Frank, the "other guys" who broke the rules also received the punishment that was on the book for their particular offense. You can argue that the punishment may not fit the crime, but that is a whole different story.   You and I are not the judge when it comes to handing out punishment. The FACT remains, MLB and the Players have a contract that both parties sign. Through collective bargaining, both parties have agreed upon the rules and each INDIVIDUAL signs the agreements. You live with it, or try to change it. Unfortunately you can't change the past.

Rose knowingly broke the following rule, which is on display in every clubhouse:

Rule 21(d):
BETTING ON BALL GAMES. Any player, umpire, or club official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform shall be declared ineligible for one year.
Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.

As it stands, Rose knew the consequence of his actions. Additionally, he signed an agreement with Bart Giammatti that acknowledged he ACCEPTED his lifetime banishment from baseball. Whether he had bad lawyers or was too stupid to read the agreement, he had the nerve to say later that he thought he could be re-instated.

You are right Frank, people will have one opinion or the other. While I am dumbfounded that people can't see the logic and understand why he is banned, I do understand that the passion people have for the man.   No one likes to see an idol with feet of clay. We all want to remember those moments from our youth and forget their indescretions.