Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Slow sports docu about controversial gambler; has cursing.
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Charlie Hu$tle & the Matter of Pete Rose
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
CHARLIE HU$TLE & THE MATTER OF PETE ROSE is a four-part documentary series about the life and career of famed and shamed former Major League Baseball player Pete Rose. Known as Major League Baseball's career hit leader of all time, Rose began his controversial sports career in 1963 playing for the Cincinnati Reds, and went on to play for the Philadelphia Phillies and then the Montreal Expos (now the Washington Nationals), and returned to the Reds as their manager. When a 1989 investigation alleged that Rose, an avid gambler, was breaking MLB's rules by betting on the sport, he adamantly denied it. However, when the MLB Commissioner's special council published the Dowd Report, which described Rose's gambling activities, the three-time World Series champion quietly agreed to be permanently banned from the sport, making him ineligible for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Now Rose bluntly talks about what he was like as a young ball player, his professional success, his fall from grace, and why it took roughly 15 years for him to publicly admit what he did. He also talks about his hopes that the Hall of Fame will reconsider his induction. In interviews, legendary sportscasters like Lesley Visser, Al Michaels, and Marty Brennaman, along with other journalists, former ball players, and others, offer insight into who Pete Rose was as a player and how they feel about him.
Is It Any Good?
This rather slow-moving docuseries features lots of details and differing attitudes about Pete Rose and his journey from being a champion MLB ball player to becoming a fallen legend. In Charlie Hu$tle & the Matter of Pete Rose, interviews with Rose, who as a rookie player was sarcastically named "Charlie Hustle" by Yankees players Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford, reveal how he feels about his gambling and betting on baseball, including betting on the Cincinnati Reds while he was their manager. But these admissions, along with unapologetically acknowledging other inappropriate behaviors, are mixed in with his tales about his childhood, his years playing the game, and some of the more spectacular moments in baseball history that he was a part of. Meanwhile, others offer their interpretations of these same events, celebrating the talents he exhibited on the field. But many of these same people also share their opinions about what Rose did, and what they believe is his ongoing dishonesty. The result is an overall narrative that asks viewers to make their own decisions about how they feel about Pete Rose's actions and how he should be memorialized in the future. His die-hard fans will find it compelling, and baseball fans of the sport may find it interesting. But if you're not fond of Major League Baseball, it won't be a hit.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Pete Rose's nickname, "Charlie Hustle." What does it mean? Why is he proud of it, even though it was meant to be an insult?
How are viewers supposed to feel about Pete Rose and his accomplishments after watching Charlie Hu$tle & the Matter of Pete Rose? Will it change the minds of people who already have strong opinions about him and the things he did?
TV Details
- Premiere date: July 24, 2024
- Cast: Pete Rose , Al Michaels , Lesley Visser
- Network: Max
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: July 30, 2024
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