News item: Ravens All-everything safety Ed Reed, who is recovering from hip surgery, has made it known he'd like the team to sign him to a new contract, even though he still has three years remaining on the six-year extension he signed in 2006 that made him the highest-paid player in history at his position.
My take: Reed is a great player and this kind of thing happens all the time in the NFL, but — c'mon — you've got to be kidding me. He isn't even sure he'll be able to play half the 2010 season and he's set to make about $20 million over the remaining three years of his existing contract.
Bonus take: If I'm Ozzie Newsome, I politely let this little episode blow over, then consider restructuring the deal for 2011 to give Reed some incentive to extend his career if he comes back strong this year.
News item: NBA superstar LeBron James announced his intention to sign with the Miami Heat on a special one-hour show Thursday night on ESPN and ESPN2.
My take: Obviously, you could cut the suspense with a knife, especially after a report surfaced earlier in the day that James had booked a string of cabanas along South Beach for a weekend celebration.
Related News item: Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert posted a letter to his team's fans on the Cavs Web site after James announced his decision charging that LeBron "quit" on the team during this year's playoff series against the Boston Celtics.
My take: In this case, the high road obviously doesn't pass though Cleveland, though I agree with Gilbert that the whole King James free agent tour was a less-than-subtle exercise in ego gratification.
News item: Multi-position guy Ty Wigginton was named the Orioles lone representative at this year's All-Star Game, which will be played Tuesday night at Angels Stadium.
My take: I'm caught between an emotional rock and a hard place here. I'm happy for Wigginton, who was the club's best hitter for the first two months of the season, but I'm wondering what it tells the rest of the country about the O's organization that two of the team's top All-Star candidates started the year as the backup corner infielder and the long reliever (Jason Berken).
News item: Lawyers for Roger Clemens have asked a federal appeals court to reinstate the Rocket's defamation lawsuit against former personal trainer Brian McNamee, who publicly claimed to have injected the former pitching great more than a dozen times with illegal performance enhancing drugs.
My take: Apparently, Clemens likes paying lawyers and doesn't care that he's the only one keeping alive the memory of this tawdry chapter in baseball's steroid scandal.
News item: Colorado Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez won again on Thursday, improving his record to 15-1 entering the final weekend before the All-Star break.
My take: And, believe it or not, National League All-Star manager Charlie Manuel still hasn't decided who will be the NL starter on Tuesday night.
News item: ESPN and the Atlantic Coast Conference have agreed on a 12-year broadcast deal that will give the Worldwide Leader exclusive television rights to both ACC men's basketball and football games.
My take: Of course, the deal also includes a provision that allows LeBron to interrupt any broadcast at any time to make an important announcement about his future.
News item: Spain will play the Netherlands for the World Cup on Sunday, ending weeks of competition and international intrigue.
My take: That will leave you three weeks to rest up for the big soccer extravaganza at M&T; Bank Stadium on July 31.
News item: Former Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller has tied the knot with former Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, who became a lightning rod for controversy after her defense of traditional marriage during the Miss USA pageant.
My take: Then she ends up marrying an Oakland Raider. Go figure.
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.
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