After years of fame in baseball, Jose Canseco is now into another journey, sharing his story to others specially college students. He is making some rounds in different colleges to speak about his life in baseball as well his steroid use while still in the league. His recent talk was in Bovard Auditorium in USC. Even if the place was not jam packed with audience just like in his every game, Canseco was still enthusiastic on his new task. It is definitely a new role for him which he really likes. When introduced in the seminar, he was quoted saying, “Jeez, I was quite a figure out there. What a feeling, crushing that baseball in front of thousands in the stands, millions on TV.”

What makes it more interesting were the new revelations of Canseco and his opinion on the current steroid scandals that is haunting some of the best players in the league. Kurt Streeter of LA Times was able to have an interview with him at the USC. Canseco revealed that he is still using testosterone to keep his testosterone at the normal level. This was due to his years of taking steroids. He was also asked why he didn’t stop using performance enhancing drugs in Toronto even if he made very good statistics. He hit 46 home runs for Toronto in 1998.

Canseco replied that he don’t know. Although he said he could have stop taking steroids but he could not. “I have regrets,” he says. “The way people look at my career was compromised by using. Then the whole thing fell apart. . . . I was cut off. Not being able to play at 36. That’s how old I was when baseball colluded to keep me out. They were sending a message to all the other players: ‘Stop using, or you will be like Jose.’”

He shares how this experience change his life. He even told Streeter that he has nightmares almost every night. “I have nightmares, almost every night. I’m on some team, but they will not let me actually play. The bus leaves without me. . . . ”

Canseco was asked about some players who were also into issues of taking performance enhancing drugs. An audience asked him about Alex Rodriguez. Canseco replied that A-Rod is a Canseco copycat. In his opinion, A-Rod is not telling the whole truth on his steroid use. On the other hand, he believes that Ken Griffey Jr. is clean but still nobody can be sure about anyone anymore. When asked about Manny Ramirez, Canseco laughs and told the audience that the latter might be asking for a mega deal at age 36 or he may be negotiating in the times of a financial crisis. And he added that Ramirez has a heavy baggage of a surly reputation. He also insinuated that he is 90% sure that Ramirez is on the list of 104 players who were tested positive for steroid in 2003.

Although the list was confidential Canseco still believes that the league’s “power brokers” knows who is on the list. it is just unfortunate that Alex Rodriguez name was made known to the public.

On the other hand, Canseco’s speaking engagement in college of William and Mary was cancelled. The event which was sponsored by the Alma Mater Production and was supposed to be held at Phi Betta Kappa Hall of the college was cancelled hours before the start of the talk. Canseco is expected to discuss his life, career and his experiences with steroid use and abuse. The organizers did not provide any details on the cancellation.

Canseco wrote two books, “Juice” and “Vindicated“.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS