What on earth is this obsession with drug use? Why should we care what the hell atheletes or entertainers or just plain folks smoke, drink, chew or swallow? We have a right to require sufficiant sobriety for competent performance from our employees and those entrusted with our safety (Bus drivers, airline pilots, etc) and our security (Police, soldiers, crossing guards). If a basketball player does a line or two, as long as he plays up to par, let's keep our noses out of his nose. Sammy Sosa hit a lot of homers after his suspension was lifted. He says he didn't use the cork all those seasons he was hitting 60+, and there is no evidence to suggest otherwise. Pete Rose's "punishment" is not a maral judgement. MLB had no choice. Without the Draconian penalty for betting on games, the integrety of the sport is endangered. I am sure that the last thing that Bart Giometti, a rabid fan, wanted to do was to ban one of his all time heros. He bent over backwards to give Pete a way out. Pete was too stubborn and too stupid to take it. I still feel that Pete's records belong in the Hall, and I see no threat to the game if his plaque is added to the wall, alongside of "Shoeless" Joe Jackson's.
Of course, Pete Rose can never be allowed to work in baseball. He has, surely, forfieted that right.