Why Now Jose? Why Now?
Honestly, do you believe him?
So Jose Canseco has another book due out any minute now. We all know he pretty much outed a couple of big named Major League Baseball players for using steroids and probably made a pretty good penny in the process. However, in this new book he claims to have the goods on A-Rod’s (Alex Rodriguez) alleged steroid use. Now, I’m not saying Canseco is lying about A-Rod being connected to steroids, but I don’t believe HIM.
Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t be surprised if A-Rod has taken steroids. There’s not a name in the game that could come out that would surprise me at this point, but let’s be honest here, if you have information that the BEST all around player in MLB is in some way connected to steroids and you’re about to release your first book about the subject, you would include him. The same thing would apply if some disgruntled ex player were writing a book about the NBA. If you knew Kobe Bryant was doing something wrong and you were writing a book that was meant to expose those wrongs in the NBA, you wouldn’t leave him out but include lesser players. You wouldn’t mention guys like Vince Carter or T-Mac, but exclude the best overall player. Not when you’re trying to sell books! Come on Jose, be serious! There’s just no way you will ever make me believe that Canseco knew A-Rod was connected to steroids yet he decided to omit that fact from the book “Juiced”. That doesn’t make any sense on any level!
A-Rod’s first big contract was worth over a quarter of a billion dollars. Think about that for a second…….. You mean to tell me you couldn’t find room in your first book to mention him.
Get the hell outta here!
I certainly mean no disrespect to Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi or Sammy Sosa, but even if you morph them together at their prime, they still aren’t half the player A-Rod is.
A-Rod is good looking, marketable and widely regarded as the best player in the game. With his accolades, it’s pretty hard to argue otherwise.
2002 AL Gold Glove Winner
2003 AL Gold Glove Winner
2003 AL Most Valuable Player
2005 AL Silver Slugger
2005 AL Most Valuable Player
2007 AL Silver Slugger
2007 AL Most Valuable Player
Oh, by the way, he’s not even 33 years old yet!
Canseco does have some credibility where his steroids knowledge is concerned, but according to him it’s just his opinion that A-rod took steroids.
“I cannot bet my life on it … that Alex Rodriguez ever used steroids,” Canseco said, “but in my opinion, I suspect he has, yes.”
We must also consider the fact that Canseco hates A-Rod.
“Let’s get clear on one thing: I hate your (expletive) guts,” He said
He also accuses A-Rod of trying to pick up his wife.
“I didn’t see A-Rod for many years, not until long after my marriage had fallen apart, when I ran into him at a club in Los Angeles,” Canseco writes. “And I got right to the point: `Why did you try to (bleep) my wife, Alex?’ ”
I’m not saying Canseco has an axe to grind with A-Rod, but he sure is pretty damn salty about his failed marriage.
Whether or not you believe A-Rod took steroids, you have to be at least a little skeptical of Canseco’s allegations. He was apparently truthful about everyone else he mentioned, but bringing up A-Rod this late in the game seems a little suspicious to me.
As I stated earlier, there isn’t a name that could come out attached to steroids that would surprise me and that includes A-Rod. But, the way this whole situation has unfolded requires me to give A-Rod the benefit of doubt.
I still don’t understand why Canseco didn’t mention him in the first book. From a financial standpoint he would have hit the jackpot had A-Rod’s name been in there! That book probably would have sold 2 or 3x’s as many copies as it did. I don’t know exactly what his motivation was for writing “Juiced”, but I have to assume he intended to make money from it in some way.
His new book” Vindicated” may sell more than 2 million plus copies which is what “Juiced” sold worldwide, but I wouldn’t bet my life on it. At the end of the day, putting money in Canseco’s pockets probably rubs people the wrong way. Plus, according to reports he doesn’t even provide any real evidence in the book.
I’m not calling him a liar, but I don’t believe him.
Jose Canseco is a such a ho, I swear he has given Karrine Steffans a run for her money. She is no longer Superhead, he has snatched the crown smooth off her head. Damn, just put him in the next Soulja Boy video and call it a day.
LMAO You always speak real, right and exact. Thanks.
It makes perfect sense that he would exclude A-Rod from his first book. From a pure marketing standpoint, why would he play his best card in his first book? At the time of the first book, baseball itself was on trial – even though baseball (with the help of ESPN) sought to put Barry Bonds on trial.
MLB told Canseco long ago to kiss their ass. It’s the same thing they told Bonds – even though he had a higher OPS than A-Rod last year. Canseco, if he after MLB (and I think he is) is doing this masterfully. His first book blew up the mythology and credibility of Selig and all of his confederates…
NOW – he’s going after their POST-BONDS meal ticket. That meal ticket is Alex Rodriguez. MLB wants to continue to ride Alex the exact same way they rode Barry and Mark and Jose and Sammy and all the other home run hitters. Selig actually grew the baseball business from a $1B marginal entity to a $6B monster.
On the day that the Bonds indictment was announced, he said he had to PINCH HIMSELF to remember that MLB was rolling in dough to the tune of $6B.
Why would a grown ass man, like Canseco, who knows the bottom line for MLB – who knows that the game is protected by Presidents and governors and senators and Congressmen and the law and the media – why would that man shoot his load in his first book? Why would he structure his argument in a manner that would allow him to be consigned to the ghetto of irrelevance after the Mitchell Report?
I’ve always thought Canseco was out for blood – and this, for him, isn’t about Alex…it’s a vendetta. Baseball officials decision to end his career (prematurely in his mind) probably cost him millions of dollars…and when they gave him some bullshit rationale – he said, “Aiight, wait right here. I’ll be back.”
