"For nearly eight years, the court of public opinion has deliberated over whether former Giants superstar Barry Bonds lied about knowingly using steroids as he shattered baseball's all-time home run records.

Now, it will be a jury's turn to hand down a verdict. And while Bonds' legacy as one of baseball's greatest players and his chances for the Hall of Fame have been at stake in the public debate, a jury's decision could cost him far more. Striking out in court could mean a felony conviction and perhaps time in a prison cell.

On Monday, Bonds will appear for the biggest game of his life, the beginning of his trial on three counts of lying to a grand jury in December 2003 about using steroids as he chased the home run records, as well as one count of obstructing justice through the same testimony. Defense lawyers and prosecutors will begin by choosing the jury, and most likely present opening statements and the first witnesses by Tuesday.

The Bonds trial may offer an unprecedented glimpse into how steroids infected baseball, just as teams are in the throes of spring training and preparing for opening day. And it will serve as the long-anticipated final act in the BALCO saga, which began in 2002 with federal agents searching through garbage at a now-defunct Peninsula laboratory and wound up casting its accusatory shadow on some of the biggest names in sports."