OK, Bud Selig. It's time to step up to the plate and do the right thing. If fans are important to the success of Major League Baseball, then you should listen to what they are saying. The voices are loud and clear. It's time to let Pete Rose back into the game that he loves.

Let me start by saying that I started playing Little League baseball in 1981. I remember the first tryout-this one kid slid head first into second base during baserunning drills. That's all anyone could talk about-that he did a "Pete Rose slide". I went to a bunch of spring training games in Florida, and once had the opportunity to meet Pete. I wore my little league uniform because I had a game earlier that morning. He noticed that I had dirt on my uniform and that I had a first baseman's glove. The glove actually had Steve Garvey as the 'signature' inside. Pete said loudly, "Garvey? Garvey? Really? What has he ever done"? He then took the glove and scribbled out Garvey's name and signed his name there. He said-"There-now you have a REAL ballplayer's signature on your glove." At first, I thought he was being mean to Garvey until I turned around and standing right there was Steve Garvey. The two of them then hugged and asked how each one was doing-I think they even asked about wives and family.... I don't remember that part. I started to walk away and Pete says "Hey kid, what's your name"? I told him my name-he actually pulled out a notepad and wrote my name down. He said he would look for me in about 10-12 years in the majors. I just thought that was the most amazing thing-obviously my baseball career didn't exactly take off, but I was a Pete Rose fan for life.

That is the thing about Pete-he loved the game and loved to interact with those who loved the game. After his ban from baseball, he soured quite a bit. I can relate to how he feels though. This is something that he's done his whole life and now MLB is telling him he can't participate at all? That was devastating to Pete. It's now been 20 years that he's had to live with this pain. It's time to welcome Pete back-he's done his time. How many chances did Steve Howe get? If Bonds, Clemens, Palmeiro, McGwire, and Sosa can still be around-why not Rose? This isn't just about the Hall of Fame for him-for me, it is-he just wants to go to the ballpark and teach young players some of the stuff that he learned in his long career. He has been contrite about the gambling that he did. Sure, he could have come clean earlier, but would that have really mattered? In fact, there was talk that all he had to do was admit to gambling, and he would be re-instated. So, he admitted to it, and yet he is still paying the price.

There are a lot of ballplayers in the Major League that have never seen Pete play. You can look at his great stats all day and be impressed. That doesn't even tell half the story. When his team was down a run, he would do whatever it took to score. He threw his body around and was so savvy about everything. It was like the game was played in slow motion for him.

Now, I want to talk about the Hall of Fame. I will not go to Cooperstown until Pete is inducted. It has to be while he is alive, or I will never go. His stats are incredible. He played 3562 games, was a career .303 hitter (switch-hitter), had 4256 hits, 2165 runs, 746 doubles, 135 triples, 160 home runs, 1314 RBI's, and 198 stolen bases. I got these stats off the back of a baseball card. It is a 1987 Donruss#186, and it lists him as player/manager. He did not play in 1987, so these are his final numbers. On the card, it lists career highlights and the first thing it says is "Baseball's all-time hit leader and future Hall of Famer...." Did you hear that? It says FUTURE HALL OF FAMER. When it comes to Rose and the Hall of Fame, MLB needs to do like my favorite comedian says and "Git R Done!"