Bernie Fratto

Speaking
of
Sports 

by
Bernie 
Fratto

 A Rose by
any other name

1/7/04
Much has been said and written about the success of Novi’s teams in the past couple of years. The operative word here is “team.” Whether or not we had the best players is always debatable. But no one can argue we had the right players, individually and collectively. There have been too many times where the right player came through at precisely the right time and the next thing you know the Wildcat family was the recipient of another District Championship.

Pete Rose was a great player, but was he the right player?  Told at 18 years of age he couldn’t run or throw, and that he shouldn’t even bother trying to switch hit until he learns to hit right-handed, his determination, work ethic and desire ultimately resulted in Hall-of-Fame statistics. No one worked harder, or played with more intensity, but he wasn’t beloved. They say that no man is an island, but Pete Rose gave it a try.

The sad truth is revealed… Pete Rose was an individual, concerned primarily with individual accolades. He played his heart out every night, but he was far more concerned about himself than his team. Yes, he is still Charlie Hustle, and he is still the Hit King, but he was not necessarily a great teammate. Have you noticed that hardly any players have come to his aid as he makes his case to be reinstated?

Pete will be reinstated, the deal has already been done for months. He’ll get on the ballot and will finally have a chance to be voted into the Hall-of-Fame. Will he get the requisite number of votes?  Don’t bet on it.

Bylaws state that a players name must appear on the ballot within 20 years of the end of a playing career. Since Rose last played in 1985, that means he’ll have to be a first-time ballot Hall-of-Famer (a rarity for anybody). If he’s not elected, he’ll have to wait until 2008 and his fate will be in the hands of the Veterans Committee…And, they will take a much harsher stance, I guarantee it.

The Moral? Even the great Pete Rose is not exempt from the indignities one suffers when putting personal glory over team success.

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Bernie Fratto's column appears right here each week. Bernie is a member of the Minor League Baseball Alumni Association and in his former life, he spent time in the Cincinnati Reds Farm System. He is an accomplished Freelance writer, and sought after keynote speaker, appearing often at Award Ceremonies, Athletic Banquets, and Company functions. He is passionate about sports and the life-lessons they teach. "Behind every sports story lies the hearts and minds of real human beings," Fratto said..."And these athletic endeavors often serve as a metaphor for the game we call life."

Bernie is also the voice of Novi Wildcat Hockey and host of Wildcat Face-off, a local radio program dedicated to youth sports in Novi.