Taking steroids, beating wives (and girlfriends), larceny, illegal drug use (and distribution), gambling (ala Michael Jordan), lying to Congress, assault, accessory to murder, taking a s**t in an ex-girlfriend's closet, public decadence (numerous Minnesota Vikings), assaulting fans during a game (several baseball players and most recently Ron Artest in the NBA), punching officials, felony assault during a hockey game (Todd Bertuzzi), serving prison time for drug trafficking (Jamal Lewis of the NFL), the list goes on...
I personally have little sympathy for Pete Rose, largely because he's such a hugely unlikeable human being. But (other than the gambling), he didn't commit any of the heinous crimes listed above, but all of the people who did are still connected to their respective sports, and none has been "banned for life" or refused any consideration for Hall of Fame consideration. O.J. is even in the NFL Hall of Fame (I've been there and seen the display - turned my stomach!). I think Bud Selig's position is a completely capricious act, and simply demonstrates the level of denial that exists in professional sports (and particularly major league baseball) today.
If someone wants to hire the guy, let him back in! His eligibility for induction into the Hall of Fame expired this year, and he's been banned from the sport he loved and generated millions in revenue for for over twenty years. The league has their pound of flesh - let it go!
Edited by ClemofNazareth