LAKESIDE… It’s a late Sunday eve, the weekend Thanksgiving guests have either departed for home or will in a few hours and I decided to catch up on some reading. I was pleasantly surprised to come across a lengthy and in-depth interview of Pete Rose, the banished former MLB player. This turned out to be a fantastic read and to give the proper credit to the right guy, it was done by David Brown for Yahoo Sports. It was a good enough piece that I had to put it into my archives.

But let me backtrack a bit. First off, yes, those that know me, know that I am a huge baseball fan. I have never been much of a Cincinnati Reds fan, and I have always pretty much thought of Rose as a kind of personality-less jerk. But I never was in possession of any doubt about his baseball skills. The guy was a player and then some no matter what I thought of him personally. I might also add that after his permanent suspension from MLB  for betting on baseball, and the vote more then a year later by the Baseball Writers Association of America to ban all former players or managers on the “permanently ineligible” list from consideration into the Baseball Hall of Fame, I was all for that. I am not a person that takes rules or laws lightly.

I have in the past few years changed my stance on Rose’s ban to the belief that I am OK with baseball continuing to exclude him from being able to work or manage in MLB, but that they should reword his situation so that he may take his rightful place in the BHOF. It has been 22 years now, and we are in a society that grants probation to people who have taken the lives of others before they have served the amount of time of their sentences equal to the current length of Rose’s ban. So in my book it’s time, get him into the hall. 

But that’s kind of old news. What Rose has going on now is that he works at a shop in Las Vegas and he signs autographs for money 15 days a month. That’s where Brown caught up with him, and what amazed me was the sheer volume and accuracy of Rose’s recall of his time in the game and his knowledge of the game then and now. And he is a veritable quote machine, both serious and humorous. Amongst his gems; in comparing Game six in 75’ with his Reds versus the Red Sox which was a 12 inning classic won by Beantown against the recently played 11 inning thriller in St. Louis, he said this years game six was probably more entertaining, but that it was because it was a sloppily played game that Texas should have never let get into extra innings. He also noted that there were 7 future HOFer’s in that series. (including injured Jim Rice and himself if he were in)  

He noted that Sparky Anderson was the best manager he played for in his career. Recalling his managerial style “Sparky said there’s only three ways you can treat a person, you could pat em’ on the ass, kick em’ on the ass or leave him alone”. “You don't pat the guy who needs to be kicked. You don't kick the guy who needs to be left alone. Ain't no other way. It's not rocket science. Guys try to make too much out of it. And if your superstars believe in your program, you're ahead of the game. If your superstars don't like your program, it's only a matter of time before you get fired”.

On working for the WWE, “ I have never in my life met a rassler in the WWE — WWF when I was doing it — that wasn't a nice guy, that didn't care about each other”. Rose on people he admires or would like to meet, “Michael Jordan. He was in my son's hitting group in Birmingham (the White Sox's Class AA team). Said he was the nicest guy ever.” And about meeting former Beatle Ringo Starr, “On stage at a concert in Los Angeles. Gave him a bat”.

This one about former teammate Bernie Carbo who claimed he played high, “I don't know why Bernie would ever say that. I didn't know that side of Bernie. I didn't know anybody in my era who played high. If they did, I didn't know it. I don't know what Bernie was trying to do”. Brown replied that, “Maybe it's part of his rehab or penance”. To which Rose stated; “ Well, he's like a preacher today. You wouldn't think, I mean, is he still repentin'? Is that what he's doing? 

Rose had much to say about many other topics, and I will say that it was a riveting read. I will also say that it is time for MLB to address his status so that he may be inducted into the Hall. I happen to think that he has paid his price, and we are a country that believes in second chances are we not? It’s time for Bud Selig to come off of his high horse and get this matter taken care of once and for all. His transgressions took place after his playing days were over. Is there something personal here that you are not telling us Bud? PEACE

MFAN SPORT SHORT; The Washington Capitals have fired Head Coach Bruce Boudreau this morning as the club continues to nose dive. Good move?? More next week…

THE MFAN NFL PICKS FOR WEEK 13;

(HOME team in CAPS)

Philly over SEATTLE

Oakland over MIAMI

HOUSTON over Atl

BUFF over Tenn

BEAR over Chefs

J-e-t-s over WASH

PITT over Cinn 

Balt over CLEVE

Caro over T-BAY

PATS over Indy

Den over VIKES

Boys over CARDS

Cheese over NYG

SAN FRAN over StL

JAX over San D

SAINTS over Lion

RESULTS after Week eleven; 10-4 for a season total of 103-57

Week twelve results incomplete as of Mon AM…. Over and out!

Marc Elliott is a free lance sports opinion writer who splits time between his hometown in Illinois and Minnesota. Elliott grew up in the Twin Cities with many of his childhood neighbors working or playing for the Vikings and Twins. He participated in baseball, football and hockey before settling on hockey as his own number one sport. Elliott recently wrote “The Masked Fan Speaks” column for the Lake County Chronicle for the past ten years and was a prominent guest on the former “All Sports” WDSM 710 AM in Duluth.