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Back in the news Rose talks of Fame, stays quiet on Jim Gray interview
Posted: Thursday November 04, 1999 11:34 PM
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Pete Rose doesn't mind talking about his longtime quest to get into the Hall of Fame. The subject of NBC reporter Jim Gray, however, remains a sensitive topic. Rose was honored Thursday by the Sports Boosters of Maryland as "the greatest player ballplayer not in Baseball's Hall of Fame." He was recently named to the All-Century team, but cannot be elected to the Hall because of a lifetime ban from the sport for gambling. Rose was honored for his place on the All-Century team before the World Series game in Atlanta on Oct. 24. After the ceremony, Gray repeatedly asked Rose about his gambling in a terse interview. Gray later apologized to baseball fans for the length of the interview. After signing autographs for 30 minutes Thursday, Rose was approached by reporters before the event formally got underway. He reluctantly agreed to be interviewed, but as soon as the words "Jim Gray" were mentioned, Rose walked away. Rose's agent, Andrew Vilacky, said of Gray: 'He didn't apologize to Pete. It was a [bad] thing to do." Rose was glad to speak to a local TV station about his rather strange award as the best player not in the Hall of Fame. "Maybe we get that thing turned around," Rose said. "I understand the importance of the Hall of Fame and what it means to every player. Everyone who plays baseball just wants to make the big leagues, and if enough good things happen, you want to stay in the big leagues. "Then you start making some All-Star games and going to World Series. Then your next goal is to be in the Hall of Fame. I understand the importance of going to the Hall of Fame. For now, though, I'll settle for this."
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