So what exactly is a king? These days the word king comes in common occurrence, used in our daily language: king of the jungle, king of the hill, king of queens, Peter King, Larry King and as of the last month or so, the late, king of pop.

But still, what exactly sets the parameters and boundaries where one can be donned the regent, king?

Merriam-Webster defines king as one that holds a preeminent position; especially: a chief among competitors. But, what if that king cheated on their way to the crown? Who's to say that they're ultimately sovereign for their accomplishments?

Jose Canseco is the ultimate example of the wannabe-king. You gotta know your career is in its final descent if you agree to fight Danny Bonaduce on Celebrity Boxing… and lose. If we're talking performance enhancing drugs, I still can't grasp exactly what the motives were behind Canseco's allegations in the exposés he co-wrote on steroid abuse in baseball. Was it fueled by jealousy with lame attempts to discredit others that held the title, king, or did Canseco genuinely want to bring justice to the MLB and really stick it to Bud Selig?

Either way, he's been spot-on with his accusations, though his ways may seem a bit unorthodox. Nonetheless, my perception clearly sees that it was Canseco who was the modern-era's parasite and originator of this decade's desecration of baseball. But, did he really need the juice?

Throughout his career (1,887 games), Canseco hit 462 home runs with a .515 SLG% and a .266 AVG. Not too shabby for a guy that led SportsCenter's all-time bonehead plays, taking a fly ball off of his head. The fact that he used, however, discredits and taints all that he accomplished on the field, and has turned him into a complete lunatic and clearly a pure waste of phenomenal numbers.

Moving on… I don't think the baseball community has fully felt the effect of the hangover from the Barry Bonds controversy/milestone just yet. It's clear that the king continues to hold a page in the record books with 762*, as baseball's lord of the long ball.

It's feasible we won't ever know anything concrete as to whether Bonds did or did not knowingly take performance-enhancing drugs. However, it's impossible to deny that Bonds joins those that bear the asterisks above their heads, symbolizing the scarlet letter for sacrificing the integrity of the game.

When this guy was playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants, many moons ago, he was a five-tool player and fast as lightening. Then came the great chase for 61.

While Mark McGwire and Samm Sosa were deadlocked in game of HORSE in which each at-bat mimicked the other's moon shot, Bonds took a back seat to the two. That's where the implosion began.

Bonds came back that year bigger, stronger and faster, taking more of a power approach at the plate with an eye-popping, comic-book physique. Whatever it was, Bonds easily passed the new mark, made a dent of his own with 72 home runs in one season, and the rest is history.

For now, the single season record is safe. Realistically, Bonds only has to worry about Alex Rodriguez in the rear view mirror as potential competition for the coveted rights as home run king. Then again, Rodriguez is no longer any different than Bonds.

I can't say it's fair to compare Bonds and Canseco, or even put them on the same pedestal because that's just comparing apples and oranges. No question, the two did stoop to lows in order to reach astronomical highs.

You can label Bonds with Michael Jackson-Syndrome: Under constant pressure to perform, please and live up to the pressures of others' shadows. Bonds would have gone down with some sort of crown, even if he'd never broken McGwire's or Hank Aaron's records. Another case of misspent career of a man known to be a king.

Next… It's true, I've always had passionate distaste for A-Rod, but I'll admit, it felt good to know that within the end of his career he would surpass Bonds and rightfully claim a spot in the sports almanac without a watermark (*).

From minute one, when Rodriguez entered Major League Baseball, he was a special player, make no doubt about it. Rodriguez cruised through the American League West with Seattle as a semi-historical 19-year old who flawlessly occupied the shortstop position with ease.

He also had a knack for hitting baseballs out of venues as well. In his rookie and sophomore years, Rodriguez respectively hit .358 with 36 home runs and .300 with 23 home runs, both incredible feats for any player of that age. Yet, the fact that he was touted as the next "big thing" in the MLB placed him in the dead center of the limelight of professional baseball.

However, the enigma that was Rodriguez wouldn't be brought to the public eye until his move to Texas where the tainting began. It could've been Canseco that introduced it to Rodriguez, or Rodriguez's cousin, who he claimed got it "over the counter" during the off-season. Either way, Rodriguez' numbers after leaving the Mariners skyrocketed into MVP caliber-type statistics: 2001: .318/52/135; 2002: .300/57/142.

I'm sorry, but I didn't buy into the whole, "loosey-goosey era" in which A-Rod so vainly professed to Peter Gammons during his confessional on national television. He knew that if this stuff could keep assisting him in putting up the larger-than-life numbers like he had been, along with the God-given talent, he was a shoe in to make boku-bucks and stir-up Hall of Fame buzz.

Don't get me wrong, the "God-given" part isn't or wasn't hyperbole. Just look back to his Seattle days. But, the fact remains that A-Rod knowingly pulled the wool over everyone's eyes, notably when he told Katie Couric he had never had any reason to take performance-enhancing drugs, which I believe acted as his own congratulations to a job well done at pulling off a conniving fallacy.

