cherson@fsleng.DEC (06/03/85)
Fellow netters, Well I've been surveying the reactions to my reaction to Pete Rose and right now I would have to say that the responses are running slightly at 3-2 for the great one (the anti's are starting to come in). But before this thing starts to get out of hand I'd like to express some more feelings on Pete, et al without resorting to crude language, which I did in my original message. I think there is a cultural difference vis-a-vis myself and the Vince Lombardi-Pete Rose school of "win at all costs". When I look at sports I like to remember the saying that the Chinese use:"Friendship first, competition second". Subscription to this philosophy and professional sports in America, especially America in the '80's, does not mix. Some of you must be thinking that "this guy is a real wimp, he doesn't want to win, etc." I still follow sports, baseball among them, because for one I've been doing so ever since I can remember (first baseball game-Boston Braves vs. N.Y. Giants), and second because I like to see the skills of each sport displayed. But I've stopped taking them at all seriously since the '60's and don't even root for one team. I don't find anything to admire about Pete Rose ending the career of Ray Fosse, he had more right to be on the baseline than P.R. had to come crashing in head first in an exhibition game. The fact that someone could find something to admire about this signals a certain fault in current American thinking. One other thought, if by putting himself in the line-up is retarding the development of the Reds' young outfielders, than that's more than enough reason to fire him as manager, other managers have been fired for less. But Cinncinati's front office doesn't seem to want to develop the team into a competitor again, but squeeze every last bit of PR out of Rose's quest for Cobb's record. The fans in Cincy will only be able to go "wild" over Rose but their team will remain a mediocrity. Let's end the Pete Rose love/hate poll and get on to other topics. David Cherson
mcal@ihuxb.UUCP (Mike Clifford) (06/06/85)
> Fellow netters, > Well I've been surveying the reactions to my reaction to Pete Rose and > right now I would have to say that the responses are running slightly at 3-2 > for the great one (the anti's are starting to come in). But before this thing > starts to get out of hand I'd like to express some more feelings on Pete... > I don't find anything to admire about Pete Rose ending the career of > Ray Fosse, he had more right to be on the baseline than P.R. had to come > crashing in head first in an exhibition game. The fact that someone could find > something to admire about this signals a certain fault in current American > thinking. > Enough of this discussion... David Cherson *** REPLACE THIS LINEUP WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** Sure Dave, after you get your 2 cents worth, let's stop the discussion! Good job reading between the lines, Dave! I didn't say that I admire Pete Rose ending the career of Fosse, (insiders know this was Pete's plan all along) and the result of the collision (Fosse's injury) was certainly unintentional. And again, Fosse doesn't get hurt if he is NOT in the baseline, but he chose to take the risk and block the plate (in an EXHIBITION game!) and what did he expect? Rose was going to stop and get tagged out? It's only an exhibition game, he said! Mike Clifford