Volume 2, Number 3 -- March, 1997
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Volume 2, Number 3 -- March, 1997 |
"Jose Finds the Way"By Dave Lind
If you had asked Jose Canseco on August 31,1992 whether or
not he thought this day would ever come he most likely would have
laughed and moved onto the next question. Back then his
off-the-field troubles had detracted from his brilliant on-the-field
accomplishments to such a degree that he was frequently
booed by the hometown fans. Such a situation had, combined with
his battles with the injury bug, left Canseco disillusioned and
bitter and all too happy to move on to a fresh start with the
Texas Rangers.
Unfortunately, Canseco's injury problems continued during his
stint with the Rangers, the most serious of which he incurred
while pitching in a meaningless game. An injury that resulted in
ligament reconstruction that cost him nearly a full season. In
fact, his tour with Texas was probably most distinguished by the
fly ball that careened off his head and over the fence for a home
run, a play which was shown repeated on highlight films around
the country.
But strangely, it may well have been that very play that
marked the turning point in Canseco's public image dilemma.
Prior to that night he was viewed as a spoiled, over-hyped,
egotistical superstar. But with that play, or more accurately,
with his reaction immediately after that play,
Canseco-the-bad-boy's image softened and he became more human,
more fallible, more likable. All because of what he did after
the ball sailed over the fence.
He laughed. He smiled.
No big deal, you say? Ask yourself this, what would Albert
Belle have done in that same situation? Or Barry Bonds? Or
Ricky Henderson?
With that one smile, broadcast and rebroadcast on every
highlight show for a week and more, Jose Canseco showed the world
that he didn't take himself so seriously, that he could laugh at
his own foibles, that he was closer to being "one of us"
than any of "us" had ever given him credit for. And as
time passed and there were no reports of Canseco being arrested
for gun charges or playing bumper cars on the freeway, we began
to pay more attention to his play and we found out something
startling. Canseco could still swing the bat.
This fact was not lost on the Oakland A's, who traded for him
in the off season in hopes that his reunion with Mark McGwire
would reinvigorate a team many are picking to finish last in the
AL West. His arrival could not have come at a better time for
the A's or for Bay Area baseball in general. Stung by the
departure of fan favorites Terry Steinbach and Mike Bordick from
Oakland and Matt Williams and Robby Thompson from San Francisco,
bay area fans are among the most angry and bitter in the country.
But ticket sales in Oakland, at least, took off immediately
following the signing of their prodigal son.
So perhaps there still are happy endings. Perhaps, in some
rare and wonderful cases, you can go home again and receive a
chance to right old wrongs and rekindle old flames. Jose Canseco
has been given just such a chance, and there are few in baseball
who deserve it more.
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