Jose Canseco's "MAX" Is Named, Alex Rodriguez off the Hook

By Patrick Read

Washington DC-  On Friday, April 18th, 2008 Joseph Dion, A-Rod's ex-trainer from Seattle for more than 3 years, called into Sports Illustrated to make a confession.  Joseph Dion is "Max" from Jose Canseco's book, Vindicated.  And he told Si.com that he is Anti-Performance Enhancers, as is NY Yankee phenom, Alex Rodriguez.

  Jose Canseco said he was surprised Alex wasn't in the Mitchell Report, as he had introduced Alex to "Max" (Joseph Dion), a "known steroid distributor."  What was not investigated was whether Dion had ever distributed steroids at all.  Dion said, "I am anti-steroid, as Alex is.  Alex is one of the hardest working, all natural athletes that I know."

  Of Dion, Rodriguez says, "Yes, I know him. "He's a Christian man, a good man -- a great man, actually. I talk to him in passing about 4 or 5 times a winter.  He helped train me in Seattle by running me everyday... for up to 8 miles per day."  Needless to say, when Alex went to steal his first base that season his legs weren't there.  "After that I stopped jogging," said Rodriguez.

  This does not take away from Canseco's credibility, as Max actually did exist.  Canseco never said proof positive that A-Rod took steroids, just that he introduced him to "a known steroid dealer."  Emerson, Canseco's lawyer, suspects foul play as "Max" was named 4 days before Canseco is to meet with the Federal Prosecutors (and IRS) on Tuesday, April 22.   He has been reported to be eager to meet Novitzky and help anyway he can.

  Canseco originally said in his first book, Juiced, that when someone said he was taking B-12, that it was code for using steroids.  Clemens had told him about taking B-12 shots,and Canseco thought directly to the "code."  Since the Mitchell Report was released Canseco now believes Clemens.  Especially after learning that Clemens was really taking B-12 shots.  Regarding Canseco's belief in Clemens, "He would have gotten them (PEDs) from me. Like everyone else did."  Canseco recollected about he and Clemens joking around about steroid use "We played golf, and I hit a drive 400 yards. He looked at me, and said "whatever you're taking must be working," and we laughed.

  The more Canseco thought back to Clemens, he never once remembered Clemens asking how to take steroids, how much to take, or how often. 

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