Interesting ESPN poll regarding Pete Rose's lifetime ban

[CMIZ5290]

I personally think that if Rose would have immediately come clean, he would not have been banned. His dishonesty with the Commissioner was his undoing... Even though gambling is a big time violation, I honestly don't view it in the same respect as the steroid scandal. Let's be honest, how many athletes gamble? How many of us gamble? A ton.. I am not dismissing it as a serious character flaw, because it is. But his talents and records on the field had nothing to do with that. This guy loves baseball more than anyone I can think of, period.. Forget McGwire, Bonds, Clemons, etc.... I remember Bonds with the Pirates having a 30 inch waist, McGwire was skinny with the A's. Yes, they are not in the Hall and rightly so..There are guys in the Hall right now that were guilty of the same wrong doings, just different circumstances and times...Cobb, Speaker come to mind, as fantastic as they were... Rose should be part of baseball.....Just my opinion...And, he was the best competitor I ever saw....