Barry Bonds got two years’ probation and 30 days of house arrest when he was sentenced yesterday by a federal judge. The former Giants slugger, who obstructed a grand jury investigation into steroids distribution and was facing prison time, is appealing his conviction.

     Bonds was also ordered to do 250 hours of community service and fined $4,000. In his last season in the major leagues, 2007, San Francisco paid Bonds $15.8 million for his services. The Giants’ superstar made more than $192 million over his entire baseball career. That $4,000 fine has got to hurt.

     House arrest means Bonds will be confined to his six-bedroom, 10-bath house with a gym and swimming pool. Ouch.

     Prosecutors wanted to see Bonds put in prison for 15 months. His defense team had asked the judge for probation and community service. The defense got its way, but the judge tossed in the house arrest and $4,000 fine to even things up.

     The Associated Press reported that “a smattering of fans” cheered Bonds as he left the courthouse.

     “Whatever he did or didn’t do, we all lie,” one fan said. “We all make mistakes. But I don’t think he should’ve gotten any kind of punishment at all.”

     You think Roger Clemens was paying attention? His trial gets underway April 17.

     What do Bonds and Charlie Sheen have in common? Each have been linked to steroids. But while the actor admitted using steroids during the filming of “Major League,” Bonds has never admitted “knowingly” using performance enhancing drugs. … Winning!

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     Former Islanders coach and general manager “Mad Mike” Milbury is accused of assaulting a 12-year-old Pee Wee hockey player in Boston.

     Hard to believe, right? But the police say they have video evidence of the incident.

     Milbury, who is an assistant coach for his son’s team, denies the allegations that he grabbed, threatened and shook an opposing player during an altercation involving his son.

     While playing for the Bruins in 1979, Milbury went into the stands at Madison Square Garden to brawl with fans who had grabbed some teammates’ sticks. He even whacked one guy in the leg with his own shoe. I’m pretty sure the guy was out of middle school, so there’s no precedent there. Right.

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     The Chicago Sun-Times and Wall Street Journal report that Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger — made famous by the 1993 inspirational movie “Rudy” — has been charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission with fraud in connection with a stock manipulation scheme.

     In a settlement announced yesterday, the former Notre Dame football walk-on agreed to pay $382,866 to settle the charges without admitting or denying them.

     Ruettiger’s company, Rudy Nutrition, made and sold a sports drink called “Rudy” with the tagline “Dream Big! Never Quit!” It experienced only moderate success, but Ruettiger and 12 others were brought up on charges of artificially inflating the price of its stock. The SEC complaint said a letter to potential investors falsely claimed that in “a major southwest test, Rudy outsold Gatorade 2 to 1!” Within two weeks its stock price climbed from 25 cents to $1.05 per share.

     Now that would have been a real Hollywood ending. Facts just get in the way.

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     It’s come down to a three-game season for the Cowboys and Giants in the NFC East, and the matchups get progressively tougher. This is the “easy” part of the schedule for both clubs as the Giants host the Redskins tomorrow and the Cowboys travel to Tampa Bay for a Saturday night game.

     Dallas (7-6) will be without DeMarco Murray as it tries to snap a two-game losing streak. The talented running back fractured an ankle in the first quarter of last week’s loss to the Giants. The Buccaneers (4-9) are trying to avoid their first eight-game losing streak since 1987, when Tampa dropped its final eight games of the season.

     The defense has let down the Cowboys of late. Tony Romo threw four touchdown passes last week and Felix Jones came off the bench to rush for 106 yards on 16 carries. But Dallas blew a 12-point lead late in the fourth quarter.

     Tampa Bay was riding high with a 4-2 record when it went overseas to meet the Bears in London a couple of months ago. The Bucs lost that one and every one since. Last week, the Bucs were humiliated by the lowly Jaguars, 41-14. Josh Freeman, who threw for 25 TD passes with only 6 interceptions last season, has 12 TDs and a league-high 18 interceptions this season.

     I’ll take the Cowboys to keep pace with the Giants this week. Although a loss tonight won’t crush its playoff hopes, Dallas should open the door wider for beleaguered Bucs coach Raheem Morris to exit.

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     The Miami Herald is reporting that former Ravens coach Brian Billick has interest in coaching the Dolphins next season. Miami is expected to gauge the interest of former Steelers coach Bill Cowher and former Titans coach Jeff Fisher first, but Billick reportedly remains on their radar.

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     There are a few NFL prospects to watch as the college football bowl season begins today, according to Tony Pauline of SI.com.

     In the New Mexico Bowl, Pauline says to keep an eye on Temple running back Bernard Pierce (No. 30) and guard Derek Dennis (No. 63). He thinks Pierce has all the tools to be a featured back in the NFL and could go in the second round. Dennis could be taken in the fifth round. For Wyoming, two defensive backs have the talent to be drafted late. Check out cornerback Tashaun Gipson (No. 4) and safety Luke Ruff (No. 29).

     In the Idaho Potato Bowl, Utah State has running back Robert Turbin (No. 6) and linebacker Bobby Wagner (No. 9). Turbin is a big-bodied back who is rarely tackled by a single defender. He is expected to be a second-rounder. Wagner could be taken in the middle rounds. Ohio has wide receiver LaVon Brazill (No. 7), who is also a return specialist, and guard Eric Herman (No. 77). Both players are late-round draft candidates.

     In the New Orleans Bowl, San Diego State features quarterback Ryan Lindley (No. 14), who has been projected as a fifth-round pick, and linebacker Miles Burris (No. 9), a late-rounder. Louisiana-Lafayette has  Ladarius Green (No. 89), a tight end who is projected as a wide receiver in the NFL, and Javone Lawson (No. 4), a wide receiver. Both are seen as late-round picks.  

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     The Devils sent Scott Niedermayer’s No. 27 jersey to the rafters last night in Newark. Niedermayer became the third New Jersey Devil to be so honored, joining fellow defensemen No. 3 Scott Stevens and No. 4 Ken Danyeko. All three played on New Jersey’s three Stanley Cup champions, in 1995, 2000 and 2003, when the team called the Meadowlands Arena home.

     NHL.com reported that among the gifts Niedermayer received last night were a mountain bike, a Tiffany’s crystal engraving of the banner that went up to the rafters, a framed No. 27 Devils jersey, and a fully loaded 2011 Lincoln Navigator.