Make an example of Rose
EDITOR: I agree with Lowell Cohn’s conclusions wholeheartedly as expressed in his column Tuesday (“Rose will never make his stink go away”).
Rose lied throughout the investigation process, he continued to lie for an additional 20-plus years and he admitted to betting on baseball only when it suited him. But he had always denied betting as a player. Now with these new documents coming to light he lied about that as well.
This motivated me to read the Dowd report. I got through about halfway and there is no doubt in my mind that Rose is not only dirty but, yeah, he stinks of arrogance, corruption and is just a liar.
The investigation only covers a few years toward the end of his playing and managerial career, but I’m sure that before then he was betting on baseball as well. It’s not like he woke up some morning and started betting on baseball among other sports. No, he has been a full-blown gambler who has been doing this for some time.
MLB must make an example of him and discourage this type of behavior among its current players - and if the player gets caught then they’re out for good.
JOSE DURAN
El Sobrante
Gambling an addiction
EDITOR: I’ve been a fan of baseball for more than 40 years. I have seen many great baseball players over those 40 years and I have to say that Lowell Cohn’s column on Pete Rose was not fair to him.
Pete Rose has been crucified by the sports writers of our country without batting an eye. Sure, Pete placed bets on sporting events. Even baseball. Don’t get me wrong. I do believe that is wrong as a sports player. But Pete may have gotten to a point where he had no control of what he was doing.
He may have had an addiction to gambling. Back then in the ’80s there wasn’t much information about compulsive gambling. I for one am a compulsive gambler. I have been gambling for 30-plus years.
From my experience gambling and of trying to quit, its not as simple as you think. I have tried for four years to stop. I am on my third attempt to stop this hideous addiction. I have to say that it’s probably harder to stop then drug addiction or alcohol addiction. But yet our society thinks gambling is not a problem and that you can just quit at anytime. That is false.
Drugs and alcohol addiction are accepted in this society, but society hasn’t accepted compulsive gambling as an addiction.
Pete Rose has served his time. He has been punished. Should something like this possible hideous and uncontrollable addiction in his past keep him from baseball and Cooperstown?
AARON DECAILLET
Rohnert Park
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