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8B ♦ SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2006 Warner Robins American Little League Photos courtesy Avery Sports Photography m —I — ———y Hi — j fMWI i ll * Ju, <& i£ %M %fl I ®*m Vi w C - JhH RS j|!m * “ $Ak -A,^ WARNER ROBINS AMERICAN ALL-STARS 2006 ~T —■ ~— y ———- - 4ft * fv /jiJ?- x ■*'"3 —t * 'mm : < • Jaig: v hkJp| 4k JHHr ' *T WYfiiltlMK * # - -rint *■? ' •>. i ■ * -'?w&' <«?* ** i Tl irn UT irr i Ft. *PKi ■HBMii I "FNiryi n ■ L' 4 “J&M| • "081 i* .if * V* W WARNER ROBINSsAMERICAN ALL STARS 2006 I .,■ ■ * B-—-h „*tt , -- -- t fa WBsSr ,y I [ li, M&-- sM&ifa&wHt fflf / * if? *. Jliiii i|fjl!ylKMs - j«; <. - JlJp&r >' 1 llpf I r’■ JBBF *%■ t <; j&m f I i« : ' / J. 41 B -» BE * Iw'lS **% Bj. „- yf Mmg lll ; . ■■ .mh i; *Br «£'* TW 7 -*<r^M'.^ ttl : -s* * *_4Qu ~J *Y, iv .' 4j. JiWf j|" c I 5 1 j *4o’ -&3& r '^ fc/ *> , . * * f % f~ Ji ** Ifl'iP WARNER ROBINS AMERICAN ii'j&tMJ?: , jfX'. T ■■<■'.* &/£*?*&?■■? ,W,- yVA** <vii i> i> ,# •,«> ■ __ Mill. .■ _T a* ? Mg • ~ • |HV- y i j 4 * 4 * i,®® - |S||| ■£.; 7 i [ l| -difiV*' w\' ► TMFJiy if - IF^X& w ■iswtf 1 * ,ai U§ / >««yTIW W hL_^& BBmb mB , ■ yy HBr ¥/’A € ff f I *?%r - - I WARNER ROBINS AMERICAN ALL STARS 2006 , • VHtmt&rJ ■ : ** H - i ,1, f *1 §1 i ! ~r , ._ * 'S ■ . li HELD 2 f | *rr £ . '■•■ H «M &m> -v ? : '. £' ?'?/•* <J^trt,s % 4 * ■fHI pH WumK pBHr H\ ...,-' aaMffy ifc i '*Mo|| M '4vi(3n| * , *T r PBfrilP^^rTftiirtifr • SMI M Ss IgMB MIT 1M» f§ i ?%$ M| v | . I ~s * J* r ~<«*y ...£p> »■ ~t UF.* :; »"^y"'- WARNER ROBINS AMERICAN ALL STARS 2006 SPORTS Canseco back in baseball By BERNIE WILSON AP Sports Writer SAN DIEGO - Jose Canseco accused several top players of steroid use, once had a ball bounce off his head and go over the fence for a home run, and blew out his elbow in his only big league pitching appearance. Now’s he’s back in base ball, having agreed to a con tract with the independent San Diego Surf Dawgs. He’s planning to be their desig nated hitter and - get this - pitch. The deal comes some 16 months after Canseco attracted Congress’ atten tion with an autobiography, “Juiced,” that accused sev eral top players of steroid use. In March 2005, he tes tified before the House Government Reform com mittee that he used perfor mance-enhancing drugs as a player. The Golden Baseball League announced the agreement Thursday night, saying the former AL MVP and Rookie of the Year will make his Surf Dawgs debut Monday night on the road against the Chico Outlaws - one day after his 42nd birthday. A call to Canseco’s cell phone got this message: “Hello, Jose Canseco. I have lost my cell phone. If you can, please leave a num ber when you call. Thank you.” The six-time All-Star will be playing for the league maximum of $2,500 per month. Canseco’s lawyer, Robert Saunooke, told The Associated Press that the GBL contacted Canseco. A few years ago, the slugger said he was being black balled and kept out of major league baseball. He hit 462 home runs in a 17-year career with Oakland, Texas, Boston, Toronto, Tampa Bay, the New York RIVERSIDE 1 77ie Power to Surprised##* I SPECIAL PURCHASE ALERT 2006 Optima LX *+Tax. Tag & Title ** i « I ■ jflHk Riverside Kia has 15 2006 Optima LX’s to choose from, but HURRY! The Optima LX has one of the roomiest cabins of a mid-size sedan. At $14,995 and. equipped with V 6, alloy wheels, power windows & locks, tilt steering, CD & cruise control, these cars will go fast. Plus these vehicles are under factory warranty! 1090 Riverside Drive Macon, GA 31204 478-741-6542 - www.kiasales.com ’We strive to provide a high quality entertainment product, and Jose wilt undoubtedly be entertaining, for our lans/ - GBL president Amit Patel Yankees and Chicago White Sox. The GBL is essentially baseball’s lowest rung. Rickey Henderson played for the Surf Dawgs last year as he tried to attract the atten tion of a big league team. Canseco, once one of base ball’s most-feared hitters - and one of its most colorful figures, on and off the field - hasn’t played in the big leagues since 2001 with the Chicago White Sox, who pur chased his contract from the independent Newark Bears. “I’m looking forward to having fun in professional baseball again, as I’ve real ly missed it,” Canseco said in the Surf Dawgs’ news release. “I love what this league is doing for players, communities and families, and I want to be part of it. Rickey had a great experi ence with the Surf Dawgs last year and it will be great playing for Terry Kennedy and reminding him of the stomping my A’s gave his Giants in the ‘B9 World Series.” The GBL said Canseco has agreed to be subjected to its drug-testing policy “that immediately expels any players found using steroids or illegal drugs.” The league said nine players, out of more than 200 tested, were tossed for illegal drug use last year. In his autobiography, Canseco said he used ste roids and introduced them to several other big league sluggers, including Oakland teammate Mark McGwire. Canseco wrote that he inject ed McGwire with steroids. In a 2005 interview on Saturday - Service Hours THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL the CBS television show “60 Minutes,” Canseco also said he injected Rafael Palmeiro with steroids. The GBL said Canseco weighs 230 pounds, down from his big league playing days. The news release announc ing the deal said Canseco will be the DH “and will showcase his knuckleball as a member of the team’s pitching staff.” Canseco made one big league pitching appearance, working the final inning for the Texas Rangers in a 15-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox on May 29, 1993. He walked the bases load ed and allowed three runs and two hits. He threw 12 strikes and 21 balls, most of which were far from the strike zone. But he tore a ligament in his elbow, ending his sea son. Kennedy, the Surf Dawgs’ manager, is excited to have Canseco “for both his play ing abilities and for his vet eran leadership.” Said GBL president Amit Patel: “We strive to provide a high quality entertain ment product, and Jose will undoubtedly be entertaining for our fans.” Canseco was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1986 and MVP in 1988, when he hit 42 hom ers, drove in 124 runs and stole 40 bases to lead the A’s to the World Series, where they were upset by the Los Angeles Dodgers. That season, Canseco became the first player in major league history to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases.