http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5561237
Rose broke down as he spoke, according to the Enquirer, sobbing during a comedy roast that featured speeches from former Reds teammates Perez, Geronimo, Ken Griffey Sr., George Foster and Tom Browning.
Rose recalled a 1989 conversation with Bart Giamatti in which the late baseball commissioner suggested he "reconfigure" his life.
"I didn't know what that meant," Rose said. "It took me years and years [to come to grips with it]. ... I'm a hard-headed guy. ... But I'm a lot better guy standing here tonight."
Rose apologized to his former teammates, including those who weren't in attendance -- Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Davey Concepcion, the Enquirer reported.
Rose offered an apology directly to Perez, seated at his right, looking straight at him.
"I've known Tony 50 years -- he's like a brother to me," Rose said.
It was, according to the Cincinnati newspaper, the first time Rose had publicly addressed his past transgressions in such a direct, emotional way.
"I guarantee everybody in this room, I will never disrespect you again," Rose said.
"You can talk about hits and runs and championship games. ... [But] I want my legacy to be [that of] somebody who came forward. If anybody has a problem here today, come forward. Don't hide it. ... You can run, but you can't hide. If I can help a young kid to know what I went through, maybe I can prevent them from going through the same thing.
"I got suspended 21 years ago. For 10-12 years, I kept it inside. ... That's changed. I'm a different guy. ... I love the fans, I love the game of baseball, and I love Cincinnati baseball."
"Nice, nice," said Perez afterward. "I was crying. He finally got it off his chest."
"Out of left field," said Browning, shaking his head. "I didn't see it coming."
I've long supported MLB's ban on Rose, especially in light of his stubborn refusal to 'fess up to what he did, or even acknowledge he'd done anything wrong.
But with this, he should be welcomed back in. Put him in the Hall.
Quote:
"I disrespected the game of baseball," Rose told a crowded ballroom. "When you do that, you disrespect your teammates, the game and your family."Rose broke down as he spoke, according to the Enquirer, sobbing during a comedy roast that featured speeches from former Reds teammates Perez, Geronimo, Ken Griffey Sr., George Foster and Tom Browning.
Rose recalled a 1989 conversation with Bart Giamatti in which the late baseball commissioner suggested he "reconfigure" his life.
"I didn't know what that meant," Rose said. "It took me years and years [to come to grips with it]. ... I'm a hard-headed guy. ... But I'm a lot better guy standing here tonight."
Rose apologized to his former teammates, including those who weren't in attendance -- Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Davey Concepcion, the Enquirer reported.
Rose offered an apology directly to Perez, seated at his right, looking straight at him.
"I've known Tony 50 years -- he's like a brother to me," Rose said.
It was, according to the Cincinnati newspaper, the first time Rose had publicly addressed his past transgressions in such a direct, emotional way.
"I guarantee everybody in this room, I will never disrespect you again," Rose said.
"You can talk about hits and runs and championship games. ... [But] I want my legacy to be [that of] somebody who came forward. If anybody has a problem here today, come forward. Don't hide it. ... You can run, but you can't hide. If I can help a young kid to know what I went through, maybe I can prevent them from going through the same thing.
"I got suspended 21 years ago. For 10-12 years, I kept it inside. ... That's changed. I'm a different guy. ... I love the fans, I love the game of baseball, and I love Cincinnati baseball."
"Nice, nice," said Perez afterward. "I was crying. He finally got it off his chest."
"Out of left field," said Browning, shaking his head. "I didn't see it coming."
I've long supported MLB's ban on Rose, especially in light of his stubborn refusal to 'fess up to what he did, or even acknowledge he'd done anything wrong.
But with this, he should be welcomed back in. Put him in the Hall.
