In ESPN's press release, when they hired Bobby Valentine, they stated that he will have a large role in 2010. Well today, that "larger role" for Valentine might be back in Japan with the Yokohama Bay Stars. According to Fox Sports, the former manager is already in talks to go back overseas....

The Yokohama Bay Stars of the Japanese Central League are making a "concentrated effort" to hire Valentine, according to a major-league source.

Valentine, 59, also is on the Cleveland Indians' short list of candidates who will receive interviews, sources say.

A planned meeting between Valentine and Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria in Europe failed to materialize after ESPN.com reported the team's interest in Valentine.

The Marlins instead chose to retain Fredi Gonzalez rather than face a backlash of negative publicity for firing him after an 87-win season.

Valentine, currently working for ESPN, is not aggressively pursuing the Nationals' opening and is not believed to be a serious candidate for the Astros, sources say.

I guess that's the risk you run when you hire a former manager, but this does bring up an interesting PR angle that coaches are using now. Instead of toiling around at home, managers and coaches are almost to the point where they're using ESPN as a launching point. The perfect example of this will be when the Redskins hire Jon Gruden in the offseason, but it seems to be happening more and more lately.

Sources: Valentine could return to Japan as coach (Fox Sports)

So Mariah Carey was in Japan (apparently she's big there) to throw out a first pitch at a Baseball game in Tokyo. So how did it go? You be the judge....

Ummm....wow. I know the pitcher's mound might be pretty far from home plate for most people who don't play baseball, but good lord. That throw was worse the Mayor of Cincinnati's 2007 Opening Day Throw.

Mariah Carey and history's worst first pitch (Big League Stew)
Mariah Carey Throws Like Johnny Damon (The Sporting Blog)

I hadn't seen this April 4 clip anywhere so I thought I would share. If you've seen it elsewhere please accept my apologies. You know the drill.....Wait for it.....Waaaaaait for it......

So awesome on so many levels. First, he jumped and hit him with a flying elbow. Awesome. Second, the bullpen catcher was the one trying to stop him. Awesome. Third, he was out. Awesomest (yes I know that's not a word)! Milton Bradley would be proud my Taiwan brother.

(Via LOT D)

Japanese Shows continue to amaze me. On this show they decide to strap binoculars to everyone's heads and play some Soccer. Enjoy!

God I love Japan. Where else would you find a gravity defying billboard with two guys playing Soccer on it?

Say what you want about ESPN films, but this one looks like a winner if you ask me. ESPN is producing a two-hour documentary on Japanese Baseball and will more than likely show things about the Sport and Culture that have never been seen in America.

Slated to air in the Spring of 2008, the tentatively titled “Bobby V in Japan” will give baseball fans and viewers unprecedented access to Valentine and his team, while exploring the impact globalization has on the game’s present and future. Additionally, original online webisodes and written blogs detailing the production of the film and baseball life in Japan will be produced exclusively for ESPN.com’s Page 2.

The producers have been granted a rare inside look at a world mostly unknown to the American public. It’s a world where cheerleaders chant between innings, rock bands perform before each game and barbwires keep ecstatic fans from running onto the field.

I'm sold on the Japanese Cheerleaders alone! And rock bands is just the icing on the cake. But in all seriousness it's such a different Sport over there, and this could actually be ground-breaking stuff. I'm actually looking forward to this one.

(Source: ESPN)

P.S.- For a great piece on Japanese baseball read Extra P's "10 Things You Should Know" article at Chicago Sports Weekly (Pg 26). Great stuff.

(posted by OMDQ

YouTube tells me this has only been viewed about 120 times, which I'm not sure I believe. Maybe it's just that these crazy Japanese clips are so prevalent that they're all starting to look the same, but I swear I've seen this guy in action before.

Who's up for some Japanese Human Tetris?!?!?!?!

Who wants to put a team together and challenge the Channel 4 News Team? Does anyone have a pool, a conveyor belt, and access to foam walls???