Ex-girlfriend: Bonds threatened harm

Times wires
Monday, March 28, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO — Kimberly Bell, her voice cracking, talked about the final stretch of her nine-year relationship with Barry Bonds.

The greatest hitter of his era threatened "to cut my head off and leave me in a ditch," she said. "More than once."

She said Bonds told her "he would cut out my breast implants because he paid for them."

As for the Arizona house he had helped pay for, "he told me he would burn it down."

Bonds' federal trial resumed Monday with nearly daylong testimony from his former mistress, who said the slugger attributed a 1999 elbow injury to steroid use. She discussed how Bonds became verbally abusive and said that his physique changed, offering a lurid description of mental and physical symptoms associated with steroid use.

Prosecutors say Bonds lied when he told a federal grand jury in 2003 that he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs. Bell met Bonds in 1994 and testified that from 1999 to 2001, "he was just increasingly aggressive, irritable, agitated, very impatient."

In testimony similar to that of former Bonds business partner Steve Hoskins last week, she said that in at least two years at spring training, she saw Bonds and personal trainer Greg Anderson "go into a bedroom off the kitchen and close and lock the door." She said Anderson "would always have a little satchel with him."

Prosecutors claim Anderson, in jail for refusing to testify, repeatedly injected Bonds with performance-enhancing drugs.

The defense tried to portray Bell as a gold digger, a scorned former lover, a liar and the instigator of a mortgage fraud scheme.

DIAMONDBACKS: Right-hander Armando Galarraga, best known for losing a perfect game on the final out last season on a blown umpiring call at first base, will fill the final spot in the rotation. He beat out Aaron Heilman.

GIANTS: Closer Brian Wilson isn't likely to be ready by opening day for the World Series champions. Manager Bruce Bochy said Wilson's chances of playing when the season begins are "less than 50-50." He said a final decision won't be made until after a light bullpen session today in Arizona.

METS: Outfielder Carlos Beltran is scheduled to play today in his first major-league spring game since March 6, which eliminates the possibility of the club backdating time on the disabled list. That would have let him miss just three games of the regular season, but the Mets believe he can be ready for opening day Friday as he recovers from left knee tendinitis.

ORIOLES: Left-hander Brian Matusz was struck by a line drive in a simulated game, but manager Buck Showalter said X-rays weren't required and that Matusz should be able to start the second game of the season, as scheduled, Saturday at Tropicana Field against the Rays.

TRADES: The Royals got catcher Matt Treanor from the Rangers for cash. … The Padres acquired infielder Alberto Gonzalez from the Nationals for right-hander Erik Davis and cash. … The Twins sent right-handed pitching prospect Billy Bullock to the Braves, allowing them to retain Rule 5 draft choice Scott Diamond. … The Pirates shipped infielder Josh Fields to the Rockies for a player to be named later or cash.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/ex-girlfriend-bonds-threatened-harm/1160329

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