Rose's wrestling antics hurt chances for Hall
Brian Churney
On the Hot Corner
Would Joe DiMaggio allow a 400-some-odd pound professional wrestler dressed in a thong-like diaper rub his derriere in his face in front of millions of fans?
That's the first thing that came to mind upon seeing Pete Rose, baseball's prodigal and unrepentant son make an appearance at Wrestle-Mania, the WWF's World Series of events.
Here's what occurred.
This past weekend, Rose, a wrestling fan, made his third straight appearance on WrestleMania. Over his past three appearances, Rose has developed a pseudo-feud with an especially large, red-outfitted wrestler named Kane.
The feud began three years ago when Kane attacked Rose. The next year, the feud was escalated when Rose, dressed as the infamous chicken mascot that appears at several high-profile events, tried to entertain the ironically nicknamed "Big Red Machine." Kane, known for his fiery disposition, found little amusement in the chicken's antics. He showed his displeasure by ripping the head off of the chicken leaving a shocked Rose exposed to the world.
As if seeing Pete Rose dressed as a chicken wasn't enough to ruin any respectable impression one had of him, he made sure to completely ruin his reputation this year. Using someone dressed in the chicken outfit as a decoy, Rose snuck up from behind Kane and tried to make his back feel what 4,256 baseballs had felt throughout Rose's career, solid contact with one of Rose's bats in the middle of his swing.
But alas, just as Pete's Hall-of-Fame plans haven't matriculated, his plans for revenge failed as well. Kane's tag-team partner, Rakishi Phatu, the aforementioned 400-pound diaper-clad wrestler, grabbed the bat from Pete, presenting him to Kane, who promptly turned around and threw Rose into his signature "choke slam."
As a beaten Rose (as beaten as you can get from a fake sport) lay motionless on the canvas, Rakishi's friends set up Charlie Hustle in the corner, preparing him to receive an act which a popular Chicago radio show host claimed, "took a hero from my childhood, ripped him off of his throne and left him lying in a gutter."
Rakishi proceeded to shove his obese rear right into Rose's famous square jaw. The man that replaced Roberto Clemente, who was more likely to be helping impoverished Puerto Ricans than at a wrestling event, on the mythical "All-Century team" was having his face sat upon.
And Cincinnati thought Marge Schott was a disgrace.
It wasn't his mere presence that was so disturbing. WrestleMania has attracted many a star.
It was the image of a childhood hero sinking to a level he has toyed dangerously with before, but never actually reached. It was the image of Rose finally crossing that line between shameless self-promoter to shameful self-deprecator.
For at least one baseball fan, Rose had finally gone too far. Though his actions since being banned from baseball shouldn't necessarily prevent him from entering the Hall, these stunts and his attitude isn't helping his cause.
Rose has responded to baseball's ban in a manner remarkably similar to the way that Rose-antagonist Jim Gray did during the World Series. He's pushed the envelope. He's refused to give in. Worst of all, he's spit in their face.
Why would Rose sell autographs and merchandise on the steps of the Hall of Fame? He, of all people should realize the sacredness of that temple. His intentions were obviously to spite baseball.
His actions, up to this point, have resembled a public relations campaign, intent on gaining sympathy for himself by making the baseball establishment look like heartless villains.
Earth to Pete: Most fans want you in the Hall. You no longer need to win their approval. Try concentrating on the people who are keeping you out.
But Pete Rose won't be caught brown-nosing, at least not unless its in the middle of a wrestling ring. Apparently, he believes that the way to the Hall involves adopting an "I'll pick up my toys and leave" attitude of which any adolescent would be proud. He apparently hasn't heard of the old saying, you'll get more flies with honey than flypaper. He's trying to get out of a speeding ticket by being rude to the police.
What his attitude has done is create gridlock, a stalemate, a battle of wills in which he is significantly outgunned. His actions, on the other hand, have gained him the sympathy that he wanted.
Unfortunately for Pete, the sympathy is becoming more and more for his tragic flaws. His new "anything for a buck" attitude has revealed that the addiction to gambling for which he became famous is really only a front for a much more dangerous addiction: an addiction to greed.
He has become a tragic figure, someone who cannot help but harm himself, who continuously rids himself of pride in order to gain respect. He's the class clown that can't stop laughing when he gets punished; the obese person who eats to deal with his unhappiness with his body; the alcoholic who drinks to deal with his addiction.
He's sad.
Pete Rose deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. No wrestling stunt, nor attitude can change that. Let's just hope that the baseball establishment realizes it before Pete tries to convince them otherwise.
The views expressed in this column are those of the authoer and not necessarily those of The Observer.
All Sports Stories for Thursday, April 13, 2000
