Friday, February 29, 2008

Federal Judges tells prosecutors to rewrite their perjury indictment in the Barry Bonds case

Baseball's home run king, Barry Bonds, was handed an initial courtroom victory today when a federal judge found that steroid perjury charges against him were improperly written structured.

Related breaking news ---

Rewrite Barry Bonds indictment, federal judge tells prosecutors
By Howard Mintz A federal judge today ordered prosecutors to rewrite their perjury indictment against former San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds. ...

Bonds Wins Bid to Dismiss or Narrow Perjury Charges
Barry Bonds, Major League Baseball's all-time home-run leader, won a request to have US perjury charges against him dismissed or narrowed ...

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Barry Bonds and the Tampa Bay Rays Still in Play?

Earlier this month, when we wrote the article "10 Reasons why Barry Bonds will join the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2008" - The Barry Bonds Trial blog received a great deal of attention throughout the blogsphere.

Now, the national media seems to have caught on and there is more buzz about Barry and the Rays. Did we mention we had inside information, or what?

Read on Barry readers -

SportingNews: Why the Rays should sign Barry Bonds

SI: Too Much Baggage

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Agent: Barry Bonds is not retiring. He's not considering retiring

Barry Bonds wants to play in 2008

BY CHRISTIAN RED
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Have bat - and home run record. Will travel.

He's been indicted on perjury and obstruction of justice charges. His age is nearly Jurassic for a ballplayer (he turns 44 on July 24) and his range in the outfield might be a tad better than Jason Giambi's.

Still, the man with 762 homers and seven MVP awards wants to play in the majors this season, which would mark his 23rd in the big leagues if he ever finds an employer.

"Barry is not retiring. He's not considering retiring," Jeff Borris, the agent for slugger Barry Bonds, told the Daily News on Wednesday. "If Barry's skills had eroded and he wasn't able to compete at the major league level, he would take off his own jersey."

NY Daily News

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

10 Reasons why Barry Bonds will join the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2008

10 Reasons why Barry Bonds will be a Tampa Bay Ray!

Yes, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays finished 66-96 (.407) during the 2007 MLB season, the worst team in the league (again), and an even 30 games behind the first place Boston Red Sox. But, so what? Do you think that Barry Bonds has never welcomed a challenge before in his life? Come on.

When Sosa and McGuire were launching home runs left and right, did Barry just say to himself "that's life, so be it"??? No he got busy and worked on solving the problem!

Hence, just ONE of the many reasons why Barry Bonds will be a Tampa Bay Devil Ray sooner than you can say "Grapefruit Baseball." Get ready Tampa Bay!

Here's why Barry will be a Ray:

10. Barry Bonds is a coastal guy; loves the water because it is good for his health (also; see #1)

9. Tampa Bay has openings in all positions, especially left field

8. Barry Bonds could play DH and LF and nobody will care one way or another (he'll bat twice, and nobody will care; once a cheater....)

7. Tampa Bay is not really a hockey or football town, it REALLY loves its BASEBALL!!! Honest!

6. ROI, return on investment: Barry Bonds will pay for himself in a week or 2

5. The scientologists in Clearwater can help him get clean and will provide him with a new view of reality

4. Bobby Bonds once mumbled to young Barry about all the classy bars and escorts there

3. Oakland doesn't want him and can't afford him

2. The Los Angeles Dodgers don't want him and can afford him

1. Tampa Bay is on the water and Barry Bonds may need a quick escape route if the heat is on!

Look, Andy Pettitte recently apologized to the New York Yankees, Houston Astros and his fans for the "embarrassment" he caused them by taking that human growth stuff. Listen, Tampa Bay fans! Barry Bonds will never, never put you through any of this nonsense. He'll never apologize for anything! He'll keep his honor and yours as well. He'll be a great Devil Ray and you'll love him for it. Get ready.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Words and more words in the Barry Bonds case

Word games in Bonds case

Was Barry Bonds tripped up by "fundamentally" ambiguous questions, or were the questions just ambiguous?

The answer to this word game may provide a preview of future courtroom battles if this highly anticipated perjury case ever does go to trial.

The case against Barry Bonds just got a little fuzzier: The prosecution virtually conceded in a Valentine's Day response to a defense motion to dismiss the indictment that it asked the slugger confusing and often ambiguous either/or questions in the grand jury.


