THE PETE ROSE DECISION : Other Views : Nation’s Press Shows Little Empathy for Rose : <i> (The reaction to the lifetime suspension of Pete Rose is strong. Here is how some of the country’s top sports columnists saw the decision.)</i>

NEW YORK — The final paragraph of the Commissioner’s statement began: “The matter of Mr. Rose is now closed . . .”

Never. The matter of Pete Rose will never be closed. Like Shoeless Joe Jackson, the fate of Peter Rose will be debated into the next century.