Valentine Hired to Direct Japan’s Marines

Bobby Valentine became the first former major league manager to be hired to manage in Japan, with the announcement Tuesday that he had signed with the Chibe Lotte Marines. Valentine, fired by the Texas Rangers during the 1992 season after more than six years in the job, reportedly signed with the Marines for $1 million over three years.

Valentine’s contract also is said to have incentive clauses that will pay him $600,000 to $1.7 million a year extra, depending on how high the Marines finish. The club did not disclose terms of the deal, which was in the works for about a month.

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Ron Perranoski, fired last month by the Dodgers, interviewed with the Boston Red Sox as a prospective pitching coach and is expected to be offered the job soon. . . . With no assurance there will even be a baseball season next year, the New York Yankees have raised their top ticket price by $8 to $25, creating 4,300 club seats with waiter service.

Hockey

NHL general managers, speaking by conference call, raised the possibility of slashing the league’s schedule to 50 games, the Canadian Press reported. CP, citing one general manager who asked not to be identified, said the prospect of a 50-game season was brought up, although there was no indication such a step would be taken. The league is expected to announce additional cancellations today. So far, it has canceled four games from each team’s schedule.

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Darryl Sydor and Tony Granato of the Kings and Paul Kariya of the Mighty Ducks are on the rosters for the exhibition tournament to be staged by the NHL Players Assn. Nov 10-12 at Hamilton, Canada. . . . Doug Gilmour of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings will join teams in Switzerland after they participate in the NHLPA exhibition tournament. . . . More than 200 NHL players are expected to attend an informational meeting at union headquarters in Toronto today. . . . Florida Panther goalie Mark Fitzpatrick, accused of battery against his pregnant wife, was put in a rehabilitation program that could result in the charge being dropped.

Colleges

The Pacific 10 Conference has agreed to Arizona’s request to investigate allegations of loans made to former basketball player Chris Mills’ father.

David Price, associate commissioner of the Pac-10, will conduct the review of allegations in a Los Angeles lawsuit scheduled to go to arbitration next month.

The Arizona Daily Star reported that Chris Mills and his father, Claud, were sued 10 months ago in Los Angeles County Superior Court for failing to repay $17,500 lent to Claud Mills and a family friend while Chris attended Arizona.

Raymond Fisher filed the suit, seeking $16,864 in damages plus interest and $20,000 at 10% interest.

The Star said Fisher made the loans because he believed he would represent Chris Mills when he turned pro after the 1992-93 season.

The USC men’s basketball team lost, 115-94, to High Five America in an exhibition game at Rancho Bernardo High in San Diego. USC, which committed 27 turnovers, was led by Brandon Martin with 24 points.

High Five America, made up of recently graduated college players, was led by Jeff Clifton (Arkansas State), who scored 37 points.

Miscellany

John Bertrand again dominated the International America’s Cup Class World Championship, sailing oneAustralia to its second decisive victory in a row.

Lionel Roux, a wild-card entry from France, upset third-seeded Michael Stich of Germany, 6-3, 6-4, in the second round of the Paris Open tennis tournament.

Meilen Tu, 16, winner of the U.S. Open junior girls’ championship last summer, lost, 6-3, 6-4, to Meredith McGrath in her professional tennis debut at the Bank of the West Classic in Oakland.

Vincent Spadea, the lone American in the 32-player field, upset second-seeded Alex Corretja of Spain, 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-3), in the first round of the Topper Open tennis tournament at Montevideo, Uruguay.

Police arrested 17 British soccer fans in Barcelona, Spain, after overnight disturbances that raised fears of further trouble before today’s European Champions Cup game between FC Barcelona and Manchester United.

Texas A&M; Athletic Director Wally Groff and an associate have pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of falsifying state vouchers.

Groff and Penny King, associate athletic director at Texas A&M;, made the pleas as part of an agreement with prosecutors. Each was fined $250 and sentenced to three months’ probation.

China plans to launch its own professional cycling tour.