University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, February 5, 1991
Sports
9
Rose kept from Hall of Fame ballot
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — The doors of Cooperstown slammed shut on Pete Rose when the Hall of Fame's board of directors voted 12-0 yesterday to bar the banned baseball star from its ballot.
While the rule adopted yesterday does not specifically mention Rose, the former Cincinnati Reds player Mike Nolling was one of the permanently ineligible list.
Rose, the career leader in hits and games, can become eligible for the Hall ballot only if the baseball commissioner reinvests him by December 2005. None of the previous 14 Hall candidates from baseball were reinstated.
"The directors felt that it would be incongruous to have a person who has been declared ineligible by baseball to be eligible for baseball's highest honor," Hall of Fame president Ed Stack said. It follows that if you play the same position in your baseball, then such individual would be a candidate for election."
Rose was banned from baseball
Aug. 23, 1989, by the late commissioner A. Bartlett Giannetti. The commissioner concluded after a six-month investigation that Rose bet on baseball games, including those involving the Reds.
Rose, a three-time National League batting champion and its Most Valuable Player in 1973, had been considered an odds-on favorite for first-year election until the investigation that led to his banishment. He would have been eligible for the first time this December.
"I had felt right from the start that if someone was ineligible, that person should not be considered for the Hall of Fame." Brown said.
However, former American League president Lee MacPail and current AL president Boby Brown last month proposed the rule to keep Rose off the ballot. No write-in votes are permitted under the rules of the ballot.
Rose, who last month completed a five-month prison sentence for filing false federal income-tax returns, would not comment on the decision
as he returned yesterday to a Cincinnati halfway house. He is living there for three months as part of his sentence.
Brown and MacPhail were supported at yesterday's meeting by a group made up largely of present and former baseball executives. Stack, who voted against the new rule at the team meeting, voted for it yesterday.
Bob Broeg, a Hall director who is a writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, agreed with the baseball executives.
He said he did not think it would be right for Rose to be alongside other Hall of Fam in Copperstown.
"He'd go in the first year, and the next year he'd be signing autographs somewhere else for pay." Broeg said.
Voting against Rose were Stack, Brown, MacPhail, Broeg, NL president Bill White former NL president Chub Feeney, former commissioner Bowie Kuh, former Montreal Expos president John McHale, Milwaukee Brewers owner Bed Solig, Detroit
Tigers chairman Jim Campbell, Coopererstown Mayor Harold Hollis and Stephen Clark Jr., the son of the Hall of Fame founder.
Four directors did not attend the meeting: commissioner Fay Vincent, Hail of Famers Charlie Gehrhin, Hall of Famers Jeffrey Boston Red Sox owner Jean Yawke
Vincent, who would rule on a request for reinstatement, is vacationing in Jamaica. He said that even if he had attended the meeting, he would not have voted because of the potential conflict of interest.
The Baseball Writers Association of America, which votes for the Hall of Fame, said it would announce the number of write-in votes for Rose each year, even though the votes will not count.
"We feel a significant number of people will write in Pete Rose's name despite the decision." BBWAA executive secretary Jack Lang said.
Rose batted. 303 in a 24-year careeel and set records for hits (4,256)
games (3,562), at-bats (14,053) and singles (3,215).
He was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1963, the World Series MVP in 1975 and won NL batting titles in 1968, 1969 and 1973.
Because the BBWAA may consider only those players retired for between five and 20 seasons and because the veterans committee cannot pick post World War II players who failed to get 60 percent of the writers' vote in at least one year, Rose must come off the ineligible list by December 2005 if he is to gain election.
Yesterday's decision does not affect the Rose memorabilia already in Copperstown.
"The Hall of Fame has two focuses — the Hall of Fame Gallery, where the plaques hang, and the National Baseball Museum, which is two large buildings containing many thousands of artifacts depicting the timeline of baseball history," Stack said. "There are many artifacts from Pete Rose's career in the museum itself, and this is part of baseball history and always will be, not to be removed or changed."
Runner wins in Florida
Belgium next for runner Cox
BY RICK HENISH
Kansan sportwriter
Micheal Cox has a date in Antwerp, Belgium.
Cox, a freshman cross country runner, won the Junior World Cross Country Trials in Tallahassee, Fla. Friday. That earned him a spot on the U.S. junior team and the chance to represent the United States at the Junior World Cross Country Championships to be held March 24.
