by Rita Chandler

Created on: August 04, 2010

When Whitey Ford gave Pete Rose the nickname "Charlie Hustle" he was ridiculing the young ball player, who in his great love for the game and eagerness to show his talent, ran to first base when he drew a walk. But Charlie Hustle he was and remained until he was banned from baseball in 1994 for gambling on baseball games. Is my most memorable moment in sports televison Pete Rose's gambling ban? Certainly not. I have thought and still think Pete Rose is one of the greatest baseball players ever to walk onto the diamond. He had 160 home runs, was a two time Golden Glove Winner, was National League Rookie of the Year, has received not only two Most Valuable Player awards but has also won the Robert Clemente Award. On top of all that he was voted, by the fans, to 17 All Star games. 

All of Pete Rose's accolades were eclipsed on an autumn night in 1999 when NBC newscaster Jim Gray approached him after the Major League Baseball All-Century Team and asked him one of the stupidest questions that ever left the mouth of a reporter. "Are you willing to show contrition and admit you bet on baseball or ready to offer an apology?" What? The baseball great had just been honored by sports legends, sponors, and fans by being chosen to be a part of a great team and Jim Gray could only focus on a ten year old story? All of this was captured on televison and was the most memorable moment in my life.

One reason it was so memorable was because I was still mad for and about Pete Rose being banned from baseball and being black-listed from the Baseball Hall of Fame. Then here on national television, when I (and many other fans) was so proud of Pete Rose finally receiving the recognition he deserved, a second rate sportscaster asked about a subject Pete had denied publically for years instead of giving the fans insight into the great ball players emotions and outlook.

How did Pete Rose respond to Jim Gray? He tried to bring the conversation to the night by saying, "I appreciate the American fans voting. I am just a small part of a big deal tonight." Did Gray leave it at that? Certainly not. The reporter wanted the BIG story so he could pat himself on the back on what a good deal he did. Finally, Pete, a little mad now but still trying to be gracious to the fans, said, "I'm surprised you are bombarding me like this. This is a great night, great occasion, geat ovation. . .you are bringing up what happened ten years ago."

Okay, so Pete finally admitted to betting on baseball in his book My Prison Without Bars  but he did not do anything other sports figures have done. Anyone remember a man named Michael Jordon?

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