Yesterday was the media day prior to the annual “Fan Fest” held by the San Francisco Giants and their flagship station KNBR, and Topic A was Barry Bonds’ positive amphetamine test, the involvement or lack of involvement of utility outfielder Mark Sweeney in the affair, and whether the Giants are ever going to actually sign Barry or use the controversy as an excuse to get rid of him.

Sweeney was now saying that not only did he have nothing to do with Bonds’ getting speed, that Bonds had never been the one to mention his name in the first place; the NY Daily News pointed out that Sweeney had actually changed his story on the affair and now seemed to be trying to protect Bonds.

Meanwhile, across the room, General Manager Brian Sabean — the Giants’ point man on contract deals — was answering questions with the air of a condemned man. Making “vague” statements (SJ Mercury News) about the state of contract negotiations with the aging slugger, Sabean looked like he was wondering which would hurt less — shooting himself in the head or the nuts. Contract talks are at “the same place it’s been for weeks” because of “numerous and wide-ranging issues” that he refused to specify, wrote the SJMN’s Dylan Hernandez.

Where was Bonds while all these people were covering for him? Playing golf in Puerto Rico.

Related posts:

1. Giants sign infielders as advertised; Bonds on deck
2. Bonds, Giants sign contract; Bonds on KNBR at 5 pm
3. NYT: Giants mgmt looking for an out
4. House committee lasers Giants management
5. $16 million one-year deal for Bonds