Cox ran the 8,000-meter course in 26 minutes and 20 seconds, 11 seconds faster than second-place. Another Teddy Mitchell of Tennessee was there.
"It was one of the best races I have ever run," he said, "and it couldn't have come at a better time.
"Half way through I was excited because I knew I would be able to qualify, but at the 800-mark the final pack split from about eight or nine guys into five, and I started thinking I could win."
Kansas coach Gary Schwartz, who will coach the U.S. women's senior team at the competition, said Cox ran a smart race.
"There were five or six who went through most of the race with him, but that group broke up and he was caught by one in the last mile," he said.
Ron Klein/KANSAN
Cox said he had not had a chance to consider the competition in Belgium, but he said his coaches had told him to expect a different course layout than what he was used to
Steep. artificial hills, hay bales.
Michael Cox practices for the Junior World Championships.
and streams are all obstacles that are familiar to many overseas runners. Cox said.
Pete Cava, information director for the Athletic Congress office.
"Representatives from practically every civilized country in the world will be there," he said.
said the March event would be an important one.
Jayhawks receive oral commitments
By Mark Spencer
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas football team has received oral commitments from a Denver and two Chicago-area high school seniors.
Committing to the Jayhawks are offensive lineman Brian Rodeno, Douglas County High School, Denver; defensive back Spencer Bonner, Oak Park High School, Oak Park Ill.; and linebacker Tyler Quast, Hemsdaide Central High School, Hemsdale, Ill.
Rodeno, 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds,
said he committed to Kansas almost a week ago.
"I felt I would fit in really well." Rodeno said. "I felt comfortable with the players, and the campus is just beautiful."
Rodeno said he chose Kansas over Iowa State, Wyoming, Boston College, Nebraska and Colorado State.
Banner's commitment was confirmed yesterday by the Chicago Sun-Times and his high school football coach, Gary Olson.
Quast's commitment was confirmed yesterday by the Chicago Sun-Times and his high school football coach Mike Stevens.
Stevens said Quast chose Kansas over North Carolina, Memphis State, UNLV and Wyoming.
The Jayhawks have now received at least 15 commitments.
High school seniors and junior college players across the nation may sign letters of intent tomorrow.
Letters of intent bind players to their college choice.
Sports briefs
Randall is honored as
Big 8's player of week
Randall was named the league player of the week yesterday in a split vote with Byron Houston of Oklahoma State. Houston scored 45
Randall, Kansas' senior center, scored 30 points and had 12 rebounds in the team's victory at Iowa State. He scored 12 points and had two rebounds in the victory at Kansas State.
points and had 20 rebounds in two games last week.
KANSAS CITY. Mo. — Mark Randall was named Big Eight player of the week after he made 16 of 19 shots in two games and joined some of the best big men in Kansas history on career scoring and rebounding lists.
Buddy Ryan passed by for Tampa coach's spot
TAMPA, Fla. - Richard Williamson was named coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today, ending speculation that former Philadelphia Eagles coach Buddy Ryan might get the job.
Williamson, named interim coach after Ray Perkins was fired late in the season, was the choice of owner Hugh Culverhouse.
Williamson was given a two-year contract.
From staff and wire reports
KU Crew prepared for first race against Texas
Bv Lana Smith
Kansan sportswriter
Members of the Kansas Crew had hoped for a different prediction from the ground hog.
A shortened winter and warmer weather would have meant thawed ice on the Kansas and a more seasoned team for spring competi-
Unless the weather improves dramatically, the team probably will not get a chance to get out on the water until a week or two before Spring Break, when the crew travels to Austin, Texas for its first race.
"Texas is always on the water, which is a big advantage for them." Wells said. "It's a big difference being outside and being on the water. Inside it provides practicing up strength. Outside, it's technique, more mental."
Women's novice coach Kelly Wells said the lack of water time for the Jayhawks would give Texas the upper hand over Kansas.
The varsity team has practiced seven times a week, about two hours a practice, working to prepare for the spring season.
Men's and women's varsity coach Rob Catloth, said he had the team focus on rowing-related exercises to strengthen their legs and backs.
Catloth said he thought the team looked good.
"It's a young crew," Catloth said. "All but two are second year. But I'm generally optimistic."
Catholth thought an important contributing factor to always having a young team was that much of the church's efforts came from the crew members' pockets.
