BASEBALL

VALENTINE RIPS PROPOSED WORLD CUP

Bobby Valentine calls the plan for the World Baseball Classic misguided and insulting. Major League Baseball and its players’ association have approved the 16-nation tournament, a World Cup-style event that would be played in March 2006. But the former Mets manager, who is currently managing in Japan, is not sold on the idea and thinks Japan should not take part.

“I’m all in favor of doing anything to help promote baseball internationally,” Valentine said yesterday. “But this idea is misguided. As a manager, there is no way I’d want one of my players to take part in a tournament like this before the start of the season.”

Officials of MLB and its union traveled to Japan this month and set an end-of-the-month deadline for an agreement with the Japanese owners and players. Japanese baseball officials have objected to both the timing of the event and the distribution of revenue, which they say overwhelmingly favors the major leagues. Valentine, who manages the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Pacific League, agrees.

“The revenue distribution is something like 60% or 70% in favor of the major leagues,” Valentine said, adding that he favors a World Series that would pit the best team from the North American major leagues against the best team from Asia.

ROCKER RELEASED BY MINOR-LEAGUE CLUB

John Rocker was released yesterday by the Long Island Ducks after the pitcher told the Atlantic League team he wanted to reassess his future. Rocker joined the Ducks in April and went 0-2 with a 6.50 ERA in 23 games, striking out 19 and walking 28 in 18 innings. The 30-year-old left-hander had 38 saves for Atlanta in 1999 and 24 the following year, then was traded to Cleveland during the 2001 season, when he had 23 saves for the Braves and Indians.

ROGERS BREAKS HAND HITTING WATER COOLER

Kenny Rogers broke a bone in his non-pitching hand when he hit a water cooler in frustration, and the Texas Rangers pitcher will miss at least one start. Rogers, 9-3 with an American League leading 2.46 ERA, broke a bone at the base of his right pinkie finger after coming out of his last home start, on June 17 against Washington, Rangers manager Buck Showalter said yesterday. Rogers gave up six runs, 10 hits, and three walks in 3 1 / 3 innings of a 6-0 loss last Wednesday at the Los Angeles Angels. He had won his previous nine decisions.

BASKETBALL

NETS DECLINE OPTION ON ROBINSON

The Nets declined an option yesterday on forward Clifford Robinson for next season. The team acquired Robinson on February 14 from the Golden State Warriors for two second-round draft picks. He played in 29 games, averaging 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds. He averaged 7.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in four playoff games against Miami. In his 16-year NBA career, Robinson has played in 1,250 games, averaging 15.1 points.

FORD CLEARED FOR FULL-CONTACT PLAY

Point guard T.J. Ford, sidelined for more than a year with a bruised spinal cord, has medical clearance to take part in full-contact basketball for the Milwaukee Bucks. Ford underwent cervical spine surgery in May 2004, three months after the rookie was injured during a game against Minnesota. He has been in rehabilitation ever since.

FOOTBALL

LEWIS, JONES TO RETIRE AS JETS

The Jets signed former linebackers Mo Lewis and Marvin Jones on Monday so they can retire as members of the team. Lewis and Jones were released in March 2004 and never signed with another team. They officially will retire today and will be honored at a home game during the upcoming season. Lewis was the Jets’ third-round draft choice in 1991, and served as defensive captain from 1997 until his final season in 2003. He played in 200 regular-season games, ranking sixth on the all-time Jets list for most career games. Jones, the fourth overall pick in the 1993 draft, played in 142 games in his 11 seasons and ranks third in team history with 1,200 tackles.

– Associated Press