Monday, October 25, 1999

NBC's questions irk Rose, fans

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Enquirer news services

A fan holds up a sign in support of Pete Rose. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        In a live TV interview after the All-Century team ceremony, NBC reporter Jim Gray repeatedly asked Pete Rose why he wouldn't admit betting on baseball.

        “I'm surprised you're bombarding me with this, I'm here to do an interview with you,” Rose said. “You're bringing up something that happened 10 years ago.”

        Gray, refusing to change the subject, said the commissioner's office had strong evidence that Rose bet on baseball.

        “Show it to me, where is it?” Rose asked.

        At one point, Rose tried to change the subject, saying: “I'm sure everyone's tired of hearing about that. It's too festive a night to worry about it. I'm just a small part of a big deal tonight.”

ANGRY AT NBC?

Express your outrage at Jim Gray's interview at:   • Fire Jim Gray and Apologize to Pete Rose Boycott Web site   • Our Reds forum   • Send us a Letter to the Editor

        After the interview aired, calls complaining about Gray's interview flooded the NBC switchboard in New York; the local affiliate, WLWT (Channel 5); and The Enquirer sports department.

        Yankee Jim Leyritz told ESPN that he and teammates were angry after overhearing the interview near the Yankees dugout.

        I think it's an embarrassment to your [Jim Gray's] profession," Leyritz said. "Pete's done his time. To come off the field and have that question asked is barbaric. It's disgraceful. This whole ballclub was angry. If we weren't professionals, we could say, 'Jim we don't want to talk to you."'

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