Yardbarker: Jose Canseco

Fantasy All Stars: '80-'83

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:43:32 -0500

Razzball.com and FBHOF.com continue recreating the All Star teams of the fantasy era. In their second installment, players from '83-'85 are elected. Dale Murphy and Rickey Henderson paved the way for batters, a Met pitcher set a new bar for standout seasons, and a young Yankee first basemen had the most prolific RBI season in fantasy history.

Just Like A Prayer, You Know I'll Take You There: A-Rod and Jose Similarities?

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:47:02 -0500

Alex Rodriguez and Jose Canseco are two men who differ in many ways. One is at the height of his playing career, while the other is broke and embroiled in a post-career controversy. One is a Hall of Fame bound superstar, while the other is struggling to stay on reality tv. One plays for the Yankees, while the other last played for the Long Beach Armada. However, with all of these differences it's tough to overlook the apparent similarities between two men at each end of the baseball consciousness...

Vote for the MLB Short Bus Photoshop

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:48:01 -0500

The photoshop entry from Truth About It Dot Net for Epic Carnival's MLB Photoshop contest. Vote early and often.....

THE 'ROID REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 15

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:28:28 -0500

by Gary Gaffney, MD, Steroid Nation

Here is something to get you up and going this week: Viagra as a performance enhancing drug, on the athletic field, not in the bedroom. Experts in athletic doping like Don Catlin suspected that sildenafil (Viagra) could be used to enhance physciological aspects of athletic performance; the drug increases blood flow to various organs and muscles. Word came out that multi-drug cheat Roger Clemens took Viagra when he took the mound -- pitching mound. Several media outlets now report on viva Viagra, which would not be illegal in sporting events at this point.

Sadly, PED or Viagra use may have led to the demise of a bright NFL prospect -- Heath Benedict. Benedict played college football for a small D-2 South Carolina school, however impressed NFL scouts as a top lineman for the 2008 draft. Benedict died at home in March. Autopsy revealed an enlarged heart, and drugs were found near his body. Two vials -- Viagra and Arimidex (anti-estrogen) and an unknown syringe lay beside him. Speculation centers on the role of toxic PEDs in the athlete's death.

An athlete might take an illegal drug, yet still be able to compete at the Olympic trials. That's what sprinter Justin Gatlin wants to see happen. Following a positive urine test for testosterone in 2006, Gatlin received 4 to 8 years suspension, depending on what agency ruled against him. Earlier in his career Gatlin tested positive for amphetamine, which he said he took for ADHD; however he served a one year suspension nonetheless. When he tested positive for the androgenic drug at the Kansas race, US agencies ruled the sprinter needed to sit out competition for 8 years. The Court of Arbitration for Sports ruled that Gatlin, once the 100M world record holder, should sit for 4 years -- 2006 to 2010. However a judge in Gatlin's home town of Pensacola, Fl issued a restraining order (against whom?) purportedly to allow Gatlin to run in the 2008 Olympics trials now starting in Oregon. More to come on this story -- which is to be expected when legal systems start clashing jurisdictions.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) long ago ruled Human Growth Hormone (HGH) illegal in Olympic type athletic events. That ruling never stopped drug-cheats like Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery from using HGH to cheat competitors. However, new developments continue in the use or misuse of HGH in sports. Researchers look for new biological dog tracks to catch drug-cheats. WADA says new HGH testing may be ready for the Beijing Olympics later this summer. And some even doubt HGH enhances performance.

Veterinarian medicine and drug cheating appeared bust last week. Horsemen appeared on Capitol Hill to testify about the doping of race horses. However, the main protagonist of the horse racing spring -- Rick Dutrow -- pulled up lame before the event. Nonetheless horse jockeys and horseman came out with a statement against steroid doping of horses. In a weird related event, two horsemen long known for their anti-steroid stance feel a colt of theirs was a victim of sabotage when the animal tested positive for clenbuterol, which neither endorses or uses for horses. The trainer -- Larry Jones -- trained Eight Belles the filly who died on the track after the Kentucky Derby.

The other event related to vet medicine occurred in Canada where Julie Coram -- a figure competitor -- tested positive for Equipose -- a horse steroid, boldenone -- along with other androgenic metabolites during an event (photo above). No reactions from jockeys on this horseplay.

