Free | 23/6
Posted: 5/30/2012
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Barry Bonds is publicly referring to himself as a convicted felon these days, and he's quick to point out that conviction was never for steroid use.He appealed his obstruction of justice conviction from April 2011 on one count of giving an evasive answer to a 2003 grand jury investigating illegal steroids distribution.'I went through the system. And that's what it is,' Bond said Monday, attending the Diamondbacks-Giants while doing charity work through Big Brothers and Sisters of the Bay Area. 'And that's what I got. I went through the system. I'm in an appeal process right now. I was never convicted of steroids.'The slugger said he met recently with Giants president and CEO Larry Baer about working for the club in some capacity, and Bonds has a personal services contract the Giants have said could go into effect once his legal proceedings were in the past.When asked if he regrets any connection to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, Bonds said: 'Do I have any regrets? What happened happened. It's there. It is what it is. I live with it. I'm a convicted felon for obstruction of justice, and that's who I am. I live with it.'The 47-year-old home run king, looking especially lean at about 212 pounds from his new love for cycling, also spent a stint in the broadcast booth during San Francisco's 4-2 win.'It's always a treat when he comes around,' winning pitcher Barry Zito said. 'I love Barry.'While Bonds will long be remembered for his surly nature and mighty swing, he acknowledges he brought on many of his issues himself. Still, dealing with all of the court dates and speculation of his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs did take a toll.'I gave my life and soul to that game. That's what's heartbreaking. That's the hard part of it,' he said. 'My (reputation) was kind of iffy anyway. I created that guy out there for e