[clari.sports.baseball] Pete Rose still denying he bet on baseball

clarinews@clarinet.com (02/03/90)

	CINCINNATI (UPI) -- Former Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose is
denying the latest claim that he gambled on baseball.
	Tommy Gioiosa, a former close friend of Rose's, claimed Thursday
that ``Rose bet on baseball and the Reds.''
	Rose, who has denied the accusation from several other people,
including the late Baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti, said Friday he
considers such claims ``a closed issue.''
	``I can't stand here and prove I didn't because you can't prove a
negative,'' said Rose. ``If something didn't happen, how can I prove it
didn't happen?''
	Gioiosa, who last year refused to cooperate with baseball officials
investigating Rose's gambling, made his claim Thursday, just before he
was sentenced to five years in prison for cocaine dealing and tax
cheating.
	Rose figured Gioiosa was a publicity seeker.
	``It's Tommy Gioiosa today, it might be someone else who wants to
get their name in the paper tomorrow,'' said Rose. ``People won't let me
take my punishment gracefully, I guess.''
	Rose last year was banned from baseball for life for gambling.
However, Rose's attorneys made sure the agreement under which Rose was
banned did not include a finding of gambling on baseball games.