Yeah, Right, Whatever

Evidently, Jose "I Never Met A Performance Enhancing Drug I Didn't Like" Canseco is going to play professional baseball again... for the San Diego Surf Dawgs. And... don't laugh... he's going to... are you sitting down?... pitch. Yes, the man who has pitched one inning in his professional career and had a fly ball bounce off of his head to become a home run has agreed to a deal to play minor league.

"Jose's been playing in a summer league, a semipro league in the L.A. area, and he's hit a whole bunch of back-to-back home runs," Saunooke (Canseco's lawyer) said. "He's knocked the ball out of the park. He's still a very talented athlete. He never stopped being a talented athlete."

The GBL is essentially baseball's lowest rung. Rickey Henderson played for the Surf Dawgs last year as he tried to attract the attention of a big league team.

Canseco, once one of baseball's most-feared hitters -- and one of its most colorful figures, on and off the field -- hasn't played in the big leagues since 2001 with the Chicago White Sox, who purchased his contract from the independent Newark Bears.

"I'm looking forward to having fun in professional baseball again, as I've really missed it," Canseco said in the Surf Dawgs' news release. "I love what this league is doing for players, communities and families, and I want to be part of it. Rickey had a great experience with the Surf Dawgs last year and it will be great playing for Terry Kennedy and reminding him of the stomping my A's gave his Giants in the '89 World Series."

The GBL said Canseco has agreed to be subjected to its drug-testing policy "that immediately expels any players found using steroids or illegal drugs." The league said nine players, out of more than 200 tested, were tossed for illegal drug use last year. (emphasis mine- B)

So... He was Rookie of the Year... twenty years ago. He hasn't done much of anything (except go yard) since his one inning of pitching back in 1993. He needed a ligament transplant after that. (I didn't even know they did ligament transplants). Einstein felt a sharp pain after the second pitch... and threw 31 more pitches.

More recently, Canseco has kept his name in the news by writing his autobiography, claiming that, not only did he use steroids, but he introduced several of his teammates to them. Then he testified before Congress, naming names (and most of those players denied the allegations). Then he did interviews and named more names.

Yeah, I know steroid use is wrong... and dangerous... and unsportsmanlike. It needs to be stamped out of sports (starting with Barry Bonds... sorry... did I say that out loud?) That's not what I'm arguing. Many of the players Canseco named have never tested positive for drugs and have denied everything. And Canseco was never known for shying away from the limelight. I'm questioning his honesty, his integrity, and... well... frankly, his ability to throw a knuckleball at 42.

I have no idea what the Surf Dawgs are thinking... maybe they just wanted to know what it feels like to throw $2500 a month away.