Major League Baseball has released new dress guidelines for the media, which include admonitions against flip flops and exposed underwear at the ballpark. I’m pretty sure I’ll be okay on the underwear front.

The dress code apparently is directed at people who dress unprofessionally, whether it be wearing team logo stuff, beachwear or skimpy attire. Hopefully, the NFL won’t follow suit or there will be no reason to go to Super Bowl Media Day.

For me, there’s a gender equity issue here. If the reporter sitting next to me can wear open-toe high heels to the game (and I’m talking about you, Roch), then why can’t I wear a $50 pair of fancy Reef flip flops?

Personally, I think the powers that be have a lot better things to do that worry about how I’m dressed. It’s not like they’re going to hang my portrait in The Louvre no matter what I’m wearing.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Okay, I've returned from my Southern California vacation to find that my Facebook friends are way better at geography than my blog commentors. No one even attempted to answer my "Where's Waldo?" question about the James Dean bust, which is located at the Griffith Observatory high above Los Angeles.

If you aren't a movie trivia buff, an important chunk of the 1950s movie classic "Rebel Without a Cause" was filmed at the Observatory, which features planetarium shows and some of the greatest views of the LA area. If you look one way, you see the LA skyline. Turn around, and there's the Hollywood sign. Really a great tourist spot.

That was the same day I visited the Gene Autry Western Heritage Center, which also is located in the park. The museum is terrific, featuring one of the finest collections of western art as well as a comprehensive display that chronicles the history of western movies and television shows. It's a special place for me because I had the privilege of knowing Gene Autry, who owned the Angels during my time covering them and was very generous with his time and memories of his days as one of the biggest box office stars in Hollywood.

Of course, no visit to that area is complete without a visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, where you can retrace Reagan's movie career, relive the 1970s and 1980s and walk through the Air Force One that was in use during his administration. No political comment here, but I've got to say one thing. No matter what you thought of Reagan's politics, I can't think of anyone who lived a more varied and eventful life.

We were also going to go to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, CA, but we heard that the admission line had an 18 1/2-minute gap, and we didn't want to wait.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

If you're wondering again where I've disappeared to, I'm including a photo that should give you a clue. I'll be interested to see how many of the baseball nuts on this blog are well-traveled enough to identify the exact location where this photo was taken. No Googling. Honor system.

I've been on vacation out West for the past week, but I'll be back in the saddle for the Orioles' next home series. I think I picked the right time to enjoy some well-deserved R&R, since I'm not sure my heart could have taken some of those ridiculous losses.

I'm not at today's game, of course, but I've got to ask a question. When you allow 10 baserunners in 3 2/3 innings and top off the fourth by giving up a three-run homer to center field...is that good???

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Obviously, I've got way too much time on my hands right now, but that's what happens when you take a week's vacation while everybody else in the family has to work. So, I was just sitting around trying to think up nasty Tweets to drop on my friends when a buddy sent me a link to this article from The Atlantic.

It's titled "Sister Schmuck Takes a Stand," so you can see why it caught his eye.

For the record, I am not aware of any relation to the subject of this story, but -- coincidentally -- I have an aunt on my father's side who is a nun in St. Louis, though she chose not to include her surname in her nun-name.

Anyway, check it out and count your blessings...unless you're NASCAR legend Dick Trickle.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

I've been a little busy here in Tampa, so I just read Kevin Cowherd's recent column on the new marketing campaign for the Preakness Infieldfest. If you want to read it, you can do so right here, so you'll know what I'm talking about.

Kevin is a little down on Kegasus, the half-man/half-horse marketing spokesman for the infield party -- and I would understand that if he was just protective of Greek mythology -- but I think he actually believes that the Maryland Jockey Club should turn the infield into a picnic area and hope that 6,000 station wagons pull up and let out the kids.

They tried to make the whole thing family friendly a couple of years ago and attendance tanked so badly that a couple more Preakness's like that might have sent the second jewel of the Triple Crown to Gulfstream Park, which is in a state (Florida) that doesn't mind people having a little fun once in awhile.

