Opinion

Unholy trio: Rose, Cochran, Dershowitz

Monday, July 21, 2003

ESPN figured out how to suck up four hours on a Thursday night television schedule otherwise dominated by re-runs of re-runs.

They put super-lawyers Alan Dershowitz and Johnnie Cochran together in a mock court room at hallowed Harvard and had them argue about whether Major League Baseball's all-time hit king and notorious gambler Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame.

Well, there's an unholy trio -- Pete Rose, Johnnie Cochran and Alan Dershowitz.

Cochran defended Rose and Dershowitz acted as the prosecutor. Cochran, the defense attorney for O.J. Simpson, was successful in convincing a mock 12-person jury that Pete Rose, despite some pretty compelling evidence that Rose bet on baseball, belongs in the Hall of Fame.

Dershowitz argued baseball's case against Rose, saying that Rose needs to "fess up" and admit he bet on the game.

The jury voted 8-4 in favor of Rose's induction into the Hall of Fame.

When asked if they thought Rose had bet on baseball, the jury voted 11-1 to the affirmative.

I don't need four hours to answer the question of whether Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame.

The answer is yes.

Do I think Rose bet on baseball?

The answer is yes.

Pete Rose is not one of my favorite human beings. I don't hate him -- you shouldn't hate anyone -- it's just that the mere mention of him gives me the same sensation one gets from rubbing a balloon or clawing nails on a blackboard.

Throw in Johnnie Cochran and Alan Dershowitz and I turned the channel.

This is a note to ESPN -- nice try fellas.

But if you want to use up four hours of air time, televise a baseball game.

There were a few good ones Thursday night.

The Kansas City Royals increased their lead in the American League Central to 7 1/2.

The Royals are by far and without a doubt the best story in Major League Baseball this season.

Kansas City lost 100 games last year and are running away with the AL Central crown. Yes, it's the worst division in baseball, but hey that's the luck of the draw.

KC is 29-9 against a division that includes a bad defensive team (Chicago White Sox), a punchless, pitchless team (Minnesota Twins), a mediocre young team (Cleveland Indians) and a Detroit Tigers' squad that defies most descriptions and definitions of bad.

Kansas City has overcome injuries to key players (Mike Sweeney, Joe Randa, Dee Brown) and starting pitchers (Runnelyvs Hernandez, Miguel Ascencio, Jeremy Affeldt, Kyle Snyder and now Jose Lima) and a shaky bullpen at times.

KC may be in a buyer's market this year instead of dumping payroll, and tops on the list appears to be Texas slugger Juan Gonzalez.

The addition of Gonzlaez would signal the Royals are serious about a playoff run.

I don't know if the Kansas City Royals are going to win their division -- right now I would have to say yes -- and go to the playoffs.

Right now, the team is winning and having fun.

And Tony Pena is the runaway manager of the year. Frankly, I would rather ESPN show the Royals on TV than spend four hours watching Johnnie Cochran and Alan Dershowitz discuss Pete Rose.

In my opinion, the court thing was a joke.

John J. Mesh is the sports editor of the McCook (Neb.) Daily Gazette. He has been glued to the tube and the net waiting for news on whether the Royals will acquire Juan Gonzalezm but isn't holding his breath. You can e-mail John at sports@mccookgazette.com.

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