It’s How He Plays Game, Not How He Bets on It

Please, no more insipid, sugary, bleeding-heart garbage from Jim Murray about Pete “the Jerk” Rose. Rose was a good ballplayer, no question, but a stupid, macho jerk to the Nth degree.

If you don’t think so . . . what ballplayer with the record of the most hits and a guaranteed passport to the Hall of Fame would jeopardize the whole bit to win a few bets, for money he doesn’t need, that any two-bit gambler will tell you are 5 to 1 for the bookmaker.

Rose would have problems deciding what to do if he were caught outside in the rain.

If the same charges that face Rose were brought against a minor league nobody, Murray would be writing about how stupid the guy was to throw away a career. I guess if you’re dumb enough to slide into second head first, instead of the acceptable major league way, you have Murray’s everlasting admiration.

PAUL WILLIAMS

San Diego