As if being the least loved player in the game of baseball wasn't bad enough.
That's just the start of Jose Canseco's long list of mementos.
After slamming current and former baseball favorites and commenting on Madonna's love life, Canseco has a new set of battles on his hands. The independent Golden Baseball League and the Long Beach Armada have been awarded more than a quarter-million dollars in a default judgment in a breach of contract suit against former slugging guru Canseco, the league announced Monday evening.
The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court accused Canseco of various breaches of contract when he played for the Armada in 2006. The claims included that Canseco cited a family emergency as the reason to leave a team during a road trip, but instead he played in a celebrity poker tournament in Las Vegas and faked a back injury to avoid a public appearance and a game in Reno, while he actually played poker all night at a casino.
Canseco did not appear at a hearing following the default judgment, and the league and team were awarded the $258,750 it sought by Superior Court Judge Judith H. Vander Lans last Monday, according to court records supplied by the league to City News Service.
Canseco could not be immediately reached for comment, according to City News Service. Oddly enough, he'll be reachable, making an appearance as a speaker this Friday at USC.
Canseco was signed to a uniform players contract and a marketing agreement in 2006 by the team and league when he was attempting a return to the major leagues as a knuckleball pitcher and designated hitter.
"We are pleased that the court ruled in our favor and has agreed with our position," said attorney Alexander M. Polyachenko, who represented the league. "We are sorry Mr. Canseco choose not to honor his contractual obligations and that we had to pursue the damages through the courts, but that was his choice. The next step will be a formal asset verification and collection of the judgment."
While Canseco has yet to comment, several months ago a TV documentary on his life came to fruition. He looked to be making amends with his past while trying to move forward. It remains a mystery why Canseco would sabatoge a second chance at playing the game of baseball, but it's clear his next license plate might say, "I’d Rather Play Poker."
