News item: : Orioles rookie Brian Matusz was shut down this week after delivering an impressive last performance of 2009 against the Yankees in New York.
My take: : It was the right move for all the right reasons. Matusz went 16-4 with a 2.68 ERA at three organizational levels in his first professional season. Might want to save some of that for later.
News item: : Rookie Matt Wieters drove in nine runs in the Orioles' four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
My take: : That should quiet the Wieters-is-a-bust bunch for a while, but I'm even more impressed with the adjustments he has made behind the plate. I bet Carl Crawford is, too. He got nailed twice trying to steal on Wieters.
News item: : ESPN football analyst Keyshawn Johnson riled up the Ravens this week when he denigrated their receiver corps. "You want a bum," he said. "You pay a bum."
My take: : I'm just glad nobody asked his opinion of the Orioles.
Related news item: : Ravens wide-out Derrick Mason fired back, challenging Johnson to come to the Ravens' facility and settle things man-to-man.
My take: : I think that was just a clever ruse to sneak Johnson into town so the Ravens can sign him.
News item: : Former New York Jets coach Eric Mangini, Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum and the team were fined a total of $125,000 by the NFL for failing to put Brett Favre's biceps tear on the weekly injury report late last season.
My take: : Don't think this is that big a deal, since Mangini and Tannenbaum were fined the same amount as Houston cornerback Dunta Robinson, who was popped for $25,000 by the Texans for writing on his shoes.
News item: : Terrell Owens needed only one regular-season game in a Buffalo Bills uniform before criticizing quarterback Trent Edwards for not throwing to him enough.
My take: : To be honest, I'm a little surprised it took this long, but T.O. missed most of the preseason.
Bonus take: : To quote one of my all-time favorite Southern California receivers: "You want a bum. You pay a bum."
News item: : Michael Jordan hinted playfully at the end of his Hall of Fame acceptance speech that he might come out of retirement at age 50.
My take: : Don't laugh. The Minnesota Vikings might have an opening at quarterback by then.
Related news item: : There has been some media grumbling about Jordan's speech, which had an in-your-face tone you don't often hear during a Hall of Fame induction.
