[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica]For years, Pete Rose denied betting on baseball while he was manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
Now he admits to betting on his team every time they took the field.
Rose made the admission Wednesday while speaking on ESPN Radio to discuss the new Pete Rose exhibit that will be on display at the Reds Hall of Fame.
"I bet on my team every night. I didn't bet on my team four nights a week. I was wrong," said Rose, who accepted a lifetime ban for gambling in 1989.
"I bet on my team to win every night because I love my team, I believe in my team," he added. "I did everything in my power every night to win that game."
It was a somewhat stunning admission given that Rose spent nearly 15 years denying he'd ever bet on baseball. Only in 2004 did Rose acknowledge in his most recent autobiography that he made baseball wagers while managing the Reds. If reinstated, the 65-year-old Rose said he would like to again manage in the majors.
The career hits leader also said he supported Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire, who fell far short in his first time on the Hall of Fame ballot.
"Don't penalize McGwire because you think other guys are taking steroids," Rose said.
Rose finished his career in 1986 with 4,256 lifetime hits. He was managing the Reds in 1989 when he agreed to a lifetime ban after an investigation of his gambling.
The new Rose exhibit at Great American Ball Park includes more than 300 items and will be up for nearly a year. Major League Baseball had to give permission for the display.
"When you're in my position, you're happy with anything," Rose said.
Rose also said during the interview that he's no longer concerned about whether he'll ever be reinstated or if he'll ever be admitted into the Hall of Fame.
"I quit worrying about it," Rose said.[/FONT]
<!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: postbit_signature -->
Now he admits to betting on his team every time they took the field.
Rose made the admission Wednesday while speaking on ESPN Radio to discuss the new Pete Rose exhibit that will be on display at the Reds Hall of Fame.
"I bet on my team every night. I didn't bet on my team four nights a week. I was wrong," said Rose, who accepted a lifetime ban for gambling in 1989.
"I bet on my team to win every night because I love my team, I believe in my team," he added. "I did everything in my power every night to win that game."
It was a somewhat stunning admission given that Rose spent nearly 15 years denying he'd ever bet on baseball. Only in 2004 did Rose acknowledge in his most recent autobiography that he made baseball wagers while managing the Reds. If reinstated, the 65-year-old Rose said he would like to again manage in the majors.
The career hits leader also said he supported Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire, who fell far short in his first time on the Hall of Fame ballot.
"Don't penalize McGwire because you think other guys are taking steroids," Rose said.
Rose finished his career in 1986 with 4,256 lifetime hits. He was managing the Reds in 1989 when he agreed to a lifetime ban after an investigation of his gambling.
The new Rose exhibit at Great American Ball Park includes more than 300 items and will be up for nearly a year. Major League Baseball had to give permission for the display.
"When you're in my position, you're happy with anything," Rose said.
Rose also said during the interview that he's no longer concerned about whether he'll ever be reinstated or if he'll ever be admitted into the Hall of Fame.
"I quit worrying about it," Rose said.[/FONT]
<!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: postbit_signature -->
