I forgot to mention in Part I that Jose's official web site is
www.josecanseco.com - tell them I sent you.

As for the latest news, Jose in back in jail until at least July 21st, when
he will be having another hearing, and faces up to *gasp* 15 years in
prison for violating his probation. Yikes.

What's my opinion on the matter? Well, I guess I have mixed feelings. I
mean, I feel really badly for Jose. Another month in jail, at least - and
possible a lot more time after that - it's like it's a nightmare. All
stemming from some stupid bar fight over a year and a half ago. I hate to
say it, but if Jose wasn't Jose and was just some guy off the street, you
have to wonder if all of this (or any of this) would be happening.

But on the other hand, COME ON JOSE! I mean, when you are being watched
like he is - when you are on probation - you have to start making the right
decisions. You have to play by the rules and be squeaky clean. And, from
what they are saying, Jose has not been. I thought the first month in jail
would be a wake up call for him, and it sounded like it was, but now this.

I guess I'm disappointed in him, but more than that, I just feel sorry for him.

I've gotten some interesting emails lately. Some very negative ones
ripping Jose apart, and others supporting him and telling me to send him
their best wishes (even one from a former teammate). Unfortunately, I
don't know Jose personally, believe it or not, so I can't do that.

As for me, I'm going to remember Jose for the talented slugger he was on
the baseball field - my childhood hero - and not for all of this. I barely
even follow the sport any more. It's just not the same without him. But
all these garbage from the past couple of years............ ugh.

-Mark


==========
From the St. Louis Sports Dispatch:
Jeff Gordon's June 5 Edition
By Jeff Gordon Post-Dispatch Online Sports Columnist

Our daily look at who's in and who's out in the world of sports:

NO WAY, JOSE

Former big-league slugger and career knucklehead Jose Canseco claims the
media is giving Sammy Sosa a rough ride because he is from the Dominican
Republic.

"The way they are portraying him because he's a Latin, black athlete is
completely wrong," Canseco told ESPN's "Outside the Lines Nightly" show. "I
guarantee you if this were Mark McGwire or Cal Ripken Jr., a so-called
'protected athlete,' an "all-American' name, this would have never happened
because I've seen things some players have done, and they were white
players and they're completely covered up . . . if he were a white
superstar player, this would never, never happen."

Right. If a white slugger's bat explodes during a game, spraying cork
everywhere, he's busted. There is no cover-up.

As for the notion that McGwire was protected by the media, Tipsheet wonders
how Jose could forget the whole andro debate triggered by reporters
snooping around Big Mac.

But then again, Canseco is a knucklehead.

==========
From Knight Ridder Newspapers:
Meeting Canseco isn't priceless

By Greg Cote

MIAMI - You can rent Jose Canseco for $625 an hour. He graciously will open
his South Florida home to you and be at your disposal for a barbecue, for
a batting lesson, for relaxing quality time in the pool and for no added
charge you will enjoy the company of Jose's exceptionally friendly German
Weimaraner hunting dogs, Zeus and Zena.

It will be just you, your controversial, ex-communicated baseball hero, his
sniffing, bobblehead dogs and the unobtrusive friend/witness who will
quietly be in the house at all times to make sure you don't punch yourself
in the face, get all bloody, hysterically claim Jose did it, and then
speed-dial your attorney.

``I'm the poster child for lawsuits,'' explains the prudent host.

And so the bizarre latest chapter of the Jose Canseco story-in-progress
unfolded Monday inside the gated community of Long Lake Estates in Davie.

If you are expected there, like history-making fan Joe Santer was
Monday, you glide past the uniformed guard, hang a fast right and soon
find yourself anxiously walking up a circular driveway and past a
decorative fountain toward God-knows-what.

Santer, 22, of Selins Grove, Pa., works in a factory assembling windows for
Philips Industries and might be mistaken for a perfectly normal young
fellow had he not been first in line to spend $2,500 for four hours almost
alone with Canseco. Joe brought along (at additional cost) his girlfriend,
Genie Ficks, 21, a dietitian's aide at a hospital.

Canseco always has been the athlete Santer most admired. ``I've been a huge
fan for 13 years,'' he said. ``Jose spoke his mind.''

But what would Canseco be like in person?

Santer, more than most, knew the stories that made up the dubious Canseco
legend, all the off-field tumult counterbalancing the 462 career home runs.
The tickets for speeding 140 mph. The ugly divorce. The liaison with
Madonna. The steroid assumptions. The claims he was blackballed from
baseball. The supposed tell-all book in the works.

