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Throughout this century the United States has gone through twoWorld Wars, dozens of Presidents, and countless events that haveshaped our lives. Throughout all this, there has been one constant.
Baseball.
Before game two of the World Series, there was a special pregameceremony where baseball’s “All-Century Team” was announced.
The All-Century team was compiled of the best 26 baseball playersof the 20th century. After the top 100 were announced at thebeginning of the season, fans had the opportunity to vote for whothey thought should be on the team. One of the players selected bythe fans was Pete Rose.
Unfortunately, Rose is not remembered as much for hisaccomplishments, which includes his 4,256 career hits, as he is forthe gambling scandal. Following an investigation by then-commissionerA. Bartlett Giamatti, the 16-time all-star and three-time battingchamp accepted a lifetime ban from baseball on Aug. 23, 1989.Although baseball concluded overwhelming evidence, Rose has denied hehas ever bet on his sport.
Sunday marked his first official baseball appearance in more than10 years. When his name was announced, the crowd gave him the ovationhe deserved, cheering for 55 seconds, 15 seconds longer than anyother member of the team, including hometown hero Hank Aaron.
Following the ceremony, Rose stopped to hold an interview withNBC’s Jim Gray. Gray, a well-respected reporter all over sports, hadbeen on the field for much of NBC’s coverage of the World Series, andbuilt his reputation as one of the best in the business.
But, after what he did Sunday night, he should be fired.
Gray’s first question was why Rose won’t admit to betting onbaseball and take his place in the Hall of Fame.
Rose replied, “I’m not going to admit to something that didn’thappen; I know you’re getting tired of hearing me say that. It’s toofestive a night to worry about it.”
Rather than changing the subject, Gray continued to berate Rose,stating that the commissioner’s office had strong evidence. Rose gotdefensive, and asked where the evidence was. After more back andforth arguing, Rose ended it.
“You know, I’m surprised you’re bombarding me with this,” he said.”I’m here to do an interview with you on a great night, a greatoccasion. You’re bringing up something that happened 10 years ago.”
I am all for freedom of speech and freedom of the press, but whatJim Gray did was horrific. Rose has done so much for baseball, andthe heartless approach that Gray took was hard to watch. Rose likenedGray’s interview to a prosecutor’s brief.
Gray is a tough reporter, that is a known fact. He even won aSports Emmy in 1998 after his interview with Mike Tyson after Tysonbit off a piece of Evander Holyfield’s ear.
But this went too far.
On this, probably the greatest night Pete Rose has had since hisban, Gray relentlessly beat a dead horse, and it made me sick.
After the interview, a NBC affiliate in New York received morethan 600 complaints about the interview. In Rose’s baseball town ofCincinnati, the phones were ringing off the hook for more than twohours.
Tuesday night, Gray’s actions culminated in Chad Curtis’ refusalto interview with Gray after he hit a game-winning home run.
“Because of what happened with Pete, (the Yankees have) decidednot to say anything,” Curtis told Gray.
Being a college reporter, I am embarrassed that I looked up to JimGray. I no longer look up to Jim Gray, and I question his motives asa reporter.
It almost seemed like he wanted to be the one to get Rose to admithe gambled on baseball. He used this great night as an ego trip thatfailed. He should be punished for his actions. He ruined Rose’sreturn to baseball, and he lost my respect.
