Why do people like Pete Rose? He's a disgrace...

[IrishHand]

(1) He you bet on baseball, breaking the one rule that every player learns their first day in uniform and the one rule every other player obeys. It's the only rule posted in every MLB team's dugout.

(2) He served time for cheating on his income taxes. A convicted criminal - some hero.

(3) He charges fans obscene amounts for his autograph. Nothing quite like profiting off someone's admiration of you.

(3) He's arrogant and a hot dog. It's fine if you're Babe Ruth, not so fine if your only purpose in life is hitting singles for 20+ years.

(4) He refuses to piblicly admit wrongdoing, despite having his lawyer do so in his agreement with MLB, and despite the conclusive evidence that he bet on baseball and probably games he participated in.

He's basically everything most fans despise in a player. Why are fans are so supportive of Rose that they're effectively pushing baseball to broker some sort of compromise with him despite his continually defiant stance?

The man's a petty criminal, a habitual liar, and a compulsive gambler. I assume people still like the guy because of what he did as a player. I just think it's pretty senseless to maintain admiration for an individual in light of the disgrace to baseball he ultimately became (that's assuming, of course, that the aformentioned personal defects were absent during his playing career, which I tend to doubt).

Irish

(portions lifted from various ESPN.com articles)

[brad]

heh.

hes an american everyman. doesnt claim to be smart or even super talented. claims to work hard.

p.s. gee, he resisted tax collectors. how unamerican.

[Dynasty]

In time, Americans can forgive almost anything.

[Glenn]

1) Everyone here bets on stuff. Betting is fun. It was never proven, nor did he admit that he bet on baseball. I don't know the truth, but I have rarely heard him be accused of fixing games which would be the real issue.

2) A few things worse than income tax cheating in my eyes...

A. Murder (OJ)
B. Rape/Sexual Assault (Lots of players)
C. DUI (Everyone famous)
D. Income tax rates (The federal goverment)

I mean, he should have paid his taxes, but really I hate taxes too so I can see where he's coming from [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img].

3) Everyone charges a lot for their autograph these days. Most stars have exclusive contracts where they can only sign autographs for Upper Deck or something. At least Pete, unlike Barry Bonds or ARod, actually needs the money.

3 #2) He played harder than anyone. Lots of players are arrogant, but it affect their game. When Bonds is watching his home run from the batter's box and it hits the wall, it hurts his team.

4) What conclusive evidence? Actually, I am looking at the evidence right now on baseball archive...maybe I'll like it.

I like Pete Rose because he played baseball to win. He wasn't one of these Nancy-boy superstars. My favorite Pete Rose story is as follows:

In the 197x all-star game, Rose took out promising young catcher Ray Fosse during a play at the plate, separating his shoulder, and effectively destroying his career. When asked why he would do such a thing in the all-star game, he said "I didn't realize they turned it into a 6th grade girls softball games in the middle".

That's why I like Pete Rose.

[MMMMMM]

I really don't hold any of the things he was publicly censured for against him--I just never cared much for his demeanor. He seems like the sort of guy I would especially enjoy check-raising at the poker table.

[RINCON]

Hustle,Hustle...clocked Ray Fosse...
Would you want him on your team...i.e..Randy Moss,Micheal Irvin...etc...
Yes Pete Rose is an [censored] but he played ball!!!1


RINCON

[scalf]

[img]/forums/images/icons/frown.gif[/img] pete was a winner...everywhere he played...he also played to win every game...ty cobb was a nice guy compared to chuck....people hate him because he is arrogant...without rose in bb's hof...cooperstown loses validity....on the west side of cincinatti...he'd get a free beer there for life...

pete rose...he's a winner....gl [img]/forums/images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[IrishHand]

Maybe the reason he hustled so much and was known as a 'winner' was that he had a lot of money riding on the games. [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[marbles]

Another athlete you should "despise," if your arguments hold:

1. A habitual gambler (both legal and illegal).
2. Womanizer with the wife and kids at home, leading to a current ugly divorce.
3. Charges market value (or "an obscene amount," if you will) for appearances, his name or his symbol on anything.
4. Still refuses to talk to Sports Illustrated after a petty spat nearly a decade ago.

Of course, you know I'm talking about Michael Jordan, and none of my points come from espn.com.

Rose is not much worse... He just has no savvy for PR.

[scalf]

[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] marbles...gr8 points...prople love to hate pete...and i think he thrives on that...he was a hell of a road player...lol...gl [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]