Kevin knows how much I like and respect him, which is why I can disagree with him here and still sit next to him at Opening Day tomorrow at Camden Yards, but I've got to wonder what he would be writing about Mardi Gras if he worked for the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Doesn't the guy remember Woodstock? I don't know if he was there, but I'm guessing he was the guy asking why there wasn't more of a security presence.

I'm not sure Kegasus is the role model I want for my kids, even if they often tell me how much I resemble the back half of a centaur. I just think that the infield craziness is as much a part of the personality of Baltimore as the Senator Theatre and the Domino Sugar sign.

I know if I could still "get my Preak on," I would, so I don't want to deny that privilege to the next generation.

Just my opinion.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (19)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

My time is up in Sarasota. I'll be heading home later today and Sun colleague Dan Connolly has arrived to join Jeff Zrebiec for the final three weeks of spring training. I'll return at the end of the month for the regular season opener against the Tampa Bay Rays.

If you get a chance, my last story from camp went up on the Web site last night. You can still take a look at it right here if you haven't already.

I'll be reviving my "News item" column in Saturday's paper and will have a column for Sunday, then I'm going to take some time off. Fill in your own blog joke here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (85)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Took the day off on Thursday and got in 18 holes at nearly Palm Aire Country Club with Orioles broadcaster Joe Angel. If you want to know just what kind of golfer I am, Joe gave me 20 strokes and still smoked me. He shot a 71. I shot him a number of dirty looks. My score is confidential.

Hard to brag when you shoot your IQ.

The highlight of the day was on the way to our first hole. Passed one of the ponds on the course just in time to see a big alligator pop out of the water and chomp on a huge black bird. I mean, you could hear the crunch from 20 feet away.

So, the freaking dinosaur lizard got one more birdie than me.

Florida. Can't beat it.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (35)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Just read on Ravens Insider that Steelers receiver Hines Ward has agreed to compete on Dancing With the Stars, and I've got to say, I can't wait. I used to draw the line at The Bachelor (which is gripping television, by the way), but the prospect of seeing that obnoxious grin every week is just too much to pass up.

I'm guessing it'll be about Week 3 when Hines delivers a flying axe handle to the back of his 90-pound dance partner and somehow she gets called for unnecessary roughness.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

If you know me, you know I'm always up for a little cultural enrichment, so I spent Thursday evening at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Sarasota Bay with actor and comedian Bob Newhart.

No, I didn't go there with him. It wasn't a date. He was there doing a classic standup show, which was hilarious. Newhart is 81 years old, but you would never have known it -- except for the rest of the crowd. I was there with a fiftysomething friend and we got carded at the bar.

It wasn't a one-man show. The opening act was Deana Martin, the daughter of famous Rat Pack crooner Dean Martin. She delivered a 40-minute set dedicated to her dad and sang a duet with a video of the King of Cool.

Though the heydey of the Rat Pack was a bit before my time, I still got a bit nostalgic. Maybe I was a big band crooner in a previous life.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

I don't get many complaints, being perfect and all, but one of my readers came down to Sarasota and read me the riot act over my recommendation of Moore's Stone Crab Restaurant and Marina over on Longboat Key.

I'm not going to get into the specific complaint, but I felt that I had to go over there on Sunday night and make sure it's still one of my favorite gulf coast restaurants...and it is.

Maybe Stone Crab claws are an acquired taste. They bear no resemblance or gastronomical similarity to the other members of the ocean crab family and they are generally served cold with a mustard dip. I ordered the $49 platter and thought it was terrific. The crab bisque was pretty good, too.

Since I went there for purely journalistic reasons, I'm pretty sure I won't get a lot of static from my boss when I put the check on my expense account, but I'll keep you posted.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Since I spend much of every day watching The Weather Channel down here -- because it's too warm to go outside -- I'm aware that the Baltimore area is expecting a few inches of snow overnight. And, of course, I'm jealous.

