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Barry Bonds pleads innocent

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Baseball slugger Barry Bonds entered a plea of innocent to perjury and obstruction of justice charges Thursday in a federal court in San Francisco.

Bonds, 44, made an appearance before a federal magistrate related to allegations that he lied to a federal grand jury in 2003 in a statement saying that he never knowingly used steroids.

A trial on the charges is scheduled to begin March 2 before U.S. District Judge Susan Illston. Several current and former major league baseball players are expected to testify at the trial.

Bonds' appearance came one day after government documents in the case were unsealed. Those documents allege Bonds tested positive for two steroids in 2000 and 2001.

Bonds holds the Major League Baseball record with 762 home runs hit over a 22-season career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He was selected the National League's most valuable player seven times, including each season 2001-04 when he hit a total of 209 home runs. His 73 homers in 2001 is also a major league record.

ZZ Top to headline Preakness concert

BALTIMORE, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Preakness Stakes Day activities next May in Baltimore will include an infield concert featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members ZZ Top.

Preakness officials Thursday said the concert would be part of changes for the infield at the Pimlico Race Course ahead of the May 16 running of the second leg of U.S. horse racing's Triple Crown.

"The Preakness Stakes is the biggest single-day sporting event in the state …" said Maryland Jockey Club President Tom Chuckas. "In 100 days, the best 3-year-old horses will be in Baltimore and we feel it is time for our public infield customers to enjoy a new way to party. In this year of change it is now time to transform the Preakness Infield experience."

The changes will include a ban on cans and bottles being taken into the infield area, a release said. Drinks, including beer, will be available for purchase from vendors. Outside food will be permitted but cooler size will be limited. Advance tickets for the infield will be $50.

In addition to ZZ Top, the infield concert will feature Buckcherry with a third band to be announced later. There also will be a pro volleyball tournament and an interactive section, officials said.

Vonn shines in Worlds downhill practice

VAL D'ISERE, France, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- American Lindsey Vonn clocked the fastest time in Thursday's training run for the upcoming women's downhill World Championship race in France.

Austria's Christoph Gruber was fastest in on the full-length men's course with a 2:10.82. Bode Miller of the United States had the 13th fastest time.

Vonn sailed down the partial-course training run at Val d'Isere in 1:18.65, 0.38 of a second faster than her young French rival, Marie Marchand-Arvier.

"I have a good feeling on my skis," said Vonn, who edged the 23-year-old Marchand-Arvier in the super G world championship. "I'm relaxed and just trying to execute the line. Today was just a training run and tomorrow there will be a lot more attack."

Vonn leads in the World Cup overall standings for this season and in the downhill. Marchand-Arvier is 23rd overall while Germany's Maria Riesch is second in the overall point total.

Phelps says he may retire over photo

BALTIMORE, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps, dismayed by controversy over a photo of him apparently smoking pot, says he may bow out of the 2012 London Games.

"It's definitely not what I wanted, and it's clearly not what my mom wanted," Phelps told the Baltimore Sun after a picture showing him apparently smoking marijuana was published in Britain's News of the World.

Phelps, who won eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, said that he "clearly made a mistake" and that the past week has been both embarrassing and uncomfortable for him.

A majority of his sponsors have vowed to stick with him, and swimming's governing body, FINA, accepted his apology.

Phelps said the attention the photograph attracted has forced him to consider retiring but he will talk with his family and his coach, Bob Bowman, before making a final decision.

Bowman said that he does not think Phelps will retire until after the 2012 Games. He said he understands how difficult it is for the 23-year-old to live up to the public's expectations.

Asked whether he regularly smoked marijuana, Phelps said he did not.

"This was stupid, and I know this won't happen again," he said. "It's obviously bad judgment, and it's something I'm not proud of at all. I will say that with the mistakes that I've made in my life, I've learned from them. Every one of them. And I've become a better person."