Ask a real Ballplayer if Rose should be in the Hall of Fame, not a dreamer like you, or I

     Coming soon, the article that asks the Sportswriters and Cooperstown's elite to reconsider Pete Rose's induction into the Hall Of Fame. And to the Sportswriters, all 576 of you, what compassion lies tucked in your heart that you judge mere mortals that have ascended the very standards of baseball elite.  What editor or publisher extended a hand to you, a job, an opportunity, possibly a scoop.  That gave you a second chance from a poor choice you've made.  How many times have you toiled at a typewriter to meet a deadline, and failed. 

     Pete Rose spilled his guts on a baseball field, he played with injuries that would bring most men to tears.  He dug in when the mound was high and didn't flinch when Bob Gibson hurled a slider. Koufax and Drysdale threw missiles too and it wasn't always at the catcher.  He hustled on that diamond like no man in history ever has.  The only player to take All Star games so seriously besides Gibson, before it meant the home field advantage.  It wasn't about your color or race, with Pete, it was about winning.  He played in 1,972 winning games.  He brought players to new levels, he made mediocre players damn good ones, and good ones great. 

     Smoking and drinking, not Pete.  Kids have been his passion.  He never snubbed fans nor writers.  When a player was down or in a slump. all Rose asked was for them to do their best.  And does Rose really need to kiss people's asses to be recognized for the greatness he achieved on a diamond.  Senators, Congressmen, politicians across the land smoke crack, visit prostitutes, launder money, lie to American citizens, take bribes, fail to pay income taxes, sometimes accidentally, sometimes with malice, many accept bribes, and gifts from lobbyists.  Need more be written.  But Pete Rose proved special to baseball, the old timers loved him, the new-age ball players were awe struck by his tenacity and fire.  He bridged and blended baseball legends from different generations like no player before.  He treated a veteran writer with the same special brand of Rose humanity just as he treated a reporter's first gig.  He wasn't disrespectful to women, he was involved in charities, the needy, the kids that might not be able to afford a glove or set of cleats. Rose was there, and he'd give you the shirt off his back.  Morgan, Aaron, Schmidt, and hundreds of ballplayers want him eligible for the Hall of Fame.

     Something else to ponder, Pete Rose never took steroids, never corked his back, he played every position asked of him, difficult as it may be on a major league level.  Never the pre-madonna as some players that whine and bitch if they don't get their way, or play their position of choice. 

     Hell . . . not Pete.

     It's easy to write about, but standing there crowding the plate, the pressure -- both big games and small ones, Always delivering his best day in and day out.  Arms, knees, shoulders, wrists, a strained back, a groin injury, possibly a sprained ankle.  You got the guts for that, only one person in all of baseball history did it to the tune of Pete Rose's 4200+ hits. and he did it through all adversity.

Now my dearest sportswriters' how many of you have taken a comp meal, got a free room, a dinner, maybe a tip or something well deserved.  Maybe cheated on your wives or girlfriends.  Maybe you lied to a coworker, friend or family.  You're only human, fallible as fauna and flesh.  But we all make mistakes.

Pete Rose is seventy-one years old, nothing like giving a dead soldier a posthumous Medal of Honor.

Love him or hate him, there will never be another, not a player today resembles the brightness of his burn, the tenacity, or possess the desire to win.

Pete gambled, Pete's ashamed of it.  How about you?  Rose has paid his dues. 

Sportswriters . . . Rose deserves a bronze in Cooperstown. 

As God is my witness -- it's the right thing to do. 

Let Rose taste it, he's been hungry enough.

And he damn sure deserves better . . . .

Saddle up this stallion once more for all to see . . . It was the best times for Americans when Pete

Rose peaked at America's grand pastime . . .

"Charlie Hustle"