Yahoo! Sports

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Confusion, then unconfusion with The Barry Bonds Case

Government urges judge to keep Bonds indictment on track
By PAUL ELIAS, Associated Press Writer
February 14, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A typo in court papers regarding Barry Bonds filed late Thursday by federal prosecutors touched off a brief tempest over the mistaken belief that he failed a drug test in November 2001, one month after breaking the home run record.

In fact, the government meant to reference a previously reported November 2000 failed drug test, U.S. attorney spokesman Josh Eaton said. That drug test was included in the indictment unsealed last year, when prosecutors said the test was for a player they called "Barry B."

The mistake prompted at least one erroneous report that was quickly posted to Web sites around the country.

Monday, February 11, 2008

About Jeff Novitzky (again)

Judge in Bonds case skeptical of Novitzky

Before a jury gets to decide if it believes Barry Bonds, the judge in the case may decide whether she believes Jeff Novitzky, the lead BALCO investigator.

Susan Ilston, the highly regarded district judge in the Bonds perjury case, is one of four federal judges who have condemned the tactics and questioned the candor of the indefatigable IRS agent Novitzky, according to a recent appellate decision.

Yahoo! Sports

Sunday, February 10, 2008

The Padres and Barry Bonds? Probably not.

Padres say tainted Bonds in left would not be right

Barry Bonds is a perfect fit. That is, of course, if you happen to be looking for a bouncer.

He's muscular and menacing, intolerant and intimidating. He's the kind of guy who commands a wide berth and, potentially, a bedroom behind bars. If the job description calls for someone who can clear a room simply by clearing his throat, Bonds could be the ideal candidate.


San Diego Tribune

A selection of Barry Bonds' comments regarding PED use:

  • "Doctors ought to quit worrying about what ballplayers are taking. What players take doesn't matter. It's nobody else's business. The doctors should spend their time looking for cures for cancer. It takes more than muscles to hit homers. If all those guys were using stuff, how come they're not all hitting homers?" -- May 21, 2002, Associated Press
  • "No. I don't have to [use steroids]. I mean, I'm a good enough ballplayer as it is. I don't need to be any better. I can't get any better at this age." -- June 2002, On the Record with Bob Costas
  • "I never asked. When he said it was flaxseed oil, I just said, 'Whatever.' It was in the ballpark.. in front of everybody. I mean, all the reporters, my teammates, I mean they all saw it. I didn't hide it." -- Dec. 4, 2003, during grand jury testimony, according to the San Francisco Chronicle
  • "I don't know Tim Montgomery. I've never met him. When accusations come from someone you don't even know, what can you do?" They'll be talking to my lawyer." -- June 25, 2004 to USA TODAY in response to allegations from a former world-class sprinter that he received steroids from BALCO
  • "All you guys lied! All of y'all and the story have lied. Should you have asterisks behind your name? All of you lied. All of you have said something wrong. All of you have dirt. When your closet's clean, then come clean somebody else's." -- Feb. 22, 2005, first public comments after testimony was leaked
  • "I don't know if steroids are going to help you in baseball. I just don't believe it. I don't believe steroids can help eye-hand coordination [and] technically hit a baseball." -- Feb. 22, 2005, first public comments after testimony was leaked
  • "You wanted me to jump off the bridge; I finally have jumped. You wanted to bring me down, you've finally brought me and my family down. You've finally done it. So now go kick a different person. I'm done. I'll do the best I can and that's about it. [I'm talking about] inner hurt. I'm physically, mentally done. I'm mentally drained. Tired of my kids crying." -- March 23, 2005 on MLB
  • "I went through the system. And that's what it is. And that's what I got. I went through the system. I'm in an appeal process right now. I was never convicted of steroids. Do I have any regrets? What happened happened. It's there. It is what it is. I live with it. I'm a convicted felon for obstruction of justice, and that's who I am. I live with it." -- May 29, 2012
  • "I gave my life and soul to that game. That's what's heartbreaking. That's the hard part of it." -- May 30, 2012 on MLB
  • "Not winning? [the 2002 World Series] It doesn't stick with me anymore. Right now, it's just good to see everyone and have a good time. Win or lost, it's nice just to come home and reminisce with each other." -- July 1, 2012
  • "Oh, without a doubt. There's not a doubt in my mind." -- August 6, 2012