SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The man who investigated Pete Rose said yesterday Major League Baseball needs to launch an inquiry into Giants slugger Barry Bonds and his alleged steroid use.

“It’s clear that it involves the integrity of the game,” said John Dowd, the Washington lawyer who brought down Rose. “The fairest thing to do is give Bonds an opportunity to clear his name, otherwise there will be a cloud over him and a cloud over the game. That’s not good.”

Fay Vincent, the former commissioner of baseball, said that Bud Selig should get “someone like John Dowd” to work on a committee investigating Bonds and the allegations made in the soon-to-be-published book, “Game of Shadows.”

“Bud could use some help,” Vincent said. “I think he should form a committee with people like Marvin Miller, Mario Cuomo and someone else to make recommendations on not just the steroids but what to do with the records. It would buy him some time and give it credibility.”

Dowd emphasized that he is not campaigning to be the lead investigator, but would be willing to listen if Selig called.

“I’d be surprised, but I’d be happy to serve the game,” Dowd said.

Dowd said the fans deserve to know the game is clean, and MLB needs to get to the bottom of Bonds’ alleged steroid use.

“The key is to have it done with integrity and fairness,” Dowd said. “That’s what we did with Rose.”

Vincent said he thinks this case is more difficult than what they faced with Rose.

“I think this is about as tough as it gets,” Vincent said. “I’m sympathetic to Bud. I think he said the other day that he’d rather have a root canal. Well, I had a root canal recently and it’s nothing compared to this.”