MLB

FOX Sports Exclusive

ROME: Jose Canseco was a true classic

Share This Story

Jim Rome

 
Updated May 14, 2002 2:45 PM ET
     
 
Tuesday's topic is Mike Tyson's most recent meltdown, and whether or not he should still be allowed to fight. The guests are hall of fame trainer Emanuel Steward, who currently works with Mike's next opponent, heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis, and Teddy Atlas, who trained Mike during his amateur days back in the early 1980's. It's a dark day here in the jungle. Jungle legend Jose Canseco is going into his own personal operation shutdown, calling off his pursuit of 500 bombs and retiring at age 38. Sadly, his 462 bombs probably won't be enough to get him into Cooperstown. Now, while my man might not be a hall of famer in person, he certainly is in personality. The guy was larger than life. There was nobody like Jose Canseco. We're talking about the sport's first 40-40 guy ... guys that big and that strong are not supposed to run like that. And speaking of running, who will ever forget Jose telling me on this show that he ran a 4.2 40. A 4.2 40! Jesse Owens never ran a 4.2 40. Secretariat never ran a 4.2 40. Jose also insisted that he had never been thrown out at the plate. Los Angeles Dodger outfielder Shawn Green told me once he and his fellow teammates in the outfield would always play in because they wanted to be the one to hose him at the plate. His bat speed was frightening. His power legendary. Time stood still when this guy got into the box. And on top of that, he was part of two of the most legendary plays in the history of the game. Once, when he bounced a ball of his coconut over the outfield wall for a homerun; a feat that will never be duplicated. And of course, there was the time he blew out his elbow throwing 95 mile per hour knuckleballs in relief, an event which would have been hilarious had it not cost him even more time on the shelf and a possible shot at 500. And as legendary as his exploits were between the lines, they were often times even more impressive off the field: the fast cars, the fast women, a few trips around the block with Madonna, the run-ins with the law, him crashing his first wife's car, authorities coming down on him for having a gun in his car, the fact that he may have been the first athlete ever with a 900 number to chronicle his own exploits, the time he brought a land tortoise into the A's clubhouse, stop me when you've heard enough. Oh and one more thought about Jose: at times, he may have seemed like a circus and possibly not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I'm here to tell you the guy is very bright, and always the most popular guy in any clubhouse. Injuries probably will deprive him of a shot at Cooperstown, but for my money this guy is a hall of fame personality. There will never be another like Jose. Jose Canseco is a bonafide classic. Jim Rome brings a distinctive style of sports talk to the top daily sports interview show on television with , which can be seen weekdays on FOX Sports Net at 5:30 p.m. local time.
For Rome in video form, click here.
Tagged: White Sox, Dodgers

More Stories From Jim Rome

Baseball Hot Streak


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

MLB Videos

Dodgers drop Astros Posted: May 27, 2012
Matt Treanor talks with Prime Ticket about Chris Capuano's performance leading t...

Rays rock Red Sox Posted: May 27, 2012
Sean Rodriguez talks after his game-winning HR in the Rays' 4-3 win in Boston.

Tigers top Twins Posted: May 27, 2012
Miguel Cabrera talks with FOX Sports Detroit after the Tigers' 4-3 win over the ...

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »
SimLeague Baseball - Simulation Baseball Game

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Nike Chicago Cubs Tackle Twill Hoodie Sweatshirt - Royal Blue http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Chicago_Cubs/browse/featuredproduct/250780/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_250000/FF_250780_xl.jpg&w=100 49.95 Nike Chicago Cubs Tackle Twill Hoodie Sweatshirt - Royal Blue
    Nike Boston Red Sox Ladies Red Local T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Boston_Red_Sox/browse/featuredproduct/605356/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_605000/ff_605356_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 Nike Boston Red Sox Ladies Red Local T-shirt
    New Era New York Yankees Youth Navy Blue Tie Breaker 39THIRTY Stretch Fit Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_York_Yankees/browse/featuredproduct/605557/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_605000/ff_605557_xl.jpg&w=100 16.95 New Era New York Yankees Youth Navy Blue Tie Breaker 39THIRTY Stretch Fit Hat
    Nike Oakland Athletics Green MLB Practice T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Oakland_Athletics/browse/featuredproduct/606322/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_606000/ff_606322_xl.jpg&w=100 27.95 Nike Oakland Athletics Green MLB Practice T-shirt
    Philadelphia Phillies Mascot Pillow Pet http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Philadelphia_Phillies/browse/featuredproduct/626447/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_626000/ff_626447_xl.jpg&w=100 29.95 Philadelphia Phillies Mascot Pillow Pet
    New Era Colorado Rockies Black-Purple Stoked Snapback Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Colorado_Rockies/browse/featuredproduct/644117/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_644000/ff_644117_xl.jpg&w=100 28.95 New Era Colorado Rockies Black-Purple Stoked Snapback Hat
    Texas Rangers Manager Stainless Steel Watch http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Texas_Rangers/browse/featuredproduct/722692/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_722000/ff_722692_xl.jpg&w=100 69.95 Texas Rangers Manager Stainless Steel Watch
    Majestic Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers #35 Youth Navy Blue Player Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Detroit_Tigers/browse/featuredproduct/723016/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_723000/ff_723016_xl.jpg&w=100 39.95 Majestic Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers #35 Youth Navy Blue Player Pullover Hoo..
    Majestic Albert Pujols Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Replica Jersey - White http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Angels_of_Anaheim/browse/featuredproduct/777026/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_777000/ff_777026_xl.jpg&w=100 99.95 Majestic Albert Pujols Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Replica Jersey - White
Microsoft© 2012 Microsoft