Blackballed Artist, Blackballed Athlete

Before we get into this, I ask you all to look at this from a certain angle... an angle of "what if I messed up and wanted a second chance?" Some mistakes can be overlooked, and an artist can be given a second chance. Independent artists can get blackballed from the industry as well as famous mainstream artists.

Let's compare this to an athlete getting blackballed from the league, let's compare this to the legendary Pete Rose's situation...

THE SOAPBOX
The Pete Rose Scandal

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By: Ivory Soap of 103.5 FM (KVSP)

So, I’m doing my usual sport story scavenger hunting and I came across a sad, but very familiar story, especially with baseball fans. A story about the great, gambling, Cincinatti Red hit-king, Pete Rose wanting a second chance at being a part the MLB family again. The long-time, unremorseful Rose told a Philadelphia radio station that it basically comes down to the league giving him a “second chance”.

Now, some would argue that he blew that second chance a few times, like when he went on Oprah and denied he gambled on baseball. Some could probably recall a few interviews where Pete seemed to forget his own story, as he angrily stumbled and stuttered along. Next year will be the 25th year of Rose’s suspension.

And I’m here to say and ask, “Can we give this up, please?” It really looks like baseball (and a lot of its fans) just want Pete to go away so they won’t have to face up to any level of being the bigger person at some point.

Even though it was Rose that committed the foul, you would think Baseball at some point, after 25 years, could find a way to patch it up with one of its all-time great players. But understand that Baseball and its owners are bullies, and bullies never have to be the bigger person. Even today’s P.E.D. users get a second chance after their 50 game suspensions.

Pete Rose’s reinstatement papers have been pushed to the bottom of the pile by two different commissioners. Baseball is SOOO proud of itself that it refuses to evolve when it comes to technology, salary caps or forgiving a 2 decade act from one of its greats. It’s doing the game no-good to mistreat one of its stars when so many of its current luminaries disrespect the game AND lie about it on top of that. If you think about it, it’s kinda like our Government losing lives overseas every day in a potential World War over oil that’s not ours, but still wants to throw hissy-fits about cigars from Cuba. There’s bigger fish to fry Bud Selig, so let Pete back in slowly and I promise Baseball will feel better about itself.

twitter: @ivorysoap4

www.kvsp.com

Continue to follow my blogs where there's no popcorn, just a menu of cutthroat at my personal cafe'. In the words of the legendary Mick Foley, have a nice day.