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Saturday, April 05, 2008

Kenny Williams calls Canseco a liar, may sue

Motion for Restoration of Sanitary Sox!

After first telling the Sun-Times early Saturday morning in a text message that he “could care less what [Jose] Canseco says or what Jay [Mariotti] writes,’’ White Sox general manager Ken Williams obviously had a little more time to think about a story that appeared in Saturday’s Sun-Times.

In the story, Canseco said that Williams knew about the steroid use on his team in 2001 - the lone season Canseco played on the South Side.

“Of course, they knew,” Canseco told Mariotti. “They didn’t care. They all knew - abso-[bleeping]-lutely. [Williams] was a player [in the past]. He knew.’’

It was in his book “Vindicated’’ that Canseco alleged that he introduced former Sox outfielder Magglio Ordonez to steroids.

Hours before Saturday’s game with Detroit, Williams said that he will explore legal action against Canseco. He also called the one-time slugger “a liar.’’

Repoz Posted: April 05, 2008 at 04:53 PM | 12 comment(s)
Related News: General, Chi White Sox, Steroids

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1. steagles Posted: April 05, 2008 at 05:22 PM (#2731981)

REALLY? does jose canseco really get points for saying 7 years later that HE introduced another player to steroids? really? he's vindicated for this?

if there weren't so many others in this issue that also deserve to be tarred and feathered, i'd be leading the mob to get canseco. i don't give a #### that he's right, the guy was a piece of #### then for using his position as a veteran to introduce younger players to steroids, and he's a piece of #### now for turning on them after leading them astray.

2. Sparkles Peterson Posted: April 05, 2008 at 05:41 PM (#2732032)

What became of those accusations that he was blackmailing Magglio on his inclusion into this book?

Anyway, I'm pretty sure we are at or past the point where it's best for everyone if we just ignore Canseco. You just know that his third "tell all" is going to be a bunch of unsubstantiated rumors, and then when he needs his fourth payday I'm sure he will have graduated into full-time making-stuff-up.

3. Stealfirstbase (Liberalthinkfactory.org member) Posted: April 05, 2008 at 11:13 PM (#2732290)

I know I'm biased as a White Sox fan, but I find Canseco's version of these events unlikely. The White Sox have always run a clean team, it seems to me, and as an organization seem to have stood against steroid use for a long time, from the players on the field to the front office to the minors.

Since Michael Lewis (and, to be fair, Billy Beane himself) set up Kenny Williams as Beane's foil in Moneyball, it's interesting to compare the two. In the case of steroids, I think Williams's White Sox represent the anti-Athletics, who had Big Mac, Canseco, Giambi and Tejada all star for them. By contrast, the White Sox don't have one name associated with steroids.

So I think that the White Sox, on this specific issue, have built up enough credibility to shake off anything Canseco might say about them.

4. PH Posted: April 05, 2008 at 11:25 PM (#2732294)

By contrast, the White Sox don't have one name associated with steroids.

Do you mean star players associated with steroids? Because along with Canseco, Schoeneweis had shipments delivered to Comiskey.

I did think it was interesting that Karchner told Mitchell about seeing steroid use around the Cubs, but not the Sox. But who knows. I don't think it's smart to engage Canseco on any grounds, because he's pretty desperate, if this account of his finances is anywhere near accurate. Eventually, he's going to run himself into the ground.

5. Stealfirstbase (Liberalthinkfactory.org member) Posted: April 06, 2008 at 12:45 AM (#2732347)

Schoeneweis. Be still my beating heart.

But you're right, I'd forgotten about Schoeneweis. OK, star level players. And let's hope I'm not forgetting about anyone else.

Also, great game today. It's good to be watching real baseball again, even if it's Paul Konerko flailing weakly at three pitches from Francis Beltran.

And as a plus, Nick Swisher seems like he can play center field on a regular basis, and is also awesome.

6. Rich Rifkin I Posted: April 06, 2008 at 02:11 AM (#2732367)

"the White Sox don't have one name associated with steroids"

Don't assume for one second that the Mitchell Report was all inclusive. It was just the opposite. There were players on the list associated with Balco and Radomsky and McNamee and that was about it. But it's reasonable to assume that there were people like Radomsky or McNamee associated with the White Sox and every other club. There probably still are.

7. With 17th Pick, From LA, 1k5v3L KcoLLoP Posted: April 06, 2008 at 03:18 AM (#2732387)

Rich, Kenny W may sue you.

8. Daryn Posted: April 06, 2008 at 09:09 AM (#2732424)

As I recall, Sam M said about slander that you can only win a case like that if you can prove the person who made the false statement knew he wasn't telling the truth but proceeded anyway.

No, reckless disregard for the truth can also be a foundation for slander. He'll have to show a basis for why he made the statement -- and "he's a former player" probably wouldn't pass the test. That said, the way Canseco formulated the allegation -- as a supposition rather than a statement -- probably protects him.

9. Justin Zeth Posted: April 06, 2008 at 09:47 AM (#2732432)

He won't sue.

10. Rich Posted: April 06, 2008 at 10:09 AM (#2732440)

He won't sue.

I agree. I can't imagine that Williams or virtually anyone else involved in the PED era wants to open themselves up to pre-trial discovery.

11. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: April 06, 2008 at 11:51 AM (#2732497)

So, by not suing, does that mean Williams is admitting full guilt? Or does that line of crapola only apply to players?

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Saturday, April 05, 2008

Kenny Williams calls Canseco a liar, may sue

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