As expected, Pete Rose received a very enthusiastic ovation from the hometown fans in Cincinnati when he took the field before the All-Star Game on Tuesday night. Rose was selected by the fans as one of the Reds’ “Franchise Four” during pregame festivities, and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred was willing to allow him to take part in the evening.
Shortly after Rose received the honor, he spoke to his FOX Sports colleague Ken Rosenthal about what the ceremony meant to him. Rosenthal also asked Rose what he believes his chances are of making the Hall of Fame, and Charlie Hustle had the stones to crack a gambling joke.
“I’m not gonna make any odds, now,” Rose said with a laugh. “We’re not gonna do that, Kenny. Get outta here.”
Rose, who was clearly in a great mood, also playfully tapped Rosenthal in the face.
While some might interpret the remark as arrogance, Rose shouldered the blame for the mistakes he has made and said he was honored to meet Manfred for the first time.
“I’m the one who screwed up, so I can’t get mad at anybody about why I’m not where I belong or why I did this or why I did that,” he said. “I’m just happy that (Manfred is) willing to review my status. When I sit down with him, I’ll tell him everything I did as a player and a manager and we’ll go from there. I’ll be as honest as I can with him.
“If he’s a fair man and he’s willing to give somebody a second chance, I’ll be the happiest guy in the world. … I’m a good guy. I’m not the same guy today as I was 29 years ago.”
Rose’s worst enemy at this point could be the new documents that were released in an ESPN Outside the Lines report last month. Prior to that, it looked like he had a good chance of being reinstated with a new commissioner in office.
