Former Cincinnati Reds star Pete Rose was one of the greatest players to ever suit up in an MLB uniform, but also one of the most controversial. Rose has been banned from baseball since 1989 for gambling on his own team. While the Reds legend has done his best to be reinstated, the MLB hasn't seen fit to do so, even in light of recent trends. Sports gambling has been legalized in states across the country and an MLB player, Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon, became the first player to have a gambling-related sponsorship. It's enough to make one wonder why the MLB continues to deploy its harsh stance towards Rose. In a recent interview, Rose himself wondered the same thing aloud, delivering a hilarious take on MLB gambling, as reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
“I just came up at the wrong time,” Rose told USA TODAY Sports. “I was 30 years too early.”
Rose is not wrong here, but he's also not right either. Yes, the MLB has a very cozy relationship with casinos and the sports betting industry.
Yet, no one in baseball- that we know of- has dipped their toes as far into the gambling waters as Rose did. Rose's perception isn't reality here.
It certainly looks a bit hypocritical on the part of the MLB to adopt the holier-than-thou approach with Rose, though the Reds legend cannot be serious thinking things would be different 30 years later.
Look at Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who was just slapped with a year's suspension for gambling. Rose would face the same fate today that he did 30 years ago, whether he wants to admit it or not.
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