He'll Be Stamford's 'Valentine'

Bobby Valentine in Japan

Did I hear this right? Bobby Valentine, former manager of the Mets, Texas Rangers and the Chiba Lotte Marines, has been hired to be the new director of public health and safety in Stamford, Conn.?

I'm trying to figure out if this is some sort of public relations move or whether the Stamford mayor, who replaced the man who is now our current governor, actually thinks Bobby can step up to the plate, so to speak.

Having spent the last six months heading a city fire department task force, Valentine, according to the mayor, "knows the operation of fire service as well as anybody in Stamford."

The president of the Stanford police union promptly asked, "When do we get to meet Derek Jeter?" He continued:

I know he's a nice guy, [but] I have no idea what his professional background is going to bring to this position.

I know the 61-year-old Valentine is a Stamford native and beloved by some in that fine city, but really, is this the best they can do? Sort of reminds of when George H.W. Bush nominated Clarence Thomas and insisted that he was the "best qualified" person in the land to sit on the Supreme Court of the United States.