MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred "has never made it more clear than he did" yesterday that former MLBer Pete Rose "will not only remain on baseball’s ineligibility list but also that his status will never change as long as Rose is alive," according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. Manfred, in a ruling "as transparent as possible, unveiled the facts in his case." Nightengale: "After reading it, you wonder how anyone in the world could disagree" (USA TODAY, 12/15). Manfred in a report that accompanied his decision to uphold the ban said that Rose "informed him at their September meeting that he had continued to bet on baseball." In N.Y., Michael Schmidt writes that disclosure "clearly concerned Manfred," as did what Manfred described as Rose’s "inability, at the meeting, to admit that he not only bet on games as a manager but also as a player" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/15). On Long Island, Anthony Rieber notes Rose "is still permitted to work for a television network or participate in MLB-sponsored ceremonial activities." Manfred said that the latter "must be approved by the commissioner’s office" (NEWSDAY, 12/15).
KUDOS, COMMISH: SPORTS ON EARTH's Will Leitch wrote one of the major issues Manfred faces as commissioner "is pointing the sport toward its future, and away from those who refuse to let go of its past." The Rose problem "is a vivid -- perhaps the vivid -- example of that." The next commissioner "will never be asked about Rose, because of what Manfred did" yesterday. (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 12/14). On Long Island, David Lennon writes Manfred "basically determined that Rose is too big a risk to allow back in the game." Lennon: "What did Manfred have to gain by going against his predecessors and rolling the dice on someone who could make his life miserable? Kudos to the commish for even entertaining the idea" (NEWSDAY, 12/15). The GLOBE & MAIL's Cathal Kelly writes Manfred in person "is not nearly as telegenic as his peers atop other leagues." But with this decision, he has shown he "has a lot more subtlety of thought." Sport "doesn’t need more waffling marketers." What it needs "are more realists in charge." Maybe Manfred "is the first of a new wave of leaders who do more than look good behind a podium" (GLOBE & MAIL, 12/15). In N.Y., Joel Sherman writes under the header, "Commissioner Saw Right Through Pete Rose's Nice-Guy Charade" (N.Y. POST, 12/15). SI.com's Tom Verducci wrote MLB "doesn't trust" Rose. Manfred "became the fourth commissioner to find Rose too toxic to trust" (SI.com, 12/14). In Chicago, Rick Morrissey writes Manfred saw Rose "for what he is and opted not to lift the lifetime ban on the sport’s all-time hits leader." Morrissey: "Good for Manfred and good for the game" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 12/15). Also in Chicago, Teddy Greenstein writes maintaining Rose’s ban "might seem like cruel and unusual punishment, but it’s the best decision for all involved," including Rose (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/15).
WHAT CHOICE DID HE HAVE? YAHOO SPORTS' Tim Brown wrote Manfred made the "proper decision" and the "only decision" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/14). In N.Y., John Harper writes Rose "didn’t give Rob Manfred a choice." Rose made it "all but academic by admitting to Manfred -- after first denying, naturally -- that he was still betting on various sports, including baseball, in Las Vegas where he lives." He made it "impossible for Manfred to justify allowing him back in baseball" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/15). In Chicago, Barry Rozner writes Manfred deserves "credit for giving this a shot, but ultimately Rose gave the commissioner no choice" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 12/15). In Akron, Ryan Lewis writes it is "not really a surprise that Rose’s ban isn’t being lifted," but it is "a shame he wasn’t able to make a better argument on his own behalf" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 12/15). FOXSPORTS.com's Rob Neyer wrote it is "a lot harder to argue with the process today, since it seems that Manfred, in great contradistinction to his predecessor [Bud Selig], made some real effort to deliver a decision that, at least on its face, is both deliberate and fair" (FOXSPORTS.com, 12/14). NBCSPORTS.com's Joe Posnanski wrote Manfred "upheld the ban because there was nothing else for him to do -- there wasn’t even a decision to be made" (NBCSPORTS.com, 12/14). MLB Network’s Peter Gammons said, "This is Pete's doing. It's not baseball's doing. Nobody was out to get him. He broke (former commissioner) Bart Giamatti's heart” (“MLB Tonight,” MLB Network, 12/14).
HYPOCRISY AT ITS FINEST: In Cincinnati, Paul Daugherty writes under the header, "This Is MLB's Petty Vindictiveness." Rose’s continued banishment is not MLB’s "purity, renewed." Rather, it is MLB’s "petty vindictiveness, trying to keep pace with its unapologetic hypocrisy" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 12/15). In Boston, Michael Silverman writes Rose "got what he deserved, but let’s not pretend that the people who oversee baseball, those who play it and those who report on it, have a firmer grasp on the meaning of morality than Rose has on the meaning of honesty, contrition and personal responsibility." The idea of MLB "making an example out of Rose is almost quaint, now that teams and leagues are in business with the oddsmakers" (BOSTON HERALD, 12/15). ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said of MLB, "In a society where we forgive so many people for doing so many egregious
things, it’s one thing to lack compassion, it’s another thing entirely
to be so flagrant with it, so unapologetic about it, coming across as if
you are so holier than thou" (“First Take,” ESPN2, 12/15).
WHAT'S NEXT? FS1’s George Wrighster said, “The decision was a little bit cowardice. It made sense though." Manfred "knows that Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame. … The Hall of Fame has its own choice, its own decision to make" (“Fox Sports Live: Countdown,” FS1, 12/15). ESPN’s Buster Olney said, “The Hall of Fame should use Pete Rose to get out of this weird place, this box that they’ve put themselves in by assessing character and getting away from that and getting back to the business of being a museum that presents history neutrally by putting Pete Rose up for submission." Olney: " Can you imagine the power of the moment? … If the Hall of Fame did this with Pete Rose, it would allow them to get past all the other issues they have with the steroid-era candidates” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 12/15). The N.Y. Daily News’ Bob Raissman said, “All I care about is he comes back to television. He provides plenty of material” (“Daily News Live,” SNY, 12/14).
