Herald readers respond to the Pete Rose issue
(Published January
8‚ 2004 The Herald Online and Paper Versions)
We asked members of The Herald's
Reader Advisory Network for their thoughts on Pete Rose, whose
book, "My Prison Without Bars," hits bookstores today. In the book,
Rose admits he bet on baseball games while he was manager of the
Cincinnati Reds. Rose plans to use that admission as part of the
evidence in his case asking baseball commissioner Bud Selig to lift
his permanent ban from baseball.
Our question: Given his admission, do you believe Rose should be reinstated to baseball, thus making him eligible for the Hall of Fame?
• I think the ban on Pete Rose should now be lifted. His actions were wrong, and he has paid dearly for them with the ban since 1989. I believe the original lifetime ban was extreme; it's time to let Pete off for good behavior. Let's not forget gambling is a disease, like alcoholism. We should help those afflicted, not punish them for life. It's time to heal old wounds; let's remember Pete Rose for all the positive things he has done for the sport of baseball.
David R. Beatson
Lake Wylie
