Dan Abrams

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Judge Rose by what he did on the field

http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | Since 1989, he's been barred from the sport: No baseball events, no Hall of Fame. He agreed to a lifetime ban after an investigation into his gambling habits.

TODAY, THERE were reports that Rose has been meeting with baseball brass, trying to work out a deal. The problem, despite the witnesses and handwritten betting slips apparently in his handwriting, he's never 'fessed up. And while there was no evidence he bet against his team that he was managing, you can argue that not betting on a game may have meant something to the bookies.

He needs to come clean, but then baseball needs to welcome him back. This is not the criminal justice system. It's baseball. He's already served a 13-year sentence. He is the all-time Major League leader in hits, most games played, most at bat, the list goes on and on and on, a true lover of the sport.

And baseball is for the fans.

In 1999, the fans voted him on to the All-Century Team. They want him back, and no matter what happens, though, Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame. The Hall does not have a morals clause.

It should just honor the best as judged by what they did on the field.

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JWR contributor Dan Abrams anchors “The Abrams Report,” Monday through Friday from 6-7 p.m. ET on MSNBC TV. He also covers legal stories for “NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw,” “Today” and “Dateline NBC.” To visit his website, click here. Comment by clicking here.

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