Quote:I give up! You obviously have not thought this out. You ask:
"Has any evidence ever been put forth to prove Rose bet on his team as either a player or a coach?"
I answered that question with a direct quote from old Pete himself. Then you come back with another qualifier:
"If he bet on every single game, but always to win, how did he cheat?"
If you want to believe he only bet to win, and if you believe betting to win is permissible, and if you believe betting on your own team is acceptable, then peace be with you. But in the beginning Pete's claim was he only bet on horses, upon further investigation then he bet on horses and football, upon further investigation then he bet on horses, football, and baseball but not the Reds, upon further investigation he bet on horses, football, baseball and the Reds. Most of the baseball people who admire the purity of the sport, and who manage the integrity of the game, know damn well Pete's a scum bag liar. But some don't want to see what's obvious.
Additionally, I don't understand how his supporters cannot support baseball's steadfast rule: "Under MLB Rule 21, "Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible." It doesn't say only if they bet against their team.
Regards....................the Chiefjag
You're getting a little intense Chief, how much money did you lose betting on the Reds?
I notice you never answered the question, "how did he cheat?" The simple and indisputable fact is that he didn't. Now before you break your keyboard banging out a furious reply, think it through. What's the worst possible scenario, that he bet on the Reds to lose and affected the game in some way to make that happen? That still isn't cheating on baseball, it's cheating on gambling.
Yes, he had a serious gambling problem/addiction. Yes, he lied about his gambling on multiple occasions. Yes, he broke baseball's most sacred rule. Let's assume he frequently bet on his team as a player and/or manager. Did he bet to win or lose, who knows? When he says he never bet against his team, I'm inclined to believe it. Not because he has any credibility, but because he was so competitive on the field. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just don't see him throwing a game.
You think he's a scumbag, fine that's your opinion and you're certainly entitled to it. I personally think beating up his wife/girlfriend qualifies a player for the scumbag title quicker than gambling does.
For the record, I am not a supporter of Pete Rose. I believe his records belong in the books, but I would never admit him into Cooperstown and I agree completely with the lifetime ban.
When you get into the endzone, act like you've been there before.