News item: The Orioles finalized free-agent contracts with veteran first baseman Derrek Lee and closer Kevin Gregg, all but completing an offseason roster overhaul that replaced three-fourths of the starting infield and injected some much-needed power into the batting order.
My take: Clearly the O's are a better team than the one that won 66 games last year, but are they better than any of the other teams in the American League East? When you finished 19 games out of fourth place, I think that's still a fair question.
News item: The University of Maryland hired former Connecticut coach Randy Edsall to be the new Terps football coach last weekend and introduced him to the media on Monday afternoon.
My take: Edsall is a very good coach who will fit well into the athletic culture at Maryland, but a lot of us were under the impression that athletic director Kevin Anderson was looking for someone to bring dynamic change to the football program.
News item: Roberto Alomar was named on 90 percent of the ballots in his second year of eligibility and Bert Blyleven finally topped the 75 percent voting requirement on his 14th attempt to gain induction to the baseball Hall of Fame.
My take: It's no mystery why Alomar had to wait one year, but I'm still trying to figure out how a pitcher who retired as the No. 5 strikeout guy in the history of the game and ranks ninth all-time in shutouts came within a year of being timed out of Baseball Writers Association of America consideration.
Related news item: Former Oriole Rafael Palmeiro, one of only four players with at least 500 career home runs and 3,000 hits, was named on only 11 percent of the ballots submitted by qualified members of the BBWAA.
My take: The baseball writers appear to be taking a principled stand against the players who were prominent in baseball's steroid scandal. If you want more proof, Mark McGwire's vote percentage dropped after he finally confessed to using illegal performance-enhancing substances.
News item: It took awhile, but the Dallas Cowboys finally settled on interim coach Jason Garrett to be the permanent replacement for Wade Phillips.
My take: Of course, it's the same Jason Garrett who reportedly was offered the Ravens job before John Harbaugh came on board and led them into the playoffs three straight years. He chose to wait for the Cowboys opening — and got head coach money to be offensive coordinator — so it looks like he and the Ravens both made the right decision.
News item: The Texas Tech football program is facing the possibility of two years probation for recruiting violations that occurred during the tenure of Mike Leach, who was once considered the leading candidate to get the Maryland job.
My take: Obviously, this makes the decision to hire Edsall look even better.
Bonus take: Now for my latest NCAA rant. Texas Tech could get two years probation and lose scholarships because its coaching staff sent impermissible text messages to potential recruits over an 18-month period from 2007 to 2009, but Cam Newton will be allowed to play for Auburn in the BCS title game after his father allegedly tried to sell him to Mississippi State for a six-figure payoff. It boggles the mind.
News item: Jim Harbaugh, who led Stanford to a bowl victory over Virginia Tech and a likely top 5 finish in the final college rankings, has decided to make the jump to the NFL. He agreed to a five-year, $25 million contract on Friday to coach the San Francisco 49ers.
My take: He's a very good coach, but I'm going with his big brother when the Ravens play the 49ers in next year's Super Bowl.
News item: Raiders coach Tom Cable was fired this week after the Raiders swept the AFC West and delivered their first non-losing season since 2002.
My take: Tough crowd, but in defense of owner Al Davis, the last time I looked, he hadn't changed his motto to "Just finish .500, baby!"
Listen to Peter Schmuck on WBAL (1090 AM) at noon Fridays and Saturdays. Also, check out his blog, "The Schmuck Stops Here," at baltimoresun.com/schmuckblog.