Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO ó A federal judge says she might toss some of the strongest evidence against Barry Bonds, a blow to prosecutors trying to prove the home-run king lied when he denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston said her “preliminary thoughts” were to exclude from trial three 2000-2001 positive drug tests that prosecutors say belong to Bonds unless there is a direct link that the urine samples came from the former San Francisco Giants slugger.
“If there’s no testimony to establish that, I don’t think any of them work,” Illston said.
The only person who can do that seems to be Bonds’ personal trainer, Greg Anderson, who spent more than a year behind bars for refusing to speak to a federal grand jury investigating Bonds. And Anderson’s attorney, Mark Geragos, has said his client will not testify against Bonds at the trial, scheduled to start March 2.
Without someone to authenticate that the test results were from Bonds’ urine, Illston said claims that the tests were Bonds’ were “classic hearsay.”
Based on the same logic, Illston said she likely also would exclude a doping calendar and other papers seized by federal investigators at Anderson’s home.
Bonds is charged with lying to a December 2003 grand jury when he said he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs. He pleaded not guilty to the charges earlier Thursday.
* MINNEAPOLIS ó Reliever Matt Guerrier and the Twins agreed on a one-year deal worth $1,475,000.
* TORONTO ó Left-hander Brian Tallet and the Blue Jays agreed to a one-year deal worth $1,015,000. Toronto also claimed right-hander T.J. Beam off waivers from Pittsburgh and designated infielder Russ Adams for assignment.
Adams (North Carolina) was Toronto’s first-round pick in 2002.
* ATLANTA ó Hank Aaron’s family and friends were scheduled to throw him a 75th birthday party Thursday at a downtown Atlanta hotel. Among those planning to attend were Bill Clinton, Bud Selig and Hall of Famer Dave Winfield.
* CINCINNATI ó Jacque Jones and Daryle Ward agreed to minor league deals with the Reds.
* SAN DIEGO ó Matt Bush, the No. 1 pick in the 2004 draft who had elbow problems and a notable off-field altercation, was designated for assignment by the Padres to make room for Cliff Floyd, who spent last season with Tampa Bay. Floyd agreed to a $750,000, one-year deal to pinch-hit and be the designated hitter in road interleague games.
* WASHINGTON ó Left-hander Odalis Perez and the Nationals agreed to a non-guaranteed minor league contract.
* NEW YORK ó The Mets and pitcher Elmer Dessens were close to completing a minor league deal.
NFL
BOSTON ó The New England Patriots placed the franchise tag on Matt Cassel, making it tougher for other teams to sign the free agent quarterback. If the Patriots are confident Tom Brady will be ready for the 2009 season, they could trade Cassel rather than pay him the $14.65 million offer in the franchise designation.
The Patriots can match any offer made by another team or allow him to sign with that team in exchange for two first-round picks.
* KAPOLEI, Hawaii ó Physically drained and emotionally spent from their whirlwind week, Super Bowl champions Troy Polamalu, James Harrison and James Farrior participated in their first Pro Bowl practice Thursday.
“This is beautiful, man,” Farrior said. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
The Steelers arrived late Wednesday. They first flew to Chicago for a brief stopover before spending seven more hours on a plane to Honolulu.
Polamalu said he was looking forward to two things: sun and surf. But Steelers fans shouldn’t worry about him joining the big-wave surfers on Oahu’s North Shore.
“I’m a little-wave surfer. Tiny-wave surfer, actually,” he said.
* NEW YORK ó The Jets hired Kerry Locklin as defensive line coach and retained Mike Devlin as assistant offensive line/tight ends coach.
* SAN FRANCISCO ó Federal prosecutors are urging a judge to sentence former NFL player Dana Stubblefield to probation for lying to sports doping investigators about his drug use.
They say the lenient sentence is warranted because he provided names of players, trainers and others associated with the NFL who he says used and distributed performance-enhancing drugs. Prosecutors say that NFL officials have interviewed Stubblefield and are investigating his claims.n IRVING, Texas ó Former Dallas Cowboys receiver Terry Glenn was arrested on public intoxication and marijuana possession charges after appearing disoriented at a hotel, police said.
* SAN FRANCISCO ó The NFL Players Association is appealing a federal court decision ordering the union to pay $28.1 million to retired players for allegedly cutting them out of lucrative marketing deals.
* NASHVILLE, Tenn. ó Tennessee Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving.
