pete rose
...st devastating defeat. Pete was an outspoken man and liked to live life to the fullest, but he had a horrific gambling problem that led to his undoing. He bet on numerous sports including baseball. He bet on his on team, the Reds while he was managing them, placing bets from the clubhouse. On August 28, 1989 commissioner Bart Gianetti stepped to the podium and announced the lifetime suspension of Pete Rose from the game of baseball for gambling on the sport. It was a dark day not only in the life of Pete Rose, but also in major league baseball. One of the games greats’ accomplishments were tarnished forever by acts of greed and self indulgence. The suspension allowed Pete to apply for reinstatement one year later, which he did, but commissioner Bud Selig took no action. For fourteen years Rose denied ever betting on baseball, but after the release of his second autobiography,”My Prison Without Bars”, he admitted that he had all along lied about his betting on baseball. He admitted to betting on the Reds, but stated that he only bet in favor of them, never against. Rose was found of betting on 52 Reds games in 1987 with a minimum of ten thousand dollars per bet. The Pete Rose suspension has been debated since the day he was suspended. Many have argued that although what he did was wrong and bad for the game, it would be far worse to not allow him into the Hall of Fame, while others argue that he needs to be punished for his disgraceful actions against the game. The ultimate question at hand is did the end justify the means? In other words, was Pete Rose’s lifetime suspension from baseball justified by his betting on baseball? This is a question that can be debated for years to come and we may never know the correct answer. Banishment for life. The sound of that statement sounds like a penalty for murder. Rather, this is the penalty for gambling on the game of baseball. This is a serious matter, but the punishment is far too harsh for the crime. During his career, Pete Rose helped the game of baseball greatly. He brought a passion back to a game that was losing its appeal to the American public. Players like Rose made the game worth watching. He played it like every game was his last, the correct way that every sport should be played. He was the model for all other players. During his and our time. A player of his stature reminds us of how the sport was made to be played during an era when contracts and money are more important to most players than wins and the game itself. Although his accomplishments can’t be removed by his suspension, they are tarnished. No longer does the name Pete Rose become associated with hits, but rather it is associated with gambling and breaking the rules. His actions were devastating to the legacy of the game, but not including Rose in the game any longer would be far worse for the game and its fans. Pete Rose is overly deserving of a place in baseball history and should not be deprived of this because of actions that occurred after he had retired and already accomplished his great feats. His achievements on the field are a large part of baseball’s long history. Rose should be allowed into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The all time hits leader deserves this right to be included with the greats and to be remembered down in history as one of the best to ever play the game. The end does not justify the means. Pete Rose should not have been dealt with so harshly for a crime that could be committed by many other players, but not uncovered as it was in his case. He deserves punishment but also deserves his place in baseball history. Yet, still some can very strongly argue that he was deserving of the punishment. Banishment for life. From the sound of this statement you assume that a serious crime was committed. This was the punishment for Pete Rose for his actions in betting on baseball, an extremely serious offense to the game and its rules. Actions that deserve a punishment of this nature and was adequate for such a serious crime. Rose went against all good that the game stands for. Its true meaning is the sport of the game, not money and greed that he displayed. He also denied his wrongful actions for years. This was deceiving to all of his loyal fans who looked to him as a role model, not a criminal. Children saw Pete Rose as a hero, someone to model their own lives after. His uncontrolled betting habits brought the idea that this was acceptable to wager on the sport of...