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The year was 2002 when Jose Canseco, a man blessed with the gift to hit a baseball that few men have ever possessed, received the news. The game has passed you by. Thank you, but go home.

A man who was once the American League MVP, who had a 40 homerun-29 stolen base season just four seasons before, was a shadow of himself and an embarrassment to watch. In 2002, he was released by the Montreal Expos before the beginning of the regular season. The Montreal Expos. A team that was on the brink of contraction. As you would expect, no one else bothered to call Canseco for a try-out. The party was over.

It’s never easy to accept one’s shortcomings, especially when they are caused, in part, by getting old. Canseco was 38 in 2002. At 38, few people can have a professional athletic career. Unless you’re a freak of nature like Rickey Henderson, or live an ascetic lifestyle like Julio Franco, it’s not going to happen. Nevertheless, Jose Canseco refused to admit reality. He suspected something else. Something dubious. Something sinister.

Appearing on The Last Word, Jose Canseco was a studio guest of host Jim Rome. During the interview Canseco told Rome he believed that he was unemployed because he was being blackballed by Major League Baseball, citing a “bad boy” reputation. In reply to his own accusation, Canseco offered a chilling revenge plan. A Tell-All Book. “What are you going to talk about?” Rome asked.

“You’ll see,” Canseco remarked, “and I’m going to mention names too…”

It’s ironic that on the 65th birthday of Bob Woodward, a journalist famous for exposing one of the greatest scandals in American history–Watergate– that I talk about Jose Canseco. The Canseco tell-all book, Juiced, which came out in 2005, broke the seal on one of sports greatest hush-hush secrets. Baseball players were doping. Big ones.

Jose Canseco is no saint- he even admits as much. His middle name might as well be “aggravated assault.” But a ballplayer who enjoyed the riches and perks of his stardom could not accept a new life…and a depleted bank account. Canseco had no intentions of being Bob Woodward; the hombre just wanted to get paid. Why else would he damn his “bash brother” Mark McGwire? Why else would he embarrass his fellow Cuban Rafael Palmiero? Within hours of the book’s release, Canseco was a somebody again…and rich. Americans love a scandal and Canseco offered one for $14.95.

Then came the day that people like myself wished had never happened. Congress, in the midst of war and growing economic concerns, found it worthy to put baseball on trial under the guise of a Congressional Hearing. As the days passed, Canseco’s story became more and more credible. The scumbag was telling the truth. Since then, Canseco’s influence has led to the Mitchell Report, the introduction of Brian McNamee, Kirk Randomski, and Victor Conte and the slow and painful public relations deaths of Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds.

Not much is known about Canseco’s life post baseball and post Juiced. He made a somewhat comical appearance on VH1’s Surreal Life and was interviewed every now and then about steroids. But otherwise he has been quiet…until…

A few months ago, Canseco hinted at a sequel to Juice entitled “Vindicated”, with the main attraction being an attack on the personhood of Alex Rodriguez, the greatest player in baseball today–and maybe ever. Canseco initially refused to comment on what his specific dirt is with ARod. The buzz prompted ARod among other things to sit down with CBS’s Katie Couric. However, as time passed, it seemed like Canseco’s threats seemed more dubious than accurate.

In January, it was reported that Canseco extorted Detroit Tigers outfielder and all-star Magglio Ordonez, offering immunity from his new book in exchange for money.

Then, according to the NY Daily News, Canseco was suppose to collaborate with former Sports Illustrated associate editor Don Yaeger on Vindicated, but Yaeger passed on the project.

“I had a chance to review the Jose Canseco [material] that he provided me. I don’t think there’s a book there,” Yaeger told the newspaper. “I don’t think he’s got what he claims to have, certainly doesn’t have what he claims to have on A-Rod.”

In the last 48 hours, it has been revealed that Canseco “claims” in the upcoming book that he introduced ARod to a steroids distributor and that he pursued Canseco’s wife.

As a Mets fan, I have no reason to like Alex Rodriguez. He and his agent spurned the Mets in 2000 to pursue the most ridiculous contract in sports history- 10 years $252 million. He now plays for the Yankees, my cross town rival, and has most recently received an even bigger contract than the one he previously obtained. Nevertheless, when push comes to shove there is no reason to hate Alex Rodriguez either. He’s baseball’s best player, he was given the money willingly, and he has done everything outside of winning a championship that is expected of an exemplary athlete.

So why does Jose Canseco hate Alex Rodriguez? I say hate because there’s really no other reason for me to understand Canseco’s motives.

Why does he “hate” him you ask? For the same reasons people outside of Red Sox Nation often hate Alex Rodriguez.

10 years, $252 million. Jealousy. You don’t need to be Bob Woodward to dig that info up.

Canseco wants to get paid yet again and has found a great formula to fuel his needs. He had the truth on his side, as it so turned out, with Juiced, and baseball and baseball fan benefitted from it…as it turned out. But I have got to wonder if he has resorted to tabloid-esque measures to make some Benjamins this time. And if all else fails, he can scare enough millionaire athletes with half-truths and lies to pad his wallet.

Rodriguez has since responded to the Canseco allegations by simply ignoring it. Wisely so…fueling speculation from people like myself that Canseco’s new book will vindicate nothing but personal greed.

If this is all Jose Canseco has left to offer the public, then his time in the public spotlight needs to officially end.

Thanks for Juiced, Jose. Now go away.