Flying W Things

I see that Mr. Rose is back in the spotlight.

I would like to get my feelings on this matter written down so that I can put it behind me for the evening and enjoy my drive home, such as it is.

It appears that Pete is now willing to admit that he bet on baseball as part of a deal to get reinstated. I think that's total crap.

If he admits he bet on MLB games, he is admitting that he broke Rule 21(d):

Rule 21 - Misconduct

(d) BETTING ON BALL GAMES. Any player, umpire, or club official or
employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in
connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform shall be declared
ineligible for one year.

Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall
bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which
the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.

So, if he admits he bet on Reds games while he was their manager, he's right back where he started. Mr. Rose, meet rule 21(d) paragraph 2. Permanently Ineligible.

Fine with me! Nice knowing you, Mr. Rose. Now get out of my sports page.

Sadly, Bud Selig, the Scourge of Baseball, will likely treat an admission as an apology, ignore the fact that Petey has been lying about it for at least 13 years, and reinstate the him after some token probationary period.

Being a reasonable person, however, I would propose this compromise. The main thrust of all this Petey talk seems to revolve around whether he should be in the Hall of Fame. Not long after he was placed on the MLB permanently ineligible list, the Hall of Fame passed a rule stating that no player on that list was eligible for membership.

If the Hall of Fame removes that one rule, Pete can get on the ballot. He can stay permanently ineligible - and out of organized baseball - and the fawning members of the BBWAA can trip all over themselves voting him into the Hall of Fame next year too. "Yes, Pete, you were a heck of a player. And a dirtbag too." That's a message I can live with.