Then came the mega deal from New York that made him baseball's top-paid player. Not to mention two MVP's to go along with that. Again, though, the "Fit" always seems to hit the "Shan" with these guys, as Selena Roberts blazoned the world with breaking news of Rodriguez' positive tests.

I just can't seem to grasp how Rodriguez could come to grips with himself, believing he'd found some way to continuously exploit loopholes and seemingly never have to worry about the perpetual dropping of an anvil. He was doomed after he landed in New York anyway. Being in the spotlight can have an odd effect on individuals, and once A-Rod's divorce and Madonna fiasco broke the headlines, it was only time until Pandora's box opened. Luckily it happened and the famous line, "everyone eventually gets caught" haunted Rodriguez. The unfortunate part lies in the fact that a sure-thing future king will have nothing honest to show for it.

Oh boy…  "That's just Manny being Manny." I can't count the number of times I would hear this from my girlfriend's father. Any stunt Ramirez pulled off was always sugarcoated with that famous phrase, followed up with a laugh and a shake of the head. (Side note: Favorite Manny Moment: Ramirez walks up to the batters box to Styles P's – "I Get High" during family night at Fenway Park.)

Whether it was the infamous leap to the leftfield wall followed up with a high five to a fan or Manny throwing down the Red Sox traveling manager, he was always protected by the mysticism of donning the moniker, "Boston's greatest right-handed hitter" and the fact that he was just… Manny Ramirez.

His power was unmatched and he clearly could see the ball better than most hitters as he could work the count back full from being down 0-2 on any given night. However, while Ramirez helped Boston topple "The Curse" and added insurance to the dynasty in 2007, he always had a silent, but conniving way about him. He played when he wanted to and if things weren't right in Mannyland he'd jog out at groundball at a glacial pace, would create his own 15 day DL stint, or even claim his grandmother had died, thee times! Some liked him, and those that didn't, especially the aficionados of baseball, despised him.

Then the Mitchell Report went public. I was waiting to see Ramirez' name on it. Fortunately, it wasn't. I along with other Sox fans slept better based only on the notion that our beloved, jovial hitter was clean and pure. Boy, were we fooled.

After the three-way trade that brought Jason Bay to Boston and Ramirez to Los Angeles, the divide of lovers and haters were still intact. There were those that loved Manny for all he had done in Boston and there were those that wished Theo Epstein had traded him sooner. Thus was the birth of "Mannywood."

Ramirez tore the west coast into complete shreds, putting up outrageous numbers in a very mediocre division. But, still Ramirez helped the Dodgers compete for the National League crown. Though Los Angeles came up short, Dodgerland knew there was always next year and Manny was, more than likely, coming back.

Manny did in fact return, but he also brought along some baggage: Baggage comparable to Ben Stiller's wife in "The Heartbreak Kid."

When the news broke that Ramirez was "baaack," the entire National League pitching staff began to prepare themselves for the heaping pile of stuff they were all in for each time he stepped up to the plate. Luckily for them, Manny was popped and suspended for testing positive for banned performance enhancing drugs.

I can't believe we all bought into the fact that his chiseled build, hidden deep underneath his baggy uniform was all natural. Was he taking PEDs during his tenure at Boston, or did the fact that the aging slugger was looking for a big time contract in Los Angeles enable him to take the beaten path we have all seen too many athletes take? Tom Werner, co-owner, along with John Henry, and Chairman of the Red Sox, claims that Ramirez was "clean" while playing with Boston and passed "multiple drug tests."

Ramirez joined the 500 club last summer and has continued to pile on the home runs even after coming back from his 50-game suspension. Regardless, all the right-handed slugger has accomplished is in speculation and has a red flag for foul play. Realistically, he's no better than the rest.

I can go on writing about these star athletes who have taken the easy route to money, success and fame, and end it with a clever twist that concludes with a reiteration of the title for another 3,000 words. I can also say that these guys that have cheated and have gotten caught may have money, success and fame, but they no longer hold the loyalty and respect of those that a true king is to serve: the people.

Instead I'll leave you with lyrics from a song and will let you search and listen on your own.

Wish I may
Wish I might
Have this I wish tonight
Are you satisfied?

Dig for gold
Dig for fame
You dig to make your name
Are you pacified?

All the wants you waste
All the things you've chased

Then it all crashes down
And you break your crown
And you point your finger
But there's no one around

Just want one thing
Just to play the king
But the castle's crumbling
And you're left with just name

Where's your crown, King Nothing?
Where's your crown?

Hot and cold
Bought and Sold
A heart as hard as gold
Yeah! Are you satisfied?

Wish I might
Wish I may
You wish your life away
Are you pacified?

All the wants you've waste
All the things you've chased

Then it all crashes down
And you break your crown
And you point your finger
But there's no one around

Just want one thing
Just to play the king
But the castle's crumbling
And you're left with just a thing

Where's your crown, King Nothing