Скачать или смотреть Radio-show callers have mixed reactions to Pete Rose allegations

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Pete Rose was one of the best hitters ever in baseball, but now he's once again batting away damning allegations.

Until Monday, the buzz around Cincinnati regarding Rose had been his new statue at Great American Ball Park. But now, Rose is sparring with an old nemesis: John Dowd. Dowd's 1989 investigation led to Pete's lifetime ban from baseball.

It all stems from a radio interview two years ago. Here's the statement Dowd made when asked if he thought Pete Rose was a decent guy:

"Michael Bertolini told us that he not only ran bets, but he ran young girls for him down to spring training, ages 12 to 14, isn't that lovely? So that's statutory rape every time you do that."

Rose has since sued for defamation, saying the comment damaged his reputation and endorsement deals.

But Monday, Dowd said he has proof: a sworn statement from a woman only known as Jane Doe. She claims she had an ongoing relationship with Rose that started in 1973 when she was 14 or 15. Rose would have been in his 30s.

Rose's attorney, Ray Genco, says this is all just a distraction.

"It doesn't show any truth to the statements John Dowd made, and therefore it doesn't impact the case in a matter of law or what's going to happen in front of the judge," Genco said.

In Monday's filing, Rose admits to having a sexual relationship with the woman, but he says it started after she turned 16, and it was consensual.

Now, as you can imagine, this news spread quickly on social media and was met with all kinds of reactions. 700WLW's Lance McAlister took a lot of calls during his show Monday night.

Until Monday, the buzz around Cincinnati regarding Rose had been his new statue at Great American Ball Park.

Rose was originally scheduled to be on Lance McAlister's radio show at 6:10 p.m. At about 5:30 p.m., we were informed that Rose canceled, which isn't entirely surprising after Rose's lawyer said earlier Monday that the Hit King wouldn't be addressing the latest allegation from Dowd.

So without Rose on the show, McAlister took calls. The response was mixed; many just can't get over the fact that Rose's response Monday was that he thought Jane Doe was 16 and that she gave consent.

However, as you can imagine, there were some defending Rose, using examples of how decades ago it wasn't a big deal if there was an age gap between two people engaging in sexual activities.

One caller named Dan cited an age gap between his mother and father.

Dan: My dad being 21 and my mom that's 15-- Does that make my dad back then a sexual predator?

Lance: Well again, you're 21 to 15. In this case, what's on the record-- 34 to 16.

Dan: Yeah, but he's passed 21 anyway.

Lance: Thanks for the call; that's 18 according to my Butler math. Eighteen-year gap between 34 and 16.

Caller Kyle from Maineville wasn't so willing to defend Rose:

Kyle: There's really people trying to defend Pete on this? I'm speechless. He's in his 30s she's not even 16, apparently. Let's assume she's 16: we are really going to try and defend this? As much as I love Pete, I can't. I mean, come on; I can't defend Pete on this. I have two sisters; I was sickened and wanted to throw up when I heard it.

Lance: I don't find comfort in what Pete said in the documents. I'm paraphrasing here, 'I was working under the impression she was 16.' That as an answer does nothing to leave me anymore comfortable about this situation.

In the sworn statement, Jane Doe says when she was 14 or 15, she and Rose had sex at a house in Cincinnati and that the sexual relationship lasted for several years and that she met Rose in locations outside of Ohio to have sex.