I say "Yes".... BUT.... I have to better explain why I say that -

Most importantly... I don't know if I've got the whole story. I didn't then, nor before writing this post, read up on exactly why he was banned. So I'm basing this on what I do know which may be insufficient... feel free to correct me.

Pete Rose bet on a game.... and he bet on his own team. That's it... as far as I know. But extenuating circumstances would include: Being an @$$hole. I think, (not at all sure about this), he gave a half-hearted apology many years later but did not apologize when caught and as I said... waited years to do so.

Now what brought this to mind was Belichick, and his recent release. Belichick... no matter what you, I, or the public in general thinks.. will eventually retire lauded as one of the best coaches that ever lived... shoe-in for the HOF.... and he "Cheated"... flagrantly.... and not by betting on his own team but rather by cheating his opponent.

So of the two... Rose and Belichick.... who committed the graver offense?

As I began... I'm not fully up on Rose... nor Belichick for that matter.... I'm only posting what I've heard, read, and it's not much. But as far as I know this is an atrocity. - JamesJM