T.C. Slonaker, author
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Woman on Sports

Sports commentary from a female fan from Philly

Pete Rose. It Needs to Be Said.

7/14/2015

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Picture
Charlie Hustle will never be in the Hall of Fame. I, and probably the majority of other fans, don't agree that's right. Not because he didn't do something he shouldn't have, but because it is a much more stern punishment than some others receive.

OK, let's just get it out of the way first - my personal thoughts on the matter. What Pete Rose did was wrong. It is, from what I have heard, posted in every major league stadium that betting on the outcome of a game will result in banishment from the game. And I am sure it is in the contracts that he signed both as a player and as a manager. So, yes, having read that, he knew what he was doing and did it anyway. He was not punished unjustly. 

But. That doesn't mean it isn't a STUPID rule. Banned from baseball? Really? A coach betting on a boxing fight or a football game for their guy to LOSE and take a dive, yes. I can see how it is detrimental to someone's career. Also, there's the fact that betting to lose guarantees an outcome. Betting to win? Well, aren't you trying to win anyway? You aren't changing anything (unless you get mean about it and threaten the players). So in Rose's case, he did NOTHING to affect the game, that we know of. (We do have the lying issue, but that's a whole different ball game, in my opinion, if you'll excuse the pun.) 

So, Baseball. You don't like betting? I understand. Is gambling bad? Sure. Did it affect the game of baseball? It may have, on a small scale. Did it affect the game to the extent that the all-time hits leader needs to be forgotten from the game of baseball? No way! Let's let the punishment fit the crime. No one was hurt. Slap him on the wrist and move ON.

Do I feel the same way about those using P.E.D.'s? No. I believe those perpetrators affected the game to a much greater extent. The drug-users raised the standard of hitting in the game to a level that honest athletes cannot attain. That crime destroyed careers and people. Not just the ones of the users, but of the ones who could not be seen in their shadows. 

Is my opinion biased? Does the fact that Pete Rose was the first Philadelphia "star" I ever saw in person make me want the best for him? Does having watched the 3000th hit make me think that clip should be played in Coopersburg? You bet it does! (Oops, poor choice of words… maybe.)

Now, as I said, I believe the commissioner of baseball will hold his ground. No matter how he actually feels about the subject - for that, we may never know - he will need to cling to the integrity of the game. A rule is a rule, and if you take away the punishment for one, thereby for all, the integrity has been compromised and the rule means nothing.

So what can be done for Petey? We'll just have to do it the old-fashioned way. Oral history. Those of us who were there need to pass it along. Take your kids to Coopersburg. But when they ask about the asterisks by certain names, explain about the rules and the rule breakers. It's a good time to let them know about actions and consequences. Make sure the kids know that the rules were broken intentionally, and the players were punished accordingly. 

My kids know all about Pete Rose. They know more about him than they know about any other athlete from that time frame. They also know my opinion on the matter. Their opinions may even be a little stronger than mine, because I told the stories of base hits stolen from infielders and head-first dives into first. That's a work ethic I want to see in my kids too! (And a good reminder for me to run out every stupid pop up when I'm playing softball.)

So Pete Rose may never be in the Hall of Fame, but that does not mean he can't be famous. Those of us who saw him play should tell his stories. Phillies fans can't give up our 1980 World Series. We can pass down the legacy outside the walls of the Hall.

He gave us a lot more baseball history than baseball officials could take away.

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    T.C. Slonaker, Eagles fan

    Sports Made Simple!
    I love sports.  (Especially baseball and football). Here is a woman's view of what I see. I'm not loading you up with stats, but more about what ELSE is going on in the game.

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Photos used under Creative Commons from RMTip21, Sh4rp_i
  • Home
  • The Angelmen Series
    • About the Angelmen Series
    • Trailers
    • Hierarchy of the Beings
  • Books
    • Amity of the Angemen >
      • Sample of Amity of the Angelmen
      • Amity Trailers
      • Reviews of Amity of the Angelmen
    • Asher of the Angemen >
      • Sample of Asher of the Angelmen
      • Asher Trailers
      • Reviews of Asher of the Angelmen
    • Caedmon of the Angelmen >
      • Sample of Caedmon of the Angelmen
    • Malachi of the Angelmen >
      • Sample of Malachi of the Angemen
    • The Battle >
      • Sample of The Battle
  • About T.C. Slonaker
    • About Me
    • Interviews
    • Beliefs
    • What Am I Doing Now?
    • Quotes
    • How I Became Published
  • Blogs
    • Passion Under Grace (T.C. Slonaker's blog)
    • Tracy's Top Ten
    • T1D Family Life, While We Are Waiting …
    • Woman on Sports
    • The CDO Writer
    • What's On My iPod
  • Humor
    • Body Language >
      • Chapter 1: About Going for a Ride
      • Chapter 2: Stomach Revolts
      • Chapter 3: A Surprise Early Morning Gym Visit
      • Chapter 4: Birthday Present
      • Chapter 5: Laziness and Cats
      • Chapter 6: Thinking Ahead, I Think
      • Chapter 7: Learning About Softball As A Grown-Up
      • Chapter 8: Allergies, Smallergies
      • Chapter 10: A New Machine at the Gym
      • Chapter 11: After the Flood
      • Chapter 12: Asthma (not so funny)
      • Chapter 13: Birthday
      • Chapter 14: A Snake
      • Chapter 15: Pituitary Coup
      • Chapter 16: My Shorts Don't Fit, Part 1
      • Chapter 17: My Shorts Don't Fit, Part 2
      • Chapter 18: An Accident
      • Chapter 19: An Accident, part 2
      • Chapter 20: On Vacation
      • Chapter 21: Getting Work Done in the Summer
      • Chapter 22: Listening to a Game on the Radio
      • Chapter 23: Interview With a Pancreas
      • Chapter 24: I Don't Have a Cold
      • Chapter 25: Collision at the Plate
      • Chapter 26: The Aftermath
      • Chapter 27: Moving On
      • Chapter 28: At the Beach
  • Events
  • Contact Me
    • Ask A Question!