I wrote a post that strongly suggested that Pete Rose should never be put in the Hall of Fame. Apparently, I am mostly alone. I have heard many suggest that, now that he is dead, we should go ahead and put him in now.

Of course, who am I to decide. It just is that, I am disappointed. Many, both conservative and liberal have taken the attitude that it really wasn’t that big of a deal. One thing I have noted is that, the more that folks are in favor of gambling, the more they are in favor of letting Rose in.

I have no say in the matter. I have no TV or radio program. Maybe I just have a few hundred who even know of my blog. However, I do have my ideas of what is right and wrong. I have written many times of the downsides of gambling. Indeed, I keep hearing the advertisements of how fun it is to gamble, though it isn’t but for a second.

A couple of decades ago, it was not that way. I was in the majority in condemning those who gamble and encourage to gamble. It was in that world in which Rose was gambling, not our current world, which loves the lotteries and scoffs and me. It was in that world in which he chose to do his gambling and set the bad example for our youth. Indeed, to some degree, the stories of his gambling might have even added to the desire to loosen the laws on gambling.

As I say, little old me, I have little to say about it. It is an observation. It is one where few agree with me. It leaves me with a statement and two questions. I am disappointed. Is this a good thing, really? Is this the world we want our children to be brought up in, or the one that condemned Pete Rose for blatantly breaking the rules and then refused to repent? I kind of like the way it was, but that’s me.

As an aside, we all make mistakes. Mostly, they are simple mistakes we ignore, other than to try not to make the same mistake again. On the other hand, sometimes we make mistakes that live with us the rest of our lives. In some cases, we make mistakes that outlive us. I suspect, despite all I say, Pete Rose will be in the Hall of Fame one day. Still, it won’t change the fact that Pete Rose made one of those permanent mistakes that will live far beyond his grave. No one will ever be able to say that he didn’t do that which was wrong and he set a bad example for our youth.

When and if he ever gets in the Hall of Fame, it will send the message that, given enough time, given enough ability, all will be forgiven.