The difference is that Baseball has had a policy - A clearly posted one at that - stating that betting is a ban. Until things hit the fan, they had no PED policy whatsoever.
Willie Mays was banned temporarily for simply being an investor in an Atlantic City casino and doing some PR work for them. Not even gambling on baseball, Not necessarily even gambling (Other than the investment ) just being associated that closely with it. Oddly, he was already in the hall, and wasn't removed, but couldn't attend games.
And have we all forgotten that Rose did some other stuff that was pretty sleazy and close to criminal? Stuff involving selling memorabilia that was very questionable? (Not just using multiple bats for every at bat and more than one uniform per game)
Great player? Yes, one of the best ever. And played hard pretty much all the time.
But Banned is banned. He's out and considering how much he did and his attitude about it should remain banned. No Baseball, no HOF.
And yes, the spineless "leadership" that took money to let him be around for a sponsor did nothing to help baseball in general (And should themselves be banned in my opinion. They've simply been useless and detrimental too many times. )
Steve B
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