Jerry Khulman on Pete Rose, R.I.P.

RIP Mr. Charlie Hustle! 

We were in Vegas on our way to Bryce and Zion and I saw that Pete Rose was signing autographs at some casino in town.  He was my Dad's and my favorite because of the way he played the game.  I wanted to get a pic with him and send it to my Dad for Father's Day.  So I convinced my family to go the next day.  I spent the night before preparing what I wanted to talk to him about, specific plays etc. 

We got there just before they closed, and you could tell he was getting tired of signing.  I was the last person they let sit with him.  He didn't look up at first. 

- I brought up the way he ran out Walks.  ("One in a million times they drop the ball and I'm on second, maybe third.")  He started getting fired up. 

- I brought up the play where he caught the foul ball in the World Series after it popped out of Boone's glove.  I said he would've backed up that play even if it was a spring training game ("because, that's how you play the game") 

- Astros Series... play at the plate.  Took the catcher out like you could then. (" only time I went through a "stop sign" from the 3rd base coach) 

- then he started telling me stories.  It was the best!  They said they had to close the store, but then I said, see my son over there?  His name is Kyle.  I wanted to name him Pete Rose Kuhlman, but my wife wouldn't let me.  He stared down Kim, then laughed. 

I know he wasn't perfect off the field... who is?  If you have an opinion on that, don't post it on my page.

No one PLAYED the game harder.

~ Jerry Kuhlman, Facebook post, September 30, 2024

Kevin Duffy on Pete Rose, the Baseball Hall of Fame and the steroids era

Q: I have been watching a Pete Rose documentary on Max and I have to say there is something wrong with that guy.  He definitely is a gambling addict.  What are your thoughts on him being in the Hall of Fame?  I feel like he should for what he accomplished and how he played the game.  That is a far cry from guys who did steroids and cheated every day and are on the ballot! 

A: Rose definitely deserves to get in on merit, first ballot HOFer.  I might let him in after 20 years.  That's enough punishment for what he did.  We're all human so I'd err on the side of forgiveness.  As for steroids, practically everyone was doing it and the league looked the other way (they benefitted big time from the explosion of HRs).  I'm not a fan of making a few visible guys like Bonds, Sosa, McGuire, Clemens the scapegoats.  

There is no doubt in my mind that Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens belong in the HOF.  Bonds will be inducted this summer.  Clemens has failed to make the cut 10 times.  I have little doubt that he would've been a first ballot HOFer had he not used steroids. 

Q: I would agree about forgiving Rose.  He is an old man now and has served his penance so let him in.  The steroid guys were the best in their era but would they have been without the juice? 

A: a) I think steroid use was pervasive and b) the crackdown was largely after the fact.  There was a big window where this was all new, the adverse long-term effects not known and the rules not crystal clear and enforced.  On top of that, incentives matter.  Initially the league looked the other way because they benefited and didn't want to believe it would harm the athletes.  Kind of reminds me of concussions and football.  This was a systemic problem which is why I'm opposed to singling out a few individuals and have them take the fall.  For any organization, the best they can do is to admit a mistake, clean it up and move on.  Take responsibility!  After all, we're all human and make mistakes.  I think most fans will relate, appreciate the honesty and forgive.

~ Kevin Duffy, email exchange, September 24, 2024

Hans-Hermann Hoppe on Javier Milei

From the point of view of an anarcho-capitalism, which he claims is his philosophical conviction, he is of course a disaster.

~ Hans-Hermann Hoppe, "What to Make of Milei," LewRockwell.com, October 3, 2024