A Tale of Two Be(a)nes

Raise your hand if you remember Billy Beane's brief stint in the Majors?

Now, to those of you with your hand raised...do you remember remembering Beane when you first heard the name of pitcher Bill Bene?

I do.

Both gentlemen were big league busts, but...that's where the similarities end. One went on to glory to as the moneyballin' General Manager of the Oakland A's.

The other, well, he ended up being regarded as "perhaps one of the most notable draft busts of his era". Until he added this gem to his resume.

 The former 1988 fifth overall pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers is looking at a maximum sentence of eight years behind bars, plus a fine of $250,000 for, wait for it...selling counterfeit karaoke machines.

Apparently, Bene didn't report more than $600,000 in sales between 2006 and 2010 and, to top it off, he is charged with selling hard drives containing close to 122,000 illegally copied karaoke songs.

 Something tells me Bill Bene's movie won't star Brad Pitt.

  ***Slap on the back to everyone's favorite martian from Old Time Family Baseball.***

Jose Canseco Reviews "Moneyball" and, Naturally, Begs For a Job

When the Academy Award nominations are handed out Tuesday morning, "Moneyball" looks to nominated in a number of categories.

Sure, it was shut out at the Golden Globes, but it does have its fair share of supporters.

Including Jose Canseco...who took to Twitter Sunday night after seeing the film.

Just saw the movie money ball .it was awesome congrats billy I especially loved the part about you and your daughter.ps I would have played for you back then for free.I was one of those misfits who needed a second chance

And in 1997, Canseco was granted that second chance by Oakland.

Prior to the season, Canseco signed with the Athletics for a second tour of duty.  He was the second highest paid player on the team behind Mark McGwire...taking home a cool $4.225 million.

On October 17, Billy Beane took over as Oakland's General Manager.  Two weeks later...Canseco was granted his free agency in what was to be one of Beane's first cost cutting measures. 

So, it's particularly interesting that Canseco is now saying he would have played for free even though Beane had a complete lack of interest in the 1988 American League MVP. 

Enter that classic Canseco desperation.

Billy beane call me would love to dh for you just give me a tryout that's all I ask

Ugh.

I've gotta think there's an easier way for Canseco to get in touch with Beane.  Heck...the two even shared outfield space for the 1989 World Champions.