Romance in reverse:Valentine’s Day is approaching, a...

Romance in reverse:

Valentine’s Day is approaching, a time when some people get sloppy sentimental. Take the 436 N. Bedford SurgiCenter of Beverly Hills. In honor of Valentine’s Day, the center says it is “offering a 20% discount on our Outpatient Surgery Center for all men who want to have a vasectomy reversal during the month of February.”

L.A.--SAY GOODBYE TO THIS BASEBALL TEAM: Yup, we were shocked to hear the news too. The ballclub won’t be easy to replace. But what the heck, we say best of luck to the Long Beach Riptide, the minor league outfit that is moving to Mission Viejo in Orange County.

MYSTERY VEHICLE: Chris Campbell of Thousand Oaks sent along an ad he found for a “never driven” car that nevertheless has traveled 6,000 miles. Campbell says: “Maybe it rolled down a large mountain.”

SOMETHING TO CHEW ON: Denise Stark of Yucca Valley, meanwhile, noticed an ad in another publication for a set of “brand-new false teeth.” Stark points out that even if the choppers don’t have any mileage on them, are they usually one size fits all?

SELLER BEWARE (CONT.): Paul Ecker of Diamond Bar adds to our list of people who shouldn’t be permitted to buy the Dodgers:

* Kato Kaelin: Would turn the dugout into a bedroom and eat meals off home plate.

* Hillary Rodham Clinton: Would have the players talking to Babe Ruth for tips to become better players.

* President Clinton: Would leave nothing at the food concessions.

* Dennis Rodman: Would switch to uniforms that are buttoned up the back.

* John Travolta: He’s already an angel.

THE LATEST PET CRAZE? Several communities prohibit keeping potbellied pigs as pets. That may explain the new breed that George Breen of Lancaster noticed for sale in Palmdale (see photo).

A MONUMENT TO DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES: The Greater Los Angeles Press Club was born 50 years ago--prompted by an argument between a reporter and his wife.

Bevo Means of the old L.A. Herald-Express and his spouse were vacationing in Denver at the time of the squabble. He went for a walk and happened upon that city’s press club, where he found a sympathetic (all-male) audience at the bar. When Means returned to L.A., he helped establish a similar sanctuary.

And on Friday, the Press Club is celebrating birthday No. 50 by holding a luncheon at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. And the guest speaker is Stan Chambers, himself an institution in L.A. Chambers has worked as a reporter for KTLA-TV Channel 5 for half a century.

MISSING MENUDO: Nine months ago, Juanita’s Foods in Wilmington electrified the Southland by announcing that it had planted an instant-win can of menudo worth $5,000 in a local store to commemorate its 50th anniversary. All the lucky customer had to do was turn in the can’s lid, which was inscribed with the words “You are the winner” on the inside.

The can was sold several weeks ago but the buyer apparently was so interested in lapping up the combination of tripe, corn and chiles that he or she never noticed the lid. So Juanita’s is making plans to donate the $5,000 to a school program.

Knowing the fondness of newspaper folk for alcoholic beverages--especially in the old days--we find it interesting that Juanita’s and the Press Club started about the same time. After all, some people contend that menudo is a hangover cure.

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Dogloo, in Corona, manufactures a luxury pet carrier called the Furrari.