This past Saturday ESPN aired a four-hour mock trial of perhaps the most controversial figure in baseball for the last two decades. In "Pete Rose on Trial," Harvard Law School became the site of a showdown between Alan Dershowitz and Johnnie Cochran over Rose's potential eligibility for the Baseball Hall of Fame.\nFor three hours, the trial itself was quite entertaining (OK, it was only entertaining if you are a baseball fan). Within the trial, the jury heard about the key points in the Dowd Report, the most damning piece of evidence against Rose, as well as testimony from legendary baseball figures Steve Garvey, Jim Palmer, Hank Aaron and Dave Parker. Dershowitz was masterful in his cross-examinations, especially when he attacked legendary baseball numbers man Bill James, and Cochran was his typical fiery self.\nThe trial, despite its entertainment, was a joke. The jury's verdict was never really in any doubt. The fans feel that Rose, based on all the records he holds and the way he played the game, deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. The jury voted eight to four that he should be in, a percentage that mirrors many polls on the subject.\nPete Rose is one of the all-time greatest players in baseball. He was not the most talented, but got more out of his talent than anyone I have ever seen. His hustle, his heart and his commitment to the game were twice that of most players. He might have been a lousy manager, but he was a great player and, based on his statistics, Rose should be in Cooperstown. So why isn't he?\nFirst of all, Rose entered into an agreement with then-commissioner Bart Giamatti on August 23, 1990 to end the investigation into allegations that he bet on baseball. Rose agreed to a lifetime ban from the game (done by placing him on the permanently ineligible list), while baseball would not enter into any official judgment as to whether Rose bet on the game. Rose was eligible under the plea for reinstatement one year from the agreement.\nRose knew what he was signing at the time. The statement does not commit the commissioner to reinstate Rose at any point. It just provided him the opportunity to try and be reinstated. If the commissioner felt that Rose was not worthy of being allowed back into the game he had no obligation to reinstate him. \nSo far, baseball does not feel Rose has done enough to merit reinstatement. His lack of an admission and an apology for betting on the game is the key sticking point. The Dowd Report includes compelling circumstantial evidence against Rose. There are betting slips in his handwriting in the evidence section of the report. One of those betting slips has Rose's fingerprint on it. There is testimony from bookies and runners that Rose was gambling with them on baseball. There are also questionable phone calls and checks written out to people who do not even exist.\nPersonally, I would like nothing more than for Pete Rose to be in the Hall of Fame and to have his accomplishments as a player recognized by the crowning achievement of a career. However, baseball believes that to let him into the game without an admission that he gambled on baseball (and an apology) would be a serious mistake for the game. Sports rely on the belief of the fan that the game's outcome is not preordained, and that all sides are playing fairly and playing to win. The smallest hint of impropriety would call into doubt the game's entire structure. \nIf Rose apologizes and admits his mistakes, baseball would have no choice but to open the doors of Cooperstown to him. Unfortunately, so far he has been unwilling or unable to make such a move, and no number of mock trials run by ESPN or public opinion polls will change baseball's mind.
Quick Hits\n• The Kobe Bryant situation is unfortunate for all of those involved. I would hope that people would not pass judgment on Bryant until all the facts come out at trial and that people will respect the right of the accuser to privacy and to not have her life put on trial.
