Canseco not exactly William Faulkner
-
- March
- 26
If you’re one of those people who slows down to look at car accidents, check out this piece the great Pat Jordan did for Deadspin.com to learn a little bit more about Jose Canseco.
Days like this make me wish I were back covering high school games at Norwich Free Academy.
Meanwhile, do yourself a favor and order The Best Sports Writing of Pat Jordan. It’s edited by baseball blogging pioneer Alex Belth.
Alex, of course, is of Bronx Banter fame.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, March 26th, 2008 at 9:27 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
geez pete are you just plucking post content out of our responses?
Thank you! I only posted that link twice in past threads, but I couldn’t get anyone to bite.
Any change in your apparent believe that ARod needs to respond to Canseco after reading Jordan?
speaking of, visit my blog!
http://thebaseballoutsider.blogspot.com/2008/03/our-first-video-blog-matsuis-gettin.html
i am shameless i know
Oh, Jose Canseco. When will you ever learn that you can’t just make things us about people without evidence to get money. . .?
*up
Strange question, from time to time I like to check out Phil Hughes blog but I can’t figure out how to sign in so I can post comments. I figured this would be a good place to ask for help. Thanks to who ever answers.
Joe it is easy to register
click on comments
scroll to the bottom where it says you must be logged on
click on logged on
it takes you to the registrations page
I would like to announce that I am writing a book that is going to uncover the secret lives of the NY sports media. I am not going to say anything now, but someone tell George King III to call me out. C’mon George I dare you.
Jay:
I had gotten some e-mails on that Deadspin post. I saw the comments later.
Clare:
I have consistently said I think Canseco is a jerk. But if somebody printed a pack of lies about me, I would call them on it. If he’s lying, say so.
That article was a good read.
On a different note I see that Jody Reed is the manager for the Gulf Coast lead Yankee affiliate. Is that former Red SOx Jody Reed?? He was 2nd baseman for the Sox when I went to school up there and always liked him
not to hijack a topic but for the basketball afficinados the McDonalds HS ALL AMERICAN game is on live on ESPN, Brandon Jennings is sporting the Kid n Play Eraser Head look
Pete,
I was breaking your balls buddy.
I love Hank here is his comment on Canseco
SOurce Bergen Record (Pete Caldera)
Yanks GM Hank Steinbrenner urges fans to “consider the source” of steroid allegations against A-Rod. In his spirited defense of A-Rod on Wednesday, Steinbrenner told The Record: “Consider the source, that’s number one,” Steinbrenner said of Canseco. “He wouldn’t have been able to hit the ball out of the infield without steroids.”
“There are certain naturals. There are guys who can just do it, and Alex is one of those guys,” Steinbrenner said, during the interview in Clearwater, Fla. “He’s just friggin’ great.”
Let’s not talk about breaking balls. I had a hard enough time reading about Kaz Matsui’s anal fissure.
Peter,
Why should ARod say so? He has already said, on numerous occasions and in no uncertain terms, that he has never done PEDs. Responding specifically to Canseco only gets Canseco more publicity, which is what he is after in the first place.
It’s not like there are any open questions here, or new allegations - except the one about Canseco’s wife, but if you think that deserves comment you’re crazy.
btw pete caldera got hank to speak on the canseco thing
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/yankees/Hank_Strikes_Back.html
Rebecca,
For a while someone i knew swore that it was a joke the team was playing as a hazing ritual.
Kendall Walker commited to UCONN via Bronx (sissy for not joining ST.JOHNS’S IMO) just posterized someone
In all these years, I have never read Pat Jordan’s “A false Spring”, mainly because Furman Bisher trashed it in the Sporting News when it came out. Of course Bear Bryant (a big Yankee fan as he told Frank Messer when he appeared on a Yankees TV game in 1974 when they were playing Oakland. The Bear said he tried to recruit virtually every player on the field and thought the world of Jake Gibbs when he was QB for Ole Miss) had a few hundred nasty things to say about Furman Bisher.
gayle: Hank may have just become my hero. Not really, but still, I love that.
Forgive me for re-posting from a previous thread, but I’ve been up since 4AM and I’m wiped.
