Reactions

Emotions run high on Rose reinstatement debate

SI.com's B. Duane Cross and John Donovan went Head2Head on whether Pete Rose should be reinstated. Here are some of your responses:

Walter Iooss Jr. The Pete Rose Saga • Layden: Keep Rose away from teams • Verducci: Q&A with Pete Rose • CNNMoney: Rose loses market value • Verducci: Rose rolls dice with public • Deford: Pete represents the extremes • Excerpt: "I bet on baseball" • Verducci: Hall clock is ticking • Head2Head: Should he be reinstated? • SI Photo Gallery: Charlie Hustle • SI Covers: Rose through the years • Archive: '75 Sportsman | Career stats • Rose admits to lying in autobiography SI Exclusive More from My Prison Without Bars Flashback: The case against Rose Flashback: Pete's grim vigil

What is the definition of a ban? Rose agreed to a lifetime ban. If he agreed to this, don't reinstate him from a lifetime ban. Ban him for life. Regardless of whether he bet on the Reds or not, he has admitted to it, after so many years of denial, just to be reinstated? I wish the general public could do this at their work sites or with their present employers. Let's see, "You are fired" (but you can request reinstatement in 20 years and all will be forgiven.).
 -- Art Chavez, Frederick, Colo.

He accepted a lifetime ban, said he never bet on baseball, and essentially called Dowd, and Vincent liars. He now wants us to believe he didn't manipulate games, or bet on his team to lose -- is that a lie as well??? I think "lifetime ban" should mean lifetime ban, not 14 years and welcome back.
 -- Courtland Floyd, Kansas City, Mo.

Baseball rules against gambling will be a joke if Pete Rose is reinstated. The gambling rule is published on the walls of every clubhouse at the lowest minor league level and up. He knew the consequences and elected to gamble anyway. He lost that bet, now let him pay the price. Anything less will destroy what credibility is left in baseball.
 -- George Salter, Centerville, Ga.

So, you can take drugs and get reinstated to baseball a million times (see: Steve Howe), but you can't get thousands of hits and make it to the Hall of Fame? Come on, be real. He got those hits fair and square. Others have done worse things for sports. Baseball forgives when it wants to, it should do so here too.
 -- Annie Mahr, Somerset, N.J.

Pete has given his all to baseball. No one has ever tried so hard and achieved so much. He has been punished more than a basketball player that choked his coach and a baseball player who did drugs over and over again. Every hall should have a rose.
 -- Al Shaffer, Leander, Texas

The Hall of Fame is a joke without including the all-time hits leader.
 -- Richard James, New Canaan, Conn.

Pete Rose should be reinstated, but only to qualify for the Hall of Fame. He should not be allowed to participate in any activity that would influence the outcome of games. He is an addict and should be treated as one. His conduct has been less detrimental to the game than the current collection of steroid-riddled players whose "records" have made the last decade of baseball the games biggest black eye.
 -- Brian Boyle, Hoboken, N.J.

As a Dodger fan in the Pete Rose playing days, I hated him. As a baseball fan I admired his hustle and his ability. Have we all done things in our life that were questionable? Probably. After 14 years I think it's time to let him back into baseball and the Hall of Fame.
 -- Ed Hawes, Ventura, Calif.

So now Pete has admitted, after 14 years of lying, that he basically bet on every baseball game he could, four or five times a week. And for coming clean, he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame? How about we wait another 14 years, see if his story to changes again and then consider letting him into the hall. Personal integrity (of which he has none) is one thing, but the integrity of the game is another thing entirely. Good for you for telling the truth (we think) this time, Pete. But don't expect us to fall over backwards to help you out because you think you deserve it.
 -- Timm Fair, Boston

Hell yes, he should be reinstated! It's not the Integrity Hall of Fame, it's the Baseball Hall of Fame!
 -- Ross Richard, Baton Rouge, La.

Pete should never coach again. He should be eligible for the Hall of Fame.
 -- Keith Parker, Erie, Pa.

They pardon murderers and all sorts of other criminals and allow them back into society. It's about time to let Pete Rose back into baseball and to remember that baseball is only a game. I'll give you 2-1 he won't re-offend.
 -- Richard Walker, Toronto

After Rose has waited the same amount of team that Shoeless Joe Jackson has waited, he should be granted admission to the Hall of Fame. Other than that, screw him.
 -- Bruce Castleberry, Dallas

Pete Rose has paid enough. Let the man in. He's got more hits than anyone ever in the game, and we all know hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports. No one has ever done it better than Charlie Hustle. So he bet on baseball, big deal. You've got drunks, dopers, and criminals who had no problems getting in the Hall of Fame. Pete Rose never hurt anyone, he wasted his own money. The man with the most hits deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
 -- Robert C. Tringale, Nyack, N.Y.

Rose bet on baseball? No Duh!!! What a shock and surprise ... (Say it ain't so, Joe!) Should he be let back on the field to manage? No, absolutely not.
 -- Mark  Ross, San Francisco