Using NewsHour Extra Feature Stories

Overview: NewsHour Extra features stories can help students identify and interpret key issues in current events. This activity anticipates one class period, but the follow-up essay might be assigned as homework, or in another period.

Warm Up: Use initiating questions to introduce the topic and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Have students read NewsHour Extra's feature story and answer the questions on the reading comprehension handout.

Discussion: Use discussion questions to encourage students to think about how the issues outlined in the story affect their lives and express and debate different opinions.

Follow-up: Students can write an 500-word editorial on the topic expressing their views and send it to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org] for possible publication.

Evaluation: Students are graded on their answers to reading comprehension questions and/or their editorial.

Story: Pete Rose Admits to Betting on Baseball: 01/07/03
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june04/rose_1-07.html

Initiating Questions:

1. Should a professional athlete's behavior off of the field impact how fans view him or her?

2. Should a coach of a professional team be allowed to bet on his or her sport and team? Why or why not?

Reading Comprehension Questions: (click here for printout)

1. What is Pete Rose's record achievement in baseball?

Pete Rose, who retired from baseball in 1986, has the career record for hits at 4,256. No other player in the history of baseball has more combined singles, doubles, triples or homeruns than he.

2. Why is there a controversy about Rose becoming eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame?

Rose, who was manager of the Cincinnati Reds in 1987 and 1988, broke one of the clearest and most sacred rules of baseball, Rule 21; he not only bet on baseball but on his own team.

After an extensive investigation Rose was banned from baseball for life in 1989. He applied for reinstatement eight years later in 1997 but current Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig has yet to rule on the request. Since he was ousted, Rose had consistently denied any wrongdoing.

3. What did Rose confess to doing? Why did he say he did this?

Rose admitted to betting on baseball in his new book. Asked how often, he replied, "Four or five times a week. But I never bet against my own team, and I never made any bets from the clubhouse."

When asked why, Rose responded, "I didn't think I'd get caught."

4. How can a player get into the Baseball Hall of Fame? How do the rules impact Pete Rose?

According to baseball rules, players have until 20 years after they retire to be elected into the Hall of Fame by a committee of baseball writers. Thus, Rose has only two more chances to get onto the ballot, December 2004 and December 2005. But after being banned he is currently ineligible.

After that, a player is referred to the Veterans Committee, an 85-member group of whom about two-thirds are members of the Hall of Fame. According to Sports Illustrated writer Tom Verducci, many Veterans members have spoken publicly or privately against letting Rose in.

"Some have even threatened to boycott the Hall of Fame ceremonies if he is elected. So his best chances of getting into the hall are during the next two years," Verducci explained.

5. Why does Pete Rose remain so popular? Who are some of his fans and what do they think about his Hall of Fame eligibility?

Despite his banishment, Rose has remained a popular hero, celebrated for his energy and dramatic headfirst slides into base. Having grown up on the rough part of Cincinnati, he is the gutsy sportsman nicknamed "Charlie Hustle" for how he played during his 24-year career. He received standing ovations in 1999 and 2002 when he was allowed on a baseball field during various commercial promotions.

Marge Schott, the Reds' owner when Rose was manager, thinks that Rose should be in the Hall of Fame, "because he is baseball."

Discussion Questions and Extension Activity (more research might be needed):

1. Should Pete Rose be allowed into the Baseball Hall of Fame? Should he be allowed to manage a team again? Under what circumstances?

2. Why do you think that Pete Rose, after denying any wrongdoing for over 14 years, decided to admit that he bet on baseball? Do you think his apology is sincere?

Send your answers, in essay form, to extra@newshour.org for possible publication!