I'm sure you understand. It can get a little old going to the ballpark every day under a boring, cloudless sky with the temperature invariably 75 degrees. Day after day after day this is what I see when I step out onto my porch (right). It's like working in a mine, except you're outside and there's always a balmy tradewind that invariably pushes your perfect eight-iron shot to the edge of the green.

It gets so bad, I sometimes have to duck into one of the beachfront bars to reduce the amount of UV radiation exposure and get rehydrated.

If I hadn't promised to bring you up-to-the-minute coverage of the Orioles for the first month of spring training, I'd come home right now, though my flight would probably be canceled and I'd have to stay here anyway.

I'll try to bear up.

Crappy Sun cellphone photo by Peter Schmuck

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (34)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Since I can't afford to play in the World Series of Poker, it's nice to be able to stop by the poker room at the Sarasota Kennel Club once in awhile and make a contribution to the local economy.

The cards weren't falling last night, but it's a nice room and everybody is really friendly, especially while you're giving them your money. They also have dog racing there, but I long ago used up my canine budget on Bogie's private physician.

Of course, I was constantly reminded that I'm in South Florida because everyone else at the table kept calling me "Son."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Apparently, I've got a new gig modeling for Sky Mall Magazine, the shopping catalogue they put in the seat pockets of all the airliners, which features this offer for the Skyrest Travel Pillow. I don't remember taking this photo, but I can't imagine there are two guys in the world that are this good-looking while asleep.

Of course, this blog item is not intended to promote the sale of any item other than the Baltimore Sun newspaper or licensed Sun souvenirs bearing my terrific likeness.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (45)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Don't know how many of you are going to get down to Sarasota, Fla., for spring training, but I hope a lot of you do -- even you, Wayne -- and look me up. I can be found around the ballpark most days and around the beach most nights. If you want to run into me out on the town -- or make sure that you don't -- take a look at my crude attempt at being a travel writer in Sunday's print edition or right here right now.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck, Shameless plug
        

Don't want to rub it in, but I'm just 22 hours from takeoff and the beginning of about a month at spring training in Sarasota, Fla. By tomorrow night, I'll be knee-deep in an umbrella drink or nose-to-nose with O's beat writer Jeff Zrebiec in an argument about the balk rule. The guy never lets up.

In the meantime, keep an eye out for my spring training preview column and make sure you pick up tomorrow's print edition for my personal tourist guide to the Sarasota area. You can also read it here sometime today, but it's much more fun to get newsprint all over your hands and then rub it under your eyes and imagine your Doug DeCinces.

Right now, I'm heading into the studio for my Saturday "Sportsline" program on WBAL Radio (1090AM) and WBAL.com. If you're out of the area, go to the WBAL Web site and click on the "Listen Live" icon.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

In case anybody doubts that the WBAL Sportsline team skipped -- Wizard of Oz-style -- into the Chesapeake Bay on Saturday morning (7:55 a.m, to be exact), here is video proof from the WBAL Radio website.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

...I'm happy to report there has been a truce.

Bogie and Trotsky have ushered in a new era of civility

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

When I saw the video of the Metrodome roof collapsing and dumping all that show on the Minnesota Vikings' home field, I had to wonder what else could go wrong for the Vikings. The roof already had fallen in on them in a figurative sense with the Brett Favre cell phone scandal and the Randy Moss mutiny, so this was just icing on a rotting cake.

The situation did bring back some memories, however, since I was in the Metrodome for the only time the roof failed while there was an event taking place underneath it. That was on April 26, 1986, when a severe windshear tore the roof above the bleachers in right center field and dumped rainwater into the stands during the ninth inning of a game between the Twins and California Angels.

The tear caused the light standards to swing toward the seats and created some panic in the stands, but the roof did not deflate and the game resumed after a short delay with the Twins leading, 6-1. The evening became even more memorable when the game was restarted and the Angels proceeded to hit three two-run home runs in the ninth inning to win the game -- the final blow a two-out shot into the upper deck in right by rookie first baseman Wally Joyner.