Kearse, who had been charged with drunken driving, was given six months probation.
* FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. ó Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Todd Weiner announced his retirement after an 11-year career.
* ASHBURN, Va. ó The Washington Redskins hired Scott Wachenheim as tight ends coach, reuniting coach Jim Zorn with a colleague from the early 1990s.
Wachenheim has been a college coach for 21 seasons, including the last three as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Liberty. Wachenheim and Zorn worked together previously at Utah State from 1992-93.
* ROCK HILL, S.C. ó A prosecutor says Buffalo Bills safety Ko Simpson has asked to enter a program that would remove from his record a charge of hindering police while they tried to make an arrest.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
DURHAM ó Duke has dismissed linebacker Trent Mackey from the team and suspended defensive back Randez James.
James redshirted last season and was one of the biggest recruits in coach David Cutcliffe’s first recruiting class. His status will be evaluated at the end of the spring.
* MURFREESBORO, Tenn. ó Middle Tennessee State hired former Auburn assistant Tony Franklin as its new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
* KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ó Tennessee’s Lane Kiffin was reprimanded by the SEC for falsely accusing Florida coach Urban Meyer of a recruiting violation, and Kiffin has apologized for his remarks.
Kiffin told fans attending a breakfast earlier in the day to celebrate his first recruiting class that Meyer violated recruiting rules by phoning wide receiver prospect Nu’Keese Richardson, WVLT-TV reported.
“I love the fact that Urban had to cheat and still didn’t get him,” Kiffin said.
NCAA and SEC officials said it is not against recruiting rules to contact a prospect while they are on an official visit to another school.
In a statement, Kiffin said he was trying to excite the crowd of donors and alumni.
NBA
PHILADELPHIA ó Samuel Dalembert had 18 points and 20 rebounds, and Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala also had double-doubles to lead the 76ers to a 99-94 win over Indiana.
Philadelphia’s Elton Brand will have season-ending surgery on his right shoulder Monday, reducing the 76ers’ marquee free-agent to only 29 games in his debut year.
* NEW YORK ó Celtics guard Ray Allen will replace injured Magic guard Jameer Nelson next week in the NBA All-Star game.
* ORLANDO, Fla. ó The Magic traded Keith Bogans and cash to Milwaukee for point guard Tyronn Lue three days after Nelson suffered a shoulder injury.
COLLEGE HOOPS
* ROCK HILL, S.C. ó Winthrop has lost starting point guard Reggie Middleton, who broke the fibula in his right leg in an overtime loss to VMI on Wednesday.
* LAS CRUCES, N.M. ó New Mexico State freshman guard Terrance Joyner was arrested after authorities discovered marijuana inside his luggage as the team departed on a two-game road trip to Utah State and Nevada.GOLFSAN DIEGO ó Camilo Villegas holed out for an eagle early in his round and made a late string of birdies for a 9-under 63 on the easier North Course at Torrey Pines, giving him a three-shot lead in the Buick Invitational.
A victory this week would be his third straight at a tournament where Tiger Woods ó sidelined following knee surgery ó was the defending champion.
Davis Love III and Aaron Baddeley shot 66s on the North. The best score on the South Course, belonged to Scott Sterling and Matthew Goggin at 69. Phil Mickelson put together a solid round of 70 on the South Course.
HOCKEY
SAN JOSE, Calif. ó Backup goalie Michael Leighton made 36 saves in his first start since Christmas, and Sergei Samsonov scored the shootout winner in Carolina’s 4-3 victory over San Jose.
Ray Whitney tied it with 12:30 left. Carolina won without injured captain Rod Brind’Amour, and Eric Staal left the game before the start of the third period because of a lower-body injury.
* NASHVILLE, Tenn. ó Ryan Jones, Jason Arnott, Martin Erat and Vernon Fiddler scored in Nashville’s 4-2 win over Anaheim.
* WASHINGTON ó Anze Kopitar scored two goals and added an assist as Los Angeles dealt Washington a rare home loss, winning 5-4 despite allowing Alex Ovechkin’s 200th NHL goal.
L.A. was one of two opponents ó San Jose is the other ó against whom Ovechkin never had scored.
Capitals goalie Brent Johnson will have hip surgery next week and is expected to miss two months.
* OTTAWA ó P.J. Axelsson scored on Boston’s fifth shootout attempt after Tim Thomas stopped all five Ottawa shooters in the NHL-leading Bruins’ 4-3 victory over the Senators.