Quote:
Originally Posted by fleury
I'm only 24, and I'm not familiar with his play, but I heard he was a HOF worthy player. The thing is though, it's the court of public opinion, and his constant lying or bending of the truth really makes him an ass of a guy. Certainly Ty Cobb did some really boneheaded stuff (I remember reading how he'd sharpen his cleat spikes out in the open and slide in purposely to hurt his opposition), but at the end of the day, he did things to win without hurting the integrity of the game. How do we know that Pete Rose only bet on his team (in his latest version)? What happened when he was playing against the Yankees of his day? Would he be stupid enough to consistently bet in those situations? I think it seems very unrealistic. He's really backed himself into a corner this time by making these claims. I felt bad for him before when they first semi-instated him a few years ago at the all-star game, because he looked like a beat up man trying to make amends. This however, really really rubs people the wrong way and makes him look like somebody trying to get a rise out of the common man to thinking he was so confident in his team that he'd wage his own money on them. I call BS, and I'm sure most people do. I've made a 180 from that year he was introduced at the all-star game. He wants attention and to create a name for himself, let him be a legend in his own mind.
|
There is no doubt he is HOF worthy, playwise.
Ty Cobb wasn't just an ass it has come out that he purposefully threw games as well, but he is already in and nobody really wants to take him out.
Plus it is a lot harder for people whp have grown up hearing how great he was as a player and thinking of him as legend to throw him out for news that came so late and in games that really didn't affect guys today.
I think one of the biggest things for Pete is that the people in charge are people that could have been affected by possible beats by Pete and they are pissed about that. Perhaps in the future when people are in charge that are not personally involved with Pete they will smarten up and put him in.
Snakeeye aside, I would say most media and regular joes that I have heard form believe that he should be in the HOF. They also agree that he is a loser and a jerk and deserves all the bad things that come to him.