My other memory of that game came afterward. Reggie Jackson, nearing the end of his great career, did not start the game, but came on as a pinch hitter in the top of the ninth. He walked and scored ahead of Joyner, but complained after the game (perhaps only half-seriously) about manager Gene Mauch's decision to send him in to play right field in bottom of the ninth inning -- right under the spot where the roof was damaged.

Joyner went on to have a terrific season and help lead the Angels into the playoffs, but that was the year of the famous Game 5 collapse against the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series. The Metrodome game was quickly lost to memory in a season that included several big events in Angels history -- including Don Sutton's 300th career victory.

Associated Press photo

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Just wanted to wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving today and thought that headline would get your attention. Of course, I'm thankful for a countless number of blessings. I'm even thankful for Wayne for keeping the blog going while I was getting some rest.

What, specifically, am I thankful for?

Let me count the ways.

I'm thankful for all the obvious things, but you didn't come here to hear that. I've got a great job and a great family and great readers (even you, Bob), but let's focus on sports, since I'm particularly thankful there are three NFL games today and every one of them provides some intrigue, if not a truly compelling matchup. Here goes:

I'm thankful that Baltimore has an elite NFL team that has an excellent chance to go deep into the postseason, even if the Ravens do have a maddening tendency to make bad teams look better than they should.

I'm thankful that Joe Flacco and Derrick Mason are still friends.

I'm thankful I'm not a Tennesee Titans fan right now, and I just texted Jeff Fisher to let him know I'm thinking about him. Haven't had an answer yet.

I'm thankful for the Boise State Broncos, who have exposed the BCS system as a ridiculous charade and continue to make a case for a college football playoff system.

I'm thankful for Buck Showalter, who has given Orioles fans a tiny bit of hope that there won't be a 14th straight losing season.

I'm thankful for "The Comeback" at College Park, though win No. 8 this weekend against North Carolina State would make me thankfuller.

I'm thankful that the blog format allows me to use non-words like thankfuller.

I'm thankful that Navy football continues to thrive under coach Ken Niumatalolo. (Be sure and read my upcoming Q&A with him in The Sun.)

I'm thankful that Ray Lewis can still find a way to be Ray Lewis in the fourth quarter after all these years.

I'm thankful I was never good enough to play sports at a high level. My knees feel great and I wouldn't know what to do with all that money anyway.

I'm thankful for -- wait for it -- Andy MacPhail's rebuilding program, which could start to bloom this year if he can get anyone to take all that Confederate money.

I'm thankful for the low-budget Tampa Bay Rays, for providing hope to baseball's hopeless, and might just provide us with Carlos Pena.

I'm thankful for Pam Shriver and all she's done for children's charities over the past quarter century.

I'm thankful for the start of college basketball season, and the fact that Maryland has two great head coaches.

I'm thankful that Tiger Woods feels he is a better person now, but I'd be even more thankful if he'd win something.

And I'm thankful for Bogie, who continues to pee like a racehorse.

Life is good.

Happy Turkey Day to all.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Obviously, I haven't been around for awhile. I'm in Southern California on some family business and soon will be headed for Las Vegas for a little R&R. Hope you understand. I'll also be taking a long vacation later in the month, but we're planning to juice up the blog again in December.

In the meantime, if you haven't already, you can take a look at my lengthy Q&A with Maryland womens basketball coach Brenda Frese, which was in yesterday's print edition. I would have posted a link sooner, but we originally planned to run the package leading up to Saturday's opener against Monmouth and I got caught flat-footed when it was moved up on the schedule.

Anyway, if you missed it, you can take a look right here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

If you've been wondering where I've been the past day or two, I have been scratching another item off my bucket list. I competed in the "Baltimore's Funniest Celebrity" competition on Thursday night at Martin's East. The event benefitted the RBaby Foundation and the University of Maryland Hospital for Children and was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, The Sun's Kevin Richardson was there to videotape the proceedings -- just like he was for my pro wrestling debut -- so I'll never be able to live this down.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Since one of my Facebook friends asked me to dig up my first-ever column for the Baltimore Sun -- from way back on Feb. 4, 1990 -- I figure the least I can do is also post it here, which is either a public service or just a way to post a really long item without actually doing any work.

