Jury Selection Opens in Cocaine Trial of Rose Ex-Roommate

Jury selection in the cocaine-trafficking trial against Pete Rose’s former house mate, Thomas Gioiosa, got under way today as baseball announced that Rose had been banned for life from baseball for gambling.

Gioiosa made no comment but showed surprise when told about the action taken by Commissioner Bart Giamatti.

For five years, Gioiosa, 31, lived with the Cincinnati Reds’ manager. Rose’s name is expected to surface in the trial.

Rose has denied any knowledge of a 1987 Pik Six payoff at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., for which Gioiosa was also indicted. Gioiosa is accused of falsely claiming the winnings and concealing the name of the actual winner. Prosecutors have declined to identify the person they believe was the winner of the $47,646 payoff, and Rose has denied any link to the ticket.