Pete Rose: I Was Never A Gambling Addict

Pete Rose sat down with Graham Bensinger for an interview on Monday, and the controversial star discussed gambling on baseball, his possible reinstatement and more.

When asked if he thought he was a gambling addict, he quickly shot down the thought and said he was not.

"I don't think I was an addict. I think I could control what I was doing," said the all-time hits leader. "I just was wrong and I got caught."

When the two talked about the list of people who are also banned from baseball for life and the chances of being reinstated, Rose pointed out that none of the others have ever applied.

"Do I think I'm going to be reinstated? I don't know," Rose said, explaining that he can't say why the others haven't been reinstated. "You got Joe Jackson... People compare him to me. Last time I checked, he took money to throw games in the World Series. I bet on my own team to win. There is a big ass difference between those two scenarios right there."

Rose, who recently said he thinks Roger Clemens should come clean, also said he wants to come back to baseball and manage a team.

See the full video here. (Via Big League Stew)

Comments

[AbeMartin]

08:51 AM on 09/28/2010

Pete is the Whitney Houston of baseball. 

[Clevelandinwi]

02:31 PM on 09/03/2010

R I I I I I I I I G H T !

[Balzac]

11:17 AM on 09/03/2010

Pete Rose made some valid points in that interview.

[LaPlacaRifa48619]

10:16 AM on 09/03/2010

Once, he was "Charlie Hustle."
Today, he is "Pete The Cheat."

It's obvious to me that he hasn't "hit bottom" yet. Only when he does, can the healing process begin--whi­ch includes newfound respect from those in baseball. Until then, he is, indeed, like Shoeless Joe Jackson--a pariah with no way into the Hall Of Fame, unless he pays the admission fee.

Will we see it happen? Up to Pete and his conscience­.
--RKJ

[Gasparilla]

10:05 AM on 09/03/2010

He loves the South FL horse tracks.

[cookerman45]

02:00 AM on 09/03/2010

pete is 0-fer since he retired.

[cookerman45]

01:58 AM on 09/03/2010

o k Pete, if you say so then it is.

[Cougar28]

11:34 PM on 09/02/2010

He bet on his team to whip a ss...perio­d...not the brightest guy but the best I saw. I'll visit the Hall after he's in...

[Jeff Mellott]

10:18 PM on 09/02/2010

A manager betting on his team to win a specific game is a betrayal of the team. He will do what it takes to win THAT game even if it means losing the game the day before and the game after. He was my hero as a child, but now I must say keep him out.

[LeoMarvin]

09:41 PM on 09/02/2010

You'd think Pete Rose, of all people, wouldn't be so quick to pile on Joe Jackson for cheating, an accusation much in dispute.

[kinnycut]

08:17 PM on 09/02/2010

They should reinstated Pete Rose. He admitted what he did, and has paid enough for it. There has never been anyone in the game like "johnny hustle."

[Mag7]

08:01 PM on 09/02/2010

I think baseball could really use Pete Rose right now because the current cast of characters is pretty anemic as far as their passion for the game. I remember Manny Ramierez stopping a game at Fenway so he could look for his diamond earring in the dirt around third base, and once refusing to pinch hit in a game because he was 'tired'. There's just no comparison­.

[POTUS2008]

07:09 PM on 09/02/2010

At least he admits betting on his team now.
Rose was one of the greatest players, and most intense players ever.
will to power, thats pete rose.
they can't let him back in though, because betting is even worse than steroids.
I wish none of the steroid players could stay in baseball, they wouldn't be, and none of the records would count if baseball had any sort of decent commission­er and ownership. I don't give them (the steroid users) credit for any of their accomplish­ments. But with rose, his accomplish­ments are real, and wonderful.
But even so he can't be in because the integrity of the game has demanded that gambling is forbidden.

[DSOTM]

02:46 PM on 09/02/2010

Pete, you got caught, enough said.

[BillyClub]

01:15 PM on 09/02/2010

Hey Pete, cut it out will you? Look in the mirror and tell yourself the full truth! Do in now! I would love to see Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame, but it isn't going to happen--un­til he comes clean and lets it hangs all out--warts and all!