Catloth said that the team would face tough crews and that in the past Kansas had been a real contender
"I think if I could pay for travel, we could compete year-in and year-out
with the Wisconsin's, the Yales and the Harvards'. Catloth said, referring to traditional national powers: "Right now, our chance is just being lucky and having talented people together."
Calotlion said that many of the people first attracted to crew were often deterred because of the expense of the sport.
"Wichita State probably gets about three times as much as we do," Catlón said. "But then KState does what we want." We're thankful what we get.
"That's not to say it's not social," Catlatho says. "We can play as hard as we work, but the main thing is this is a competitive outlet. This is a very important sport, and I want this to be comfortable people who want to be competitive."
Even with a heavy economic burden, Catloth said he preferred to focus on other, more positive aspects of the sport.
He said it was a sport geared toward interest interested more in a competitive club than a social one.
Club vice president UiF Becker,
senior, said he planned to delay
graduation, partially to continue
rowing.
Club president Kathy Yehle, senior, agreed that crew was for people interested in intense work.
"It is the ultimate sport," Yehle said.
Although he did not know what to expect from the team coming into last semester, because of loss of size in bodies and in numbers, Becker said he had noticed improvement in the team's technique.
Becker said crew could be extremely demanding, both mentally and physically.
"The neatest thing about the sport is the unity," he said. "Everyone has to work together and do exactly the same thing."
Leigh Palmer, Wichita junior, works out on the ergometer, a simulated-rowing fitness machine.
Rose's ban from Hall is justified
Ann Sommerlath Sports editor
It's about time a sports institution took a stand on its principles and actually stuck to its guns on an issue concerning player behavior.
I was beginning to wonder whether the sports world was capable of upholding its standards.
After a year plagued by less-than-admirable decisions on the part of sports' governing bodies, it appears that the most "traditional" of American pastimes is also the most traditional in terms of ethics.
Pete Rose was banned from the Hall of Fame yesterday when a rule was adopted prohibiting players on its roster in an inelegible list from entering the Hall.
What justifies Rose's banishment from receiving the coveted honor is the fact that his unsavory actions directly influenced his illustrious career.
Recall certain events of the last year.
The NFL's decision to reinstate Dexter Manley, a third-time drug offender
The NCAA's decision to postpone UNLV's probation after Coach Jerry Tarkarian complained enough about it to annoy the committee into doing
The decision of former baseball commissioner Bart Giamatti to ban 'eet Rose for life for gambling and ax evasion.
Which to you seems the most consistent with the role-model morality those in athletics are supposed to possess? The answer is obvious. Baseball is one of the only major sports to uphold its standards despite America's tendency to look the other way when athletes break the rules.
So far in the new year, baseball has merely reinforced those standards.
Granted, Rose deserved is called one of the game's greats. I have no doubt that she is a leader and insidiously the all-time hits leader and should receive some credit.
Unfortunately, Rose was kicked out of baseball Aug. 23, 1989, after an investigation into allegations that he bet on games. Although he denied placing the bets, he signed an agreement accepting the lifetime ban.
To play the devil's advocate, one could argue that based strictly on his athletic performance, Rose should be admitted to the Hall of Fame. After all, with the player's election he should only upon his performance on the field?
That would seem logical.
However, the guidelines on the ballot explicitly state that the nominee's character should be considered by those casting the votes.
I do not agree completely with this particular guideline, either. If someone in a particular sport displays extraordinary talent and motivation, yet is not the quintessential role model, that should not necessarily render him inapplicable for nomination to the Hall of Fame in my opinion.
What justifies Rose's banishment from receiving the coveted honor is the fact that his unsavory actions directly influenced his illuminous career. As a result of an investigation into allegations that he bet on games, he was permanently banned from sports, where he made him famous and upon which he allegedly bet. Pete Rose literally gambled his life away.
"It would be incongruous to have a person who has been declared ineligible by baseball to be eligible for baseball's highest honor," said Ed Stack, Hall of Fame president.
Furthermore, Rose can appeal to baseball commissioner Fay Vincent for reinstatement at any time. If he is not reinstated by December 2005, he will never be eligible for election to the Hall.
The fact that he has not yet chosen to do so indicates either Rose's own view that he should not be reinstated or complete apathy regarding the matter. Neither warrants motion or election to the Hall of Fame.
Thankfully, thus far, baseball has not chosen to view the conduct of its athletes through rose-colored glass. That it has been blind to their mistakes.
Ann Sommerlath is a St. Louis senior majoring in journalism.