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Marion Jones aftermath: Are the Feds any closer to nailing Bonds?
By Ken Gimblin and Joe Cronin October 7, 2007 |
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In a period less than two weeks as it concerns the use of steroids in athletics, there has been Greg Anderson’s old cellmate interview with Marlon Leftwich, the Marion Jones confession earlier this week and now we the Kimberly Bell interview. Barry Bonds girlfriend Kimberly Bell in last Friday's release of the November edition of Playboy disclosed that Bonds had confided that he was using steroids and that it got so bad that Bonds physical relationship with Bell went south due to the effects of steroids. Bell said in the interviews that Bonds used Viagra, once but did not like the side effects leaving him with a stuffed up sinus and blurred vision. Bell who did a pictorial for Playboy also, said in the interview, Bonds failed to help with house payments for a home he started to buy for her in Arizona after ending their relationship in 2003. Bonds trainer Greg Anderson shared intimate details in jail with cellmate Marlon Leftwich at Dublin Correctional Facility. Leftwich who was in for shoplifting and theft charges and is now released shared stories from Anderson's experience on Bonds that only a person on the inside such as Anderson would know about. Anderson detailed how Bonds injected himself in the pecs, how he injected other parts of his body including his privates. Anderson also told Leftwich what Bonds did and how he did it with injections. BALCO founder Victor Conte this past weekend appeared on "In-depth Magazine" on KCBS Radio with co-hosts Ed Cavagnaro and Mike Pulsipher disclosing details about Marion Jones who just confessed to using steroids during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Conte however refused to answer any questions about Bonds and steroid distribution to Anderson. Jones who won three gold and two bronzes for five medals while in the presence of Conte injected herself just before an Olympic track meet, which she won. Branded at the time "the fastest Woman in the world" Jones on Friday tearfully apologized for lying and cheating to the media and to her fans and the country, she represented. Jones faces six months federal prison time for using performance-enhancing drugs, lying to investigators, and her connection with a check scheme group. Conte would not admit or deny to ever giving Bonds steroids in the interview or admit any knowledge of steroids distribution. According to SF Weekly in the interview with Leftwich, Leftwich gave details that Anderson told him that only a person with intimate working relationships with Bonds would know about. Bell said in her interview that Anderson would come to the house and he and Bonds would go into the bedroom and close the door. Bonds would be carrying a satchel bag, which she wondered what was in the bag. As far as the feds, closing in on the former Giant without Greg Anderson, coming forward and giving details the Government would have a hard time without his testimony. The Federal Grand Jury is set to expire in February 2008 and the last Grand Jury expired last July was extended at that time which meant that Anderson's time in jail would be extended until the Grand Jury expires in February, or if he testifies which is unlikely. Talking a little bit more on the Bell case the prosecution on Bell's testimony that Bonds used steroids would turn into a "he said she said" according to Bonds attorney Michael Rains and that Bell's Playboy interview would be challenged pertaining to Bonds steroid use as an ex-girlfriend who had a bone to pick with Bonds. Conte in the radio interview never gave any details regarding steroid distribution to Bonds and never talked about Anderson distributing steroids to Bonds. The way things stand with the Grand Jury right now and the U.S. Attorney's office Anderson's testimony is paramount in any prosecution of Bonds pertaining to steroids. A perjury charge against Bonds right now would still be difficult to prove with details that Anderson talked about with cellmate Leftwich. Time again might start to run out for the Grand Jury if Anderson continues to hold out by Christmas. As for Bonds as of today some two weeks after the regular season had ended no MLB team has approached Bonds seeking to talk with the free agent about coming aboard. Although numerous teams were speculated in the American League where Bonds can go DH, nothing has been offered. Jones in the mean time will lose over $7 million in endorsements over her confession to steroid use and will prepare now for jail time. Ken Gimblin and Joe Cronin co-host Sportstalk on 1690 KFSG and have covered Giants baseball this past season. sources used: KCBS, SF Weekly |
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