you let the guy back in baseball, after he ADMITS that he gambled (twice), and ADMITS that he then lied about it? It destroys the integrity of one of the sacred rules of not just baseball, but of sport. But why would we be surprised at ownership's lack of integrity?
This is Baseball, 2003: The best PR move ownership can come up with is to undo the one of the only remaining vestiges of an independent Commisioner's office.
12:54:04 PM 
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