-
-
I love Jim Gray.
The Pete Rose interview
The most notable interview of Gray's sportscasting career occurred with former baseball player Pete Rose. During Game 2 of the 1999 World Series, Rose was introduced as a member of the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. After the ceremony, Gray (who was covering the series for NBC) pointedly queried Rose about allegations of ******** on baseball, which he repeatedly denied:[5]
“ Jim Gray: Pete, now let me ask you. It seems as though there is an opening, the American public is very forgiving. Are you willing to show contrition, admit that you bet on baseball and make some sort of apology to that effect?
Pete Rose: Not at all, Jim. I'm not going to admit to something that didn't happen. I know you're getting tired of hearing me say that. But I appreciate the ovation. I appreciate the American fans voting me on the All-Century Team. I'm just a small part of a big deal tonight.
Gray: With the overwhelming evidence in that report, why not make that step...
Rose: No. This is too much of a festive night to worry about that because I don't know what evidence you're talking about. I mean, show it to me...
Gray: Pete, those who will hear this tonight will say you have been your own worst enemy and continue to be. How do you respond to that?
Rose: In what way are you talking about?
Gray: By not acknowledging what seems to be overwhelming evidence.
Rose: Yeah, I'm surprised you're bombarding me like this. I mean I'm doing an interview with you on a great night, a great occasion, a great ovation. Everybody seems to be in a good mood. And you're bringing up something that happened 10 years ago ... This is a prosecutor's brief, not an interview, and I'm very surprised at you.
Gray: Some would be surprised that you didn't take the opportunity.Comment
-
Enjoy, bitchezz
Comment
-
I remember watching this interview, and pi88ing myself laughing. Jim Grey **** himself. pmlComment
-
It was funny as hell watching Jim Grey when he interviewed Tyson!LOL
Toney was about to put Grey's lights out after he KOd Holyfield snatching his mocrophone. JG is hilarious!Comment
-
Here's a more in depth article about Gray and Rose from USATODAY that helps explain how inappropriate his questions were considering the situation. I saw this live and I've despised him ever since.
Gray strikes out in interview with Rose
Not often in sports do we get to address journalistic ethics.
NBC field reporter Jim Gray gives us such an opportunity after his interview with Pete Rose turned ugly before the start of Game 2 of the World Series Sunday night.
Rose was in Atlanta as a member of baseball's All-Century team. It was Rose's first sanctioned appearance at a major league ballpark since his lifetime ban from baseball 10 years ago. Eighteen of the 30 living members attended the pregame ceremony, and Rose received the biggest ovation, longer and louder than the one given to Hank Aaron, Atlanta's favorite son.
Gray, known for asking tough questions, attacked Rose with a series of queries regarding Rose's ban. Rose answered Gray's first question.
"Are you willing to show contrition, admit that you bet on baseball and make some sort of an apology to that effect," Gray said.
"Not at all Jim. Not at all," Rose replied. "I'm not gonna admit to something that didn't happen. I know you get tired of hearing me say that. ... I'm just a small part of a big deal tonight."
But Gray wouldn't drop it. He continued badgering Rose even after it became apparent baseball's all-time hit leader was in no mood to address the subject right then and there.
"With the overwhelming evidence that is in that report, why not make that step with this opening?" Gray asked.
"This is too much of a festive night to worry about that. ... I don't know what evidence you're talking about. Show it to me," Rose responded.
"We don't want to debate that Pete."
"Well, why not? Why do we want to believe everything (report) says?"
That didn't deter Gray, who pressed on, making not only a fool of himself, but making a nation of baseball fans uncomfortable with his relentless and pretentious questioning.
"Pete, it's been 10 years since you've been allowed on the field. Obviously, the approach that you have taken has not worked. Why not, at this point, take a different approach?" Gray asked.
It became the Jim Gray Show, thanks to Gray's self-serving grandstanding in front of a national TV audience. Gray, who made himself part of the show, wanted to be the reporter who got Rose to admit he bet on baseball. He wanted to be the one who got Rose to apologize for his crimes against the game.
Jim Gray, ace reporter. Or Scoop Gray.
The interview was a disaster. Instead of e-mails and messages - the '90s equivalent of water cooler discussions - about the braveless Braves wilting in the chilly October air, we're talking about Gray's interview.
He sullied what should've been a baseball memory. Stan Musial, Nolan Ryan, Sandy Koufax, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Warren Spahn, Bob Gibson - all on the same field.
I do not care if you think Pete Rose should never be allowed in baseball or never allowed in the Hall of Fame. Gray's treatment of Rose went beyond the good graces of journalistic decorum.
As reporters, it's our job to ask difficult questions at times. There's nothing more frustrating than a reporter who's scared to ask a tough question. But when Gray realized he was getting nowhere with his agenda, he should've segued into another subject.
Rose, you would have to guess, must have wanted to give Gray the Ray Fosse treatment. You know, bowl Gray over with one of those barrel-chested Charlie Hustle plays at the plate.
To Rose's credit, he handled the two-and-half-minute interview much better than Gray, remaining as collected as one could expect in the situation. At the end of the inquiry, Rose took Gray to task.
"Those who will hear this tonight will say that you have been your own worst enemy and continue to be," Gray said. "How do you respond to that?"
"I'm surprised you're bombarding me like this,'' Rose said. ''I'm doing an interview with you on a great night, a great occasion, a great ovation. Everybody seems to be in a good mood, and you're bringing up something that happened 10 years ago. ... This is a prosecutor's brief. It's not an interview."
There were other directions Gray could've and should've taken.
Why not ask Rose what the reaction of the other baseball greats was toward him? What was it like to be back on baseball's main stage? What do you think it will take for you to be reinstated?
NBC's broadcast team of Joe Morgan, Rose's one-time teammate in Cincinnati, and Bob Costas, the high priest of all matters important to baseball, did not mention the interview after the commercial break. After Gray blindsided Rose with this ambush, NBC sidestepped the issue on air.
And then, in yet another self-serving incident, MSNBC.com has video of the Gray interview and this headline: Rose defiant at Series.
I'm not sure if Rose was defiant, but Gray was indignant.
According to The Associated Press, Gray brushed off a reporter who tried to ask him about the interview after the game and left the ballpark without comment.
Asked by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution if the interview with Rose felt confrontational, Gray replied, ''Yes.''
''But all of these questions are questions Rose has heard for 10 years,'' Gray told the newspaper. ''It was an opportunity for Rose to make his case. It's a shame that's the direction it went.''
I have a question for Gray.
If these are questions Rose has heard for 10 years (and by the way, Rose has given the same answers for those 10 years), why did he feel compelled to ask them again?
Last edited by βetamax; 12-05-2008, 10:07 PM.Comment
-
Link??????????Comment
Tweet
Comment