"Barry Bonds' steroid use was so "out of hand" that his former business manager made a secret recording in the Giants' clubhouse as part of a campaign to dissuade the ballplayer from using banned drugs, the ex-employee testified Wednesday.

Steve Hoskins was Bonds' boyhood friend and his business manager until a bitter breakup in 2003. That year, he testified, he recorded weight trainer Greg Anderson describing the array of steroids that he was allegedly providing to the Giants left fielder.

Hoskins, the government's second witness in Bonds' trial on perjury charges, said he had spent years trying to get Bonds off steroids.

He said he made the tape for Bobby Bonds, a former Giants outfielder and Bonds' father, as part of that effort.

"I was hoping Bobby would be the one who would stop him from doing it," Hoskins said.

But Bobby Bonds died of cancer in August 2003 before Hoskins could play the recording for him, Hoskins said. He later turned over the recording to federal agents.

Not revenge

During three hours of cross-examination in federal court in San Francisco, Hoskins insisted he had made the recording out of concern for Bonds' health - and not, as defense lawyer Allen Ruby contended, to avenge his firing.

After firing Hoskins, Bonds complained to the FBI that his ex-business manager had been forging the ballplayer's name on memorabilia and selling it, the defense lawyer said. Ruby also charged that the government had dropped a fraud investigation against Hoskins in exchange for his testimony about Bonds and steroids.

Hoskins, a slender man who spoke softly in court, said the government had cut him no deals. He said his motives were pure."