Latest legal twist only further clouds curious case of Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds' Hall of Fame chances have a new twist of confusion after his felony obstruction of justice conviction was overturned Wednesday by an appeals court in San Francisco. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco said there wasn't enough evidence to convict baseball's all-time home run leader. So Bonds is now an innocent man - at least legally. Bonds, 50, was convicted of obstruction in 2011. The legal win is one thing, but what about the court of public opinion? Does this legal clearing help him? And, what about the more than 500 members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA), the organization that will be deciding again in December whether Bonds deserves to be in Cooperstown? Bonds' candidacy has been a never-ending debate. He broke Henry Aaron's career record of 755 home runs in 2007 and finished his career with 762 homers, playing for San Francisco and Pittsburgh. Bonds hit 73 home runs, the single-season record, in 2001. He's a seven-time National League MVP. But a veil of steroids suspicion, as well as the obstruction conviction, have held Bonds' BBWAA vote totals down to the point where he's nowhere close to election. He needs 75 percent of the vote to be enshrined. The most he's gotten is 36.8 percent. Here's why this is all confusing: Pitcher Roger Clemens, who won Cy Young Awards in seven different seasons, was acquitted of federal charges of perjury and obstruction about his alleged steroids use in 2012, yet his BBWAA vote total has never been more than 37.5 percent. Clemens was mentioned for using steroids use in the Mitchell Report, which was Major League Baseball's investigation in steroids use. But catcher Mike Piazza, who career has been clouded with suspicion, received 62.2 percent of the BBWAA vote last time around. First baseman Jeff Bagwell, also under suspicion, has been managed to be in the 55 percent range on the ballot. There is no evidence that Piazza or Bagwell have used performance-enhancing drugs. If Piazza makes Cooperstown, does that open the door for Bonds? That's a tough call. The legal wrangling isn't over for Bonds. The government can appeal the decision all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. If that happens, there's at least a legal end game. If only that fact were true in the baseball world. Whether Bonds makes the Hall or Fame or not, the argument about what he deserves will never end.