Report: Ex-friend told feds Bonds used steroids

KirkHinrich12 · 07-13-2006, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Barry Bonds' former best friend and business associate told investigators that the San Francisco Giants slugger used steroids and suffered "roid rages," his lawyer told The New York Times.

Steve Hoskins also told investigators that Bonds gave him thousands of dollars to give to two of Bonds' girlfriends, Michael Cordoza, Hoskins' lawyer, told the newspaper.

Cordoza told The Times that Hoskins spoke to investigators, but would not say if he has testified before the grand jury investigating Bonds for perjury and tax evastion. The grand jury is meeting Thursday and again next week. After that, the grand jury's term expires.

The New York Daily News reported Tuesday that Major League Baseball officials, who have no inside knowledge of the grand jury proceedings, expect Bonds to be indicted on perjury and tax evasion charges. Bonds reportedly testified before a grand jury in 2003 that he did not knowingly use steroids.

Cardoza told The Times that Bonds' steroid use and "roid rages" led to the end of Hoskins' friendship with the slugger.

"Stevie would nag Barry to get off the stuff," Cardoza told the newspaper. "Their relationship finally went in the toilet, business and personal. And with that, Barry is saying Stevie stole from me. It's not true. He reports that to the feds. The feds do a full-blown investigation."

Hoskins, who was Bonds' best man at his wedding in 1998, and Bonds sold the outfielder's sports equipment and collectible lithographs through Hoskins' company.

Michael Rains, Bonds' lawyer, told The Times that Bonds went to the federal government in June 2002 to complain that Hoskins was forging his name and stealing from him. The government then "turned around and used" Hoskins as an informant, Rains told the newspaper.

Rains told The Times that Hoskins and Kimberly Bell, Bonds' former girlfriend who has twice testified against him before a grand jury, are the government's two main witnesses.

"We made no deal with the feds," Cardoza told The Times. "We cut no deal with anybody. All we did was tell the truth and protect Steve and prove to them that Barry is not a truth-teller."

Laura Enos, Bonds' attorney for business matters, told The Times that Hoskins threatened her client after Bonds confronted Hoskins in June 2003 over the alleged forging of Bonds' signature on contracts.

"He came and we met in a conference room," Enos told The Times. "He said: 'I have three doors. If you don't drop this memorabilia issue, I'm going to ruin Barry. Behind door No. 1 is an extramarital affair. Behind door No. 2 is failure to declare income tax. And behind door No. 3 is use of steroids. And I will go to the press and ruin Barry. His records will be ruined. He will never get into the Hall of Fame.'"[/b]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2517874

KirkHinrich12 · 07-13-2006, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Barry Bonds' former best friend and business associate told investigators that the San Francisco Giants slugger used steroids and suffered "roid rages," his lawyer told The New York Times.

Steve Hoskins also told investigators that Bonds gave him thousands of dollars to give to two of Bonds' girlfriends, Michael Cordoza, Hoskins' lawyer, told the newspaper.

Cordoza told The Times that Hoskins spoke to investigators, but would not say if he has testified before the grand jury investigating Bonds for perjury and tax evastion. The grand jury is meeting Thursday and again next week. After that, the grand jury's term expires.

The New York Daily News reported Tuesday that Major League Baseball officials, who have no inside knowledge of the grand jury proceedings, expect Bonds to be indicted on perjury and tax evasion charges. Bonds reportedly testified before a grand jury in 2003 that he did not knowingly use steroids.

Cardoza told The Times that Bonds' steroid use and "roid rages" led to the end of Hoskins' friendship with the slugger.

"Stevie would nag Barry to get off the stuff," Cardoza told the newspaper. "Their relationship finally went in the toilet, business and personal. And with that, Barry is saying Stevie stole from me. It's not true. He reports that to the feds. The feds do a full-blown investigation."

Hoskins, who was Bonds' best man at his wedding in 1998, and Bonds sold the outfielder's sports equipment and collectible lithographs through Hoskins' company.

