Baseball's home run king, Barry Bonds, was sentenced Friday to 250 hours of community service, two years of probation and 30 days of house arrest for lying to the federal grand jury, according to Lori Preuitt of NBC Bay Area. 

The sentence was recommended by a probation officer.  According to Preuitt, US District Judge Susan Illston wanted to stay as close to the recommendation as possible.

This was the only logical move here.  Bonds actually serving time is the exact opposite of special treatment for celebrities. 

It's not right to give famous folks special treatment, but it's also not right to single them out and make an example of them because they're high profile.  That's what jail time would do to Bonds.

The Bonds case is not one that requires prison time, but the issue is serious. 

If baseball goes back and strips him of his records because of steroid use, you wouldn't find a single objection from me.  But that doesn't mean that Bonds belongs behind bars. 

I know that this isn't about steroid use; it's about lying under oath.  That's nothing to be dismissive about, but it's not an offense worthy of being locked up for. 

Not in a case that's centered around steroid use, anyway.

The most important part of Friday's ruling is that it allows the Bonds matter to come to a quick end.  If Bonds was sentenced to time in jail, then the appeals process would re-start this mess all over again. 

Since he wasn't completely vindicated, an appeal is still likely, but it's not going to be as dragged out.

The Bonds case needs to die. 

It has gone on for an insane amount of time.  Putting him behind bars would only drag it out longer, sparkong further debate from people on both sides of the issue.

Right now, there's nothing to debate.  Bonds is getting a slap on the wrist for what he did, but he's not vindicated in any way.  

The Bonds issue is just over now.  The sentencing has come in, and it's both light enough and firm enough to appease people of all opinions. 

Nothing more needs to be done.  Bonds doesn't need to be singled out because he's well-known. The matter is over now. 

Baseball fans everywhere can shift their attention to where it belongs—on the field. 

More importantly, the lawyers and others pursuing Bonds in this saga can now focus on the world's true criminals.