NEW YORK, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Former slugger Jose Canseco's tell-all book about steroid use in Major League Baseball makes preposterous claims driven by the need for money, reports said.
Word of Canseco's impending book, "Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big," quickly drew negative reactions. Its claims of steroid use by Mark McGwire, Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Palmeiro and Ivan Rodriguez are unbelievable given Canseco's lies about his own steroid use, the Washington Post said.
Claims that President Bush, the former owner of the Texas Rangers, knew about steroid use are "preposterous," the newspaper said. Palmeiro categorically denied the "ludicrous" allegations.
Former Oakland Athletics Manager Tony LaRussa told the New York Times McGwire gained his size from working out hard, not steroids, unlike Canseco "who would play around in the gym for 10 minutes, and all of a sudden he's bigger than anybody."
LaRussa told the newspaper Canseco is "hurting for money" and is envious of McGwire's career.
A publicist said Canseco would not speak with reporters until "60 Minutes" runs a Feb. 20 segment on him. The book is due to go on sale the next day.
