Sunday, July 08, 2001
Sports on TV-Radio
Rose story breaks no new ground
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Fox Sports Net's documentary series, Beyond the Glory, takes a stab at the Pete Rose story with an installment that airs at 8 p.m. today.
FSN tries to sell the show with this claim:
''For the first time ever, the Rose legal team opens up the files and reveals the defense that was never made and explains recent attempts between their attorneys and Major League Baseball to bring this sad chapter of baseball history to some sort of closure.''
That may be going a little far. Nothing in the hour-long documentary is earthshaking. If you believe Pete Rose bet on baseball, Beyond the Glory is not going to make you feel otherwise.
And, if Wildman Walker watches it, he's not going to suddenly decide Pete got what he deserved.
That said, the show is worth the 60 minutes of couch time invested.
Visually, it is impressive. The still photos, which go back to Rose's Knothole days, are a nice touch. The film from the Big Red Machine chronicles his incredible career.
Fresh interviews with Sparky Anderson and Tommy Helms bring to life Rose the Red. Al Michaels and Bob Costas give the national perspective on Rose.
The show does a great job of catching the emotion of the night Rose broke Ty Cobb's career hits record. The video and Marty Brennaman's call set the scene. New interviews with Pete Rose Jr. and Rose's ex-wife, Karolyn, prove that all these years later, the emotions of the night still remain strong.
Then the documentary gives its take on Pete Rose, the fallen hero.
That, like all Rose stories, turns into a he-said-he-said debate. On one side, you have former commissioner Fay Vincent, investigator John Dowd and accuser Ron Peters. On the other side, you have Rose and his attorneys, Bob Stachler and Roger Makley.
FSN does have an interview with Dana Martino, the gambling expert brought in by Rose's attorneys. He concludes that the betting slips were concocted.
Vincent fires back: ''The telephone records were fundamentally irrefutable. The evidence is just simply overwhelming.''
Paul Janszen, Rose's chief accuser, would not agree to an on-camera interview. The other big player who is missing is commissioner Bud Selig, who holds Rose's fate in his hands.
Beyond the Glory sides slightly with Rose in telling his story. But on the whole, it's fair.
The problem is that, like ESPN's attempt at the Rose story, it shows more clearly than ever that controversy may outlive the man.
Rose says as much himself.
''You know, if I had a press conference tomorrow ... and said that I've had a change of heart and I really want to admit that I bet on baseball and I'm really sorry, you know what those guys would say? 'He's just saying that to get back into baseball. He's just saying that. He's lying again ...' ''
SET THE VCR: If you're looking for a little more uplifting story, dial up HBO's Shot Heard 'Round the World at 8 p.m. Wednesday. It's the story of the battle between the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1951 season.
Told through new interviews with players -- and more importantly, fans -- it is up to HBO's high standards for sports programming.
LOCAL GOLF: Channel 19 will take its second stab at airing local golf Saturday and Sunday (July 15) with the Fifth Third/Fox 19 Celebrity Classic. It will air from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 4 to conclusion Sunday.
Top locals and amateurs play along with celebrities.
E-MAIL: Scott Clemmons is obviously a fan of Paul “The Fish” Sturgeon: “Fish needs a permanent home on 1360 Homer ... He is no doubt the best sports talk guy around. Why not put Fish in Phil Hendrie's spot (on Homer)?”
I agree. But Hendrie's spot competes directly with WLW's SportsTalk. Homer and WLW are both owned by Clear Channel, so that probably won't happen.
STRONG BROO: It was nice to hear Jose Rijo on Ken Broo's show on WBOB-AM (1160) Thursday morning after Rijo pitched Wednesday night in Dayton.
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Rose story breaks no new ground
