Philly Today: The Problem with Pete Rose’s Legacy Isn’t Gambling

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Pete Rose’s Real Legacy Problem Is Not Gambling

You may have heard that Pete Rose has passed away. Some credit him with being the “spark” that finally got the Phillies their first World Series victory. Some go so far as to call him “one of the greatest baseball players of all time.” All that power be true, even if the last claim is clearly hyperbolic. He was indeed a strong scholar. I’ll give him that.

In fact, most of the media’s memories of the last day have been due to Pete Rose betting on sports while in the league. He also lied about betting on sports for years after the allegations surfaced. Rose eventually agreed to bet on baseball, even betting on the games he was at. (Rose adamantly denied ever betting against his team; believe what you will.)

But there is a more disturbing allegation about Pete Rose that many seem to have forgotten. And, no, I’m not talking about the time Pete Rose went to state prison for income tax evasion, although that did make him not only a liar but also a fraud.

Let’s go back to August 2017, when the Phillies held Pete Rose Weekend to celebrate the man banned from Major League Baseball for life because of that gambling. The Phillies were willing to give away Pete Rose dolls. There were copies of the Pete Rose memorial. And the Phillies were all set to add Pete Rose’s name to the Phillies Wall of Fame that week. But then the Phillies pulled the trigger.

Why?

Days before the Phillies canceled Pete Rose Weekend, court documents were released showing that a woman had accused Pete Rose of having sex with her when she was in her mid-30s and was ‘be 16. But that’s not the scariest thing. The scariest part is that when Pete Rose was asked about it, he said he was sure it was him. it was 16, it is not under 16. (The age of 16, fittingly, was the “age of consent” in the area where the girl lived.) So, yes, “one of the greatest baseball players of all time” he admitted that he had sex with the child. Oh, and he was married with two children at the time. But, hey, facts.

The allegation came from a defamation lawsuit Pete Rose filed against John Dowd, the former Major League Baseball special counsel responsible for investigating Rose’s gambling. The lawsuit centered on comments Dowd made on a Philly radio show in 2015. While on the air, Dowd said Pete Rose pal Michael Bertolini “told us he didn’t run only, but he ran little girls for [Pete Rose] down to spring training, 12 to 14 years old … Isn’t that nice? So that’s statutory rape every time you do that. ”

A judge eventually dismissed the case after Dowd and Rose reached an out-of-court settlement. But those damning documents continue. So it will be interesting to see exactly how the Phillies will remember/honor/appreciate Pete Rose in this weekend’s Phillies playoff games at Citizens Bank Park.

I’m sure I’ll get some hate mail (link to reader’s mail above!) for airing Pete Rose’s dirty laundry after his death. But call me crazy if I think that having sex with a child — and, if Bertolini on Dowd is to be believed, he allegedly sleeps with 12-year-olds — is something more serious than betting on baseball games.

Is Wawa Really the Best Grocery Store in the Country?

Yes, says this new industry report, when Wawa and other convenience stores are rated on customer satisfaction. Sheetz came in fifth place. And 7-Eleven came in near the bottom.

By Numbers

36: Ports across the United States have been affected by a major dock workers strike that has just begun. There are tens of thousands of seafarers going through wages and salaries. Yes, the port of Philly is one of those affected. If the strike doesn’t end quickly, you could see some major problems in the sale of goods as well as inflation. So, yeah, maybe we’re not solving this issue any time soon.

34: The spots where the Lower Merion School District fell in Niche’s latest ranking of the best school districts in America. Last year, LMSD stood at 44. This year? 78. Not a single Philly school district cracked the top ten.

0: You’ll want to wait a few minutes before making a reservation at Little Walter’s. Not only is Philly Mag’s restaurant critic gushing over the pierogi palace in Philly Mag’s October issue. There is also the fact that New York Times recently voted Little Walter’s one of the 50 best restaurants in America right now, the only Philly restaurant to receive the designation. Which is ridiculous. However, make a reservation while you still have the best chance of getting it.

Homegrown Talent

Philly rapper extraordinaire Tierra Whack is well known for her funny and imaginative videos. And he hasn’t let us down one bit with the newly released video for his song “MOOVIES.” It’s not just video that has the wild creativity mentioned above. Whack also played with Philly-drops in it, mentioning Wawa, the Phillie Phanatic (there’s a wedding!), Love Park, and a nod to the historic Tower Theater marquee. And to know more about what makes Tierra Whack tick, check this out.