A Rod is in a damned if you do/ damned if you don’t situation. He has nothing to gain by acknowledging Jose Canseco, especially after Canseco’s original editor quit on him and claimed there was no evidence to back the claim. A Rod is better off letting Don Yeager’s words speak for him.
When he fired Scott Boras A Rod hired media consultants. I’m sure they are advising him to not elaborate on the matter. A Rod can’t get hurt if he says nothing, but words can be held against him.
thank you Ricky Davis !
Pete - I agree with you 100% and don’t believe you have an Anti-A-rod bias, but the truth of the matter is that Cansco hasn’t stated a bunch of lies, it’s been two (maybe) lies.
1- I introduced him to a steroids distributor.
2- He was after my wife.
As far as the first goes how can A-Rod state that it’s a lie unless Canseco has never inroduced him tp anyone. What does Alex know about the lives of the people he’s introduced to?
In regards to Jessica Canseco. Does it really warrant a reply of “I was not after you’re wife. I don’t even think she’s all that”? I don’t think so.
If Canseco stated point blank “Alex used PED’s. A-Rod should be on the news the next day calling him out, but that is not the case.
And last but not least Roger Clemens came out and called the Mitchell Report a flat out lie and defended himself from day one and most people still don’t believe him.
Drive 4-5,
I completely agree.
And Peter, what you would do is completely irrelevent. You haven’t spent the last 4 years having every single phrase picked apart by the NY media. You aren’t the greatest living baseball player. You don’t have professional PR people giving you professional advice, rather than gut, school-yard instinct reactions. So judging ARod by what you would do in this situation doesn’t make sense.
A-rod has always said he never took steroids. He went on 60 minutes and he said it when he came to spring traning. He does not need to say anything.
UP YOURS Z-BO !
my god the Knicks can’t even tank properly !!@
I just read Hank’s response. I would love to buy that man a beer.
I was at that game where the ball bounced off Canseco’s head for a homerun.
The funny thing was that I didn’t realize what happened until I watched the highlights on ESPN that night.
I guess the Nets want to go to the playoffs, after all.
stupid basterds acting like they give a damn
Wade, Marion, Haslem and Beasley next season thanks alot !
props on your Nets Rebecca
While I don’t believe what Jose says. I must say I find it a little odd that Alex hasn’t responded with at least a press release. I don’t know maybe he saw what Roger has gone through and decided it was better to keep his mouth shut?
Good Evening
Well it looks like #11 is now available….
Nick Green was smart to take the Minor League assignment…He will most likely be needed at some point during the season.
Mike R. - You are a liar! There. I said it.:
I think you nailed it. Jose’s just trying to lure A-Rod into a public fight to prolong Jose’s 15 minutes.
1) A-Rod can’t say that Canseco never introduced him to Max or whoever the bad guy is. Rod can’t possibly remember all the people he has been introduced to, let alone all the people who claim to have met him but who haven’t laid eyes on him. You have to assume A-Rod was introduced to Max even if he can’t remember. Why should A-Rod try to deny that? A-Rod should say nothing.
2) Does Canseco have proof that Max was/is an Illegal Steroids Dealer, Possessor or User? Maybe, but so what? Bad for Max I guess, but not something A-Rod necessarily has enough info to admit or deny. Why should A-Rod speculate publicly about Max?
3) Canseco’s carefully worded “prose,” if it can be called that, strongly suggests that he does not have any direct proof that Max gave, sold, injected A-Rod with steroids. Jose jumps the last link in the chain of proof with nothing more than innuendo. Why? He has no proof because there never was any proof. It’s a con.
If Canseco had the evidence, why would he leave it out of his 2d book - wouldn’t that be the MAJOR selling point? If he had direct proof, why would his 1st ghost writer have walked away from him? Conclusion: Canseco’s got no direct evidence against A-Rod. So, there is nothing worth responding to.
4) A-Rod was chasing Canseco’s wife? All A-Rod should say is that he understands Jessica’s life with Jose was difficult and that A-Rod thinks people should help her out by buying her book instead of Jose’s book.
