By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer

As long as Pete Rose is on the outside looking in, he's a story.

More proof of that occurred Thursday, when ESPN announced it has an exclusive interview with Rose, to be aired at 11 p.m. Sunday, in which Rose said he believes he will manage again in the major leagues someday.

In a related but unconnected item Thursday on ESPN.com, it was revealed that "two baseball men who are friendly with Reds owner Carl Lindner" said Lindner has a first choice to manage the Reds: Pete Rose.

But, as ESPN.com points out, Rose's chances of ever managing again rest with the commissioner of baseball. Rose is hoping to be reinstated to baseball, from which he has been banned since 1989 for his involvement in gambling. He has "no shot" of managing the Reds next year, ESPN.com said.

As for the TV interview, Rose said he believes there is "an owner that would give me an opportunity" to manage again.

"I don't want to sound cocky or brash or anything," Rose said in the ESPN interview, "but there's two things I'm going to bring to the table - I'm going to win and I'm going to put people in the seats. If you're not interested in doing any of those things, don't call my number."

ESPN reporter Bob Holtzman nabbed the interview with Rose, 62, while working on a story about Rose's son, Pete Jr., 33, who plays baseball with the Joliet (Ill.) Jackhammers of the independent Northern League.

"I got the impression that (Rose Sr.) fully believes that if he's reinstated, he'll be allowed to pursue a manager's job (eventually)," Holtzman said. "He's as convinced he can manage as Pete Jr. is he can play."