Jose Canseco called in to the radio show recently to say "Happy New Year." And -- oh, by the way -- he still plans to publish his tell-all book.

Canseco said the book should come out sometime during spring training -- even if he signs with a team. But I find it highly unlikely that he would drop names and remain in the game, playing against some of the players he may have named.

	It sounds as if he is using the book as a hammer over the head of Major League Baseball.

It sounds as if he is using the book as a hammer over the head of Major League Baseball. If he isn't allowed back in the game and doesn't get a chance to hit 500 home runs, he will publish the book and air all the dirty laundry. No team has contacted him yet, but -- whether he realizes it or not -- his prospective book may be scaring off teams.

While he hasn't heard back directly from any ballplayers, Canseco said he learned through the Beverly Hills Sports Council, the firm that used to represent him, that some players have inquired to find out if they were included in the book. But Canseco won't tell. He said the reason the book has taken so long to complete is that he wants to tie up any loose ends and make sure it is a strong book.

Yes, Canseco is quite the penman.

In the meantime, he is also talking about being an actor. Canseco wouldn't be the first athlete to cross over from sports into acting. For instance, Chuck Connors became "The Rifleman" after a 67-game major-league stint with the Dodgers and the Cubs. Canseco recently got a nose job and wants to play a villain, a character befitting his bad-guy image.

Baseball already has enough problems, from Pete Rose's potential reinstatement to Ken Caminiti's steroid revelations to last season's averted strike. But six weeks away from the pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training, Canseco is still there -- batting cleanup.