Tweet
Barry Bonds' grand jury testimony is a thing of the past, preserved forever on tape. If he did not tell the truth when he was interviewed in regard to his use of steroids, he could wind up getting the full Martha Stewart treatment.
Instead of as a witness in the federal investigation of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, which has resulted in 42 counts for four men on charges of drug distribution and money laundering, Bonds could be the focus of the next investigation. Perjury charges could be the next chapter in baseball's steroids scandal, which is taking on historic proportions.
According to Major League Baseball sources, Commissioner Bud Selig wants to meet with Bonds in the near future, perhaps offering some future leniency if Bonds should decide to admit he had some illegal help remodeling his upper body.
Selig, reached Friday at his Milwaukee office, denied he is conducting his own investigation of Bonds. He declined comment when asked about his interest in meeting with the six-time Most Valuable Player, who hit 73 home runs for San Francisco in 2001.
Few, however, seem to be buying Bonds' denials these days, not with his personal trainer, Greg Anderson, as one of those indicted in the BALCO case. If Bonds was one of the 5 to 7 percent of players who tested positive when the 2003 survey was collected, it could become public knowledge. Federal prosecutors have issued subpoenas for the urine samples of players linked to BALCO.
"I'll just say this," one highly placed MLB source said. "People around the Giants are extremely nervous, and maybe they have reason to be."
According to Rob Manfred, MLB's executive vice president for labor relations, both Selig and officials with the players union have tried to keep those test results confidential.
"We made an agreement with the players' association that this testing was supposed to be not only confidential but anonymous," Manfred said. "At every step thus far, we've done everything we can to defend that agreement."
Manfred acknowledged the urine samples were to be destroyed but cited the intervention of federal prosecutors.
"The subpoenas were served before the destruction that was contemplated by the agreement could have been effectuated," he said. "We didn't intend to leave a paper trail."
The urine samples are not the only threat to Bonds. MLB could be forced to take action against Bonds if Anderson testifies Bonds knew he was being given steroids or other banned substances, such as human growth hormone. According to the New York Daily News, Bonds told the San Francisco grand jury he never "knowingly" has used steroids.
MLB almost certainly would suspend Bonds if it were revealed he lied to the grand jury. His response in coming days could help determine how long his pursuit of Henry Aaron's home run record is interrupted.
It would not be unprecedented for Selig to ask Bonds about his steroid use. According to the source, the commissioner has asked several players this spring if they used steroids. They have replied consistently that, no, they haven't but they know some players who have.
The commissioner directed some hard questions to the Cubs' Sammy Sosa when he met with him earlier this spring, according to the source. Sosa told Selig that he never has used steroids. The source said the commissioner has yet to discuss steroid use with Bonds.
According to the source, MLB officials will tell Bonds the consequences will be "much worse" if he professes innocence and is revealed later as a steroid user.
Bonds enters this season with 658 home ruins, only two behind his godfather, Willie Mays, for third place on the all-time list. He trails Babe Ruth by 56 and Aaron by 97. He has hit at least 45 homers each of the last four seasons, making him a good bet to catch Aaron in 2006.
Selig would be in an interesting position if a possible Bonds suspension came his way. He remains extremely close with Aaron, who hit 354 of his 755 home runs from 1954 through 1965, when the Braves' franchise was based in Milwaukee. He ended his career playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, which Selig owned.
Source: Chicago Tribune
Instead of as a witness in the federal investigation of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, which has resulted in 42 counts for four men on charges of drug distribution and money laundering, Bonds could be the focus of the next investigation. Perjury charges could be the next chapter in baseball's steroids scandal, which is taking on historic proportions.
According to Major League Baseball sources, Commissioner Bud Selig wants to meet with Bonds in the near future, perhaps offering some future leniency if Bonds should decide to admit he had some illegal help remodeling his upper body.
Selig, reached Friday at his Milwaukee office, denied he is conducting his own investigation of Bonds. He declined comment when asked about his interest in meeting with the six-time Most Valuable Player, who hit 73 home runs for San Francisco in 2001.
Few, however, seem to be buying Bonds' denials these days, not with his personal trainer, Greg Anderson, as one of those indicted in the BALCO case. If Bonds was one of the 5 to 7 percent of players who tested positive when the 2003 survey was collected, it could become public knowledge. Federal prosecutors have issued subpoenas for the urine samples of players linked to BALCO.
"I'll just say this," one highly placed MLB source said. "People around the Giants are extremely nervous, and maybe they have reason to be."
According to Rob Manfred, MLB's executive vice president for labor relations, both Selig and officials with the players union have tried to keep those test results confidential.
"We made an agreement with the players' association that this testing was supposed to be not only confidential but anonymous," Manfred said. "At every step thus far, we've done everything we can to defend that agreement."
Manfred acknowledged the urine samples were to be destroyed but cited the intervention of federal prosecutors.
"The subpoenas were served before the destruction that was contemplated by the agreement could have been effectuated," he said. "We didn't intend to leave a paper trail."
The urine samples are not the only threat to Bonds. MLB could be forced to take action against Bonds if Anderson testifies Bonds knew he was being given steroids or other banned substances, such as human growth hormone. According to the New York Daily News, Bonds told the San Francisco grand jury he never "knowingly" has used steroids.
MLB almost certainly would suspend Bonds if it were revealed he lied to the grand jury. His response in coming days could help determine how long his pursuit of Henry Aaron's home run record is interrupted.
It would not be unprecedented for Selig to ask Bonds about his steroid use. According to the source, the commissioner has asked several players this spring if they used steroids. They have replied consistently that, no, they haven't but they know some players who have.
The commissioner directed some hard questions to the Cubs' Sammy Sosa when he met with him earlier this spring, according to the source. Sosa told Selig that he never has used steroids. The source said the commissioner has yet to discuss steroid use with Bonds.
According to the source, MLB officials will tell Bonds the consequences will be "much worse" if he professes innocence and is revealed later as a steroid user.
Bonds enters this season with 658 home ruins, only two behind his godfather, Willie Mays, for third place on the all-time list. He trails Babe Ruth by 56 and Aaron by 97. He has hit at least 45 homers each of the last four seasons, making him a good bet to catch Aaron in 2006.
Selig would be in an interesting position if a possible Bonds suspension came his way. He remains extremely close with Aaron, who hit 354 of his 755 home runs from 1954 through 1965, when the Braves' franchise was based in Milwaukee. He ended his career playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, which Selig owned.
Source: Chicago Tribune