This Rose Smells Putrid and Has Many Thorns

Here's a little story about a man named Pete.

Pete Rose was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and was a hometown hero for the Cincinnati Reds. I don't need to go over all of the record books and tell you he owns the most base hits in the history of MLB.

At one point in the 70's and 80's, Pete Rose was baseball. But he had a problem: He felt he was bigger then baseball itself. Then Pete Rose became the sport's public enemy No. 1.

Rose turned his celebrity into his problems. Let's cut this short with ripping Rose--he did it to himself. It's been a quarter-century since he was banned for life from baseball for his involvement in gambling on games while a manager for the Reds. Rose eventually admitted he put money on his team, but he still denies he ever fixed games or bet against his team. His detractors allege otherwise.

Rose was thrown out of baseball by then-MLB Commissioner Bart Giamatti. All you have to do is read the Dowd Report--it'll probably change your mind on Charlie Hustle.

This is an argument that has been ongoing for almost three decades, and it's old and stale. Now, the steroid-era guys are appearing on Hall of Fame ballots and Rose and his people feel this is much worst than gambling. Well, I have a news flash--they're both bad. Two wrongs do not make a Hall of Famer.

Pete Rose needs to apply to be on the Hall of Fame ballot, then would need 75 percent of the vote to be elected. He also could get in later by the vet's committee.

Bottom line, Shoeless Joe Jackson should get in before the juicers and Rose.