There was nothing redeeming about Pete Rose's character

My only conversation with Pete Rose came in the early 1980s, when he was with the Phillies. And he started it.

It was early April, a Friday night, and the Phils were on NBC's “Game of the Week” the next day. Some NBC PR fellows were driving to Philly for the game and asked if I wanted to join them.

With our red media field-access credentials hanging from our belts, we watched batting practice from behind the cages. When Rose finished her swing, she walked over, eyed the press, then began to speak. Boy, did he.

He asked if we watched the recently concluded NCAA basketball tournament. I said I have. And he left.

He said he took a beating, especially late in games “by missed free throws.” Geese, Pete, Geese. Could he be less discreet with strangers, especially newspaper men?

But he left. He wanted to talk; He needed to talk. He was clearly buzzed, probably fueled by the amphetamines he heavily suspected he drank to keep him cranky in the 40s.

I recognized her wide-eyed inability to stop talking and sit still since my college days when many of us would pop “black beauties” to study during finals. They didn't help us with our studies as much as they kept us talking to each other until dawn.

However, Pete apparently lost a bundle in the NCAA Tournament and felt compelled to share it with someone. For anyone in this case, I am. Then again, sports gamblers are deluded into thinking that all of them bet.

I left shocked, disbelieving, disgusted.

In his books about the CD Sports autograph business, “Sign This,” and “Sign This #2,” author Tom Bunevich, a former card show promoter, identified Rose as his fallen former favorite player and toughest superstar to endure.

“He's always been a draw on the show. Her appearance is all business. … It's head down, do the next one, keep going. … Somehow he always notices and interacts with beautiful women. He might give a serious comment, then follow it up with an off-color, off-the-wall comment. Rough language comes easily. …

“We like our heroes a little humble. Pete Rose is far from it.”

Bunevich also described the card show becoming distinctly ugly to customers. Rose demanded that a TV be set up next to him so he could track his sports gambling activities as he signed.

The last time I saw Rose in person, she was sitting at a table for two at Tampa Barn's Steak House. I was with my wife and kids.

Rose, by then in her 60s, was with a young woman, who looked no older than 18. I thought she was his granddaughter – until they held hands and started playing footsie under the table.

By 2017, Rose was publicly denying allegations of statutory rape with a girl in his teens. Those wearing rose-colored glasses had more to fight or ignore.

Since Rose's passing this week, at age 83, there has been a renewed call for him to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Cited as a valid rationale is MLB's current addiction to business-partner, scam-guaranteed gambling. I get it and completely disagree.

But aside from gambling, girls and drugs I wouldn't vote for Rose based on character. He had no one.

F-bombs are equally promoted for cursing

On Sunday, after walking a batter, Yankee Clark Schmidt was heard uttering the F-word. Yes replay the obscenity, audio included. Michael Kay: “We apologize for that language here on Sunday.”

But then why replay it with yes audio, then play it again without it, if someone missed it the first two times?

NBC's Presidents Cup coverage includes a promotion from “The Voice,” now with Snoop Dogg.

While it's highly doubtful that Snoop Dogg fans are among the majority of the golf audience, the telecast's announcers expressed their delight that we'll be seeing more of Dogg on NBC, especially given his sensational (indecent) co-hosting performance at NBC's Paris Olympics.

That few viewers believed this con didn't stop NBC from another con.

No silly expression is free from duplicity, repetition and perpetuity. While 22 players use their legs per game, CBS's Ian Eagle noted Sunday that one QB “used his legs” to run for a first down. QBs no longer run (one syllable) or scramble (two syllables), they “use their legs” to stretch it.

Fumble vs. “Put the ball on the ground.” First down vs. “move the chain.” Cut vs. “stick a foot in the ground.” Silence vs. “Dial a play.”

After Indiana completed a pass for a first down at Maryland's 1-yard line Saturday, BTN play-by-player Jeff Levering was quick to note that IU had “reached the red zone.” Nurse!

Player of the Week: IU DL James Carpenter. After a single sack, he got up, made no gesture about me, then sought out his team's huddle. Of course, his team-first modesty has relegated him to all in-game, postgame and network highlight reels.

The Mets clincher is memorable, but not a 'classic'

Monday's wild, wild-card-clinching Mets Game 1 win in Atlanta was immediately framed and hung up as “A Classic.” A crazy game? An exciting game? yes A classic? hard

Monday was another “game changed” example of bad baseball and a game dictated by bad, wish-based management.

That's Edwin Diaz Diaz's failure resulted in a line drive schemer that allowed the Braves to take a four-run lead in the eighth. Pete Alonso. That Diaz was credited with a blown save and the win was a testament to something far less than “a classic.”

At SNY, Ron Darling ad nauseam scolded Diaz for “forgetting to know you have to play the game. [as just pitch]”

Braves manager Brian Snitker After throwing seven plus shutout innings and – OMG! – 94 pitches. Did Snitker save him for an intrasquad spring training scrimmage?

Yes, another classic where both sides did everything they could to lose.

ESPN, by design, tends to delete every sports telecast it touches. On Wednesday night, those who tuned in to see 200 shots of Padres fans waving yellow towels were treated much better than those who wanted to watch the Braves-Padres playoff game.

And ESPN, which can ruin the game of catch, has eliminated line scores — runs, hits and errors — from graphics at the end of half-innings, throughout these MLB playoffs. Heresy!

On Saturday, late in the Kentucky transfer vs. Ole Miss transfer on ABC/ESPN, a huge post-play unsportsmanlike penalty call changed the entire ending. ABC/ESPN never showed what happened after the tackle immediately cut to worthless crowd shots.