The "news" of the week was that the Grand Jury investigating Barry Bonds for perjury and tax evasion was extended once again. So the "strong" case documented in the Pulitzer Prize winning book Game of Shadows....uh Pulitzer Prize nominated book?....what it wasn't even nominated? Oh darn. Looks like the Pulitzer committee knew bad journalism when they saw it, even if the brethren did not.
Star witness Kimberly Bell makes another trip to the ATM machine that seems to describe her relationship with Barry, by showing her worthless goods to all the world via Playboy. She'll be an attractive witness for the government, although I must say, she'll fit right in with the crowd. Vindictive whores of a feather are flocking together on this sinking ship. She'll be a great witness.
It must be a coincidence that this is timed out to when the GJ term is about to expire. I would think if she was going to testify at a pending trial, this would not have been cleared by her attorney or the government's attorneys for that matter.
I'm certain it's timed to Barry breaking the record, for maximum exposure to the magazine. No pun intend....oh please, of course I selected that term for a reason. They must be having a big circle jerk over this one. That is if they have an advance copy of the magazine.
I don't think Bonds' attorney Michael Rains would be publicly calling these guys out like he has been lately if most signs didn't point to this being one of the most botched investigations since the OJ trial. The government must be hoping for a Perry Mason-type moment to keep this thing alive, maybe a last minute alley-oop pass from Radomski or Giambi or the Mitchell white-wash, er...investigation.
We've had the Scooter Libbey perjury trial come and go, Michael Vick's investigation and indictment come and go and the whole Duke lacrosse thing come and go in less time than this one. Maybe the government should get those attorneys on this case, huh? Oops, one of them is no longer practicing. It will be interesting to see how they try to perform a face-saving moon-walk out of this one.
The ship that is the case against Bonds appears to be sinking. And those who initiated the investigation (IRS Agent Novitsky) should now concern themselves with whether they can at minimum save face with a tax evasion charge that they'll likely lose.
The haters will say the worst if he's convicted of that, but does anybody really believe that on April 15th, a time of year the Giants are usually playing games, that Bonds is sitting in his hotel room with a pencil, an abacus and various IRS forms and publications doing his own taxes? I didn't think so. The odds of them nailing anything substantive on Bonds even in this area, appear to be nil.
I stioll maintain that the court of public opinion is where these people truly want this thing to be. It's where all the crap about hat size, shoe size, head size, etc.
Half of the stuff in Game of Shadows that is related to to Bonds, is of such circumstantial nature or even outright garbage when examined fairly (as one judge characterized a piece of "evidence" used liberally by the book).
ENJOY THE SHOW.
FROM BASEBALL MUSINGS - BELL POSES FOR PLAYBOY
Bell in Playboy
Kimberly Bell, former mistress of Barry Bonds, tells her story in the November Playboy and poses nude as well.
Bell's appearance in the magazine can't help the government's case against her former lover.
Defense lawyers are widely expected to argue that Bell was a woman scorned because of Bonds' decision to marry another woman during their relationship. Her appearance on Playboy may only add fuel to the defense's case.
Really? Haven't we learned anything from the Gennifer Flowers case? Her story was dismissed because she sold it to a tabloid, but it turned out to be true. If Bell does have tapes to back up her story, my guess is her story will hold up in court just fine
SLAV'S TAKE:
Yes, she sounds like a fine witness:
"He was very envious of Mark McGwire," she said from her San Jose home. "He never said that was the reason, but I know it was."
Now, I'm not an attorney, nor do I play one on TV, but even I could rip this one to shreds.
Greg Anderson is more likely protecting his own behind not Barry's. He's a non-factor, or he would have been one by now.
Just MO, but come on, use some common sense. Self-preservation or preserving the reputation of a guy the rest of the world knows as the biggest a-hole out there. And only you see another side of him, a side worth doing time in prison for?
WOW, I want to see that story as a made for TV movie.
I said from day one, the best they would get out of this was a tax case. Now, it looks as if they might not get that.
From ESPN.com SELIG'S NON-STATEMENT ON BONDS SAYS PLENTY:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2944073
Selig's non-statement about Bonds says plenty
SLAV'S TAKE:
Who cares? Selig and Aaron can play their little 69 act in Milwaukee when
Bonds breaks the record for all I care. Who needs
Selig's pickle sucking expression in SF? If I were
Bonds and he showed up I would walk right past him and
ignore him, not shake his hand, although I'm pretty
sure Bonds wouldn't do that. Aaron would never show up
in SF because he would once again wilt under the light
that shines upon Willie Mays. He was in Mays shadow
all throughout his career and didn't like it, and I'm
sure he doesn't like it now. Get over it, Hank you
freaking cry-baby.
UPDATE: Selig speaks:
"Out of respect for the tradition of this game, the magnitude of the record, and the fact that all citizens in this country are innocent until proven guilty, I will attend Barry Bonds' next games to observe his potential tying and breaking of the home run record, subject to my commitments to the Hall of Fame this weekend."
Ironic that he added the "innocent until proven guilty" jab. Hasn't been the csae so far. I'm glad to hear he won't be on the field and hopefully Barry hits it when he's not there at all. We don;t need the cut-aways to old pickle-puss to damper the moment.
