Monday brought the end to the Mike Nolan Era in San Francisco, as 49ers owner John York finally cashiered the floundering head coach.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Ray Ratto supported the move, but questioned the timing. Why not wait until the bye week, as the Rams did?

“Choosing Monday rather than the bye week to make the change suggests that this was a knee-jerk decision based on public dissatisfaction rather than a measured plan for the future. In other words, same as it ever was,” Ratto wrote.

“Choosing Mike Singletary rather than Mike Martz to replace Nolan has its intriguing side - Martz’s brain exploding in frustration as he learns he is not going to be on the fast track to his next head-coaching job immediately comes to mind. But given that Singletary has not been a head coach before, common sense suggests that he could have used the extra week for preparation.”

Tipsheet is glad Singletary got his shot, since he has been passed over numerous times for NFL openings. And we’re hoping Mad Mike makes nice during the weeks ahead, since he is rapidly rehabilitating his image as an offensive genius.

If Martz keeps this up, he could very well get another head coaching opportunity.

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while Nolan schedules lunch with Scott Linehan and Lane Kiffin:

• Why didn’t the 49ers make Martz their interim coach? Where is that franchise’s sense of adventure?
• Outside of Philadelphia, is any American pulling for the Phillies to beat the Rays?

• Have the Broncos stopped turning the ball over yet?

THAT’S JUST MEAN

NBC funnyman Jay Leno took this swipe at a soccer icon: “Two housekeepers at David and Victoria Beckham’s English mansion have been arrested for allegedly stealing personal items from the couple and selling them on eBay. The thieves took hundreds of dollars of cosmetics and beauty products, and they stole some of Victoria’s stuff, too.”

QUIPS ‘R US

Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:

Mark Kiszla, Denver Post, on the Broncos’ 41-7 loss to New England: “This was the worst loss by a (Mike) Shanahan-coached team since the 44-7 humiliation against hapless Detroit a year ago . . . or maybe a 48-20 beatdown at the hands of San Diego in 2006 . . . or perhaps that blowout loss to Pittsburgh, which ended the 2005 season in disappointment. Anybody detect a pattern? Since appearing in the AFC championship game that saw the Steelers wreck the illusion of Denver’s return to dominance, the Broncos have a record of 20-20 in forty games. The problem isn’t the creeping mediocrity. No here’s the real concern: In recent years, Shanahan has thrown so much stuff against the walls of Dove Valley headquarters. Very little of it has stuck. And that stinks.”

Steve Rosenbloom, ChicagoTribune.com: “A report said Brett Favre called Lions coaches a month ago and shared nuances of the Packers’ offense before the teams played. Charles Woodson called it ’sabotage.’ People who have seen the Lions defense would called it ‘pity.’ Favre denied the charge, but either way, such conversations do not appear to be a violation of NFL rules. If it is a breach, however, I believe that Bill Belichick gets fined.”

Dan Daly, Washington Times: “Troy Polamalu, the Steelers’ roughhousing safety, is convinced the NFL has become ‘flag football, two-hand touch . . . a pansy game.’ To which I reply: Tell it to Chris Simms‘ spleen.”

Bill Simmons, ESPN.com: “In the past 13 months, we’ve seen an 18-0 team lose the Super Bowl; Kansas win the NCAA hoops title; a WNBA star blow out her ACL during a bench-clearing WNBA brawl; Michigan lose to Toledo and Appalachian State at home; Federer lose Wimbledon to a Spanish clay court specialist; A-Rod and Madonna become a hot tabloid rumor; Michael Phelps win eight gold medals; Tiger win the U.S. Open with a torn ACL; CBS dump Billy Packer; the Red Sox pay Manny Ramirez to play for someone else and everyone in Boston being fine with this; the U.S. hoops team nearly blow the Gold Medal game to a team that started Marc Gasol and a 17-year-old point guard; the Tampa Bay Rays (reach) the World Series; and an improbable throwback Celtics-Lakers Finals. You’re really telling me Arizona making a Super Bowl is far-fetched at this point?”

Norman Chad, syndicated columnist: “Let me briefly express my dismay that the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame is moving from St. Louis to Arlington, Tex. I’ll be blunt here: This would be like moving the Vatican from Vatican City to Graceland.”

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: “The Major League Baseball Players Association has accused owners of colluding and acting in concert against signing Barry Bonds. I think I speak for all sports fans when I say, ‘So?’”

MEGAPHONE

“I have no understanding of football. I watch the highlights. They are very physical, very interesting in highlights. But in highlights, every sport looks very interesting.”

Rockets center Yao Ming, after appearing with other Olympians at halftime of a Houston Texans game.