This column was written at the request of sports editor Marty Kaiser soon after he hired me away from the Orange County Register (a decision he would come to regret). He thought an explanation of my odd name was necessary or the readers might think my arrival was just some kind of journalistic practical joke.

So, without further adieu, is that column, which you'll have to click once more to read:

Continue reading "Since you asked..." »

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

My latest "News item" column is in today's print edition, but you can read it on the Web site right here. When you're done, tune into WBAL (1090 AM) or WBAL.com for Sportsline. Today's show starts an hour earlier at 11.

We'll preview tomorrow's game between the Ravens and Cleveland Browns and continue our discussion about what the Orioles need to do in the winter to maintain the momentum that has developed over the past seven weeks. I'll also have a column up later today that takes a look at the offseason possibilities.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Let me preface my comments about Sunday's PGA Championship by pointing out that I am enough of a golf fan to spend the last four days in the Lake Tahoe area trying to gain some command of the game, which brings me to my first question of the day:

When you need to birdie the eighth and ninth holes to finish the front nine at 45, is that good?

Didn't think so, but that's not really what I wanted to talk about. I'm pondering what happened to Dustin Johnson and trying to make sense of a sport that has no problem turning to instant replay to scuttle the guy's chance of joining a three-man playoff for the PGA championship, but clings inflexibly to a set of arcane rules that create that kind of sad scenario.

I know that the rules are the rules, but when the incompetence of the PGA creates a situation where hundreds of spectators are allowed to obscure an obstacle so that one of the tournament leaders cannot even see the entire area around his ball, it would seem reasonable to expect something more than a strict interpretation of a local course rule that was news to most of the players in the event. Especially when that player has already walked off the course in an apparent three-way tie for the lead.

Of course, why should anyone be surprised? This is, after all, a sport that is willing to disqualify a player for accidentally misreporting one stroke even though the scores of every player are kept independently and broadcast by the television networks on a minute-by-minute basis. Do you really think somebody ought to lose the U.S. Open after four hard days of competition over a typo?

This is just the latest stupid golf trick, but don't expect it to be the last. I watched the interviews after the PGA and the golf bureaucrats are sure they did exactly the right thing. Give Johnson credit for handling the situation with class when he could have been forgiven for signing his scorecard and sticking it in somebody's ear.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: News of the day, Schmuck being Schmuck
        

It should be no secret by now that I made my professional wrestling debut on Saturday night at the Maryland Championship Wrestling Shamrock Cup event at the New Green Room in Dundalk. What you might not know yet is that it didn't go quite as I expected. If that was "scripted entertainment," somebody showed me the wrong script, because I was totally blindsided by Kevin Eck at the end and -- frankly -- dropped like a bad habit in front of a rabid crowd that was looking for blood.

There was no blood, but there is video, which my boss says I have to put up on the blog. I'm am doing so under protest, because it does not show the behind-the-scenes treachery that led to my shocking defeat. I'm a classy guy, so I will congratulate Kevin Eck for withstanding the tremendous punishment I delivered to him during the match, but I'm still trying to get the final scene out of my mind. Don't want to spoil it for you, but look for the pink-clad Cole Calloway to plant a big wet kiss on Kevin at the end.

So, without further adieu, here is the "Battle of the Blogs." I hope you enjoy it more than I did.

;

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: MCW: The Schmuckdown, Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Just thought this would be a good time to introduce my partners for the big six-man tag team match with Kevin Eck and Co. at Maryland Championship Wrestling's Shamrock Cup show tomorrow night at the New Green Room in Dundalk. Check them out in the video below.

