THE MAIL

Cooperstown is a place for great baseball players, not for great men. It recognizes athletes for how they played the game, and no man played harder than Pete Rose. I have been to induction ceremonies three times and am ready to return once more to see Rose take his rightful place with the other Hall of Famers.

Weldon R. Storey, Newton, Pa.

Knocking the Hustle

In regards to the book excerpt from Kostya Kennedy's Pete Rose: An American Dilemma, Rose was banned because he broke what was, at the time, baseball's most unforgivable rule. He's merely suffering the consequences of his actions. Instead of showing any real contrition in his cause to get his ban overturned, he continues to snub his nose at the game with his annual autograph-signing spectacle during the Hall of Fame's induction week in Cooperstown. Rose may have been a good player, but he clearly has no respect for the game.

John Griffith, Proctorville, Ohio

Rose agreed to a lifetime suspension from baseball in exchange for MLB's not making a formal finding on his gambling and so he could avoid further punishment. It was an agreement he negotiated with his attorneys and then commissioner Bart Giamatti. MLB kept its bargain by not issuing a finding. Rose, however, wants a pass on his side of the agreement. He needs to stop playing victim and keep his end of the deal.

Frank Fletcher Sierra Madre, Calif.

If Rose had admitted he bet on baseball when he was caught, instead of lying about it for almost 15 years, he likely would have been forgiven and not given a lifetime ban.

Bruce Bremer, Eau Claire, Wis.

The mistakes that Rose made as a manager should not cancel out all that he accomplished as a player. While he should never be allowed to manage again, he should be allowed in the Hall of Fame.

Lyndon Cain, Iuka, Miss.

Here's a solution: Go back to the eligibility rules that MLB had in place before 1991 when banned players were still allowed to qualify for the Hall. The commissioner's office should not reinstate Rose. They should keep his ban from baseball intact for life but still allow him to be eligible to receive his plaque and be honored in the Hall for his accomplishments.

Wilson Sherk, Springfield, Ore.

I can't help but wonder if Rose's gambling would have been overlooked if he had been in the prime of his illustrious career the same way widespread PED usage was all but ignored for decades.

Ernie Hendricks, Versailles, Ky.

"The Dilemma" of Pete Rose isn't a real dilemma. Was he a great player? Yes. Should he be in the Hall of Fame? No. He broke baseball's cardinal rule. Both present and future commissioners should respect the decisions of their predecessors and leave well enough alone.

Craig Gold, Baltimore

CONTACT

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

Letters

E-mail SI at letters@SI.timeinc.com or fax SI at 212-467-2417. Letters should include the writer's full name, address and home telephone number and may be edited for clarity and space.

Customer Service and Subscriptions

For 24/7 service, go to SI.com/customerservice. Call 1-800-528-5000 or write to SI at P.O. Box 30602, Tampa, FL 33630-0602. To purchase reprints of SI covers, go to SIcovers.com.

Advertising

For ad rates, an editorial calendar or a media kit, e-mail SI at SIpubqueries@timeinc.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA

What will be the biggest upset during the first week of the NCAA tournament?

Ryan Deslauriers I'll call it right now: 16th-seed Weber State over No. 1 seed Arizona.

Alex Andrews Mercer over Duke on a last-second shot and Kentucky over Wichita State by 15.

Yonathan Juan Melamed Oklahoma State over Arizona in the round of 32.

Michael Leary Harvard over Cincinnati, baby!

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Jay Bilas One & Dones "detrimental to academic mission" of PAC-12 schools?! http://es.pn/1cLq4IC What nonsense. If [it's so] detrimental, don't recruit them!

(@JayBilas)

PHOTO

FOCUS ON SPORT/GETTYIMAGES (COVER)

FOR MARCH 10, 2014

PHOTO

DANNY MOLOSHOK/AP (WEBER STATE)

PHOTO

FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS