Johnny Bench owns 10 Gold Gloves.

Friday, July 28, 2000

Johnny Bench owns 10 Gold Gloves. He owns two Most Valuable Player awards. He owns several major league and Cincinnati Reds records. He owns a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He owns the reputation as the greatest catcher to play the game.

So why does he want to own Pete Rose’s destiny?

Bench’s sudden departure from his 5-minute radio show is being attributed to a dispute with Reds announcer Marty Brennaman over mentioning Rose during Sunday’s Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

Brennaman wouldn’t back down from mentioning Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame despite strong urgings by Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner and Bench to avoid the subject.

Bench claims the dispute is over mistreatment by WLW radio, but he has always been a company man. That’s why he played his entire career in Cincinnati and got a consultant’s job with the front office. He’s always walked the straight line.

Rose, on the other hand, lived recklessly at times. His gambling habits got him banned from baseball in 1989, although he only admits to betting on the NFL and college basketball, not baseball games.

The black eye on baseball as well as the Reds is one reason Bench is irked. The two also split under bad terms from a joint business venture.

The business venture isn’t the only thing Rose and Bench share. Each possesses an ego so big that it could possibly file for statehood. Add Joe Morgan, and there was little room in the clubhouse for anyone else during the Big Red Machine hey-day. That is, if it wasn’t for ego-handler Tony Perez who entered the Hall of Fame himself on Sunday along with Brennaman.

Brennaman has never pulled any punches. Right or wrong, he says what he thinks, even if it gets him in trouble.

He was nearly fired in 1978, but his job was spared when general manager Dick Wagner, a.k.a. the wicked warlock of the west, got the axe first.

When Brennaman and partner Joe Nuxhall lashed out at umpire Dave Pallone for his confrontation with then-Reds manager Rose, the radio duo were summoned to the commissioner’s office for a tongue lashing.

The two were unfazed and unimpressed.

So when Bench and Kiner made their request for Brennaman to tone down his opinion that Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame, the friction caused a spark.

Brennaman wants to resolve the matter amicably. Stroking Bench’s ego the right way will be the key. Bench owns the right away when it comes to that avenue.

Of course, Brennaman owns a great understanding of the First Amendment.

Jim Walker is sports editor of The Ironton Tribune.