INDICTED!

On a day when it looks like A-Rod is returning to the Yankees and Jake Peavy unanimously won the Cy Young, Barry Bonds managed to steal the spotlight. After reading the indictment against him, I have a few thoughts and a few questions. But first, here's a basic summary of what the indictment says. And here's a terrific summary of this entire 9-year nightmare.

Count One: Perjury, 5-Year Maximum Sentence
As a result of the federal government's steroids and money-laundering investigation into BALCO, evidence was seized, including drug tests failed by Bonds. So, he was required to testify before a grand jury on December 4, 2003. During that testimony, Bonds was asked if his ever took any steroids that his trainer and friend, Greg Anderson (who worked with/for BALCO) gave him. He was asked, point blank, if he had taken steroids, testosterone, flax seed oil, the cream, or any other steroids. Each time Bonds said, "no." So there's the first charge - perjury - lying while under oath.

Count Two: Perjury, 5-Year Maximum Sentence
Bonds was also asked if Anderson ever injected him, or ever gave him anything that required a needle/syringe to use. Bonds also replied, "no." That's the second count of perjury.

Count Three: Perjury, 5-Year Maximum Sentence
Bonds was asked if Anderson ever gave him human growth hormone or testosterone. Again, Bonds answered, "no." And again, that's another perjury charge.

Count Four: Perjury, 5-Year Maximum Sentence
Bonds was asked about a lotion/balm Anderson gave him. Bonds claims Anderson told him it was flax seed oil. Bonds said he used the substance about once a home stand and didn't start using it until the 2003 season. As the prosecutor referenced a calendar from December 2001 with a "BB" on it, Bonds was asked if he had taken any of those items (the cream, the clear, flax seed oil) prior to 2003. He was asked several times in several ways if he had taken any of those items from Anderson prior to 2003 and each time he replied, "no," and thus there's the fourth perjury charge.

Count Five: Obstruction Of Justice, 10-Year Maximum Sentence
Based on the information above, Bonds is accused of intentionally giving false, misleading and evasive answers to a federal grand jury.

With all that understood, here are my thoughts/questions.

(1) Regardless of the result of a trial/plea deal, this is the end of Barry Bonds' baseball career. He's a free agent on the tail-end of his playing days anyway. No team in the league is going to offer someone facing these kind of charges any kind of deal, especially considering he could end up in jail as a result.

(2) The fact that a federal grand jury has filed these charges is as close to iron-clad proof as we've seen to date that Bonds did, in fact, cheat his way into the record books. Only an actual plea deal or conviction would be more convincing.

(3) Former Commissioner Fay Vincent said this is worse than Pete Rose getting caught betting on baseball, and similar to the 1919 "Black Sox" scandal. I would still argue the Black Sox case was worse because they were trying to lose, but there's no question the Bonds case is worse than Rose.

(4) If he is found guilty, what happens to all of his records, most notably single-season homeruns, and career homeruns? I would imagine Hank Aaron would be "re-crowned" the all-time king, but would the single-season record revert back to another suspected cheat, Mark McGwire? I don't see how that's much of a solution. If not Mac, is Sammy Sosa the single-season champ? Or do we dip all the way back down to Roger Maris' 61, which is now 7th on the list?

(5) Will Bonds get into the Hall of Fame if he is convicted? If he is acquitted?

(6) Will Bonds' attorneys advise him to accept a plea deal, a-la Michael Vick, or will this case go to trial?

(7) Will Bonds roll over on former teammates or opponents in an effort to get his sentence reduced?

(8) What, if any impact will this have on the game of baseball in 2008 if the case does go to trial?

Bonds is due in court December 7. One of ESPN's legal experts seems to think if Bonds is convicted, he won't serve more than a year or two in prison. Still, what a mess.