It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it

Now that Lane Kiffin has been ousted, the Oakland Raiders have gone through eight head coaches in 13 years.

That got Mike Lopresti of Gannett News Service wondering if a questionnaire might be in order for anyone thinking they would want to work for Raiders owner Al Davis. A sampling of the questions:

* “When you were a kid, did you ever dream of being in a circus?”

* “When was the last winning Raiders team? If you wish, round off to the nearest decade.”

* “If things go south, what names will you not mind being called on national television?”

* “When you’re fired, would you prefer it be by e-mail or cellphone?”

Trivia time

When was the last time the Raiders had a winning season?

Bonds sighting

Barry Bonds made a rare public appearance in San Francisco and said he is enjoying life away from baseball.

“I’m happy now that I have more time,” Bonds told the crowd at the Macy’s Christmas tree lighting, which also benefits a children’s hospital to which Bonds has donated time and money. “I’ve actually enjoyed myself immensely.”

Bonds has legal issues pending. He has pleaded not guilty to 15 felony counts of lying under oath and obstruction of justice in connection with his testimony in 2003 to a grand jury about whether he knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs. His trial is set to begin March 2, 2009.

Bonds, 44, left quickly after giving a brief speech during the ceremony, the Associated Press reported.

Pointed message

A high school football coach in Oak Ridge, Tenn., has been reprimanded for pulling a small pocket knife on six players while they were joking around during practice.

After Coach Stanton Stevens urged his players to get physical with their opponents, one of the players patted the coach on the behind, Superintendent Tom Bailey told the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Stevens then pulled out the pocket knife, extended its 2-inch-long blade and said, “I don’t play that game,” according to Bailey.

Bailey said there was no indication that Stevens meant to threaten the players.

Trivia answer

2002, when they finished 11-5.

And finally

At a campaign rally in Tampa, Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden said the main man on his ticket, Chicagoan Barack Obama, wished he was in Florida too.

“But after what your Devil Rays did to the Chicago White Sox, he just couldn’t do it,” Biden said. “The man is hurting.”

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james.peltz@latimes.com