Selig needs to retire so that Pete Rose can get into the Hall of Fame. I'd love to have a chance meeting with Selig to discuss The Great Pete Rose. I'm not saying the gambling thing was a high point in his career or life but that had ZERO to do with his ability and the reason that he DESERVES to be in the Hall of Fame. He broke Ty Cobb's record for most hits......did that have anything to do with gambling?
Sure, ban Rose from baseball. Don't let him manage or coach or be in a power position with the sport anymore. This protects the game and the rules that go along with it. I can get on board with that. But, really, don't allow him to be part of an elite group of players and be recognized for his hard work and playing ability? That's a tragedy really. He's going to be remembered regardless of being a Hall of Famer or not, so why not?
There are rules that must be followed and a certain pretense upheld, this I understand. But he is not going into the Hall of Fame based on his character and who he is as a person. Nothing he did effected the way he played the game. If we start picking Hall of Famers by who they are as a person and not what they did as a ball player, many of the talented athletes would not stand a chance of getting in. And I'm sure a good number of ball players already inducted would have to be removed. I'm not condoning jerkish behavior, but that Hall of Fame is based on talent, stats, and records.
Isn't there some sort of separation of baseball and character in the Constitution? Well, maybe there should be.