I really doubt that there is even 1 person that believes anything that comes out of Canseco’s mouth…especially this Arod stuff. Arod is doing the right thing by not saying anything. Everyone knows that all Canseco wants is attention and if Arod answered him then he would be giving him exactly what he wants. He is better off not saying anything and not getting into a back and forth war of words with someone who obviously has plenty of problems. Canseco wants the attention right before opening day which he figured would be perfect timing.
gayle
Yes that is the same Jody Reed,formerly of the REDSUX.
He was the Manager of Gulf Coast Yankee last season as well,and won them a championship just like TRENTON did!
This is a case that cries out for battle by proxy. A-Rod will have someone else come to his defense and issue a logical denial and attack on Canseco’s con. Maybe it’s a chance for Boras to get back in Rod’s good graces by going after Canseco. It would be Slime vs. Slime.
“Kelvim Escobar’s season, and perhaps even career, may be in jeopardy because of his shoulder issue. A contribution this year is a long shot. Baseball Injury Report’s Rick Wilton guesses it is related to the rotator cuff. By the way, Baseball Injury Report was all over this last night; check it out and consider subscribing.”
I AM BETTING BARTOLO IS NEXT
Is “Max” actually Maxwell Smart, secret agent 86 of CONTROL?
I can see Peter Abraham’s argument that if someone said something categorically wrong about me, I’d strongly deny it. But neither of us live in Rodriguez words. Celebrities very rarely respond to gossip that tabloids print, figuring it is best to ignore it. Perhaps if there is someone out there who works in the PR field can post whether this stategy that A Rod’s advisers are giving him is best or not.
Jordan’s piece on Canseco was really fun to read. Thanks, Peter.
As for A-Rod, he’d be foolish to respond any more than he already has. Canseco is not claiming that he saw A-Rod take steroids or that he saw A-Rod buy steroids, or that A-Rod ever told him he took steroids. He’s claiming that he introduced him to a steroids dealer who told him that A-Rod’s “with the program,” or something like that. Pretty flimsy evidence, to say the least. And A-Rod’s always been great, anyway, so it’s not like there’s any evidence to show that his performances on the field took a big spike or a big dip at any point in time, as would be expected with someone who used PEDs.
Jordan’s article helps to confirm what many have believed for some time: that Canseco is a snake with an overinflated ego (might go along with shrunken testicles) who’ll do anything for a buck. My guess is he’d be starring in porno films by now but for the fact that his maleness has been (ahem) compromised by his long-term steroid use.
Finally, as for Canseco being no Faulkner, he’s not even a Suzanne Somers. But he is, without doubt, a pathetic sack of dreck.
Murphy
Your Boras comment just made me realize that he is also Ordonez’s agent. Mags is also issuing a no comment on the Canseco allegations. Maybe Boras is working on keeping the boys on a united front on this one.
A wise high school friend once explained to me, “If you and an idiot are arguing in the middle of the street, and someone walks by, how will they know who is the idiot?”
Alex has been wisely advised to stay out of the street.
My gut is with Peter’s reaction, but upon reflection I agree with Clare:
“He has already said, on numerous occasions and in no uncertain terms, that he has never done PEDs. Responding specifically to Canseco only gets Canseco more publicity…”
pat:
Since we are waxing literary here tonight by invoking Faulkner, let’s quote Fitzgerald: “There are no second acts in American lives.”
Maybe we are about to see “Boras, Reloaded.”
everyone is talking about this Pat Jordan piece I might as well finally read it
I wonder if Marvin Miller has read this article and if he thinks “I spent decades working hard so people like Jose Canseco can blow $45 million??”
murphy
Never been a big fan of sequels.
Tino and Hank have both come to Alex’s defense today. Boras should stay far, far away.
Hey, Pete, that piece by Pat Jordan, is extraordinary well written.
The question come to mind what the Yankees would do if Jetes were seriously injured (God forbid) and put on the 30-day DL and at the same time the team saw Morgan Ensberg tearing the cover off the baseball as a combination of 1B-DH-PH.
Would A-Rod be put at shortstop for the interm and Ensberg at 3B until the Captain were off the DL and ready to return ? Put Betemit at shortstop ?
