As though things weren't bad enough on the Bay Area sports scene, we get the catty remarks of Yankee Gary Sheffield about BALCO and Barry Bond's failures as a person in this week's edition of Sports Illustrated. In the piece, reported by SI's Tom Verducci, Sheffield admits to using BALCO's "the cream," a topically appplied product purported to be the designer steroid THG mixed with epitestosterone to make it basically undetectable. But he denies knowing that it was a banned substance, saying that he used it on his surgically repaired leg thinking it was a benign pain-relieving ointment.

What will probably raise the hackles of Giants fans, however, is his description of spending the 2002 off season training with Bonds and friend Greg Anderson, and being tested by Victor Conte, former Tower of Power bassist and BALCO owner. Sheffield felt that Bonds was "controlling," and accuses him of, among other things, hiring away his personal chef, and later feigning ignorance in asking Sheffield why his chef no longer worked for him. He says of Bonds entourage:

"They used to confide in me about how they hated it. I told them, 'You knew what you were getting into. You accept his money. You accept the status when you're around him. But you don't want to deal with the backlash of what comes out of his mouth, and you want to complain to me.' "

Of course Sheffield will be battling the Twins tonight as the Yankees begin their division series, while Barry is likely relaxing with his family, since the Giants were eliminated last weekend. Through a spokesperson, Barry responded, "I wish nothing but the best for Gary. I want him to win the MVP. He deserves it."