MLB: Barry Bonds added another title to his repertoire, but this one isn't so coveted. Major League Baseball's home run leader became a convicted felon on Wednesday. A federal jury found Bonds guilty of one count of obstruction of justice for impeding a grand jury investigation and giving an evasive answer under oath in 2003, when asked about whether his former personal trainer, Greg Anderson, had ever injected him with performance-enhancing drugs. However, the jury could not reach a unanimous decision on three counts of perjury. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston declared a mistrial on those three charges. The judge also set a status hearing for May 20, at which time she's expected to make a decision regarding the defense's request to throw out the guilty verdict and also to schedule a sentencing date.
In game action, Josh Johnson nearly pitched the first no hitter of the season as he led the Florida Marlins to a 5-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Johnson threw 7 1/3 hitless innings before rookie Freddie Freeman hit a double with one out in the eighth.
NBA: The Chicago Bulls earned home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and locked up the best record in the NBA with a 97-92 win over the New Jersey Nets and a San Antonio loss to Phoenix. The Spurs lost more than just the No. 1 seed in the 106-103 loss Wednesday. Manu Ginobili hyperextended his right elbow in the first quarter of the game. X-rays were negative, but an MRI is scheduled for Thursday. ... The Lakers locked up the No. 2 seed in the West after defeating the Sacramento Kings 116-108 in overtime. Wednesday's contest was potentially the last game in Sacramento, as the Maloof family is seeking to relocate the Kings. Kobe Bryant hit a game-tying 3 with 4.8 seconds remaining in regulation to force OT. Earlier in the day, Bryant was fined $100,000 by the NBA for using a homophobic slur toward a referee during Tuesday night's game against the Spurs. ... The Dallas Mavericks clobbered the New Orleans Hornets 121-89 but will have to settle for the No. 3 seed. The Mavs' hopes of moving up to the No. 2 seed came to an end when the Lakers hung on to win their game in overtime. Dallas will face the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs. Despite the loss, New Orleans held onto the seventh seed and will meet the Lakers in the Round 1.
NHL: Postseason play began Wednesday night, and there was no shortage of excitement. It took overtime for the Washington Capitals, the East's No. 1 seed, to defeat the eighth-seeded New York Rangers 2-1. Alexander Semin hadn't scored a goal in 14 playoff games, but No. 15 proved to be the charm, as he knocked in the game-winning shot. ... The Detroit Red Wings, who are in the postseason for the 20th consecutive year (the longest active streak in the four major leagues), beat the Phoenix Coyotes 4-2. ... Roberto Luongo made 32 saves for the Vancouver Canucks, the top seed out of the West, to lead his team to a 2-0 shutout over the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. ... In the other shutout of the night, the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are the fourth seed for the third consecutive year, cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. ... In the final game of the night, the Nashville Predators crushed the Anaheim Ducks 4-1.
Men's college basketball: Arizona standout Derrick Williams, who led the Wildcats to the Elite Eight this season, announced that he plans to hire an agent and enter the NBA draft. The sophomore forward and Pac-10 player of the year is projected be a top five pick in June's draft.
