In Rose's particular case, we don't know for sure whether he's guilty or not. In launching this new petition, he also said he has new evidence that points to his innocence. I encourage Bud Selig to hold a public hearing to determine, once and for all, whether Rose is guilty or not. If Rose is indeed innocent, then baseball owes him a sincere apology and probably a few million bucks in reparations. If he is guilty, he should remain banned from baseball and the matter should never be brought up again.
Forgiveness is great.
People should forgive anybody that has wronged them. But this is not about forgiving or not forgiving Pete Rose, any more than the impeachment hearings were about forgiving Bill Clinton. It is about holding to a rule that protects the integrity of the game. That's the last word from the Abyss. Stephen Suffron is a senior broadcast journalism major from League City, Texas.