I like Pete Rose, and I DO believe he belongs in the Hall of Fame.
I should say I grew up in Southern Ohio, and I am unquestionably biased in this discussion. Likely, more so as the Big Red Machine of the 1970s was my first (and arguably only) team I really cared about. I grew up with the Reds, listening to them late at night on the radio (back then games started at 8:05 Eastern time). When they went to the West Coast, I would often hang in there until about midnight when I would pass out in the 7th inning........
Rose. Griffey. Morgan. Bench. Perez. Foster. Concepcion. Geronimo. Gullett.
However, Rose was the spark plug. Unlike the Players who jog to first today after hitting into double plays, he was always giving his all. He invented the head first slide, was the first singles hitter to make real money, and the Reds WERE the team of the 1970s to watch, despite their shaky starting pitching they went to 4 World Series, winning 2 of them.
I get it. Rose Bet on Baseball. As a player. And as a manager. Further, he has never been truthful about this. He was correctly banned from MLB, but he belongs in the Hall Of Fame.
Alex Karras and Paul Hornung bet on Football. They got banned for a year. One would think 30 + years is enough of a penalty for Rose.
HE never bet AGAINST the Reds. No one believes he ever did anything to impact the outcome of ANY game. Comparing him to the Chicago Black Sox scandal is just not valid.
Don't put Rose in the Hall for Pete. Put him in for THE FANS. If I ever go there, I want to share with my son one of my favorite players of all time....... ABSOLUTELY include the information about his betting, and why he was inducted so late.......but don't deny the fans their memory of his greatness forever........
On the handicapping front: I HAD A rock solid rare 3* Best BET in the CFL. The line has moved 2 points through key numbers, and may move more. I STILL like the bet, but given the line move, I have decided not to continue selling this 3* play and have pulled down the bet. As always, we will grade it as a 3* best bet at the release number.
If I have a MLB BEST BET I will put it up later today. MLB is on a 11-5 run, and we continue to pick up momentum here in June with another winning night last night..........