PETE ROSE

DAUGHERTY COLUMN • Truth for sale ENQUIRER EDITORIAL • Rose's confession doesn't change a thing ENQUIRER COVERAGE • He bet on baseball • Rose grooves one for Selig • Rose felt heat in summer of '89 (WEB) • Roadblocks still occupy Rose's Cooperstown path • Gambling problems underestimated • Straight from Pete • Admission brings redemption • Hometown support strong • Rose memorabilia value should remain high • Revelation evokes relief, shock (WEB) • Attention will shift to Selig's decision • What others are saying • Pete Rose timeline (WEB) = Extended version-Web exclusive

I bet the Reds to win every time. I bet the Phillies, my other former team, to win even when they were huge underdogs and on a losing streak.

For me, it wasn't about the odds.

I was rooting for my teams - no, believing in my teams. It wasn't the smart way to bet. ... I never - ever - bet against my teams.

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Howard Cosell and others in the media accused me of "killing" the commissioner. I appreciate hype as much as the next guy.

But Mr. Giamatti smoked three packs of cigarettes per day and was 50 pounds overweight.

I had nothing to do with the health problems that caused his untimely death.

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I'm sure that I'm supposed to act all sorry or sad or guilty now that I've accepted that I've done something wrong. But you see, I'm just not built that way.

... So let's leave it like this: I'm sorry it happened, and I'm sorry for all the people, fans and family that it hurt. Let's move on.

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So before I go on, I know what you're thinking: Why didn't you tell the truth, Pete - admit that you had a problem?

It's a fair question, one that I've asked myself many times over the past 14 years. I wish I had an easy answer, but I don't. ... I really didn't believe I had a problem.