Convicting Bonds no easy task

Even if Giants slugger Barry Bonds is charged with lying to a grand jury, it will be hard to convict him, former federal prosecutors and other lawyers said. ''It is a lot tougher to make a perjury case than most people think because it takes more than just proving that the person made a statement that was untrue," said Adam Hoffinger, a criminal defense lawyer in Washington. ''The government has to prove that he knowingly and willfully lied about a material fact -- it can't be a mistake, there has to be intent." A federal grand jury is investigating whether Bonds committed perjury when he testified in 2003 he never used steroids, a person with knowledge of the probe, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press Thursday night.

The Florida Marlins have no immediate plans to trade either pitcher Dontrelle Willis or third baseman Miguel Cabrera, team owner Jeffrey Loria said. ''They are so unfounded as to be ridiculous," Loria said of recent trade rumors involving the Marlins' two star players. ''We are not shopping players. We're rebuilding a team here." . . . Ken Griffey missed his second straight start last night because of stiffness in his right knee and the Cincinnati Reds made a move to add outfield depth. The Reds purchased the contract of 35-year-old Quinton McCracken from Sarasota of the Single A Florida State League and designated infielder Andy Abad for assignment . . . The Yankees recalled lefthanded reliever Matt Smith from Triple A Columbus and designated catcher Koyie Hill for assignment . . . Dodgers reliever Yhency Brazoban will undergo Tommy John surgery next week on his strained right elbow and will miss the rest of the season . . . Righthander Jay Witasick was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Oakland Athletics because of a sprained left ankle . . . The Houston Astros put pitcher Brandon Backe on the 15-day DL with a sprained ligament in his right elbow.

Kentucky Derby contenders will be separated from pretenders today at Keeneland and Oaklawn Park. First Samurai, Bluegrass Cat, and Strong Contender head a field of nine in Keeneland's $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes, while Lawyer Ron towers over his 13 rivals in Oaklawn's $1 million Arkansas Derby. For the last two years, success in the Arkansas Derby has been the leading indicator of success in the Triple Crown races. The 2004 winner, Smarty Jones, went on to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Last year's winner, Afleet Alex, won the Preakness and Belmont. Lawyer Ron's success at Oaklawn this year has been reminiscent of Smarty Jones's and Afleet Alex's accomplishments at the track. He is coming off a 3-length victory in the Rebel Stakes that extended his winning streak to six races. Samurai, the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the Blue Grass, failed to win his past three starts. Bluegrass Cat ended his 2-year-old season by taking Grade III and Grade II races at Belmont and Aqueduct and extended his winning streak to three in the Sam Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. In his next and last start, he ran second in the Tampa Bay Derby after losing a shoe.

The due date for Brett Favre's $3 million roster bonus -- originally scheduled last month -- has been moved to July 27, giving the three-time MVP quarterback more time to make a decision on retirement. A person with knowledge of the decision, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no formal announcement had been made, confirmed the change . . . Restricted free agent fullback Jeremi Johnson, who signed a one-year, $712,000 contract with the Bengals Thursday, got a new deal from the team yesterday replacing the 2006 contract and adding five more years, keeping him in Cincinnati through 2011. Terms weren't available . . . San Diego Chargers backup linebacker Shaun Phillips was arrested early yesterday after he scuffled with a patrol officer, police said.

Fifth-seeded Tommy Haas dominated Andy Roddick on clay again, beating the No. 1 seed a fourth straight time in a quarterfinal match at the US Men's Clay Court Championship in Houston. Haas rallied to win, 6-7 (6-1), 6-4, 6-4 . . . Peter Forsberg, who has missed the past four games with a groin injury, expects to play today when the Flyers host the Rangers in a matchup that could determine first place in the Atlantic Division. New York has a 3-point lead over Philadelphia and New Jersey, but the Flyers have a game in hand . . . The Atlanta Hawks' Josh Childress was suspended two games by the NBA for hitting Chicago Bull Andres Nocioni in the head with a forearm.