Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete Rose

"HBO" has once again scored and produced a hit with one of it's original sports docs. "Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete Rose" is a must watch for any baseball or sports fan. A four part series which highlights and looks at the life and career of the legend Pete Rose, you the viewer will find it memorable with old classic game footage, and interviews. Plus a current treat is hearing from Pete as he reflects back on his life and rise to fame all darkened by gambling. Others interviews from broadcasters, ex players, and fans give focus and insight on his bid for the baseball hall of fame, it's revealing and compelling hearing different takes. Even though Gambling has become the norm still Rose is looked at differently, you the viewer make your own judgement hero or criminal? Wonderful well done sports doc that is a must see.

Great documentary on the antics of the man who still to this day doesn't understand his numbers might have gotten him to the Hall of Fame, his character isn't the caliber needed. He is not a trustworthy honorable guy. Hey 16 yrs old is legal in Ohio. I was never at Gold's Gym.. (next frame enter Pete Rose picture at Gold's Gym).. I never lifted a weight.. (next frame him lifting a weight).. The best part of this documentary was the brutal showing of Pete being Pete. He threw his own shade on himself as his own worst enemy. I did agree however with Chad Lowe. That perhaps people could forgive someone that not only has a disease but is not capable of apology. Showing forgiveness to someone like that might give the wrong idea though. He doesn't even think sleeping with 14-16 year olds is a crime.

... a privilege, not a right.

He did tarnish his legacy and did not admit to gambling when people would have cared enough to perhaps give him a second chance.

On an additional note, all those Pete Rose fans constantly working the commissioner should realize he was working for the best interest of the game. If they really wanted to get him in the hall, pester the Board of Trustees up there in Cooperstown and get them to stop following baseball's eligibility listings.

Remember, the Hall is not owned by MLB. I always found it disappointing when a new commissioner came in, over the past thirty years or so, the Peter Rose situation was the first question they asked.

It's a solid 4 part documentary, with excellent film footage, about a hard nosed and talented ballplayer who squeezed every bit of athletic talent and then more out of his body, playing in more games and getting more hits than anyone. He's also one of the stupidest people who ever played the game, essentially blowing his legacy by betting on baseball, something he denied for many years before coming clean. As the doc shows with solid evidence, he was also having sex with underage girls, hanging out with steroid and cocaine users at a gym, fand financing a cocaine ring. All of which he denies of course. He owed nearly $500K to the mob in gambling debt-which doesn't make it hard to believe he may have bet against the Reds as manager in order to get some of it back. Oh and he also did 6 months in the pen for income tax evasion. Should he still get in the HOF? Personally, don't really care.

Finally, something that isn't a fan festival of Pete Rose and actually asked hard questions and got the right people on camera. From the very beginning to the very end, nothing but accomplishment followed by tragedy.. never seemed to be accomplishment followed by accomplishment and there we have it. The story of Pete Rose from hard nose kid finding his way onto a major league roster to a gambling addicted baseball player/manager that couldn't get out of his own way and when dealt with the blow of reality, chose to do the wrong thing and lie about it instead of coming forward. Looking at the camera and say I have faults. Please forgive me.