One day after reports were released stating Jason Giambi had testified in front of a grand jury that he was in deed using steroids, Barry Bonds came out and testified himself.

Bonds told a grand jury that he was given "the cream" and "the clear" by trainer Greg Anderson and was un aware of the fact that they were steroids.

There has been speculation that Bonds has been using steroids for several years now, but Bonds has always been defiant about the accusations. Now, it has become a fact.

What does this mean for baseball? Are the numerous records Bonds has broken in recent years legitimate? And can Barry Bonds still be considered the greatest player of our time, if not of all time?

In my mind, Bonds is still one of the best players to ever step foot in the batters box. Sure, steroids are a performance enhancing drug, but they don?t make an athlete see better. In Bonds? defense, he is one of the league leaders in batting average year after year.

As for the home run records Bonds has already broken and the ones he is about to break, they are no longer legitamate. Before his 35th birthday, Bonds never hit more than 46 home runs. Since then, he has broken the home run record for a single season, which he credited Anderson for, and is clearly on his way to breaking the all-time home run mark of 755 held by Hank Aaron.

As for baseball, this is no bueno. There was always speculation about the usage of steroids in professional baseball, but it has never actually hit the roof like it has the past few days. Now, Major League Baseball is going to be looked at differently as two of it?s elite players have now admitted to using steroids.

And it?s too bad considering what the Boston Red Sox accomplished this past season. They were a legit team. A group of men who simply loved to play the game of baseball and didn?t need a big name, steroid-using player such as Bonds or Giambi to win a World Series. Now, there image is deceived as fans will slowly step away from the game of baseball.

Up until today, Bonds was the best player I have ever seen, bar none. Now, I can?t look at him the same. When he breaks Aaron?s home run record two seasons down the road, he shouldn?t even get a standing ovation.

For comments, you can reach me at goegan2@yahoo.com