Report: Rose admits to betting on Reds

[BAMAPHIN 22]

For years, Pete Rose denied betting on baseball while he was manager of the Cincinnati Reds.

Now he admits to betting on his team every time they took the field.


Rose made the admission Wednesday while speaking on ESPN Radio to discuss the new Pete Rose exhibit that will be on display at the Reds Hall of Fame.

"I bet on my team every night. I didn't bet on my team four nights a week. I was wrong," said Rose, who accepted a lifetime ban for gambling in 1989.

"I bet on my team to win every night because I love my team, I believe in my team," he added. "I did everything in my power every night to win that game."

It was a somewhat stunning admission given that Rose spent nearly 15 years denying he'd ever bet on baseball. Only in 2004 did Rose acknowledge in his most recent autobiography that he made baseball wagers while managing the Reds. If reinstated, the 65-year-old Rose said he would like to again manage in the majors.

The career hits leader also said he supported Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire, who fell far short in his first time on the Hall of Fame ballot.

"Don't penalize McGwire because you think other guys are taking steroids," Rose said.
Rose finished his career in 1986 with 4,256 lifetime hits. He was managing the Reds in 1989 when he agreed to a lifetime ban after an investigation of his gambling.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6570162?MSNHPHCP&GT1=9232

 

[FinsNYanksFan13]

Put him in the hall!

 

[NJFINSFAN1]

I was listening to the Dan Patrick show, I was in shock when he said it!!!!

 

[finswin56]

Pretty tough to take his word for it at this point. I would like to believe it was "every" game.

 

[Dolfan984]

IMO betting on YOUR team should be fine. Betting on other teams while you're on a team is a little more shady.

 

[Samphin]

IMO betting on YOUR team should be fine. Betting on other teams while you're on a team is a little more shady.

I assume you mean it is ok if he bet on the team he managed to win. Personally, I think it is terrible. It is worse than steroids because if anyone believes he bet on the Reds to WIN every game, they are mistaken. Remember, up until now, he never bet on the Reds and up until a couple of years ago, he had never bet on baseball. I give it a couple of years before he admits to having bet AGAINST the Reds.

The proof is there, but for his own protection and the integrity of the game, MLB refuses to release it. If evidence got out that a manager was betting against his team, no one would take baseball seriously anymore (it is a longshot that they do now with the way steroids has infiltrated the game).

Rose threw games and his lifetime ban is justified. He knew what he was in for when he agreed to it. He is a black eye for baseball and shames baseball every time he gets in front of the TV.

One of the best players ever, but one of the worst human beings ever in MLB history.

 

[mac22]

wish he would have come clean years ago,still should be in the hall though

 

[PrepDogg]

wish he would have come clean years ago,still should be in the hall though

Yeah, if he wouldn't have been so stubborn and came clean years ago he might be in by now. Now he isn't getting in until Selig steps down at least.

 

[finswin56]

I assume you mean it is ok if he bet on the team he managed to win. Personally, I think it is terrible. It is worse than steroids because if anyone believes he bet on the Reds to WIN every game, they are mistaken. Remember, up until now, he never bet on the Reds and up until a couple of years ago, he had never bet on baseball. I give it a couple of years before he admits to having bet AGAINST the Reds.

The proof is there, but for his own protection and the integrity of the game, MLB refuses to release it. If evidence got out that a manager was betting against his team, no one would take baseball seriously anymore (it is a longshot that they do now with the way steroids has infiltrated the game).

Rose threw games and his lifetime ban is justified. He knew what he was in for when he agreed to it. He is a black eye for baseball and shames baseball every time he gets in front of the TV.

One of the best players ever, but one of the worst human beings ever in MLB history.

What's often overlooked, is isn't if he bet against them... it's the times may not have even bet. Even if he bet on the Reds 4 out of 5 times. That one time he didn't bet for them can corrupt how he manages the game. It's every bit as bad as betting against them IMO.

 

[Bumpus]

Really, the sport of baseball only has one unforgivable sin ... gambling on baseball. That's it, end of story. Case closed.

You get second chances for drug abuse, convictions, etc... But, everyone involved with MLB knows not to gamble on their sport. There is NO grey area. It does not matter if you are a career minor leaguer with only 1-2 appearances in the show, or if you are the hit king. The rules apply to everyone.

Bottom line: Pete thought that he was bigger than the game ... turns out, he is not.

 

[Bumpus]

Put him in the hall!

I couldn't possibly disagree more.

All of Rose's great accomplishments are completely overshadowed by his attempted distruction of the integrity of the sport. You may believe what you want, but betting on the outcome of any game that you have a hand in - IS FIXING GAMES!

Anyone who fixes games (and thus tarnishes the very integrity of the sport) does not belong in the Hall of Fame.

 

[Samphin]

What's often overlooked, is isn't if he bet against them... it's the times may not have even bet. Even if he bet on the Reds 4 out of 5 times. That one time he didn't bet for them can corrupt how he manages the game. It's every bit as bad as betting against them IMO.

Agreed. Even if, in theory, he did bet for the Reds to win every game, it certainly plays into how he manged. He might have left pitchers in too long because he thought they were better than the relievers, thus putting more streess and wear and tear on the arm. Substituting players intot he lineup on certain days that he otherwise wouldn't have done. All kinds of things.

I wholeheartedly agree that he shouldn't be allowed in the Hall or anywhere near a baseball team. However, the Reds are holding a Pete Rose day I think tomorrow. An event that directly contradicts the terms of his banning. It says to me that they are softening on Pete Rose and that he will ultimately make it in.

However, if you put him in, they need to be prepared to put the Black Sox players in like Shoeless Joe Jackson and whatnot.

 

[Phinz4Life]

Steroids are so much worse than betting. You can use a word like integrity, but theres no way the physical aspect of cheating while playing in the game is considered less a crime than betting.

 

[finswin56]

Steroids are so much worse than betting. You can use a word like integrity, but theres no way the physical aspect of cheating while playing in the game is considered less a crime than betting.

Not IMO. Not when you're talking about a manager betting. That's as bad as it gets.

 

[Samphin]

Steroids are so much worse than betting. You can use a word like integrity, but theres no way the physical aspect of cheating while playing in the game is considered less a crime than betting.

Steroids are bad, but nowhere near as bad as games potentially being fixed. Steroids is fresh on everyone's mind but people are still going to the games and most everyone has accepted it as part of the game, sadly. The thought is if everyone is doing it, than it isn't cheating.

Fixing games does ruin the integrity of the sport much moreso. If games are fixed, it means no real competition is happening and those games/seasons/eras mean absolutely nothing. At least with the steroids era, you can put things into context. People can look at Bonds' 73 homers and note that they are chemically enhanced numbers. If it is found out that games were fixed, it throws the hole sport into question. Not only are homeruns and wins/losses questioned, but the legitamacy of the entire league itself is called into question.