Michael Rains, Bonds' lawyer, told The Times that Bonds went to the federal government in June 2002 to complain that Hoskins was forging his name and stealing from him. The government then "turned around and used" Hoskins as an informant, Rains told the newspaper.

Rains told The Times that Hoskins and Kimberly Bell, Bonds' former girlfriend who has twice testified against him before a grand jury, are the government's two main witnesses.

"We made no deal with the feds," Cardoza told The Times. "We cut no deal with anybody. All we did was tell the truth and protect Steve and prove to them that Barry is not a truth-teller."

Laura Enos, Bonds' attorney for business matters, told The Times that Hoskins threatened her client after Bonds confronted Hoskins in June 2003 over the alleged forging of Bonds' signature on contracts.

"He came and we met in a conference room," Enos told The Times. "He said: 'I have three doors. If you don't drop this memorabilia issue, I'm going to ruin Barry. Behind door No. 1 is an extramarital affair. Behind door No. 2 is failure to declare income tax. And behind door No. 3 is use of steroids. And I will go to the press and ruin Barry. His records will be ruined. He will never get into the Hall of Fame.'"[/b]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2517874

Jazzfan · 07-16-2006, 05:01 AM

I think most baseball players have used steroids and even though I don't like Bonds I think what players do from this point on is what should count. They have been warned and all the rules are in place for testing so when they get caught now there should be no excuses.

Jazzfan · 07-16-2006, 05:01 AM

I think most baseball players have used steroids and even though I don't like Bonds I think what players do from this point on is what should count. They have been warned and all the rules are in place for testing so when they get caught now there should be no excuses.

Combs · 07-16-2006, 05:09 AM

Wow..that sounds like a pretty huge piece of evidence in this case now. Possibly the most convincing thing to show he was/is juiced. Certainly makes that 1% doubt I have that he may have been clean want to go away.

Combs · 07-16-2006, 05:09 AM

Wow..that sounds like a pretty huge piece of evidence in this case now. Possibly the most convincing thing to show he was/is juiced. Certainly makes that 1% doubt I have that he may have been clean want to go away.

KirkHinrich12 · 07-16-2006, 02:27 PM

It's obvious he took the juice!!!!

His head grew bigger, his back broke out in acne, he gained 40 pounds of rock muscle in one winter, his best seasons have come at an age where players decline, what else do you need??

07-17-2006, 01:21 AM

Why can't they chuck him in jail for 10 years everyone knows he's guilty.

KirkHinrich12 · 07-17-2006, 02:43 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SUNS FAN GUY @ Jul 16 2006, 11:21 PM) [snapback]6823[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Why can't they chuck him in jail for 10 years everyone knows he's guilty.
[/b]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

07-16-2006, 05:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
Combs Star Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,434	Wow..that sounds like a pretty huge piece of evidence in this case now. Possibly the most convincing thing to show he was/is juiced. Certainly makes that 1% doubt I have that he may have been clean want to go away. __________________ HoopsTalk Sim - Utah Jazz GM To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-16-2006, 05:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
Combs Star Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,434	Wow..that sounds like a pretty huge piece of evidence in this case now. Possibly the most convincing thing to show he was/is juiced. Certainly makes that 1% doubt I have that he may have been clean want to go away. __________________ HoopsTalk Sim - Utah Jazz GM To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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07-16-2006, 05:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jazzfan Draft Prospect Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 53	I think most baseball players have used steroids and even though I don't like Bonds I think what players do from this point on is what should count. They have been warned and all the rules are in place for testing so when they get caught now there should be no excuses.

07-16-2006, 05:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jazzfan Draft Prospect Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 53	I think most baseball players have used steroids and even though I don't like Bonds I think what players do from this point on is what should count. They have been warned and all the rules are in place for testing so when they get caught now there should be no excuses.

07-16-2006, 02:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
KirkHinrich12 All Star Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,665	It's obvious he took the juice!!!! His head grew bigger, his back broke out in acne, he gained 40 pounds of rock muscle in one winter, his best seasons have come at an age where players decline, what else do you need??

07-17-2006, 01:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
mikster100 Posts: n/a	Why can't they chuck him in jail for 10 years everyone knows he's guilty.