As a ballplayer, this man became a total disgrace. A fatally flawed man, who is arguably one of the legendary figures of the game, Rose could not control his demons.

For years since his expulsion from baseball, Rose has categorically denied betting on baseball or betting on his own team. Now, with his repulsive autobiography on the shelves, he admits to both, presumably, since he seems to be driven by nothing but money, to boost the sales of the book.

Let's draw the clear distinction between Rose and OJ Simpson. Simpson, in many ways is a far more troubling human being than Rose, but he did nothing to demean his sport. Rose, on the other hand did nothing but demean baseball.

Every professional baseball player has a clause in their contract categorically forbidding gambling on baseball and particularly on their own team. Rose knew this very well when he chose to book bets (from the clubhouse office phone I might add) on baseball games.

And for those of you diehard Charlie Hustle fans who are so determined in his defense that you argue that as long as he did not bet against the Reds he did nothing wrong, let me observe that a bet placed by the manager of a professional team with a professional gambler is valuable information. Such a manager may be tempted to pay off losing bets by providing inside information to gamblers, sweetening odds. Remember that as manager Rose had control of the starting rotation, the lineup and all the facets of a game, any of which could have significant impact on the outcome, and remember as well that the Reds need not lose for Pete to have cheated. Do the words point shaving have any meaning?

And finally, for those who would argue that Rose's integrity was such that he would never have made decisions as a manager for personal gain, let me observe this. When he was chasing Ty Cobb's all-time hit record, Rose was in the lineup every day, even though his defensive skills had deteriorated to the point where he was considered to be the worst every-day player in baseball. And who, you ask, was the manager who kept writing him in the lineup, usually at the two hole? Why Manager Pete Rose, of course.

He hurt the game no doubt about it and he should still be in the Hall of Fame. MLB trying to make moral judgments of players is ridiculous. Stick to his achievements on the field and on the field only.

He (knowingly) did just about the only thing a guy with 4000+ hits could do to keep himself out of Cooperstown.

He has dishonored baseball but that is like saying he threw a cup of water on the tsunami. No, a thimble of water. Anyway, in the early 1960's he was a young punk, about 18, playing in the Class A NY-P League in Geneva, NY, having been drafted by the Reds. The story/legend I have heard is that the coach was contemplating cutting Pete because he was just too small and didn't field well. I don't recall who the manager was but Art Shamsky and Tony Perez were on the same Geneva Reds team. Rose went to the manager, begging, pleading not to be cut. He'd mow his lawn, watch his kids, wash his car, anything. The manager took pity, cut some other guy (who would've probably been the all time hits champion) and baseball history (such as it is) was made.

I spent years defending him. To this day, I still do believe he belongs in the Hall of Fame, however I will no longer defend him. Several months ago, I literally spent days arguing his case to a group of...ahem...gentlemen on a Yahoo message board. I received no backup from anyone and felt I held my own. The day after the thread finally petered out, Pete Rose announced the time and place of his book signing...AT A CASINO! That's like Jimmy Swaggert having a book signing at a cheap motel. At that moment, I gave up. I can't defend him if he's not going to make it any easier on me than that. I still can't give him a five, and even a four would break my heart.

You might have a gambling problem if...

All of you saying negative stuff about Rose, surely dont appreciate baseball as it trully is. The king of sports is full of controversy and dirty figures, such as Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, even R. Alomar for spitting into an umpire's face. So bottom line is: Pete Rose bet on Baseball but keeps the record of hits!

Who gives a .... that he bet on baseball? IT DIDN'T RUIN THE GAME! All you Rose-haters, get a f**kin' life!