surmising someone was suggesting it should be like "beet"!

As well you might, being that is the standard USn pronunciation, at least if you believe AHD4 and MWwhatever and me.

http://www.bartleby.com/61/35/C0743500.html

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=cretin&x=15&y=18