Co-counsel: Simpson was dependent on main attorney
Co-counsel: Simpson was dependent on main attorney
LAS VEGAS — O.J. Simpson became so dependent on his lawyer during his Las Vegas armed robbery trial that the former football star would have done anything Yale Galanter advised — including passing up the chance to testify, his co-counsel testified Tuesday.
“I could advise O.J. all day long, and he was very respectful of me,” Gabriel Grasso told a court considering Simpson’s bid for a retrial. “But if I advised him of something different from what Yale said, he would do what Yale said.”
It was Galanter’s decision not to have Simpson testify, Grasso said.
Under questioning from H. Leon Simon, attorney for the state, Grasso acknowledged the trial judge, Jackie Glass, specifically asked Simpson if he wanted to testify and he said no.
“Mr. Galanter told him, ‘This is the way it’s going to be,’” Grasso said.
Kobe Bryant auction dispute headed for June trial
CAMDEN, N.J. — Kobe Bryant and an auction house that wants to sell memorabilia from his high school days and early pro career are heading for a trial next month, unless they can work out a deal before then.
U.S. District Judge Renee Bumb on Monday set June 17 as a trial date, but also set a court-guided mediation session for Friday in a case that’s the manifestation of an ugly family dispute that all sides seem to want to resolve quickly.
“Maybe I should have had you bring your witnesses today and we would have tried the case,” Bumb said at a hearing. “You’re all so ready to go.”
The main reason she didn’t schedule the trial for an earlier date was that Bryant’s father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, said he could not get to a trial sooner because he’s coaching a Thai team in the Asian Basketball League playoffs.
The animosity became public earlier this month, shortly after Berlin, N.J.-based Goldin Auctions announced its plan to auction off Bryant’s mementos, which date to his days at Lower Merion High School outside Philadelphia. Goldin’s April 30 announcement promised a June sale of 100 items provided by Bryant’s mother, Pamela Bryant.
Woodson set to visit with Broncos
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Charles Woodson is set to visit with the Broncos on Wednesday for both sides to determine whether Denver is a good fit.
Aside from a meeting with the San Francisco 49ers after the Green Bay Packers released him in February, the 36-year-old defensive back has drawn little interest as a free agent. Denver could prove the perfect spot for Woodson, who’s hoping to play a 16th NFL season.
He would likely compete with Mike Adams and Quinton Carter at strong safety or serve as an extra defensive back on passing downs for the AFC powerhouse.
Broncos front-office boss John Elway told 5,000 season ticket-holders in a call last week that he felt good about the safety position but didn’t close the door on adding another veteran at the position.
Former Saints, Chargers
RB Chuck Muncie dead at 60
METAIRIE, La. — Chuck Muncie, a Pro Bowl running back with both the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers, has died at age 60, the NFL clubs and a family spokesman said Tuesday.
Muncie family spokesman Vintage Foster of AMF Media Group in San Ramon, Calif., said Muncie died at his Los Angeles-area home on Monday from heart failure.
Muncie was the Saints’ first-round pick, third overall, out of California in 1976. He played 4½ seasons in New Orleans before being traded in 1980 to San Diego, where he finished his nine-year NFL career.
In 1979, Muncie became the first Saint to rush for 1,000 yards, finishing with 1,198 and 11 touchdowns, and his 1,506 total yards from scrimmage earned him the first of his three Pro Bowl selections.
America’s Cup officials
say race will continue
SAN FRANCISCO — The America’s Cup will go on as planned after the death of a sailor during a training run last week on San Francisco Bay, officials said Tuesday.
America’s Cup officials made the announcement at a news conference in San Francisco. Organizers met with the four entrants earlier in the day and said the decision to race was unanimous.
“There was no discussion to calling off the event,” said Tom Ehman, vice commodore of the Golden Gate Yacht Club, the official host of the 34th America’s Cup.
Ehman also said they expected all four entrants to compete, including Artemis Racing and the Italian entry Luna Rossa.
Orioles LHP Chen placed
on DL with oblique strain
BALTIMORE — Wei-Yin Chen can only hope his first stint on the disabled list will be short.
The Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday placed the left-hander on the 15-day DL with a right oblique strain. The injury occurred Sunday during his start against the Minnesota Twins.
Since being signed as a free agent in January 2012 following a successful run in Japan, Chen had been the Orioles’ most sturdy pitcher. The Taiwan native made 32 starts for Baltimore last year and is 3-3 over eight starts this season.
Jaguars QB Rodgers
has sports hernia surgery
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars are down a quarterback for the rest of the offseason.
Former Vanderbilt starter Jordan Rodgers, an undrafted rookie and the younger brother of Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers, had sports hernia surgery Tuesday and will be out until training camp in July.
From wire sources