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Nearly 11 years after Barry Bonds testified before a grand jury investigating the illegal distribution of performance-enhancing drugs, a group of judges will hear arguments Thursday on whether baseball's career home-run leader should have his obstruction of justice conviction thrown out.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will convene an 11-judge panel in San Francisco to decide whether Bonds' rambling response to a question about injectable substances was "corruptly" an attempt to "obstruct, influence or impede the grand jury proceeding ... by knowingly giving material testimony that was intentionally evasive, false or misleading."
"If I was Bonds' lawyers, at this moment I would be really feeling pretty good that they've got a real shot of reversing the conviction," said William B. Gould IV, a professor emeritus at Stanford Law School.
Bonds was indicted in 2007, and four years later a jury deadlocked on three counts charging him with making false statements when he denied receiving steroids and human growth hormone.
Dodgers owners reach deal to buy Triple-A team • The owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers have reached an agreement to buy a stake in the Oklahoma City RedHawks, and the team will change its Triple-A affiliation to Oklahoma City next year.
The deal marks the end of the Dodgers' minor league presence in Albuquerque after 44 years. The Dodgers will continue to play in the Pacific Coast League while moving to its American Northern Division and playing at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
Umpire suspended for grabbing jersey • Umpire Joe West was suspended for one game without pay for grabbing the jersey of Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon.
Papelbon was suspended seven games and fined Monday for making a lewd gesture and then bumping West. The right-hander has insisted he wasn't making a vulgar motion toward fans as he walked off the field to boos after giving up four runs in the ninth inning of Philadelphia's 5-4 loss to the Miami on Sunday.
West ejected him after the umpire thought Papelbon grabbed his crotch in response to crowd jeers.