Pete, news flash, what YOU would do if someone printed a pack of lies about you is NOT what A-Rod has to do and that does NOT make A-Rod guilty of anything other than, on this particular matter, acting not how Peter Abraham would. Anyone that would believe Jose Canseco over A-Rod, IMHO, has a “leaning” against A-Rod. Good night, ALL.
No such thing as a 30 Day DL
Its 15Day or 60Day
Good question though…my guess go with Betemit and you call up a Green or Ransom to take Wilsons place.
I will also say, A-Rod doesn’t have to do a damn thing. Some criminal (which is what I think Jose is) uses “projective gossip” to make money and publically challenges A-Rod to respond while thinking…maybe one day i can watch the Democratic Party publically destroy Alex while I have a front row seat. Take that for stealing my Road Beef!
And as usual the press has to go and demand a response while Jose sits with Hiedi giggling.
“Good question though…my guess go with Betemit and you call up a Green or Ransom to take Wilsons place.”
Nah. DL Jeter, bring up Gonzo to play SS.
Ensberg takes ABs from Duncan or Giambi at 1B or DH.
Pat Jordan’s piece was amazing. I had to read every single word. Canseco’s pathetic life is such a fun read. It’s good to be reassured that in fact there is Karma in this world, and that people like Jose Canseco get there comeuppins.
Here are 2 headlines I found next to each other:
Klapisch: A-Rod talking too much?
A-Rod: No comment on new Canseco allegations
Does it matter what Alex says? Or doesn’t say? Or does? Or doesn’t do? The vultures who refuse to work to create decent articles wil continue with their yellow journalism to sell newspapers/get traffic.
If I were ARod, I would simply not talk to the press until he retires. Issue a statement if one is really needed. I’d ignor all these dogs and concentrate on baseball.
It all mkaes me sick.
You used to cover NFA games, Pete?
I went there! I never went to a sporting event, though. Can’t say I had much “school spirit” in my high school days. Didn’t have much during my college days, either, come to think of it.
Anyway, good school. Go Wildcats.
“Klapisch: A-Rod talking too much?
A-Rod: No comment on new Canseco allegations”
That is a beautifully hilarious find.
If A-Rod came out and said: “Yeah, that chick was hot!” I don’t think I would ever stop laughing. This whole situation is hilarious. I can’t believe anyone takes Canseco seriously. The guy is a train wreck. If a publisher promised to pay him to claim that a magical leprechaun personally teamed with him to invent the atmosphere, he would say it. Like Hank said, keep the source in mind.
Has Mike Wallace given a statement on Canseco’s innuendo’s about his interest in HGH?
that Pat Jordan piece was very, verrrrrrry informative I especially wouldn’t blame Jessica since she was faking it w/ Jose maybe Alex …nah let me stop
GOOD READ especially the last line by Rob
I guess I’m a vindictive guy. If I had ARod’s money I would hire a mess of people, including private detectives, and get as much dirt on Caseco as possibly. Ruin the prick and send him to jail (where he belongs) if I could.
Mike R. aid at 9:59 pm: […] “And last but not least Roger Clemens came out and called the Mitchell Report a flat out lie and defended himself from day one and most people still don’t believe him.”
Actually, it wasn’t “day one”. It took Roger Clemens 10 days to come up with that 2 minute YouTube/own website video denying everything. And everybody was wondering why he didn’t call a press conference Dec. 13th. Then it took Clemens 3-1/2 WEEKS to call the press conference, which was a debacle in itself.
Funny stuff, the Pat Jordan article, but is there anybody besides me who thinks Pat Jordan is exaggerating JUST a little, for laughs? I’m not saying Jose Canseco isn’t an idiot, mind you. And I don’t blame Pat Jordan for taking advantage of an idiot….
If I were ARod, I would direct my legal team to file a defamation suit against Jose Canseco, if the veiled accusations aren’t true. It worked for Roger Clemens in his campaign to destroy Brian McNamee, didn’t it?
KarenJ,
You were kidding about that last part, right?
The last thing ARod needs to do is file suit - again, that just prolongs the story. Clemens was named by St. Mitchell, that’s a very different story than being only sort-of named by a slimy piece of garbage with zero credibility like Canseco. All he needs to do is ignore it and it will go away.