Other women in the PED world news this week include several Olympic competitors who will be suspended for the Beijing Olympic Games (and here), and interestingly Greg Anderson's wife. Anderson, as you recall, worked as Barry Bonds steroids and PED source; the bodybuilder spent months in jail rather than turn on Bonds. However, as part of the pressure on Anderson to fess up on the career home run record holder, the IRS appears to be leaning on Nicole Gestas, Anderson's wife.

With all this PED intrigue brweing, Fox Sports came up with a list of sports Top Ten Train Wrecks. Drugs, including steroids look like universal currency for screwed-up human beings, including Jose Canseco. The could have losted Ex-NFL player David Boston, a multi drug, multi-PED abuser.

Lastly, the fake phallus with the bogus urine -- the Whizzinator made the news again. The downfall of one Onterrio Smith -- the disgraced Minnesota Viking running back -- the multi-toned custom-ordered penis facsimile to beat the dope testing made the news this week as competitors pull out all stops for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Top 7 :: Most Identifiable Swings of the Modern Era

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:59:58 -0500

Last week, the Top 7 looked at some of the most famous batting stances of this era due to their originality or downright silliness. It was also evident from the feedback that people take their stances very seriously?leaving Ken Griffey Jr. off of the list was a sacrilege. I was actually saving Griffey for this week's list?the most identifiable swings of this era, be it because of their "sweetness"?a term 100% of the time used for left-handed swings?or because the swing is so ferocious that the crowds "ahhs" each time that it is taken, and should the ball connect with it, it goes an insanely long way. I'm sure that I am going to miss some of the top swings of the era, so I apologize in advance again?but here we go.

7. Eric Davis
As is the case with many on this list, the stance of Eric Davis was merely anticipation for his violent swing, one that made a 390-foot homer look like it was going 590 as it came off the bat. Davis would absolutely swing with everything that he had and annihilate the ball. Many times he would also do a bit of a Rickey Henderson after his swing, which I guess could be yet another list next week?best post-swing behavior in baseball this era.

6. Phil Plantier
It may seem like an odd choice to be on the list, but anyone that ever followed him on their favorite team knows what I am talking about. Plantier would sit in a crouch and take a vicious uppercut swing that was almost 180 degrees upward. There was just about no middle ground with him?he either destroyed the ball or missed it by three or four feet. He was fun to watch hit, and his 1992 Fleer Rookie Sensation card was a hot item at one time too.

5. Mark McGwire
Unlike other power hitters of the era, the greatest one of them all's swing was unlike the others. McGwire's was effortless, it was as if he was swinging at about a 55% capacity, and yet the ball still went 55% further than just about anyone else's. It made you wonder what would happen if he took as big of a hack as he possibly could and connected. Every single park has a legendary story about a ball that McGwire hit there (like Willie Stargell in the previous era) in a game or in batting practice.

4. Barry Bonds
His swing definitely had some similarities to Griffey's with the swing/follow-through/admire combo, but Bonds is cripplingly unlikeable.

3. Jose Canseco
The bat would look like a twig in his hands as he waved it around as the pitch approached. Roids pumped through his veins as he swung with everything that he had. He surely would have killed someone if anyone had stepped in the way (and sure, most swings would, but bear with me here). When he connected with one of his all-he-had swings, the result was bombs like the one at Skydome in the 1989 ALCS, when he hit it into their 27th deck.

2. Will Clark
His nickname "The Natural" was partially in reference to his swing, so he has to be up near the top of the list. There was a period of about two or three years where he was known as the best hitter in baseball, and one could tell by just watching him hit once or twice?the smooth swing and follow-through always had words like "sweet" and "pure" thrown at it. It may have been the only case of many man crushes on the way someone swings a bat in history.

1. Ken Griffey Jr.
He stands, he swings, he follows through, he admires. Anyone who was between the ages of 8 and 15 during Griffey's peak of popularity in the 90s imitated that sequence, whipping the bat through the zone and standing there admiring their work. When a statue of the greatest player of this generation is made, that must be the pose.

The Top 7 is written by Jason Major. He heard Griffey, Jr. has a sweet peeing stance too. Email him at jason@joesportsfan.com

VIDEO: Vai Sikahema Training Footage

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:36:07 -0500

I saw our friends at Hugging Harold Reynolds had quotes and the audio of Vai Sikahema talking trash about his soon-to-be boxing opponent, former Devil Ray great Jose Canseco: [Sikahema] let out a verbal barage this morning on WMMR Philadelphia's Preston and Steve show, noting he gave Jose "a bottle of barbeque sauce and told him [...]

