It's my understanding that Pete Rose ran up (something like) a $500,000 gambling debt with members of organized crime. This is no small thing--especially when you are managing a team and betting on your team. I don't know the details of what went on, but I think this type of thing is much more serious than Strawberry/Taylor/Howe-type deviations.

I'll never forget this time I was walking down the street in Las Vegas, early in the morning, and a sketchy looking character came up and asked me if I gambled. I said yes, though I'm not much of a gambler, really. He told me to "bet on the Angels with both hands." That night the Angels won 9-0. Coincidence? Perhaps. But I think that kind of thing goes on much more often than people would like to think. And if there's evidence someone has been involved in fixing or betting, maybe they should be made an example of.

My father's convinced Steinbrenner had the umps in his pocket for the ALCS. Being a die-hard Red Sox fan, I wish I could believe it, but I just think those SOBs blew it. Excuse me whilst I suck on my sour grapes.

Regards,
tomtom