Gregg Pathiakis wrote:I am probably rambling now as my mind isn't operating at 100%, but I want to close on the fact that Pete Rose did NOT cheat (atleast in any sense than improved his baseball ability and stats) and is still being denied access to the HOF spot he deserves.
The difference is that Pete Rose bet on baseball which is specifically outlawed by baseball's own rules. Every clubhouse has a sign warning people of this rule. Pete Rose broke the rules, clear and simple. Barry Bonds has not yet been caught breaking any rules. I don't condone what he has done, but let's face it, he was not the only one using some type of drug to gain an advantage. Why should he be singled out? Ken Caminiti won an MVP while admittedly juicing. I don't see any movement afoot of stripping him of his MVP award.
It should not be pick and choose here. Either you punish everyone or you do nothing. Since baseball has swept this under the carpet for so long, how could they be feigning outrage now? It's like that classic scene in Casablanca where Claude Rains comes into Rick's Cafe and says, "I'm shocked, shocked that there is gambling going on in here," while at the same time collecting his bribe.
Re Gaylord Perry, he fashioned an entire career around throwing an illegal pitch, the spitball. He broke the rules repeatedly but is celebrated for it along with going into the HOF.
