tldr: Nothing he did with gambling made him a worse player, but I get where you're coming from.

He claims he only bet on his own team to win is it scummy? Sure, but it's degrees of magnitude better than betting to lose imo.

My litmus being Rose making managerial decision worse than Brian Snitker makes on a typical day from late Sept to early Oct.

I think "invalidates his entire career" is a little bombastic, it tarnished his career, destroyed his character yes, but he didn't bet he'd rack up 4200+ hits and if he did, shit, maybe people should start betting on themselves.

Sidenote, players bet on their own team using insider info all the time, most are just smart enough to get friends and family to do it for them. If that is the reality, then I want leagues to be more vigilant on stat based tracking for throwing, point shaving and game fixing. My position: if you bet your team to win, you're scum but go with God, if you bet your team to lose and contribute towards it, your ass is done.

Side-Sidenote: Sean Payton is still a head coach. Bounty Gate was way worse. Doesn't excuse Pete Rose, but Sean Payton is still a head coach.