Oddsboard Sports Betting Articles

MLB Baseball | NBA Basketball | NCAA Basketball | NFL Football | NCAA Football | NHL Hockey

View All Sports Handicapper Articles

Last month, the greats of the game gathered in pastoral Cooperstown, New York to celebrate their own. Fans flocked from across the country to see their heroes knighted. Its one of the most wonderful and American of moments in sports.

And sadly, it wouldnt have been a weekend in Cooperstown without the massive shadow of all-time hits king Pete Rose lingering over the entire proceeding. After decades of being dismissed, Jim Rice had to share the stage with a man he faced in the 1975 World Series. After one of the most illustrious careers in baseball history, Rickey Henderson had to have the name of Rose mentioned commingled in sentences with his own.

In years past the clamor about whether Rose deserved to be in the Hall or not generally came from rosy-eyed fans from Cincinnati and Philadelphia and a few baseball writers looking to punch up their stories.

This year, the story that has been huffing and puffing along for 20 years got a significant boost from one of the games greatest players and true gentleman: Hank Aaron. And the plot thickens.

Having a former player speak up in favor of Rose is one thing, but the fact that it is one of Aarons stature changes the game a little. As an added wrinkle, Aaron may be the most respected former player and friend of commissioner Bud Selig.

It shouldnt matter. Rose should suffer in ignominy until he dies. Only then should he be able to take his place among the games best.

Peter Rose bet on baseball. That, not steroid use, or being a bad teammate, is the ultimate sin. And his supporters may claim that he generally only bet on his team to win, but that does not mean his choices did not jerk with the integrity of the game.

Whos to say he didnt stick with a pitcher too long in some games, or give others the hook too quickly in order to salvage a win. Maybe he emptied his bench in the seventh inning in order to score a go-ahead run, resulting in a crippled lineup when extra innings rolled around.

Aarons clamoring likely comes at what he sees an opportune time to bring up the argument, what with the taint of steroids affecting the entire game and leading to debates about other potential Hall of Famers. But what those steroid users did was no different from what spit-ballers, greeny-users or sign-stealers did and have done for almost a century. They were looking for a competitive advantage. Roses disgrace went deeper, to the heart of the sport.

Regardless of ones beliefs on what he did nor did not do to affect games, his greater sin is the hubris and arrogance he has shown in the time since.

For more than a dozen years following his ban, Rose continued to claim innocence. And once he did finally admit his wrongs, he felt a half-ass apology with no contrition earned him his deserved spot in Cooperstown.

Unfortunately for Rose, being the all-time hits leader does not automatically grant you anything. Except the all-time hits record.

Baseball has long been considered a gentlemens game of honor and code. Rose showed no honor in betting on the game and no humility in the face of glaring proof of is shameful acts.

Once caught, he should have stolen a line from recent inductee Rickey Henderson and declared that he was humbled, not the greatest. Greatness is reward by plagues. Roses is veiled in shame.

"I think the thing that bothers me," said Aaron, "is (Rose) is missing out on a lot of things. He made a mistake. I don't know what else can be done or what else can be said."

Aaron is right, there is nothing else that can be done or said. What is done is done and Rose has only himself to blame.