The mailbox is busting at the seams from readers near and far over…Pete Rose, basketball mid-terms, Kelsey Mitchell, the Reds’ “rebuild”, and pheasant hunting!
The announcement last week that Pete Rose would be inducted (with the commissioner’s blessing) into the Reds’ hall of fame brought a couple of very different opinions from regular readers of the site.
“This is typical of the chicken **** way that professional baseball has handled the Rose situation from the outset. You’re banned, but….if we need you we’ll call you because it’s an embarrassment to celebrate baseball’s best moments without the all-time hit leader included. Why is it OK to do television on Fox? Why is it OK to represent baseball at the All-Star game? Why is it OK to have your number retired and on display in a big league park. Why one hall of fame over another? The commissioner never jeopardizes the opportunity to turn a buck.” … Don Sullenger (Mason, Oh)
“Hal McCoy hit the nail on the head. Pete Rose is his own worst enemy. Tell the truth in the first place and your life is always easier.” … Roger (Portsmouth)
“I must write to say that I’m disappointed with Mr. Fulks’ support for Pete Rose being reinstated. It sends the wrong message about paying the consequences for breaking the rules. It shouldn’t make a difference just because it’s baseball.” … Peter Czisic
(Ed. Note: Pete, do you have issues with the rest of our culture when we parole hardened criminals and say, with conviction, that everyone deserves a second chance? I’m just saying that 25 years seems adequate punishment for a 75-year-old man, and inconsistent with the punishment handed out at one time by the NFL when two of its biggest names were busted for gambling. It’s not a matter of “me”, but rather, a matter of “we”.)
The recent profile of Ohio State female basketball star brought some sharp criticism from an expected source.
“I laugh when you make ridiculous statements that Kelsey Mitchell could play with, and embarrass, a high school boys team. Sometimes I think you’re an idiot, and then you write stuff like that and I know you’re an idiot.” … Bob Zaworski
(Ed. Note: I’ve watched high school boys shoot 40% from the free throw line for years, Bob. I’ve always thought that was ridiculous, myself. Kelsey Mitchell shoots 40% from 3-point range against every defense in the book.)
“Kelsey Mitchell would not start and average 25 points a game for Wayne High School. Get a clue.” … A.J. (Huber Heights)
“I don’t care if she is good. I’m not going to see her play.” … Name withheld
On the topic of basketball mid-terms:
“The problem I have with your mid-terms is the sample size. You only write about certain teams, and certain leagues. Your opinion doesn’t amount to much.” … Mike Smith
(Ed. Note: We do tend to write about teams that are winning, if that’s what you mean. When was the last time you wanted to read about a 3-12 team?)
On the Reds trading away big leaguers for prospects:
“I’ve always tried to see the Reds in person five times a year, but I’ll go to Columbus and see the Reds of the future they talk about play the Clippers this year. Why not?” … Scott Donnelly
“Hal makes a great point about trading for prospects and rebuilding for the future. How far in the future? I can’t see it.” … Mike (Sidney)
“I could not agree more with your statement that Bob Castellini needs to understand the price of poker. If you’re going to compete you have to pay the price for competitive players and quit whining about being a small-market team. If you’re going to be a big league owner ante up or sell the damn team to someone willing to play ball.” … Joe B
And finally, a surprising number of people wrote to tell us of their memories of chasing roosters with Dad:
“I can’t tell you enough how much I enjoy your stories about pheasant hunting. It brings back a lot of memories of hunting with my dad when there were birds to hunt in Ohio. The photos from your recent story were superb and I appreciate your sharing the experience.” … Keith Skeens
“My dad hunted for years, and into his eighties. Every day he’d take his old Beagle and walk the fence rows and creeks and most times he came home with nothing but the exercise. He would have loved your stories.” … Chas. Taylor (Circleville)
“I went farther north into North Dakota a couple of years ago and it was just like you write about. Long drive, but worth it.” … Ron Van Fossen
"Hal hit the nail on the head. Pete Rose was his own worst enemy." (Press Pros File Photos)