Baseball waited right there. So did Alex. They dismissed his claims, laughed at his credibility, denied his details. They lied. It’s time to pay the piper like a muhphukka. Bud – pay the man. Alex – pay the man. America – pay the man.
Twice, bitches!
P.S. – I could be wrong as hell on this, but if that’s where he’s coming from – it makes PERFECT sense to me. Folks assume Jose’s just a dumb juiced up spic without a brain. Shiiiiit.
I don’t think you are wrong on this. It actually makes perfect sense. Baseball wanted the lasting image of Jose to be the ball bouncing over the fence off his juiced up head and now they have to pay the piper…
Remember the day the Mitchell Report was announced when Jose was locked out of the announcement?
Hmmm….
You make great points Temple, but Juiced came out before Game of Shadows which is when the Heat really got turned up on Barry, so A-Rod’s name certainly would have been the biggest one out there.
I don’t doubt he’s after MLB, but I still feel like you lose a lot of credibility bringing up someone of A-Rod’s stature this late. He couldn’t have known people would believe his first book enough to give a damn about his second one. If you hit them hard enough in the first book there’s no need for another book.
If we’ve learned anything through the steroids scandals and etc. it’s that the fans don’t give a damn. MLB is still raking in the dough and Jose Canseco is not going to bring MLB down. Even if its proven A-Rod is or has taken steroids all he has to do is apologize, have one, maybe two uncomfortable media sessions and all will be forgotten. Just ask Giambi. Baseball has two of the biggest names ever attached to steroids (Bonds, Clemens) and the fans still don’t care. Jose can’t ruin baseball because no matter how many truths he tells, he’s still viewed as a disgruntled ex player and he’s not a likable guy. Unlikable guys are something fans have little to no use for. I don’t think he’s dumb, I just think he’s making shit up about A-Rod. He even admitted it was just his opinion. Hell, it’s my opinion that the whole 2004 Red Sox team was on steroids, but that doesn’t mean shit… We should require more than an opinion of an unscrupulous mofo before we start convicting people.
And again, I wouldn’t be surprised if A-Rod was on steroids, I just wish he’d take an extra shot before the playoffs so he can pick it up when the Yanks need him most. LOL
Well said Co Co and that last sentence was the truest!
He’s just trying to sell his book.
Good post. You make some great points that most people do not fully understand.
“I still don’t understand why Canseco didn’t mention him in the first book. From a financial standpoint he would have hit the jackpot had A-Rod’s name been in there! That book probably would have sold 2 or 3x’s as many copies as it did. I don’t know exactly what his motivation was for writing “Juiced”, but I have to assume he intended to make money from it in some way.”
I like how you explained that. Very helpful. Thanks.
Canseco’s book trying to smear A-Rod is the result of a man-crush gone bad.
CoCo:
Thanks for the response – and welcome to TSF.
“You make great points Temple, but Juiced came out before Game of Shadows which is when the Heat really got turned up on Barry, so A-Rod’s name certainly would have been the biggest one out there.”
I’m not clear here. Are you suggesting that A-Rod was a bigger name than Bonds in 2005? or 2006? or even today? Are you suggesting that he was the biggest star AFTER Bonds? If so, I’d agree with that.
I don’t think he’s ever been a bigger name than Barry Bonds. He may not ever be a bigger name than Bonds. He certainly won’t ever be a better hitter (I know that’s not your point – but I thought I’d throw it in there.)
Also, I don’t believe it’s fair to say that the heat was less than turned up before Game of Shadows. Dwil’s pieces on Bonds, MODI’s pieces on Bonds, and others all chronicle in gross detail the long march of hate against Bonds – and it was scorching hot long before 2006. Folks were spitting at him and throwing syringes long before 2006. Folks were making death threats and suggesting he rot in hell long before 2006.
I can understand your points of disagreement, but I don’t find a compelling FINANCIAL reason for including A-Rod in the first book…he is only now approaching the pinnacle of his career arc. He is in New York, wearing pinstripes and is the NEXT player with a chance at breaking the all-time home run record…he is NOW the unchallenged best all around player in the game.
Canseco’s book was released after BONDS won an MVP award, hit 45 homers and batted .362. That same year, A-Rod hit 36 homers and batted .286 (2004). It seems to me that his targeting has been prescient, appropriate and opportunistic. Canseco is no more likeable than dirty rat bastards like Dan Rather (puff interview with Clemens) or Costas (hyperbolic head-giver to dead alcoholics) or Lupica. His likeability index is not going to impact his book sales as much as his accuracy.
Finally, it goes without saying that Canseco would not topple MLB. I’m not suggesting anything of the sort. It’s why I said that the game is protected by governors, senators, Presidents and the law. The national pastime cannot be overthrown by allegations of cheating in a game which is actually PREDICATED on CHEATING.
“He couldn’t have known people would believe his first book enough to give a damn about his second one. If you hit them hard enough in the first book there’s no need for another book.”
Surely he could have known. Publishers run focus groups and distribute advance copies all the time. Market analysis prior to book distribution is one means of determining how much money an author makes on a book. To assess how much the publishers believe in the marketability of an author and a book, check the advance payments. Canseco was paid a $300,000 advance on his first book sans A-Rod. Someone’s accountants and marketing people were pretty damn confident about the appeal of his claims. They were, uh, VINDICATED.