On Vick and Rose
Should Michael Vick get another chance? Yes.
Should Pete Rose? No.
The New York Daily News says Commissioner Bud Selig is considering Pete Rose’s possible reinstatement for Hall of Fame eligibility. Buster Olney, the voice of baseball for ESPN, says he’ll vote for Rose if he’s reinstated. I wouldn’t. Rose undermined the credibility of his sport, lied about it, lied about it again—for years— and still shows little to no remorse.
And forget the steroid comparison. At this point it is pretty obvious that steroid use was widespread and condoned from on high. (Willful ignorance is not a defense.) Rose was betting illegally, on his own sport, and his own team. And he’s barely said he’s sorry, much less made any kind of amends.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Vick today, ruling that the former Atlanta quarterback could play in regular-season games as early as October. What Vick did — bankrolling a dogfighting ring — was despicable. But he admitted his crime and did his time — 23 months in a federal prison. In the American legal system, that qualifies him for a second chance.
Will an NFL team hire him? In time, I’m saying yes, but this promises to be one long morality play. Will a baseball team hire Rose if Selig lifts his lifetime ban? Count on it.
But that’s another story entirely.
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