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LAS VEGAS -- O.J. Simpson will return next week to the Las Vegas courthouse where he was convicted of leading an armed sports memorabilia heist to ask a judge for a new trial on the grounds that his lawyer botched his case. Simpson will take the witness stand to testify that the Florida lawyer who collected nearly $700,000 is to blame for his armed robbery and kidnapping conviction in 2008 and his failed appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court in 2010. Simpsons testimony in open court will offer a first look at the aging 65-year-old former football star since he was handcuffed and sent to prison more than four years ago. Simpson didnt testify at his Las Vegas trial or in the historic case that led to his 1995 acquittal in the slayings of his ex-wife and her friend in Los Angeles. Instead of an expensive suit and tie, Simpson will be dressed in blue Nevada Department of Corrections clothing -- greyer, heavier and limping a little more from long-ago knee injuries, friends say. He is now Nevada inmate No. 1027820, a far cry from his playing days when Simpson wore jersey No. 32, won the Heisman Trophy, earned the nickname "The Juice" in the NFL and gained induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Simpson is scheduled to be in Clark County District Court beginning Monday for the entire five-day hearing. He could testify Wednesday before a judge who has agreed to hear 19 separate points, mostly claiming that lawyer Yale Galanter provided such poor representation that Simpson deserves a new trial. Simpson is serving a nine-to-33-year sentence that makes him first eligible for parole at age 70. If he wins a new trial, prosecutors would have to decide whether to retry him for an incident that happened in September 2007 or offer a plea deal sparing the time and expense of another trial. In a sworn statement outlining his upcoming testimony, Simpson said he told Galanter in advance that he planned to confront two collectibles dealers in Las Vegas and retrieve what he expected would be family photos, heirlooms and personal sports mementoes that he believed had been stolen from him after his "trial of the century" in Los Angeles. "I fully disclosed my plan to Yale Galanter, and he advised me that I was within my legal rights," he said. Simpson said the two even had dinner the night before in Las Vegas, and Galanter told him the plan was OK as long as he didnt trespass on private property or use physical force. Simpson claims that at trial, Galanter told him he didnt need to testify because prosecutors failed to prove their case, and didnt tell him about a plea offer by prosecutors that would have gotten him a minimum of two years in prison. "Had I understood that there was an actual chance of conviction, I would have accepted such an offer," Simpson said. Galanter, who is expected to testify Friday, declined to comment ahead of his appearance. Throwing trial attorneys under the bus on appeals is a common legal tactic for people convicted of crimes -- but rarely successful. The burden of proof in a post-conviction writ of habeas corpus is on the defendant to convince a judge -- not a jury -- that the trial was tainted and new evidence might yield acquittal. Its not yet clear whether Clark County District Court Judge Linda Marie Bell will make an immediate ruling or issue a written decision later. Bell didnt handle the trial, and both prosecutors have retired. Most of the colorful cast of characters involved in Simpsons first trial wont be involved in next weeks hearing. Attorneys put the number of expected witnesses at 16 -- including lawyers, experts, Simpson friends and his 44-year-old daughter, Arnelle. Some legal observers think Simpson has a chance at getting a new trial. "If Mr. Simpson can establish that the strategy of the defence was motivated by his lawyers self-interest, and that it compromised Mr. Simpsons trial rights, he could overcome the defendants burden and establish the claim of ineffective assistance of counsel sufficient to get him a new trial," said Las Vegas attorney Michael Cristalli. The veteran lawyer handled the successful appeal, retrial and 2004 acquittal of a former stripper in the 1998 death of wealthy casino executive Ted Binion. Simpsons 94-page petition for a new trial exempts trial co-counsel Gabriel Grasso from the conflict-of-interest question. It says Grasso wasnt made aware of Galanters pre-incident advice, wasnt privy to private strategy discussions between Galanter and Simpson, and was rebuked when he tried to advise Simpson without Galanters approval. Former District Attorney David Roger is due to testify. In an interview, he recalled discussing a possible plea with Galanter during trial, but said discussions didnt yield "negotiations in the legal sense." Galanter said Simpson might be willing to serve 24 months in prison, Roger recalled. Prosecutors countered with 30 months. Galanter later said Simpson wanted no more than 12 months. Roger said he thought Galanter had spoken with Simpson. "Thats where the conversation ended," the former prosecutor said. H. Leon Simon, the chief deputy district attorney now handling the case, said Simpson isnt owed a new trial. Evidence was overwhelming, he said. Hotel security video showed Simpson and five other men arriving at the Palace Station casino-hotel with middleman Thomas Riccio, and leaving with boxes of items. Jurors heard audio recordings of Simpson and others talking about the plan ahead of time and of the five-minute confrontation involving nine men crammed around a big bed in a small room. Two of the men said they had guns. Simpson trial co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart served more than two years of a 7 1/2-to-27 year prison sentence before the state Supreme Court overturned his conviction. The justices ruled Simpsons fame tainted the Las Vegas proceedings and Stewart should have been tried separately. Stewart took a plea deal to avoid a retrial and was convicted of felony robbery and conspiracy but set free. "As far as Simpson is concerned, I wish him luck," said Stewart, now 59 and driving limousine in New Orleans. "He needs to tell the truth about Yale Galanter. Yale only represented him to protect himself, to make sure his name didnt come up." Custom Brooklyn Nets Jerseys . Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. Custom Boston Celtics Jerseys . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. http://www.customjerseysbasketball.com/custom-los-angeles-clippers-jerseys-447y.html . The news was first reported on Gonzalezs Twitter account and confirmed by the Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona. Custom New York Knicks Jerseys . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Custom Denver Nuggets Jerseys . LOUIS -- St.PORT LOUIS -- FIFAs willingness to heed criticism and enact reforms will be tested at its annual congress this week when footballs governing body tries to move past two years of scandals. FIFA President Sepp Blatter reported on the reforms already undertaken last year at Tuesdays executive committee meeting. But before the two-day congress in Mauritius opened Thursday, proposals to limit the age and terms of officials were dropped from the agenda with any debate and possible votes put back to at least 2014. "As no consensus has been reached among the member associations and their confederations on the agenda items term of office and age limit, a more thorough analysis is required," FIFA said following its executive committee meeting. "Both items will be examined further and the congress will be asked to put them back on the agenda of the 2014 FIFA Congress with concrete proposals." The 209 member countries will vote on other proposed changes for greater transparency and accountability at the congress. In response to criticism that FIFA isnt taking the reform process seriously, Blatter said earlier this week that "itd be unfair to say we are not doing well." Advisers enlisted by FIFA during the two-year reform process, however, have argued that FIFAs reforms are "neutered" and Blatters mission had fallen short of the "highest standards." Those advisers include Transparency International and members of an expert panel led by Swiss law professor Mark Pieth. Blatter told the FIFA website that his organization is on track and had "achieved a lot already." "In fact, we are exactly following the road map which was established at the FIFA Congress (in) 2011," Blatter said. "Since then, we have been transparent on what was done and we have followed the majority of the recommendations made by the Independent Governance Committee." In one motion accepted, the congress will elect a first female permanent member of the formerly men-only executive committee. While 77-year-old Blatter could indicate if he intends to seek another four-year term despite saying when re-elected in 2011 that would be his last term. The Swiss has been in charge of FIFA since 1998. The next election is in two years and he would be 83 at the end of another term. Blattter has made clear his opposition to age restrictions.dddddddddddd He says they could be "seen as discriminatory" -- even though the International Olympic Committee, of which Blatter is a member, has them as well as term limits for its president. "Ive already said I was against the age limit as I believe it is not a relevant criteria. Not everyone is the same at 60, 70, 80," Blatter said before the issue was dropped from the agenda. "Passion makes the difference." The evergreen septuagenarian is now likely to be closely watched throughout the week for any indication of his future plans. Proposed sterner punishments for racism in football after the recent re-emergence of the problem, and the sports ongoing battle with match-fixing will be voted upon at the congress. Both are "high on the agenda," Blatter has said. Brazils preparations for the 2014 World Cup will be examined. Setbacks at some of the stadiums are set to bring closer scrutiny, notably the arena in Sao Paolo that was scheduled to open the tournament and may now miss its completion deadline. FIFA will make final plans for the Confederations Cup in Brazil next month after a small part of the roof collapsed at one of the stadiums scheduled to host matches at the World Cup warm-up event. Meeting on an island famed for being the home of the extinct Dodo bird, FIFAs sternest critics say the sports governing body needs to evolve. The body has made reforms to its ethics committee and introduced a new code of behaviour and vetting procedures since the scandal-ravaged year and congress in 2011. Then, Blatter was re-elected as president after the withdrawal of now disgraced former Asian football president Mohamed bin Hammam. There were also vote-rigging accusations surrounding the choosing of Russia and Qatar to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively, with Blatter conceding it was a mistake to award two World Cups at the same time. The congress will also formally adopt the resolution that future World Cup hosts will be decided by all member countries, and not the exclusive executive committee. The executive committee will decide on a shortlist before member associations pick one. FIFAs new watchdog Audit and Compliance Committee also met this week and will report after its first year of work. ' ' '