04/19: Sports Illustrated Identifies Canseco's "Max"
Posted by: Patrick
Previously, Jose Canseco had maintained that he had an ace in the hole in an unnamed steroids dealer whom he introduced to A-Rod. He called him "Max." Sports Illustrated has discovered that "Max" is Joseph Dion, a trainer in South Florida.
Paging Canseco's attorney. "... Jose has not spoken to this individual in some time and hasn't seen a photo from SI or from anyone else," Gregory Emerson, Canseco's attorney, told the Daily News. "Jose is unable to verify it or confirm it 100%. But at this point, it certainly sounds like the guy that he referred to as Max." He also told the Post that Canseco stands behind what he wrote in the book, "100%."
In the SI article, Dion denies being a "fan of steroids" as alleged by Canseco, saying "That's really, really funny because I am the one person that hates steroids." Dion also claims that A-Rod "hated" steroids when they worked together and "was one of the hardest working guys, and most natural guy" that he has ever met.
Canseco reponded to a phone call from SI, simply telling them to have Dion call him as he wants to speak to the trainer before he comments.
Dion does confirm parts of Canseco's story, including that Canseco introduced him to A-Rod. A-Rod confirms knowing Dion and working with him at various points, but the stories of how they met do not match up. A-Rod claims that he met him through Eddie Rodriguez, who worked at the Miami Boys & Girls Club.
While declining to comment on Canseco's allegations, A-Rod did have some things to say about Dion.
"He's a Christian man, a good man - a great man, actually," Rodriguez said. "I'm very friendly with Joseph, but I don't really see him that often," Rodriguez told reporters. "I've probably seen him this winter, four or five times in passing. ... In passing, [we talk] maybe three or four times a winter."
Via Steve.
Paging Canseco's attorney. "... Jose has not spoken to this individual in some time and hasn't seen a photo from SI or from anyone else," Gregory Emerson, Canseco's attorney, told the Daily News. "Jose is unable to verify it or confirm it 100%. But at this point, it certainly sounds like the guy that he referred to as Max." He also told the Post that Canseco stands behind what he wrote in the book, "100%."
In the SI article, Dion denies being a "fan of steroids" as alleged by Canseco, saying "That's really, really funny because I am the one person that hates steroids." Dion also claims that A-Rod "hated" steroids when they worked together and "was one of the hardest working guys, and most natural guy" that he has ever met.
Canseco reponded to a phone call from SI, simply telling them to have Dion call him as he wants to speak to the trainer before he comments.
Dion does confirm parts of Canseco's story, including that Canseco introduced him to A-Rod. A-Rod confirms knowing Dion and working with him at various points, but the stories of how they met do not match up. A-Rod claims that he met him through Eddie Rodriguez, who worked at the Miami Boys & Girls Club.
While declining to comment on Canseco's allegations, A-Rod did have some things to say about Dion.
"He's a Christian man, a good man - a great man, actually," Rodriguez said. "I'm very friendly with Joseph, but I don't really see him that often," Rodriguez told reporters. "I've probably seen him this winter, four or five times in passing. ... In passing, [we talk] maybe three or four times a winter."
Via Steve.
