Second Thoughts

Divorce case indicates Rose in poor health

Former Cincinnati Reds player and manager Pete Ross acknowledges spectators during a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame induction ceremony before a July 21 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Cincinnati. The all-time baseball hits leader said he “can barely walk” and is in “poor health” in divorce proceedings.
Former Cincinnati Reds player and manager Pete Ross acknowledges spectators during a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame induction ceremony before a July 21 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Cincinnati. The all-time baseball hits leader said he “can barely walk” and is in “poor health” in divorce proceedings.

As part of his divorce proceedings from his estranged wife, all-time baseball hits leader Pete Rose said he "can barely walk" and is in "poor health."

Rose, 77, is in a legal battle to block his wife from receiving spousal support, according to TMZ. He also claims his annual income has dropped to less than 50 percent of what it was a year ago -- now sitting around $453,000.

"[Rose] is currently disabled and can barely walk or travel," the court documents read. "[His] health is deteriorating and [he] has a heart condition and [is] on blood thinners."

His statements are the latest developments in a divorce case that has been ongoing since 2011. In April, TMZ reported that Rose has significant gambling debts to pay off to both casinos and the IRS, and that Carol Rose had asked the courts to reveal his full financial details.

The Roses have been married since 1984, but Pete has been dating 38-year-old former Playboy model Kiana Kim for several years. He now wants to marry Kim, necessitating that the divorce be finalized.

Rose is a 17-time All-Star, three-time World Series champion and 1973 NL MVP, but in 1989 he was issued a permanent ban from baseball after he was found to be betting on the game. Then-commissioner Bud Selig denied multiple reinstatement requests in the early 2000s.

RESCUING THE ROOKIE

DeAngelo Hall is retired now, but he still has stories to tell about his days as a player. He stopped by the Simms & Lefkoe Show recently to tell a story about rookie hazing -- or how his teammates' attempt to haze him completely failed, thanks to a reality TV star.

Hall was a rookie with the Atlanta Falcons in 2004, and like many players before and since, he had to go through some hazing. In this case, hazing was paying for a weekend in Las Vegas with the Falcons' defensive backs.

Hall was the eighth pick in the NFL Draft, and he said his teammates felt like he "had money to burn." In 2004, Hall's salary was $230,000, and he got a $2.1 million signing bonus. That's definitely not nothing, but he wasn't exactly making "pay for your teammates to party in Las Vegas for a weekend" kind of money.

Hall had never been to Las Vegas, so he was excited -- until it was defensive back night, and he had to pay for everything. He was blown away by the cost of the alcohol, but he was even more blown away by where their table was situated at the club. On one side was Paris Hilton and her entourage of -- as Hall put it -- "lovely ladies." And on the other side was David Hasselhoff and his "crew of lovely ladies."

Eventually, the Falcons' defensive backs began partying with both tables, and someone joked that Hall would have to pick up the tab for all three tables. Thankfully, Hall was handed the bill for only his table, but even that came in at $15,000.

But Hilton saved the day and turned the Falcons' hazing efforts into a failure.

"Before I could even put my card down, Paris took my bill and paid my tab," Hall said.

QUIZ

How many interceptions did DeAngelo Hall have in his 14-year NL career?

ANSWER

Hall had 43 interceptions while playing with the Falcons, Raiders and Redskins.

photo

FR170908 AP

DeAngelo Hall

Sports on 09/15/2018

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