Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete Rose

As Episode 1 of "Charlie Hustle & The Matter of Pete Rose" (2024 release; 4 episodes of 56-58 min each) opens, it is "January 20, 2022, AFC Championship Game" and the Cincinnati Bengals come back from 18 point down and beat KC. Comments Rose: "Joe Burrow is like Pete Rose. He never gives up." Later on, it is "February 13, 2022, Super Bowl LVI". Comments Pete: "I love Cincinnati, but I bet on Los Angeles." We then go back in time to Pete's upbringing in Cincinnati... At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: let me state upfront that I have lived in Cincinnati since 1987, and hence missed out on the Big Red Machine, but I did live through the entire betting scandal days, and beyond. We need to separate 2 things: (1) Is this a good documentary? To which I can state unequivocally "yes". The mini-series is a nice mix of Rose's baseball history and baseball's evolution over this years, as well of course a look at the fallout of baseball's continued ban of Rose. (2) Should Pete Rose remained banned, now 35 years later? The bottom line for me is that there are no winners, and only losers, in this decades long standoff. Rose of course brought this onto himself, first by betting on baseball, and then by lying again, and again, and again, about it for far too long. However, with each passing year, Major League Baseball looks from bad to worse, almost vindictively continuing to punish Pete Rose, one of baseball's greatest players ever, while we endure never-ending ads and commercials from FanDuel (the official GAMBLING partner of MLB), DraftKings, BetMGM, Hard Rock, and on and on. It is literally EVERYWHERE, certainly also here in Ohio, where sports gambling is legal and flourishing. And last but not least, we the fans are also the losers, depriving us of the opportunity to celebrate one of baseball's greatest players ever. Pete Rose is now an 83 year old man. He is the all-time MLB leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053), singles (3,215) and outs (10,328), but still not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Wow. What is MLB afraid of? That Rose might place a bet on the Cincinnati Reds?

"Charlie Hustle & The Matter of Pete Rose" started airing on HBO just recently, and it's also streaming on Max, where I caught this the other day. It is currently rated 100% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, which is overly generous for sure. That said, it is without a good documentary mini-series. If you are a fan of baseball, or of Pete Rose, I'd readily suggest you check it out, and draw your own conclusion.

*UPDATE October, 2024* Barely 2 months later after the release of "Charlie Hustle & The Matter of Pete Rose", MLB finally got what it wanted: Pete Rose passed away without making it into the Hall of Fame. Are you happy now, MLB? Looking at MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred and others...

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.

"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.

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.

With the gambling allegations that sprung up around Shohei Ohtani's interpreter early in 2024, this was the perfect year to re-examine the Pete Rose saga. HBO Docs & Bad Robot Productions give it the first-class treatment here, with writer/director Mark Monroe knowing exactly how to frame Rose without "picking a side" on his Hall of Fame or MLB reinstatement quest.

Over the course of its four roughly hour-long installments, Charlie Hustle & The Matter of Pete Rose covers all the bases (pardon the pun) of Rose's career. From his deep childhood roots in the city of Cincinnati to his heralded playing career (truly one of the all-time greats) to the gambling scandal(s) that ultimately ousted him from MLB, this doc covers it all.

The key factor here: access/interviews with Rose himself. Why? Because Rose is extremely gregarious and the perfect "turn the camera on and let him go" doc subject. He is 100% authentic to himself, and that is perhaps a fading commodity in the age of social media and identity politics. This can make Rose extremely likable, as who doesn't enjoy someone authentic not afraid to speak his/her mind? His stories--especially about his playing days--will often have you laughing out loud!

At the same time, this doc crew knows the real tragedy of Rose: that he is his own worst enemy when it comes to potential reinstatement. Pete is a serial liar who either cannot or will not project any sort of sincerity when it comes to apologizing for his gambling foibles. It is always "steroids/sign-stealing/today's gambling is worse" or "I only beat on the Reds" or the like. This is a guy who will come to casino openings and place the first bet while at the same time meeting with MLB commissioners towards reinstatement. Truly a fascinating contradiction.

The producers of Charlie Hustle know exactly how to handle all of this. Instead of pushing one argument or another too hard, they simply let the cameras roll and capture all of it. That is truly the best way to understand the odd nuances of Pete Rose.

It has been a long time since I've seen a sports doc as engaging as this one. Absolutely recommended (if not close to required) viewing for anyone interested in baseball history or the Rose saga even tangentially. It is fascinating and will hold your interest without fail for all four hours.