Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield were hounded again after a report named them among six major leaguers who received steroids from the nutritional supplements lab implicated in a drug-distribution ring.
Bonds walked silently through the San Francisco Giants' clubhouse in Scottsdale, Arizona, replying only, "Get out of my locker," when asked about the report in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Citing information it said was given to federal investigators, the newspaper reported Tuesday that Bonds was given the substances by his personal trainer -- who got them from the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.
According to the newspaper, investigators also were told that steroids were given to Giambi, Sheffield, Marvin Benard of the White Sox, and Benito Santiago of the Royals, former Oakland Athletics infielder Randy Velarde and linebacker Bill Romanowski, who was released Tuesday by the Oakland Raiders after failing a physical.
Bonds' attorney, Michael Rains, issued a statement Tuesday saying: "We continue to adamantly deny that Barry was provided, furnished or supplied any illegal substances at any time by Greg Anderson. This latest pronouncement is a complete disregard to the truth."
At the Yankees' spring training camp in Tampa, Florida, Giambi and Sheffield wouldn't directly address the report.
"Speculation doesn't bother me. It's as simple as that," Sheffield said. "I deal with it. You know I don't like dealing with issues. You know I don't like dealing with controversy. Nobody likes to do that."
In Mesa, Arizona, Sammy Sosa said he wants his personal assistant to stay around the team, despite baseball's crackdown limiting clubhouse access.
Commissioner Bud Selig last month sent a memorandum to the 30 teams banning personal trainers, friends and agents from "all playing fields, dugouts, clubhouses and related facilities."
Sosa wants to make it clear that Julian Martinez -- hired by the Cubs star in 2001 to help him do chores and who often plays catch with Sosa -- is not a personal trainer. Cubs officials are confident they can work out an agreement to everyone's satisfaction, perhaps allowing Martinez to pitch batting practice, get out of uniform and then man a radar gun in the stands during games.
In Cincinnati, Marge Schott, the tough-talking, chain-smoking owner of the Reds who won a World Series and was repeatedly suspended for offensive remarks, died. She was 75.
Schott was hospitalized about three weeks ago for breathing difficulties and repeatedly needed treatment for lung problems in recent years. Christ Hospital spokeswoman Dona Buckler did not release a cause of death.
In Tampa, the New York Yankees received good news about ailing starting pitchers Jose Contreras and Jon Lieber.
Contreras, who was scratched from Tuesday's intrasquad game one day earlier because of lower back stiffness, took part in onfield drills and said he will be ready to make his first scheduled spring training start Sunday against Boston.
Lieber continued playing catch and said he expects to throw off a mound Wednesday.
In an intrasquad game, Alex Rodriguez was hitless in two at-bats and did not have a fielding chance at third base. It was the first time the 2003 AL MVP, acquired in a trade from Texas on Feb. 16, played his new position in a game setting.
The Yankees also finalized their one-year, US$2.25 million contract with first baseman Travis Lee.
Shohei Ohtani and his wife arrived in South Korea with his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates yesterday ahead of their season-opening games with the San Diego Padres next week. Ohtani, wearing a black training suit and a cap backwards, was the first Dodgers player who showed up at the arrival gate of Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. His wife, Mamiko Tanaka, walked several steps behind him. As a crowd of fans, many wearing Dodgers jerseys, shouted his name and cheered slogans, Ohtani briefly waved his hand, but did not say anything before he entered a limousine bus with his wife. Fans held placards
Taiwan’s Tai Tzu-ying yesterday advanced to the quarter-finals at the All England Open, beating Kim Ga-eun of South Korea 21-17, 21-15. With the win, Tai earned a semi-final against China’s He Bingjiao, who beat Michelle Li of Canada 21-9, 21-9. Defending champion An Se-young defeated India’s P.V. Sindhu 21-19, 21-11. An on Wednesday cruised into the second round, unlike last year’s men’s winner, Li Shifeng, who suffered a shock defeat. South Korea’s An, the world No. 1, overcame Taiwan’s Hsu Wen-chi 21-17, 21-16 to set up the match against Sindhu. In other women’s singles matches, Taiwan’s Sung Shuo-yun lost 21-18, 24-22 against Carolina Marin of
EYEING TOP SPOT: A victory in today’s final against Storm Hunter and Katerina Siniakova would return 38-year-old Hsieh Su-wei to the world No. 1 ranking Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and Elise Mertens on Thursday secured a spot in the women’s doubles finals at the BNP Paribas Open after dispatching Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the US and Australia’s Ellen Perez 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) at Indian Wells. Hsieh and her Belgian partner Mertens, who won the Australian Open in late January, coasted through the first set after breaking their opponents’ serve twice, but found the going tougher in the second. Both pairs could only muster one break point over 12 games, neither of which were converted, leaving the set to be decided by a tiebreaker. Hsieh and Mertens took a 6-3 lead,
DOUBLES PAYBACK: Hsieh Su-wei and Elise Martens avenged their defeat in the quarters at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open against Demi Schuurs and Luisa Stefani Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei on Wednesday advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s doubles at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. Hsieh and partner Elise Mertens of Belgium dispatched Demi Schuurs and Luisa Stefani 6-1, 6-4 to set up a clash against Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the US and Australia’s Ellen Perez for a spot in the final of the WTA 1000 tournament. Hsieh and Martens made a blistering start to their rematch after they lost to Schuurs and Stefani in the quarter-finals at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open last month, winning three games without reply at the start of the first set