As MLB hit king Pete Rose is about to be inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame this weekend, he spoke with Cincinnati Magazine about many things, including his gambling and what he might need to do to get in baseball’s good graces.
When he was asked about still betting on baseball, legally this time of course, Rose was also asked whether he’d consider stopping that to get in the good graces of Rob Manfred and the league.
That’s a good point. You remember reading about Bart Giamatti telling me to reconfigure my life? OK, no one has ever told me—including Manfred, including Selig—what does that mean? I guess my point is, just tell me what you want me to do and I’ll do it. I’m in control. Just tell me. If I want to bet on Monday Night Football, and that’s the way I enjoy my life, why is everybody so worried about that? I’m 75 years old, I have to be able to have some form of entertainment. I’m not betting out of my means. It’s not illegal. If you don’t want me to bet on baseball or anything else, just tell me.
Rose also wanted to let everyone know that gambling itself wasn’t the big issue, it was ILLEGAL gambling that MLB had a problem with.
Here’s what you have to understand: I didn’t get in trouble for gambling. I got in trouble for illegal gambling, which is a big difference. And like I said, I do no more illegal gambling. That’s the last thing in the world I’d ever do. I’ll never associate with a bookmaker again.
If he was reinstated, he did attempt to say that he’d stop gambling on baseball, as if the two things are mutually exclusive.
But just say Pete Rose is reinstated. What does that mean? That means I can do appearances at minor league ballparks, I can get back with Topps baseball cards. Stuff like that. I understand what you’re saying if I’m working for the Reds or if I’m in the batting cage working with players. That’s common sense that you wouldn’t gamble if that was the situation. You make a good point, but there’s different circumstances involved. I’m not betting anything today, I didn’t bet anything yesterday, I’m not betting anything tomorrow.
You can read the rest of the interview here, should you desire to have someone try to sell you beachfront property in Bozeman, Montana.
