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Gray Area Here By George Stahl NEW YORK (AQB)--NBC reporter Jim Gray absolutely, positively did the right thing Sunday night in asking Pete Rose tough questions about his suspension from baseball. Some might argue that the setting - minutes after a stirring introduction of the All-Century team and moments before Game 2 of the World Series - was not the proper place to do so. That's bunk. The best place to ask the tough questions to somebody that media savvy is where he or she least expects it. Rose, who has been in the public eye for nearly 40 year, has manipulated the press like a puppeteer for decades and has developed an aggresive interviewing style that can intimidate weaker reporters. Gray, who stared down former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson moments after he chomped on Evander Holyfield's ear, is no such weakling. Gray's questions were fair and to the point, giving Rose the opportunity to reconcile himself with the baseball community. Rose, though, refused to budge from his I-didn't-do-it stance. The riveting interview lasted only two minutes and 20 seconds but contained more fireworks than a Fourth of July celebration and was more insightful than most half-hour interviews by Gary Miller on ESPN's Up Close. A complete text, with analysis, follows:
Gray: Pete, congratulations, it was quite an ovation. Rose: Heart-stopping. Gray: Pete, let me ask you now. It seems as though that there is an opening. The American public is very forgiving. Are you willing to show contrition, admit that you bet on baseball and make some sort of apology to that effect? Rose: No, no, Jim, not at all. I'm not going to admit to something that didn't happen. I know you get tired of hearing me say that, but I appreciate the ovation. I appreciate the American fans voting me on that All-Century team. I'm just a small part of a big deal tonight. Rose, at this point, apparently doesn't want to talk about the ban and gives Gray the same stock answer that he has told every interviewer over the past 10 years. But, as any good interviewer should, Gray asks the tough follow-up to try to get a better or different response from Rose. Gray: With the overwhelming evidence that is in that report, why not make that step with this opening... Rose (interrupting): It's too much of a festive a night to worry about that. I don't know what evidence you're talking about. I mean, show it to me." Gray: Well, the Dowd report says, but we don't want to debate that, Pete. Rose: Well, why not? Why do we want to believe everything he says? That was Rose's mistake - he challenged Gray, who will not back down like 99% of reporters, including this one. I think Gray would have stopped pursuing the subject except that Rose pushed him twice with "I mean, show it to me" and "Well, why not?" So Gray pushed back. Gray: You signed a paper acknowledging the ban. Why did you sign it if you didn't agree with it? Rose: It also says I can apply for reinstatement after one year, if you remember correctly. In the press conference, as a matter of fact, my statement was I can't wait for my little girl to be a year old so I can apply for reinstatement. At my press conference. So you forgot to add that clause that was in there. Gray: Well, you have reapplied. ... You've applied for reinstatment in 1997. Have you heard back from Commissioner Selig? Rose: No, and that kind of surprises me. It's only been two years, though, and he's got a lot of things on his mind. But I hope to some day. Gray: Pete, it's been 10 years since you've been allowed on the field. Obviously, the approach that you have taken has not worked. Why not, at this point, take a different approach? Rose: Well, when you say it hadn't worked, what do you exactly mean? Gray: You're not allowed in baseball. You're not allowed to earn a living in the game you love. And you're not allowed to be in the Hall of Fame. Rose: Well, I took that approach and that was to apply for reinstatement. I hope Bud Selig considers that and gives me an opportunity. I won't need a third chance. All I need is a second chance. Gray: Pete, those who will hear this tonight will say that you have been your own worst enemy and continue to be. How do you respond to that? Rose: In what way are you talking about? Gray: By not acknowledging what seems to be overwhelming evidence. Rose: Yeh, I'm surprised you're bombarding me like this. I mean I'm doing an interview with you on a great night, a great occasion, a great ovation. Everybody seems to be in a good mood, and you're bringing up something that happened 10 years ago. Gray: I bring it up because I think people would like to see you get it on. Pete, we got to go, we've got a game... Rose: This is a prosecutor's brief. It's not an interview, and I'm very surprised at you. I am, really. Gray: Well, Some would be surprised that you didn't take the opportunity. Let's go..... My only minor gripe with Gray's interview was the final question, "Pete, those who will hear this tonight will say that you have been your own worst enemy and continue to be. How do you respond to that?" By that point, Gray had satisfied me and probably most of America with his pursuit of the subject. I think Gray could have used that moment to ask a softer a question, such as how his All-Century teammates have treated him or how it was to be back on the field of a major-league park. NBC's biggest misstep, though, was that game announcers Bob Costas and Joe Morgan didn't address the interview or Rose's selection on the All-Century team. Costas often uses the bigger stage of the postseason to debate issues dealing with the game; however, the cat bit his tongue on this issue. Hall of Famer Morgan has been a vocal critic of Rose, arguing against his reinstatement until his former teammate makes some sort of formal apology. Yet, Morgan also didn't take this opening to restate his opinion to the millions of viewers unfamiliar with his stance. Instead Morgan just offered pleasant congratulations to his two former teammates on the All-Century team, Rose and catcher Johnny Bench. Fortunately, though, NBC had Gray to ask the tough questions when anything softer would have been criticized by critics like me and fans like you. |
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