Connecting the Dots of the Steroid Scandal - Page 2

Now we’re going go to another part of Alderson’s statement from the hearings,
“There did come a time, however, when I did wonder whether Jose Canseco might be using steroids. There was a column written in late 1988 that speculated about his steroid use and led to a brief fan reaction in Boston during the 1988 playoffs. But his reaction to the speculation was a vehement denial, a much different response than the recent admissions in his book. Also, probably in 1989, Canseco reported to spring training markedly bigger and more physically developed than he had been the year before.” (My emphasis, again!)

So, the A’s had a strength coach who worked intimately with Canseco, and even wrote a book with him about his training methods, at exactly the same time the team “wondered” if Canseco was using steroids. Did it cross Mr. Alderson’s mind to consult with the team employee who’s responsibility it was to handle this issue and who was obviously close to Canseco?

Did Canseco hide his drug use from his training buddy, coach and co-author? Did Canseco share his “secret” with his coach or was his coach involved with the whole thing? Or was his coach, despite his position and education, a clueless buffoon?

Have you started to see where this is going yet? Just wait, as this story gets better.

Now the manager of the Oakland A’s during Canseco’s tenure was Tony LaRussa, and LaRussa managed the team from 1986-1995. Dave McKay was on LaRussa’s staff through the 1995 season.

Canseco was in Oakland from 1985-1992 and returned in 1997. Mark McGwire arrived in Oakland in 1986 and stayed into the 1997 season. This is the first generation of the drug scandal.

The second generation of the drug scandal started when Jason Giambi joined the A’s minor league system in 1992 and moved on up to the majors in 1995. And in 1993 Bob Alejo - the man who is now known as Giambi’s personal conditioning guru - joined the A’s where he was the conditioning coach, a title that he held until he followed Giambi to the New York Yankees. Since arriving in New York, Giambi has fought, with a suspicious level of obsession – to have Alejo accompany Giambi and the Yanks as if he were a team employee.

Article Author: Sal Marinello

Sal Marinello is a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Certified Personal Trainer, a U.S.A. Weightlifting Certified Coach, a full-time, private Professional Strength and Conditioning …

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