He’s an idiot, but what he says it how it happened? What is that supposed to mean? Darling played with Canseco in Oakland for about a season (acquired from the Expos for the second part of ’91 and through August of ’92 when Jose was traded to the Rangers) when Canseco and McGwire were the “Bash Brothers,” and was with Oakland into the mid-90’s, so Darling was there.
So Ron Darling apparently agrees with Jose, even though he made the obligatory “idiot call.” This is very interesting, but you won’t see Darling’s comment mentioned any place. And of course there were no follow up questions from the media.
With regard to the libel laws of our country, some experts have spoken to the difficulty of pursuing a successful libel suit through our court system. However, if what Canseco says isn’t true, and isn’t libelous, there really is no point in having such laws on the books. Jose accuses some of the biggest names in the game of baseball of using steroids and human growth hormone. He says he saw then use the drugs and even injected some of these players with drugs. If this doesn’t qualify as libel, what does? If these statements are not true, how can they not fall under any and all of the definitions of the word malice?
These accusations strike at the heart of the character and integrity of every ballplayer mentioned in the book, yet has anyone heard any plans by any of these baseball players to file a libel suit? The lack of libel suits as a result of this book will speak as loudly as Mr. Canseco’s allegations, and will serve as confirmation of what Mr. Canseco alleges.
After looking at all of the evidence surrounding this issue and reading Jose’s book, it is preposterous to try and make the claim that there isn’t and hasn’t been a steroid/human growth hormone usage problem in the game. And this book is worth picking up.
Article comments
1 - Temple Stark
The guy is huuuuge. Saw him on Bill Maher Friday in a short interview segment. Very tall. Very handsome. Scepticism was writ large on Maher's face. But he said much the same things you did - respects the guy for coming forward to air out a real problem in the game and isn't there a shrunken testicle problem here?
Well you didn't mention testicles - but you wanted to I know :-)
2 - Richard Porter
You couldn't be more right. Sure, everyone is calling him an idiot or delusional, but since there no lawsuits against him as of yet it seems rather obvious. Homerun records have been beat up almost as bad as the baseballs over the years, certainly there is truth in the book somewhere.
What baseball should do is not only look at how to correct this problem for the future, but also how should we categorize all of these record holders throughout the 90's and through 2004.
3 - Eric Olsen
excellent points and very fine review Sal - you're right to bring up the legal angle: the lawsuits would be flying if these guys were as pure as they all claim. And the records do pretty much speak for themselves, but even now most fans would rather believe what they are told.
4 - Ronald C McKito
I give Jose props for coming forward, but dougbt he ever would if himself was not caught personally. He is probally mad that some of his fellow players did not stick up for him when he got banned form baseball, so he decided to bring everyone down with him.
5 - tf
Jose Canseco is an arrogant jerk. We met him in Scottsdale, Arizona last night. He talked to a group oof friends and I. He had his friends ask us to go to breakfast with him. We did not. He is orange from tanning too much and stares as if he is heavily medicated. A group of females asked to get pictures taken with him for their teenage boys, he obliged, but closed his eyes in all of the pictures. Once an asshole, always an asshole.
6 - Lord
If your health does not contain any fitness just take the tips of a personal trainer .