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Bonds gives nod to lawyer rotation
By Ken Gimblin and Joe Cronin December 22, 2007 |
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SAN FRANCISCO--Barry Bonds was back at the San Francisco Federal Building under a crush of reporters to answer to U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, that Bonds was fully aware that his lawyers and lead defense counselor as well Allen Ruby, represented Bonds personal surgeon Dr. Arthur Ting during the BALCO Grand Jury trial. Ting was questioned in connection with the BALCO steroids scandal during the Grand Jury investigation. Bonds other lawyers, Cristina Arguedas and Ted Cassman also represented four other athletes including Olympic sprinter Tim Montgomery and former Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Chris Cooper, fullback Chris Hetherington, and running back Tyrone Wheatley. When Judge Illston asked Bonds is he fully understood the circumstances of a possible conflict of interest regarding his lawyers representing Ting and the former players and track star Bonds said, "yes I do" allowing all three lawyers to represent him for the duration of the perjury case. Judge Illston asked Bonds a dozen questions regarding the lawyer conflict of interest issue and Bonds made it clear to Judge Illston that he understood the dynamics and will proceed with their legal defense. Regarding Commissioner Bud Selig's role: In our opinion were not impressed that Selig is a great Commissioner, and in fact has appeared as a joke in handling the steroids scandal. Selig is only there because he's been pro owner and he's protecting the owners and he has the backing of the baseball owners. He's never acted like a Commissioner and you look at the current NFL Commissioner Roger Goodall he's someone that works for the best interests of the game. Selig unfortunately works for the owners. We've never seen him on the field as opposed to when Fay Vincent MLB's last Commissioner was visiting players and officials on the field. You look at the NBA and NFL Commissioners they are really Commissioners they try to work for the best interest of the game. But in baseball unfortunately Selig works for the owners and you will never see Selig on the field before a ball game and he only talks to the press under a press conference situation and never one on one with reporters or never any live radio interviews of the like. In terms of discipline on the players: In terms of discipline the players the players union is extremely strong the Commissioner's office says they want to do something to players but in reality they don't. MLB Players Association will not do anything unless their forced to and if they're forced to they'll take the step. Honestly, looking at Bud Selig. Selig knew what was going on and he had known it for a few years Look at the San Francisco Giants owner Peter Magowan, Giants Vice President Larry Baer, and Brian Sabean they know what was going on and was told of it by former Giants head trainer Stan Conte whose a trainer with the Dodgers right now. In reality MLB had to know something was going on and it's a clear indication of that in the Mitchell report and what former Met bat boy Kirk Radomski is indicating in what was going on in the clubhouses. Bonds regarding the perjury case and lawyers in the long run: At this point after Friday's court appearance Bonds is saying that there was no conflict of interest but if he gets in court and things don't go his way he might say, "hey I wasn't told that it would go wrong" and "we got to do this over again" and it would be okay for him if he wins but if he loses the case he got a hollow to beat the band. Bonds with the absolute idea of getting the absolute best lawyers that he could find and that anyone could seriously deny that he's on the top of the heap and if anybody could get Bonds off it should be these guys representing him. The people in court are going to asked to agree to some very unusual circumstances and actually be paid millions of dollars a year not know what he put in his body. Regarding Dr. Ting: Dr. Arthur Ting will now be a government witness against Bonds. Ting has been asked by the government to testify and disclose all the information of the surgeries performed on Bonds which included two knee surgeries and one elbow surgery and recovery help from a staph infection. The government wants Ting to testify about his connection with BALCO and what he knows about Bonds relationship with BALCO. Ting testified at the BALCO grand jury in December 2003. Also Ting will be asked about blood and urine samples drawn from the former Giant slugger and if the samples contained steroids. Dr. Ting was asked by Sportstalk's Ralph Gora while covering a Sharks game in San Jose if Dr. Ting would share anything regarding being summoned to court regarding the Bonds future trial which is expected to take place in the fall of 2008. Dr. Ting just shook his head and walked away. Dr. Ting is also the San Jose Sharks team doctor. Ken Gimblin and Joe Cronin are covering the Barry Bonds steroids scandal and you can hear both on 1690 KFSG Sacramento on Sportstalk. |
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