Jordan is a great writer and reporter and I’m sure he did not exaggerate anything at all. His article just illustrates how ridiculous it is that anyone would take anything Canseco has to say seriously at this point.
I have a get-rich-quick idea for all of you!
Write a book full of juicy tales about the Yankee third baseman. He’s obligated to respond publicly. Once he does, get on ESPN or Fox News and spin some more juicy tales. He’ll have to respond again. Bottom line? Your book will make you lots of money!
OK, sorry for the poor late night humor. As a pr guy, I’d just like to see Arod avoid lending this new book the dignity of a response.
If the story won’t go away, point to previous statements that have already addressed the material issues (i.e., “I’ve never done PEDs.”)
just caught Juiced on abc’s nightline,Martin asked him how he could use Arod’s name with no evidence in his book.Juiced, said he’s waiting for Arod to call him a liar first….Juiced is on a mission and it’s sickening to watch.
I needed a pepcid after reading that.
NFA for life! The greatest high school in America! And Other Unnecessary Exaggerations and Superlatives!
Nightline used to be a reputable program. I can’t believe they had Canseco on.
I’m glad I’ve stopped watching anything but the Yankees and HBO shows on TV.
Zay it aint zo, ARod !!
Zay it aint zo !!
Really ARod, do you really need to huddle with a spinmisters to just zay no ??
where there’s smoke, there’s fire
I can’t believe that ANYONE in the country gives Jose Canseco and ounce of credibility. Why ? Because he looked like a WWF Star and had the “ethics” to come out and admit that he juiced ? Did he really do ANYONE a favor by saying that ? If you have ANYTHING resembling a brain, you knew that he juiced. I can’t believe we are still even talking about the clown. I do give the maroon credit though. We are all still talking about him and he continues to be “news” in the eyes of the media. I know it won’t happen, but it would be so nice if everyone just ignored the fool. Wasn’t it nice when Spring Training came around and the start of the season was just around the corner and all the writers were writing and talking only about…..GASP…Baseball ?
If any statement gets released, it should be no more than “I’ve already said everything I have to say on the issue of PEDs. Cheers.”
“Tino and Hank have both come to Alex’s defense today. Boras should stay far, far away.”
Add to the list of A-Rod defenders Mike Borzello, former NYY bullpen catcher.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/03272008/sports/yankees/former_yankees_staffer__no_way__alex_was_103693.htm
Just finished “rubber-necking,” i.e., reading Jordan’s article.
‘Nuf said.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/03272008/sports/yankees/rodriguez_greatness_rises_above_book_wor_103691.htm
Vito, Vito!
Call the Guiness book of world records because this old Red Sox fan actually agrees with your last posting about Canseco..LOL. Have a good day!
From Feinsand’s article:
A-Rod limited his time with reporters to two minutes following Wednesday’s game, saying he had “no further comment on the matter.” Rodriguez has dealt with his share of controversy.
I’m with Pete, how hard is it to just say “no - period, end of story.” Instead, ARod invokes a quasi 5th-amendment and says, “no comment.” To the average person, refusing to comment only raises more questions, and fans speculation.
“I’m with Pete, how hard is it to just say “no - period, end of story.””
He’s said that over and over and over again — that he never used PEDs. And, clearly, it HASN’T been the end of the story.
Also…Canseco alleges he introduced ARod to some guy named Max who’s a dealer. Do you remember every single person to whom you’ve been introduced in passing? Do you know whether or not any of them dealt drugs at some point?
So, let’s say ARod says “no, I never got introduced to some PED dealer,” and then Canseco can prove that this one time, in 1998, ARod was at a party with some guys who dealt PEDs, and that he said “hi” to one of them.
Now, all of a sudden, ARod’s a LIAR! He lied about meeting a DRUG DEALER! What else is he lying about?!?! What’s he hiding???
See? It’s never that simple.
Know that I am reading over the comments you are probably right. Jose isn’t worth the time of day. Alex is better off acting like the fool doesn’t exist!