BASEBALL MUSINGS What About Bonds
What About Bonds?
A commenter to this post writes:
Is it wrong to wish injury or failure on Bonds at this point, or is the integrity of Baseball's record books so trashed that it really doesn't matter?
Is Baseball Musings really happy about this?
When Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's single season home run record, people complained. He wasn't Mickey Mantle. The season was too long. Expansion made home runs easier. When Henry Aaron broke Babe Ruth's career home run record, people complained. He wasn't as good a player as Ruth. He was black.
People like to complain when a record gets broken. They find all sorts of reasons why the new record holder isn't as good as the old record holder. But now Maris is recognized for his achievement as he never was in his lifetime. Aaron is universally adored as a great player and a fine human being.
Bonds pursuit of the record is a story. It's interesting if he breaks the record. It's more interesting if he breaks down short of the record. I'm fine with either one. What I know is that in 30 years, his chase will likely be remembered fondly, just as Maris and Aaron are today.
SLAV'S TAKE:To all the people who cling to the "mountain of
evidence" argument the the book Game of Shadows
provides, (most of whom I believe have not read one
page of the book). I have just one simple question:
Since this book is based on the "mountain of evidence"
the government has at its disposal to presumably bring
perjury charges against Bonds, WHERE IS THE INDICTMENT
AND WHY HAS IT TAKEN SO LONG TO BRING IT?
This mountain of evidence is crystal clear and
compelling and overwhelming and convincing, right?
And yet no indictment, after all this time. When as
the saying goes, you can get a grand jury to indict a
ham sandwich.
And they sure brought down an indictment on Vick
fairly quickly in another case that was initially
described as complicated to prosecute.
Perjury is not THAT difficult to prove, ask Scooter
Libby. Neither is tax evasion. IRS does it all the
time.
It is difficult when you don't have the evidence. And
those closest to said evidence and hearing all of it,
apparently remain unconvinced. Therefore, so do I.
Your tax dollars at work.
FROM ESPN.COM - SANFRANCISCO ROSTER
Also see: Giants Lineup Change team:
Pitchers
NUM NAME POS BAT THW AGE HT WT 2007 SALARY
18 Matt Cain P R R 22 6-3 234 $650,000
31 Vinnie Chulk P R R 28 6-2 195 $396,000
32 Kevin Correia P R R 26 6-3 202 $400,000
41 Brad Hennessey P R R 27 6-2 195 $400,000
34 Steve Kline P R L 34 6-1 210 $1,750,000
55 Tim Lincecum P L R 23 5-11 170 N/A
51 Noah Lowry P R L 26 6-2 202 $1,365,000
23 Randy Messenger P R R 25 6-6 247 $380,000
22 Matt Morris P R R 32 6-5 220 $10,037,283
48 Russ Ortiz DL P R R 33 6-1 222 $380,000
53 Jonathan Sanchez P L L 24 6-2 165 $381,000
37 Jack Taschner P L L 29 6-3 208 $382,000
75 Barry Zito P L L 29 6-4 210 $10,000,000
Catchers
NUM NAME POS BAT THW AGE HT WT 2007 SALARY
50 Eliezer Alfonzo DL C R R 28 6-0 223 $382,000
72 Mike Matheny DL C R R 36 6-3 227 N/A
1 Bengie Molina C R R 33 5-11 225 $4,000,000
39 Guillermo Rodriguez C R R 29 5-11 195 N/A
Infielders
NUM NAME POS BAT THW AGE HT WT 2007 SALARY
35 Rich Aurilia 1B R R 35 6-1 190 $3,500,000
5 Ray Durham 2B B R 35 5-8 191 $7,000,000
7 Pedro Feliz 3B R R 32 6-1 210 $5,100,000
19 Kevin Frandsen 2B R R 25 6-0 175 $380,500
21 Ryan Klesko 1B L L 36 6-3 220 $1,750,000
13 Omar Vizquel SS B R 40 5-9 175 $5,140,084
Outfielders
NUM NAME POS BAT THW AGE HT WT 2007 SALARY
25 Barry Bonds LF L L 42 6-2 228 $15,533,970
14 Fred Lewis RF L R 26 6-2 190 N/A
10 Dave Roberts CF L L 35 5-10 180 $5,000,000
9 Mark Sweeney LF L L 37 6-1 215 $900,000
2 Randy Winn RF B R 33 6-2 193 $5,000,000
Average Age: 30.7
Average Weight: 204
Average Height: 6-1
Right-Handed Pitchers: 8
* Batter totals exclude pitchers Left-Handed Pitchers: 5
Right-Handed Batters: 7
Left-Handed Batters: 5
Switch Hitters: 3
SLAV'S TAKE:
Average Height: 6-1 Barry Bonds Height: 6-2
Average Weight: 204 Barry Bonds Weight: 228
It's interesting to note that the "average" player is only 1 inch shorter and 24 lbs lighter. The extra inch in height is usually good for 10-15 lbs. Interesting, barely above average.
IT'S ALL RELATIVE I GUESS.
No comments:
Post a Comment