National Sports Headlines

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Prosecutors in the upcoming Barry Bonds
perjury trial benefited from two rulings by a federal judge on
Tuesday. The judge will allow into evidence an audio recording
prosecutors say contains Bonds’ personal trainer discussing the
all-time home run king’s steroids use. The judge also refused to
throw out one of the five charges alleging Bonds lied to a grand
jury in December 2003 when he testified he never knowingly took
steroids.
^
NEW YORK (AP) _ Donald Trump is considering a possible
investment in the New York Mets, saying he’s friends with the
Wilpon family and wants to help. Controlling owner Fred Wilpon is
under pressure from a lawsuit from the trustee trying to recover
money for the victims of the Bernard Madoff (MAY’-dawf) swindle.
Wilpon announced last month he was exploring sale of up to 25
percent of the team, and Trump says he hasn’t thought that far down
the line about the possibility of investing without gaining control
of the ballclub.
^
NEW YORK (AP) _ NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (guh-DEHL’)
indicates the 2011 regular season could be in jeopardy if the
league and its players’ union don’t start “serious negotiations”
toward a new labor deal soon. In an op-ed piece posted Tuesday on
NFLlabor.com, Goodell writes: “The hard work to secure the next
NFL season must now accelerate in earnest.” Goodell says owners
need more money to offset the costs of financing, building,
maintaining and operating stadiums.
^
UNDATED (AP) _ A pair of Pro Bowl quarterbacks has been given
the franchise tag by their respective NFL teams. Four-time MVP
Peyton Manning has been given the exclusive franchise designation
by the Indianapolis Colts. Philadelphia Eagles signal-caller
Michael Vick also received the franchise label after leading the
team to a 10-6 record and an NFC East title.
^
ATLANTA (AP) _ Atlanta Thrashers defenseman Dustin Byfuglien
(BUHF’-lihn) has signed a five-year, $26 million contract extension
rather than test the free agent market this summer. Byfuglien leads
all NHL defenseman with 17 goals and tops the Thrashers with 43
points. He has six game-winning goals, one shy of the NHL season
record for a defenseman.
^

More News