VIDEO: Vai Sikahema Training Footage

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:36:07 -0500

THE (WET) 'ROID REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 8

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:57:08 -0500

by Gary Gaffney, MD, Steroid Nation

The flood waters rolled in to the Midwest as we at the Steroid Nation struggled to beat these rapid-moving currents on steroids. Luckily the steroid world slowed down for us as we sandbagged our way past the soaked crises.

Speaking of soaked, you wonder what Bud Selig and Don Fehr soaked the night before their Congressional testimony on steroids in 2005. Chairman Henry Waxman appears a bit miffed at the dynamic duo, thinking they fibbed about steroid testing in the early 2000s. Hell hath no fury like a Congressman on a roid rage.

It didn't take long for Big Brown's trainer Rick Dutrow to put the big bay back on the juice again. One loss and the hoss is back on Winny in the flank again. Who says steroid withdrawal didn't have something to do with the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner's Belmont swoon?

Baseball slipped out of the roid spotlight for Big Brown, and all his juiced-up track buddies; however baseball is back. Jose Canseco's lawyer filed a lawsuit against the "Juiced" deadbeat. Just in time for Canseco to be named one of the Top 10 Train Wrecks in Sports, by Fox Sports. How is that for 'Vindication'?

Ex-Oriole, and ex-juicer Jay Gibbons sent out a letter to MLB teams asking for something -- anything -- in terms of a tryout. Considering MLB power seems to be down now that baseball tests a little more rigorously for steroids, one would think Gibbons would get someone to inject him into their organization, but no. Damn you Mitchell Report, damn you.

Although not directly related to the juice, we could not help but note that LSU promoted their 5-6 wide receiver Trindon Holliday as the faster football player ever to strap it on. We suggested they read a little about Bullet Bob Hayes, who was both an Olympic Gold Medal winner in the 100M (10 flat), and an All-Pro NFL receiver with the Dallas Cowboys (number 22 above). Hayes is credited with covering 100M faster than any human who lived --a 8.6 split in the Tokyo 4x400 -- naturally.

See you all next week, high and hopefully dry,

Gibbons catches on with Independent team

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:34:21 -0500

Just a week ago, there was a story running around through various media outlets that former Baltimore Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons was begging teams just to let him play in their minor league system via a letter. No one gave him the opportunity. However, on Monday, Gibbons signed a deal with the independent Long Island Ducks, a team that has been the home to a lot of ex-major league stars trying to get back into the game (Jose Canseco).

Canseco vs. Schilling, Celebrity Boxing?

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:40:10 -0500

The last time I was pulling for a celebrity death match it was to have Tommy Lee and Kid Rock fight over my woman, Pamela. While that certainly would provide entertainment, I'm not quite sure it would generate as much hostility as the scenario Jose Canseco posed. My man Ben Maller points out [...]

Canseco vs. Schilling, Celebrity Boxing?

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:40:10 -0500

Jose Canseco's new book

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:43:34 -0500

Love him or hate him Jose's new book may be the most perswaysive book I've ever read he has pictures and stats of players before and after steriods. YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK!

Jose Canseco To Fight Ex NFL Pro Bowler

Tue, 27 May 2008 18:39:44 -0500

After two costly divorces, one home foreclosure and a failed book sequel, Jose Canseco is ready to mix it up in the boxing ring. According to numerous sources, the ex major league MVP is going to www.rawsportsblog.com

Run Don’t Walk: ‘The Best Sports Writing Of Pat Jordan’

Fri, 23 May 2008 09:24:40 -0500

This is the best book I've read all year, and it's just a collection of previously published material by a guy I hadn't heard of until Deadspin ran his piece on Jose Canseco two months ago. The Best Sports Writing of Pat Jordan is two dozen or so other Pat Jordan athlete profiles from various publications [...]

Jose Canseco Looking for Someone to Knock Him on His Ass

Tue, 20 May 2008 12:39:59 -0500

Canseco and promoter Damon Feldman are seeking a challenger to fight the Oakland Athletics veteran on July 12 at the Bernie Robbins Stadium in Atlantic City. The chosen opponent will be paid $5,000.