TUNNEY-SIDE-OF-THE-STREET

#93 October 9 2006
Welcome to this week's message from the Tunney-Side-Of-The-Street. You are encouraged to share this with fellow workers, family and friends.

After further review -

Pete Rose was a guest on "The Late Show" recently. Someone said to me, "It wasn't late enough" meaning as far as he was concerned "never" would have been too soon. Pete, as you will recall, was an outstanding Major League Baseball player primarily for the Cincinnati Reds. In fact, in my opinion was the best on field baseball player in the second half of the 20th Century (1950-1999).

Yes, I did consider Reggie Jackson, Mickey Mantle, Cal Ripken as well as a dozen others that might fit that category of "best" meaning #1. However, I did say "on field". I intentionally avoided terms like "best athlete", "role model", "all around good guy" or "citizen of the year".

The Late Show Host David Letterman and Pete had fun bantering about baseball topics which included gambling. However, Dave did not ask Pete, "Did you every bet on baseball?" That was a question that Pete may have said (off camera), "Dave, if you ask me that question on air, I'll walk out".

In case you have forgotten, the late MLB Commissioner Bart Giamatti ejected Pete Rose from baseball for gambling/betting on baseball games. It is reported with much accuracy that Pete, while managing the Reds, called a bookie and made bets from the dugout. "Holy cow", as a famous sportscaster used to say, not only is betting through a bookie illegal, the rules of baseball say that while actively employed by a major league team no one - equipment guy to owner, may wager on any aspect of baseball.

Further, a sign that says "gambling prohibited" is posted in every dugout, every locker room, and is in every contract agreed on by each participant. Pete knowingly broke the rules and thus was called "out" by the commissioner. Pete has been denied entrance into the Baseball Hall of Fame (Cooperstown) because of his gambling on baseball. Dave asked Pete on the "Late Show" if Pete thought he would ever be selected to the Hall. Pete said, "Well, Dave, this is America, and I'm an American so there's always a chance".

Pete! Pete! The chances are: none - and none! What part of that agreement you singed about not betting on baseball didn't you understand? No question that "Charlie Hustle" (as Pete Rose was called) was the best. I loved to watch him play. As an on-field role model kids should emulate his "hustle". But Pete knowingly violated the integrity of the game and struck out.

Will you keep integrity first and foremost in every thing you do?

Look for my book
It's the Will, Not the Skill
Principles and philosophies of success
For more information about Jim Tunney, go to www.jimtunney.com
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http://tunney-side-of-the-street.blogspot.com

ARTICLE TAGLINE FOR JIM TUNNEY, Ed.D., CSP, CPAE

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