CNN STUDIOS, LOS ANGELES, CA – NIGHT

Larry King sits at his studio desk across from Jose Canseco.

LARRY: We’re back and we’re joined by former Major League Baseball star turned author Jose Canseco.

Jose nods and smiles.

LARRY: Why the new book?

JOSE: Well, as you know Larry, my first book “Juiced” was a national bestseller.

LARRY: It blew the lid off the steroid scandal in baseball.

Jose shrugs and smiles.

JOSE: Well, yes, I guess it did.

LARRY: And that’s why you wrote it. Not for the money?

JOSE: Well, I just wanted to tell the truth.

LARRY: So it was a public service?

Jose laughs.

JOSE: Yes.

LARRY: You’re laughing, but some say you just wrote the book because you needed the money.

JOSE: Well, I think the events of the past couple years prove that it was more than that.

LARRY: You feel vindicated.

JOSE: Absolutely.

LARRY: Why the new book?

JOSE: I think I have a lot more to say.

LARRY: About steroids? It’s hard to believe you withheld any juicy details from the last book.

JOSE: Well, no. I pretty much shot my load there. But there are other things going on behind the scenes in the game that the public doesn’t know about, and it’s about time they did. I’m sick of the hypocrisy of baseball. It’s time this stuff came to light.

LARRY: So let’s get to the new book. It’s called “Goosed: Shenanigans, Horseplay, Grabass & How Baseball Got Loose.” So, your focus now is on…?

JOSE: Well, as the title suggests…

LARRY: Grabass.

JOSE: And horseplay.

LARRY: Shenanigans.

JOSE: Exactly. It’s as much a part of the game as catching and throwing.

LARRY: What percentage of Major League baseball players participate in grabass?

JOSE: At least sixty to seventy percent.

LARRY: You’re kidding me.

JOSE: It’s everywhere Larry.

LARRY: And the Commissioner and the owners know about it.

JOSE: Of course they do. They just choose to ignore it.

LARRY: And why is that?

JOSE: Look, 162 games take a toll on your body. Once the dog days of summer roll around, you are just worn out. But grabass keeps you loose. And when players are loose, production goes up. Production goes up and more fans pay more money to watch.

LARRY: So the powers of baseball turn a blind eye to grabass because it makes them money.

JOSE: Scary isn’t it?

LARRY: I would say appalling.

JOSE: And listen, I wouldn’t feel so obligated to write about this, but the league continues to pretend this problem doesn’t exist, and the hypocrisy just infuriates me.

LARRY: You name names in the book.

JOSE: Yes.

LARRY: You name arguably the biggest star in the game today – Alex Rodriguez.

JOSE: Yes.

LARRY: He denies it.

JOSE: Of course he does. He’s a hypocrite.

LARRY: We invited Alex Rodriguez to appear on tonight’s broadcast, but he declined. Instead, his publicist released this statement:

Larry reads.

LARRY: Alex does nothing all day but practice, study film and work out. He is a baseball machine. Ask any of his teammates and they will tell you that they would sooner be traded to Kansas City than engage in any hijinks or shenanigans – let alone grabass – with Alex. Any allegations to the contrary are outrageous lies.

Jose smirks.

LARRY: That’s a pretty strong denial.

JOSE: Well, we heard denials like that before didn’t we Larry? And I proved to be vindicated in all my claims.

LARRY: So Mr. Rodriguez does have a history with grabass?

JOSE: I know for a fact that when A-Rod played in Texas, Raphael Palmiero snapped him in the butt with a towel.

LARRY: You witnessed this first hand?

JOSE: No, but it’s common knowledge around the league.

LARRY: So other ballplayers will back your story up.

JOSE: If they have any integrity they will.

LARRY: Let’s find out, because joining us now via satellite from Atlanta is Roger McDowell, the pitching coach of the Atlanta Braves and former Major League relief pitcher and noted prankster. What do you make of all this Roger?

ROGER: Larry, I think it’s a whole lotta nothing.

JOSE: Oh come on Roger.

ROGER: Yes, there are a few practical jokes in the game from time to time. A hot foot here; a shaving cream pie to the face there, but it is hardly widespread.

LARRY: So you admit to doing these things.

ROGER: Well…a lot of those stories are just that – stories.

JOSE: Roger, you know that is not true.

ROGER: I would also like to point out that there are no rules on the books about any of this kind of thing. And furthermore, there is no evidence showing that any of this so-called grabass can actually improve someone’s ability to play baseball.

LARRY: What about it Jose?

JOSE: More lies. At this point, who are you going to believe?

LARRY: Good question.