News item: Team USA star Kobe Bryant told a reporter the other day that he won't sign a contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers until he tests the global market. He claims he's considering a $50 million offer from Europe.
My take: What's he going to do, play for the whole continent? Trust me, when this is over, Kobe will be a Laker for life and the only thing global about him will be that he'll still be a world-class pain in butt.
News item: Kyle Boller completed 11 of 15 passes for 102 yards in the Ravens' first preseason game. He also committed two turnovers.
My take: So, you were expecting Johnny U? I thought he played much better than Troy Smith but not well enough to get a leg up in the quarterback competition.
Related news item: Smith will get the starting assignment Saturday when the Ravens play the Minnesota Vikings at M&T Bank Stadium in their second preseason game.
My take: That's no small thing. It could be a watershed game in the career of young Troy because his performance likely will go a long way toward determining whether he starts the regular-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. If Boller starts the third game, he'll be at a big advantage ... and Smith could end up being stuck between the veteran starter of the present and the young quarterback of the future. Not a good place to be.
News item: The New York Post is reporting that Manny Ramirez has told friends he wants to sign with the Yankees so he can get revenge on the Red Sox 19 times a year.
My take: If that's true, it's just Manny being Kobe ... I mean Manny.
News item: The NCAA announced Thursday that it would not prohibit alcohol advertising on NCAA sports telecasts despite pressure from college presidents, athletic directors and high-profile coaches to eliminate beer ads and take a stand against underage drinking.
My take: That's too bad. It would have been a nice symbolic gesture that would have cost the member schools millions in revenue and wouldn't have had any effect whatsoever on the drinking habits of underage students.
Bonus take: Pardon my cynicism, but I would rather see people actually do something to solve a problem than absolve themselves of responsibility with some grand, largely meaningless gesture.
News item: Chad Pennington has signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract and likely will be the starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins.