I am very disappointed in my local book store. They’ve book him to sign auto’s on Tuesday.
Furthermore, he ALSO can’t say anything as reasonable as the actual truth. He can’t say “I don’t know. I’ve met a lot of people. I was on the same team as Jose, he introduced me to several people over that period of time. I never really talked to most of them, don’t remember the vast majority of them, and have no idea about what any of them may or may not have done.”
Then, it’s “AROD admits he may have met Canseco’s dealer!”
I mean…I’ve spent ten years on a college campus, in undergrad and my PhD program. I guarantee you that I’ve been introduced to kids who’ve dealt drugs. Probably several. I’m sure if you showed me photos of them, I couldn’t put a name to most of them. Some, I probably could. Still doesn’t change the fact that I’ve never bought any kind of illegal drug, and still doesn’t change the fact I’ve never used anything more illicit than nitrous.
three years ago canseco had no problem with A-rod. Here is the proof. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20030508/ai_n14550475
Plainly said, Canseco is a headline grabber and has been for most of his career. Only so much slow time will ever go by before he feels the urgency to stir the pot again about something.
In his empty mind, he doesn’t have the logic to realize how many people have gotten tired of his act.
whozat-
you just gave a perfect reply. See, that wasn’t very hard. You did it in a snap.
He could have also said: “I’ve addressed this a million times, already. I’m firmly on the record. It’s time to move on.”
He doesn’t have to write an essay. A few words would have snuffed it out, but to say “no comment” only adds fuel to the fire. Watch, FAN will be screaming about this all day.
Pete’s way off-base about expecting A-Rod to respond. it’s just silly.
Right now, the only expectation for anyone is on Canseco, to provide some sort of backing for his tale. unless that happens, this is just crackpot material, not news worth dignifying with a response.
The parts in the book where he says he hates a-rod is all made up just like the book. He just using a-rod’s name to make money. Doesn’t say he hates him 2003 and again in his 1st book.
hmm Maybe Alex refused to give him money for a movie deal.
just read the Jordan article, it is hysterical. thanx for posting the link.
if you want an excellent read, see the report issued by the minority of Waxman’s committee. this is the first professional piece of writing i’ve seen on the Clemens hearing/investigation. Having read thru a thousand-plus pages of the depositions, i can tell you that this is a good summary of the key issues:
http://republicans.oversight.house.gov/Media/PDFs/Reports/20080325SteroidsStaffReport.pdf
an interesting implication is that it proves, beyond reasonable doubt, that the Waxman memo released to the public after the hearing is a grotesque distortion, with quotes blatantly pulled out of context, etc. Which basically means a head of a Congressional Committee was abusing his power to slander a citizen. Very McCarthy-like.
Jennifer, you can let your local bookstore owner/manager know how you feel about their helping to promote and sensationalize Canseco’s work. Maybe some friends can let them know as well.
“whozat-
you just gave a perfect reply. See, that wasn’t very hard. You did it in a snap. ”
What? My last post? Nah, he can’t say something like that. I admitted that I’ve almost certainly been introduced to drug dealers. The rest of the context would be ignored, and THAT would be the headlines…and the FAN would be screaming about THAT all day.
The only thing he can say, if anything, is “I’ve already addressed PEDs. I have nothing more to say.”
Which is, essentially, “No Comment”
Problem is he made so much money for them last time, that they don’t care.
They get a lot of ball players who write books to sign. Cal is going to be there soon, Zim has been there. There wall is covered with photos.
Wow! What a read, Pete. Thanks!
The only thing funnier than that article are the comments at the end:
Quote: “My pursuit of Jose began in January when I called him in California. His girlfriend, Heidi, answered the phone.”
Comment: He can expect to be in Canseco’s next book, Men Who Want to Sleep With My Wife
Comment: Jose writes with broken crayons on the back of Shoney’s kids’ menus.
Quote: “Jose’s on the balls on his ass.”
Comment: Is that where your balls go when you do steroids?
Comment: You know who I really feel for in this story? The damn Iguanas.
From the Jordan article:
“…..he said that Jose did give him his five World Series rings……..” Five? Is this a subtle joke or are these things easier to get than they used to be?