Did we mention the fact Canseco is presently under house arrest - in jail
in his own 1-acre compound - and will be for the next two years? Yes, the
arrest connected with a Miami nightclub brawl, then a probation violation .
. . all of these things pinballed through Santer's mind as he walked past
the For Sale sign and pressed the doorbell.

``I had no clue what to expect. I was nervous and shaking,'' he said. ``I
was afraid he'd be a hothead, or not really caring I was there.''

At www.josecanseco.com you can bid on just about any type of Jose
memorabilia, including the man himself. Supposedly about 30 other folks
have so far bid $2,500 to luxuriate in Canseco's company, to (as the
Website says) ``Spend a Day with Jose.'' A fan from Orange County is on
deck today, followed by a businessman from Boston, then an Oakland policemen.

The lucrative fan visits will be incorporated into a pending (and sadly
inevitable) network ``reality TV'' show, according to Canseco, declining to
provide details.

Will it be better than the Anna Nicole Smith Show?

``God, I hope so!'' crowed Canseco, affable and muscularly ripped. ``Who
wants to watch a fat lady all day!''

The ex-player's friend and Monday witness, Doug Ames, said the
days-with-Jose are not about money (although he mentions credit cards are
now being accepted), but rather about rectifying Canseco's reputation, one
fan at a time.

``He's been so misunderstood,'' said Ames. `` `Steroids.' `Arrogant.' We're
doing this for the fans to get to see who Jose really is.''

One imagines a burgeoning cottage-industry for faded former stars who are
either retired against their will or striving to hang onto their retreating
celebrity.

What are we bid for brunch with Hal Greer?

How about grocery shopping with Jim Kiick?

You know what, though?

While we make fun, the fans forking out the big dough think they got a
bargain. It is the power of hero worship.

And it is this, too: We have come to expect our sports stars to be such
jerks in their dealing with fans, we are amazed when they are not. Even
when we pay $2,500 for Jose Canseco to be nice to us, somehow we are still
impressed when he is.

``A pleasure to be around,'' Genie Ficks, the girlfriend, described
Canseco. ``A joy. I didn't know if he would even talk to us!''

The Jose-days are part of a fairly orchestrated, arguably desperate effort
to maintain a lucrative enterprise of being Jose Canseco, the Miami-raised
slugger who will fall short of both 500 career home runs and the Hall of
Fame due largely to his own self-generated controversies.

Canseco and his friends/business associates speak grandiosely, but with few
details. They claim the reality TV show. The $10 million for movie rights.
That tell-all book. The idea that his former team, the Tampa Bay Devil
Rays, might soon re-sign the soon-to-be 39-year-old slugger.

Meantime, Joe Santer goes home a happy man, a thrilled fan.

And Canseco keeps his hero's crown a little while longer, even under house
arrest.

As for that reality TV show?

Well, don't say we didn't warn you.

==========
From the AP:
6/21/03
Canseco arrested on probation violation


DAVIE, Fla. (AP) … Jose Canseco was arrested at his home Friday after
testing positive for steroids, a violation of his probation stemming from a
nightclub brawl.

The former American League MVP, who had been under house arrest for earlier
violating probation, was being held at Broward County Jail without bond
pending a court appearance. He'll probably face a hearing Monday or
Tuesday, officials said.

Canseco, who retired from baseball last year, was charged with his twin
brother, Ozzie, for the 2001 brawl in Miami Beach. He was sentenced to
probation after pleading guilty last year.

Canseco already violated his probation by leaving Florida for several weeks
and failing to start community service and anger management classes. He was
sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years of house arrest, and he was
warned him that further violations could result in a 15-year prison sentence.

Manny Hillman, a lawyer for Canseco, declined to comment. Another lawyer,
Gustavo Lage did not return a message seeking comment.

Jose Canseco hit 462 home runs in his major league career. He retired in
May 2002 after 1,887 games with seven teams, finishing his career with a
.266 batting average, 1,407 RBIs and 200 stolen bases.

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Canseco has admitted using steroids during his
baseball career.

==========
From the AP:
Former AL MVP in lockup until July 21 hearing

MIAMI -- Jose Canseco was ordered to jail Monday to await a hearing on
whether he violated probation by testing positive for steroids.

The former American League MVP was being held without bond until a July 21
hearing. He had been under house arrest for earlier violating his probation
stemming from a nightclub brawl and was arrested Friday on the results of a
June 3 drug test.

State prison spokesman Sterling Ivey has said Canseco recently tested
positive for steroids. Canseco, who retired from baseball last year, was
charged with his twin brother, Ozzie, for the 2001 brawl in Miami Beach. He
was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty last year.

