You must grant Bobby Valentine this: he understands the strong influence of persistence. When other managers would have interpreted an ejection as an excuse to leave the game early, he donned a disguise and waltzed back into the dugout. He didn’t actually waltz; you know what I mean. When most managers would have taken a firing and thrown their hands up in despair, he took his show to Japan. And when most Americans would have fled screaming after spending one week in Japan and seeing what perverts they all are (SFW), Valentine persevered, winning a title with the Chiba Lotte Marines.

(You can’t kick a guy out over having a moustache! That’s criminal!)

Ah, but success is a year-to-year status, and ol’ Bobby was recently informed that his contract would not be renewed by the Marines. Not quite a firing, not quite employment. Just, “thanks, that’s all we asked for, toodle-oo.” And Chiba fans are really, really not taking the news well.

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• Time for the Chicago Cubs to bring that dugout-blessing priest back to the Friendly Confines - so he can administer the Last Rites.

• Speaking of holy matters, a Stanford lineman more or less tells Notre Dame & its fans to go to hell.

• It’s about time we heard from Warren Sapp about his thoughts on this whole Lane Kiffin business.

• Nate Miles’ b-ball career ends before it even starts after the UConn player gets charged for sexual abuse.

• Do you crave more than one Lingerie Bowl game per year? You’re in luck - here comes the Lingerie Football League!

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The NY BASEBALL DIGEST says that Bobby Valentine would be interested in the New York Mets’ manager position if it was offered to him. Which might come as a surprise to Jerry Manuel, the current interim manager of the team who is currently negotiating with Mets’ GM Omar Mineya for a full-time position. However, there have reportedly been snags in getting the deal done, specifically over a third year.

Normally I would think that Valentine is being pretty underhanded to talk about his interest in a job that currently is not really open. But perhaps Valentine was put up to this by the Mets’ executives in order to crank up the heat on Manuel to sign - with the understanding that Valentine would be in line for the gig if it falls through. Or perhaps they just miss having someone sitting around the dugout in a fake mustache and glasses. (Versus the Metsm who were disguised as a playoff team for about four months before the make-up wore off.)

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Although his New York Mets escaped with a 9-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, California, USA, North America on Monday night, Willie Randolph couldn’t escape the pink slip.

To the surprise of pretty much no one, the Mets manager was finally given the ol’ heave-ho. But Willie won’t be leaving by his lonesome - pitching coach Rick Peterson and first-base coach Tom Nieto were also shown the door. In the interim, bench coach Jerry Manuel will be stepping in the cleats for the removed Randolph.

GM Omar Minaya - who still has his job (for now) - is set to schedule a press conference for Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m.

We suppose now was the perfect time for Mets management to kick Willie to the curb, since he was 3,000 miles away in Southern California.

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• Our new favorite online destination - THE UGLY BASEBALL CARD BLOG.

• DEUCE OF DAVENPORT gives a toast to this clueless Tigers fan, who bought his 7-year-old an alcoholic drink without even realizing it.

• Based on her confirmed cozing-up with Roger Clemens, SIGNAL TO NOISE has some song suggestions for Mindy McCready’s upcoming album.

• Greg Oden bids aloha from the Big Island of Hawaii. May we suggest a side trip to Maui? The scenery is unbelievable.

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