Minor League Team to Donate $2,000 to M.A.D.D. on Beer Pong Night

An Atlantic League baseball team, the Newark Bears, is giving departing pitching coach Jim Leyritz a send-off party as the end of the season nears.  As you might recall, Leyritz-- the former-New York Yankees catcher and World Series hero--  was acquitted of DUI manslaughter last year.  As part of the farewell,  the New Jersey team will donate $2,000 to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

A nice gesture, except the festivities will be held the same night as the Bears' weekly Thirsty Thursday promotion which includes a beer-pong tournament.

The team apparently thinks any publicity is good publicity but combining the two events on this upcoming Thursday night is, not surprisingly, drawing criticism.

Everyone deserves a second chance but the team might have used any night but Thirsty Thursday to say goodbye to Leyritz and commend the work of M.A.D.D..

The team released a statement explaining its position:  "Although a beer-pong tournament will be hosted that night, the owners thought by hosting the event with all the parties and attractions, it would support the important need of how people can have fun responsibly."


The Atlantic League is a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball and Newark was once home to one of Rickey Henderson's many comeback attempts.


Leyritz is the author of a book Catching Heat and will sign autographs before the ceremony along with the team's other coaches including Tim Raines and Ozzie Canseco-- who was arrested for DUI in Florida in January.

Jose Canseco Attempts To Use Twin Brother In Boxing Match Switcheroo

As if it wasn't already hard enough being mistaken for or compared to Jose Canseco, his lesser twin brother, Ozzie, tried to fill in for Jose in a celebrity boxing match this past weekend.

Jose's scheme to slip his brother into the ring against Billy Padder in Miami was thwarted after eagle-eyed fans noticed that certain tattoos on the stand-in's bicep didn't match Jose's as he entered the ring.

Jose---the former major league baseball slugger, steroid user and author---tried to double his pleasure and lessen the hurt by attempting to fool fight fans and officials by having his look-a-like brother trade places and get into the ring.  Jose tried pulling the time-worn twin ruse because he believed the promoters reneged on their deal.

Ozzie must really be hurting.  The 24-game major-leaguer was willing to take the beating for less money than Jose would take.

The big switch almost worked.  Ozzie fooled officials at the pre-fight weigh-in by wearing a tee-shirt and sunglasses.

When spectators inside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino noticed that Ozzie wasn't Jose, police escorted the impostor from the ring.  No punches was ever thrown.  Just another black eye to Jose's reputation.

It has been reported that Ozzie allegedly "filled in" for Jose at some baseball card shows.

It probably didn't matter which 46 year-old twin fought.  Jose's "boxing" record includes a first-round KO by former NFLer Vai Sikahema in 2008, a three-round draw against Partridge Family member Danny Bonaduce in 2009 and an MMA beat down by 7'2" Choi Hong-man later that year.

Ozzie's record includes a Miami barroom brawl alongside Jose in 2001.

Jose Twittered that the promoters didn't honor their end of the contract and claims he did nothing unethical.

On his Twitter account he said, "Is anyone out there smart enough to figure it out or are you all a bunch of hateful morons."

Celebrity Boxing promoter, Damon Feldman, said Jose was paid his fee in full in two installments.

Jose, a member of the elite 40/40 Club, was outed by the 20/20 Club--20/20 vision that is.