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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/wrestling/8183398.htm

Sun, Mar. 14, 2004 

Rose enters wrestling's major league fraternity

BY JIM VARSALLONE
jvarsallone{at}herald.com

Instead of being flanked by his peers like Johnny Bench, Willie Mays
and Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose found himself being honored in the Hall
Saturday night with a Brain, a Body and a Magnificent one.

Rose became the first celebrity inductee into the World Wrestling
Entertainment Hall of Fame during a special dinner/ceremony before
1,500 fans in the Grand Ballroom at the Hilton in Times Square -- the
same hotel where in 1989 then Major League Baseball Commissioner Bart
Giamatti told the world Rose bet on baseball.

''I feel out of place being up here with all these stars,'' said Rose,
who jokingly asked if baseball commissioner Bud Selig was in
attendance. ``I could listen to these [honorees] talk all night. It
would be like listening to Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and all the great
baseball players talk about their profession.''

Rose's humorous contributions at WrestleManias XIV, XV and 2000 made
him a lock for the honor while also helping publicize WWE's 'Super
Bowl' WrestleMania XX Sunday, March 14 before a soldout crowd at
Madison Square Garden and millions watching around the world on
pay-per-view.

After ribbing fans in Boston with Red Sox jokes during one
WrestleMania, Rose was chokeslammed by the massive Big Red Machine
Kane. At another WrestleMania, Rose, the original Big Red Machine,
dressed as the Chicken, before being tombstoned by Kane, who inducted
Rose into the Hall on Saturday night.

Following a reading of Rose's illustrious career baseball stats, Kane
said: ``This is a little embarrassing, cus these notes are for the
wrong hall of fame induction.''

Kane also said Rose hinted enacting revenge on him at WrestleMania XX.

''Don't bet on it,'' said the massive Kane.

Standing alongside Rose were other 2004 WWE HOF inductees including
Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan, former Minnesota Governor Jesse 'The Body'
Ventura and 'The Magnificent' Muraco. Heenan, who stole the show with
his humorous and spirited speech, also ribbed Rose about gambling.

It's not Major League Baseball's HOF, but it's a respected Hall.

Superstar Billy Graham, Sgt. Slaughter, Tito Santana, Greg The Hammer
Valentine, Harley Race and the late Junkyard Dog and Big John Studd
were also entered into WWE's version of the Hall.

Based on his half-season in 1984 with the Montreal Expos, Rose is also
eligible for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame -- but he still waits
for Cooperstown to accept him.


--- Internet Rex 2.29