Posted on Wed Mar 26, 2008 at 10:10:38 AM EST in MLB
More on: Jose Canseco, Alex Rodriguez, steroids, wife, book (all tags)

Jose Canseco has a new book coming out which can mean only one thing: more major leaguers are about to get thrown under the bus. First up, Alex Rodriguez.

According to writer Joe Lavin who got his hands on a copy of "Vindicated: Big Names, Big Liars, and The Battle to Save Baseball" prior to it drop date on April 1, Canseco claims to have introduced A-Rod to a steroids distributor. At this point, we're willing to believe just about anybody is or has been juiced, but considering Canseco apparently freely admits to not actually sticking a needle into Rodriguez's ass and pumping him up, we're going to leave it at that. However, we all know A-Rod is true player in every sense of the word, so we don't doubt Canseco's other claims for one second.

He [Lavin] says Canseco claimed he didn't inject Rodriguez but "introduced Alex to a known supplier of steroids." Lavin also says "Canseco claims that A-Rod was trying to sleep with Canseco's wife."

"I really, absolutely, have no reaction," Rodriguez said Tuesday when asked about the claim relating to the steroids distributor. As far as the allegation regarding Canseco's wife, Rodriguez responded:

"I don't know how to answer that.

Well, you could start with either a yes or a no, that's how most people go about answering questions. Of course, you are a modern-day baseball player, so we assume you're just following protocol.

Links:
[NBC Sports]: Report: A-Rod was pursuing Canseco's wife

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Posted on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 09:59:28 AM EST in MLB
More on: Manny Ramirez, Red Sox, The Secret, book, reading (all tags)

You always hear about "Manny being Manny," but who is Manny Ramirez really? Well, here's a little tidbit about the Red Sox outfielder that you might not know: Manny is totally into Manny being the best Manny that Manny can be.

It's all about inner peace with Ramirez nowadays. He's into yoga and meditation and all-around relaxation of the mind, body and soul. Oddly enough, he's even turning to self-help books like Rhonda Byrne's The Secret because, as stated in the book's synopsis, "By applying the knowledge of The Secret, they bring to light compelling stories of eradicating disease, acquiring massive wealth, overcoming obstacles, and achieving what many would regard as impossible."

Yep, Manny is still being Manny.

Everything is possible in life. Hey, whatever you want to be in life, you could be."

Manny seemed like a new man Thursday, sitting at his locker with a peaceful look and a soft voice in a 10-minute interview with The Associated Press, then taking the inspirational book, "The Secret," from his shelf and using a pink highlighter to mark passages.

"Hey, you're the architect of your life," he said. "Let me tell you something. We've got so much bad stuff inside, it's up to us to make the best of it." ...

Now he's engrossed in "The Secret."

"It's about life. It's good. You should read it. Go and buy it," he advised a reporter. "Sometimes you go and read a book and that person who wrote it, all his experience that he got in 50 years, you get in one day if you read a book."

Nearby, Ramirez's buddy, David Ortiz, said Ramirez hasn't changed much as a person - just a laid-back, friendly man who sometimes simply prefers not talking with reporters. But Big Papi has seen a change in Ramirez's interests.

"He's taking some meditation class now. He thinks that might help him to get his spirit going around so he can go to different places," Ortiz said with a look that indicated he's not convinced. "Some crazy stuff, you know how it is.

"Manny fools people. Manny does a lot of things that people don't think he would normally do, but he's got his own program.

Links:
[Kentucky.com]: Sox slugger Ramirez discusses life

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Posted on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 09:59:41 AM EST in NFL
More on: Denver, Broncos, Jason Elam, book, Monday Night Jihad (all tags)

Ever wonder why Jason Elam is always able to calmly bang out 50-yarders for Denver without breaking a sweat? Well, graduating from the Air Force Academy, serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan and then joining a special operations squad has a way of calming your nerves in everyday situations. At least it did for Riley Covington, the main character of Elam's new literary fiction novel Monday Night Jihad.

Covington is a military man who was drafted by the fictitious Colorado Mustangs, but must give up his professional football career in order to help put an end to terrorism overseas before it reaches America. Elam's first attempt at becoming an author entwines pigskin, religion and covert military operations.

Probably the toughest part of the book for Elam was his eventual decision to not make the strapping, Captain America badass a kicker; instead opting to form Covington into a manlier linebacker.

I couldn't make the hero a kicker. It had to be plausible," Elam said.

As for what is more daunting, a last-second kick in front of a raucous crowd or reading a book review, Elam said that was simple -- the kick.

"At least you know you're not going to have chicken wings and snowballs thrown at you if they don't like your book," he said with a grin.

Links:
[CBS4Denver.com]: Novel Idea: Elam Mixes Football, Terrorism, Spying

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