Canseco appeared before the judge in jail-issue red jumpsuit and wrist and
ankle shackles and did not speak during the hearing.

"Jose's only statement to me was, 'But I do take this seriously. I can't
believe how this is spinning,'" Canseco attorney Jayne Weintraub said. She
argued to the judge that the only reason he faced jail was because of his
celebrity status.

Weintraub described Canseco as being "very disappointed and sad" and denied
the violation saying there is "always misunderstandings."

Jose Canseco already violated his probation by leaving Florida for several
weeks and failing to start community service and anger-management classes.
He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years of house arrest. He was
warned that further violations could result in a 15-year prison sentence.

While confined to his house, Canseco has charged people $2,500 each through
his personal Web site to "Spend the Day with Jose."

Autographed balls and posters also are for sale.

Canseco hit 462 home runs in his major-league career in which he has
admitted using steroids. He played for seven teams, hitting .266 with 1,407
RBIs and 200 stolen bases.


==========
From the AP:
Around the Horn: Canseco jailed until July hearing

Jose Canseco was ordered to jail Monday to await a hearing on whether he
violated probation by testing positive for steroids.

The former American League MVP was being held without bond until a July 21
hearing. He had been under house arrest for earlier violating his probation
stemming from a nightclub brawl and was arrested Friday on the results of a
June 3 drug test.

State prison spokesman Sterling Ivey has said Canseco recently tested
positive for steroids.

Canseco, who retired from baseball last year, was charged with his twin
brother, Ozzie, for the 2001 brawl in Miami Beach. He was sentenced to
probation after pleading guilty last year.

==========
From the Miami Bureau:
Canseco sent back to jail for a month
By Diana Marrero
Posted June 24 2003

Miami · Former baseball star Jose Canseco will spend the next month in jail
while he awaits another court hearing on charges that he violated his
probation by using steroids, a judge ruled Monday.

Saying Canseco has not heeded several wake-up calls, Miami-Dade Circuit
Judge Leonard E. Glick denied the famed slugger bond.

This wasn't the first time Glick has thrown Canseco in jail for violating
his probation. Canseco spent 30 days in jail earlier this year after Glick
found he left the state without permission and failed to begin
court-ordered anger management classes.

"Here we go again," Glick said. "He's in a red jumpsuit."

Canseco, 38, and his twin brother, Ozzie, were arrested after a 2001 fight
at a Miami Beach nightclub with a man they said assaulted Jose Canseco's
female companion. The brothers pleaded guilty to various battery charges
and were placed on probation.

The slugger has been under house arrest since March when Glick amended
Canseco's sentence to two years of house arrest followed by three years'
probation. Glick warned Canseco he would face up to 15 years in prison if
he violated the terms.

At the time, the former American League MVP pleaded for mercy and said he
understood he had to start being more responsible.

Since then, Canseco has completed his anger management course, performed
120 hours of community service at the Boys Club of Miami and is currently
paying $50 a month for supervision, his attorney, Jayne Weintraub, told the
judge Monday.

Glick was unfazed, saying Canseco needs to realize his probation is not a
joke. He said he was using his discretion to keep Canseco in jail until his
next hearing July 21.

Until last month, Ozzie Canseco seemed to be sticking to the terms of his
probation. Then, the less famous twin was arrested in Punta Gorda and
charged with possessing an illegal anabolic steroid, driving with a revoked
license and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He is being jailed without bond on probation violation charges and will
appear before Glick July 21 along with his brother.

"We told him this was serious business," Glick said. "Now his brother is
here again. He's here again."

Canseco's latest troubles stem from a drug test, which showed that he had
steroids in his system, according to his arrest report.

The 6-foot-4 , 245-pound slugger, who hit 462 home runs before retiring
last year, was arrested Friday at his Davie home.

Canseco, who caused a stir last year when he claimed most major league
players use steroids, has said he plans to publish a book exposing many of
baseball's dirty secrets.

Weintraub told the judge Monday that she planned to prove Canseco no longer
uses the muscle-enhancing drug. She entered a plea of not guilty for her
client, saying his arrest was the result of a misunderstanding she plans to
clear up next month.

She told the judge Canseco has been going through a custody battle that had
been taking his mind off his legal situation, but that he is on track again.

Weintraub said Canseco's young daughter was supposed to come from
California to visit him. She asked the judge to consider allowing him to
post bond so that the girl would not have to visit her father in jail.

Diana Marrero can be reached at dmarrero@... or 305-810-5005.