Three charges against Barry Bonds were dismissed Monday by a federal judge who left intact most of the indictment alleging he lied to a grand jury when he denied knowingly taking performance-enhancing drugs.
Bonds, Baseball's home run king, is scheduled for a March 2 trial. He had faced 14 counts of making false declarations to a grand jury investigating steroid use in sports and one count of obstruction of justice. His lawyers had asked U.S. District Judge Susan Illston to dismiss 10 of the lying charges, claiming he was asked unclear questions in front of the grand jury in 2003. Illston ruled Monday in San Francisco to dismiss three charges and consolidate or rewrite another two.
Bonds has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Bonds' lawyer, Allen Ruby, didn't immediately comment, saying he had not yet read the ruling.
Illston's action does not change the fundamentals of the case, nor would it have much of an effect on any sentence handed down, should Bonds be convicted. Legal experts say he would face up to 2 1/2 years in prison if found guilty.
Rockies HIRE FORMER MANAGER DON BAYLOR AS HITTING COACH
Former manager Don Baylor returned to the Colorado Rockies as hitting coach.
Baylor was one of five coaches added to manager Clint Hurdle's staff. The team also hired former major league manager Jim Tracy as bench coach and Rich Dauer as third base coach. Jim Wright becomes the bullpen coach and Brian Jordan will be strength and conditioning coach.
AROUND Baseball
The Houston Astros acquired minor league pitcher Tyler Lumsden from the Kansas City Royals for a player to be named or cash. ... Nationals RHP Tim Redding will have minor surgery on his left foot on Friday and is expected to be fully recovered by the start of spring training. ... Former Cincinnati Reds 1B Hal Morris joined the Pittsburgh Pirates as an area scouting supervisor in the upper Midwest. ... Former All-Star C Terry Kennedy was promoted to manager of the San Diego Padres' Double-A affiliate in San Antonio.
AROUND THE NHL
The Carolina Hurricanes recalled F Patrick Dwyer from their American Hockey League affiliate, a night after winger Patrick Eaves was injured. ... Roberto Luongo has a strained groin muscle and the Vancouver Canucks' star goalie is expected to be sidelined at least a week - maybe longer.
ELSEWHERE
Florida women's basketball player Sha Brooks was selected as the Southeastern Conference player of the week. ... UF volleyball player Elyse Cusack picked as the SEC defensive player of the week. ... JU's women's basketball team signed two guards from Georgia high schools - Drameeka Griggs of Jonesboro High and Abril Peeples of Americus-Sumter High School. ... Florida State's women's cross country team placed third at the NCAA Championships with junior Susan Kuijken taking second individually in the 6K race. The FSU men tied for 26th.
