It appears Pete Rose thinks gambling is a worse offence than domestic violence in the eyes of baseball.
Rose — who, in 1989, was banished from baseball for life for gambling — recently appeared on Pittsburgh’s 93.7 The Fan to discuss himself as well as the recent investigation of the Biogenesis scandals that include Yankees infielder Alex Rodriguez.
In the interview, the Cincinnati Reds legend went as far as saying he should have ‘beat up his wife or girlfriend’ instead of taking up gambling.
“I picked the wrong vice. I should have picked alcohol,” Rose said. “I should have picked drugs or I should have picked up beating up my wife or girlfriend because if you do those three, you get a second chance.”
After years of public denial, in 2004 Rose admitted to betting on baseball.
“Oh sure, it’s the worst mistake I could have ever made,” Rose said.
He also added that his case is significantly different than the Black Sox scandal involving Shoeless Joe Jackson.
“I understand what happened there. I understand the whole thing about guys throwing the World Series,” Rose explained. “I don’t like to be compared to Joe Jackson, because Joe Jackson, I think, took money to throw World Series games. Well, I know I bet on my own team to win. There’s pretty much a big difference there, but both of us were wrong.”
