December 13 was a very bad day for Major League Baseball. That was the day the long awaited investigation on performance-enhancing drug use in baseball conducted by former senator George Mitchell was released.

The Mitchell Report named more than 90 current or former players as having used steroids, human growth hormone or other drugs that can improve a player's performance while putting their health at risk. These players included Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds and Miguel Tejada.

The report concluded that what's come to be known as the "steroid era" in baseball was widespread, and that baseball has done little until recently to address this issue seriously. The problems this raises are too numerous to count, but here are some of the main ones:

Any records or accomplishments established over the last 10-15 years or so are suspect. There's been much talk about how Barry Bonds' home run record should have an asterisk, but given all the names on the Mitchell Report, and pitchers as well as position players, you can make the case that all baseball statistics during the last decade are tainted.

Major league baseball players are setting a terrible example for young players and other kids who look up to them. The message here is that many players are looking for any edge they can find, whether legal or not or potentially harmful to their bodies, to perform at as high a level as possible. That's not exactly the message we want our kids to hear, and is a big reason steroid use among youth athletes is on the rise.

Will we ever trust baseball again? Sure, fans will continue to go to games, but people also go to professional wrestling even though they know it's fake. Baseball needs to continue to strengthen its drug policy so there is a no tolerance policy before people will believe future records are genuine and the game is on the level.

The good news is that this is a great teaching opportunity for youth sports parents and coaches, a chance to educate our kids and players about the health dangers of these drugs before it's too late.