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Canseco set to out A-Rod – Metro US

Canseco set to out A-Rod

Troubling: Jose Canseco, vilified by MLB and many of its followers but ultimately vindicated for boldly divulging years ago that he and fellow sluggers such as Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro and Jason Giambi used performance-enhancing drugs, is now preparing to go public with a similar revelation about Alex Rodriguez. Canseco is beginning to tell folks he was “stunned” when A-Rod wasn’t mentioned in the recent Mitchell Report. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been under the impression A-Rod was clean. And the notion he could be under a cloud of suspicion as he chases Barry Bonds ‚ home-run record sort of sickens me.

•Suggesting: A separate wing in baseball’s Hall of Fame for those linked to steroid use. Why not? Bonds, McGwire, Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens and others undoubtedly deserve inductions, even if the allegations about them are true and they used the stuff during a period when MLB chiefs looked the other way. And why not add a gambling wing in the Hall, too? Put Pete Rose in it while he’s still young enough to reap some of the emotional rewards he’s due.

•Confusing: Why would Paul Kelly appear on radio and television this week advocating contraction in the NHL? As the new chief of the players’ association, isn’t it his obligation to ensure employment and try to increase job possibilities for his members, not suggest ways to reduce them? When MLB proposed contraction years ago, PA boss Don Fehr reacted with indignation and anger, muttering something like: “Over my dead body.” Plugs weren’t pulled on any MLB clubs.

•Boring: Troy Aikman. The ex-NFL quarterback never utters anything worthwhile while analyzing the NFL on Fox. During the NFC final Sunday in Green Bay, Aikman actually said: “At this time of the year, officials more or less want to be sure before they call penalties.” Well, excuse me, but aren’t officials always supposed to be sure before they call penalties? Fox really ought to consider a replacement for Aikman. Joe Theismann ’s available.

•Progressing: Eli Manning, Mike Comrie, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.

•Regressing: Andrea Bargnani, Sergei Fedorov, Shaquille O’Neal and the Miami Heat.

•Amazing: Chris Chelios, still solid on the Detroit Red Wings‚ defence at 45, and vowing to keep playing until at least 50.

•Interesting: As much as Wings coach Mike Babcock raves about Chelios, he pumps up another of his veteran defencemen even more, insisting Nicklas Lidstrom is the NHL’s top professional. “He even tapes his stick better than anyone,” Babcock says.

marty.york@metronews.ca

In three-plus decades as a columnist and broadcaster, Marty York has built a network of solid contacts and a renowned reputation for his hard-hitting, groundbreaking style. The tradition continues in Metro Sports.