There needs to be a poll option for "I'm torn."

Come on, your talking about people deprived of personal liberties. Rose is being deprived of a privilege. He has no right to the hall, he gambled that one away.

 

Which is my point entirely. Even in situations in which a convicted felon has been given a life sentence, our society has determined in many (actually, the majority) of these cases that it is appropriate to reduce their punishment and release them early. I find it odd that life sentences can be reduced in the criminal justice system, but not in baseball's administrative penalty system.

How do you know Canseco will not be in the Hall of Fame? Are you one of the voters? Don't think so. Not trying to start an argument just stating the facts. I don't like Canseco, I'm not taking up for Canseco but I do believe he should be in the HOF even if it is because of the time he let the ball bounce off his head and over the fence for a home run when he played for the Rangers. That was priceless and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame/Shame whichever they have room for him. LOL

 

His numbers aren't good enough, and he's an admitted steroid user. You don't need to have a vote to know he isn't getting in.

Which is my point entirely. Even in situations in which a convicted felon has been given a life sentence, our society has determined in many (actually, the majority) of these cases that it is appropriate to reduce their punishment and release them early. I find it odd that life sentences can be reduced in the criminal justice system, but not in baseball's administrative penalty system.

If Rose had laid low, admitted guilt and shown some contrition in the first few years after his ban, he might have been able to get reinstated in time.

 

Instead, he showed up in Cooperstown for the Hall of Fame ceremony on a yearly basis, creating a sideshow by signing autographs for a fee just down the road from where the real baseball people were hanging out.

 

Like it or not, he gave off the impression that he felt he was just as important as the game itself, and given his ego, I suspect he does feel that way.

 

In the end, I think he's discovered that he needs the game more than it needs him.

Yes!!!

Which is my point entirely. Even in situations in which a convicted felon has been given a life sentence, our society has determined in many (actually, the majority) of these cases that it is appropriate to reduce their punishment and release them early. I find it odd that life sentences can be reduced in the criminal justice system, but not in baseball's administrative penalty system.

 

Again, you are talking about personal liberties which are guaranteed as a natural right of living in the US, and something that is a privilege, which you do not have a right to. A privilege can be revoked by those who control it, a right can not if it violates Constituional protections. Those are two different degrees.

Again, you are talking about personal liberties which are guaranteed as a natural right of living in the US, and something that is a privilege, which you do not have a right to. A privilege can be revoked by those who control it, a right can not if it violates Constituional protections. Those are two different degrees.

 

And - again - I see relevence in the fact that the authoritative body (court) that has the power to remove a right such as someone's personal freedom via a life sentence frequently decrees that it is proper to reinstate that person's freedom. I just don't see it as a unrealistic comparison that the authoritative body (MLB) who issued a life sentence of Rose's privilege not also consider the possibility of commuting this sentence. The point being that "life" does not always mean "life", whether you are talking about a "right" or "privilege."

And - again - I see relevence in the fact that the authoritative body (court) that has the power to remove a right such as someone's personal freedom via a life sentence frequently decrees that it is proper to reinstate that person's freedom. I just don't see it as a unrealistic comparison that the authoritative body (MLB) who issued a life sentence of Rose's privilege not also consider the possibility of commuting this sentence. The point being that "life" does not always mean "life", whether you are talking about a "right" or "privilege."

 

I understand the comparison that you are making. I just don't have a problem in someone revoking a privilege for the life of a person if that person showed no remorse. A better comparison would be the guy who gets his 8th DUI. He will get his driving privilege taken away for life. I wouldn't want him reinstated and I don't want a person who I perceive as a cheat, like Rose, to be reinstated.

I understand the comparison that you are making. I just don't have a problem in someone revoking a privilege for the life of a person if that person showed no remorse. A better comparison would be the guy who gets his 8th DUI. He will get his driving privilege taken away for life. I wouldn't want him reinstated and I don't want a person who I perceive as a cheat, like Rose, to be reinstated.

 

Off topic here a touch but . . . do you think Rose is any more or less remorseful than someone like A-Rod, or Barkley, or Chris Brown, or a host of other celebrities/athletes who apologize so gracefully for their misbehavior? They are sorry they got caught. Same as Pete. Not sorry (in most instances) for what they actually did. They just happen to be better at playing the remorse game than did/does Pete. Pete ain't a bright guy - no two ways about it. He lacks class, style, honesty and a half-dozen other valuable character traits. I am just of the opinion - truly remorseful or otherwise - that he's been punished sufficiently and it's time to leave his ultimate fate up to the voters. (Who, BTW, will never vote him in anyways).