News item: Orioles broadcaster and 1983 World Series MVP Rick Dempsey interviewed for the Orioles permanent managerial position on Thursday, the same day former Indians manager Eric Wedge came in for his second interview.
My take: I guess you can't rule anything out, but the fact that owner Peter Angelos did not sit in on the Dempsey interview seems like a bad sign to me. My head says it will be Wedge, but my gut is starting to growl that it's Buck Showalter.
News item: The Orioles called up third base prospect Josh Bell to fill the roster spot vacated by Luke Scott, but Bell may not be in the major leagues beyond this weekend.
My take: No matter. The fact that Bell's getting any look at all at this point should only increase speculation that the club will deal Miguel Tejada by the July 31 deadline for trading players without passing them through waivers.
News item: Former Orioles pitcher Erik Bedard is expected to make his first major league start of the season on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals — 10 ½ months after undergoing his second shoulder operation since he was acquired by the Seattle Mariners.
My take: The M's have paid him a total of $14.75 million over the past 2 ½ years — not to mention the five players it took to get him — and have 11 wins to show for it. And, if he pitches well the rest of this season, he could become a popular free agent in November.
Bonus take: What a country.
News item: St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has publicly endorsed Arizona's controversial attempt to crack down on illegal immigration.
My take: Give La Russa credit for taking a principled stand on an issue that has polarized the nation. Despite what you might have heard or read, however, it's not an unpopular stand. Polls in almost every state show the majority of Americans support Arizona's attempt to do what the federal government has failed to do — protect the country's borders.
Bonus take: Before everybody gets all huffy about a sports guy stepping into the middle of a political debate, it's really the other way around. Pro sports figures have been dragged into this controversy on both sides by the groups that have been protesting at road appearances by Arizona teams and encouraging fans to boycott them.
News item: The Orioles won their fifth game in six tries with another late comeback on Wednesday, but Luke Scott suffered a nasty hamstring strain rounding the bases after his decisive home run.
My take: That's pretty much the O's season in a nutshell.
News item: Former San Diego Chargers coach Don Coryell, whose innovative approach to the passing game made the Bolts the most exciting offensive team in football in the late 1970s and early 1980s, died this week at the age of 85.
My take: I had the privilege of covering a couple of those Chargers teams, and his "Air Coryell" passing attack — directed on the field by Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts — was truly a thing of beauty.
News item: There has been a published report that Elin Woods could end up with $750 million in her divorce settlement with Tiger.
My take: That's ridiculous. The report was based on a gross exaggeration of Tiger's personal wealth, which Forbes estimates to be about $600 million, so Elin and the kids may have to try to get by on as little as $300 million.
News item: The New York Knicks are trying lure free agent megastar LeBron James to the Big Apple with the projection that he could earn $1 billion or more in salary and endorsement income over his lifetime if he moves to New York.
My take: That's probably sounds good, but you've got to remember that it's a lot more expensive to live there.
News item: Michael Vick might be in some more hot water with the NFL after one of his former dogfighting co-defendants was shot at a party that Vick had left just minutes earlier, though Vick claims he had absolutely no connection to the shooting.
My take: Not sure that matters at this point. I bet NFL commissioner Roger Goodell would like to know what about avoiding unsavory friends and potentially dangerous situations didn't Vick understand when his suspension was lifted last year.
News item: Maryland Championship Wrestling is holding its big summer showcase on July 31 in Dundalk.
My take: To paraphrase comedian Jeff Foxworthy, if you have to move your refrigerator to mow your lawn, you might want to get tickets to this show before it sells out.
Listen to Peter Schmuck on WBAL (1090 AM) at noon Fridays and Saturdays and with Brett Hollander on Tuesday and Thursday at six. Also, check out his blog "The Schmuck Stops Here" at http://www.baltimoresun.com/schmuckblog.