;

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: MCW: The Schmuckdown, Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Regrettably, I was forced to forego another ugly Orioles loss last night, because I was at the Loews 16 in White Marsh to host the Baltimore pre-screening of the new sure-to-be-a-hit-just-because-of-the-title comedy, Dinner For Schmucks.

Well, I guess calling myself the host is probably stretching a point. I was there representing 98 Rock and WBAL Radio, which means I introduced the movie, told the crowd what it's like to live with a name like Schmuck and gave away 98 Rock T-shirts to anyone in the audience with a strange or funny last name.

The movie? I'd give it 1 1/2 thumbs up. It started a bit slow, but ramped up to a very funny finish. I doubt, however, that you'll find it more entertaining than my professional wrestling debut on Saturday night at the New Green Room in Dundalk. Busy week.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

It's been a week since my little buddy Bogart underwent pretty extensive surgery at the Maryland Virginia Veterinary Hospital, but I'm happy to say he's doing well and I've included a photo of Bogie in recovery.

It's going to be tough to keep him in that collar for two weeks, but there is an upside. He's pulling in the DISH Network for free.

The bad news: No matter how I position him, he still can't get either of the MASN HD channels.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Just six days until the big six-man tag team match pitting me and Fed Up against Kevin Eck and a couple of guys from his Yoga class. I've been searching the internet for directions to the New Green Room, but apparently even Mapquest doesn't want to spend any time in Dundalk. Either that or they assume that anyone who wants to go there couldn't possibly be computer literate.

I can't wait to get in the ring and show Kevin how we used to do it in the days of Freddie Blassie and Bobo Brazil, and I'm so sure my guys are going to win that I'm raising the stakes. If Kevin somehow finds a way to come out on top, I'm going to offer to pay for both him and Roch Kubatko to get a neck reduction.

Kevin's "Before" picture is above.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: MCW: The Schmuckdown, Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Now that I've had time to digest Kevin Eck's latest Ring Posts video, I thought it was high time for a little accuracy in media. The six-man tag team match featuring Kevin and I is still on for July 31 at The New Green Room in Dundalk, but I'm starting to wonder who Kevin will dress up as for the evening. I can only hope it's not Mickie James, though what he does in the privacy of his own home is certainly his own business. I hope you enjoy the accompanying video, because I think it will set the record straight.

;

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: MCW: The Schmuckdown, Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Just noticed the new video that Kevin Eck put up on his so-called wrestling blog -- Ring Posts -- and it's somewhat disturbing.

If you want some advanced warning, Kevin dresses up as a bunch of his favorite professional wrestlers to bust on me, which is fine. I supposed that's the kind of thing they do in Dundalk to entertain themselves, so I should just feel lucky he didn't dress up as Mickie James, though what he does in his private life is nobody's business but his own.

I'll have a video response in the next day or two, but it's hard to carve out much time in between workouts. I'm getting into the best shape of my life for the July 31 Shamrock Cup show at the Green Room in Dundalk. Of course, that's not saying all that much.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: MCW: The Schmuckdown, Schmuck being Schmuck
        

If it seems like I haven't been around here much the past couple of days, it's because I haven't. I'm in Blacksburg, Va, at the terrific Virginia Tech veterinary teachers hospital with my little buddy Bogart, who has the mother of all kidney stones lodged in a place that I would rather not describe further.

Let's just say it's in there deep enough that removing it -- and several others -- without turning the four-month-old pup into a lifelong invalid requires the most state-of-the-art veterinary techniques, and the place to go for that on the East Coast is VTech, which also has some pretty good sports teams if you're trying hard to find some relevance here.

Listen, I'm well aware that Bogie (at left in happier days) is just a dog and there are a lot of people out there facing much more important health crises, but he's part of the family and the kids stopped driving me toward bankruptcy when they finished college. So, I'm coming to you from the Best Western in Radford, Va., and that's where I'll be for the next few days, waiting and hoping that the little fellow comes back strong. He's got several more pieces of furniture to chew up before he reaches doggy adulthood.

I'm hoping the Orioles hold their managerial announcement at least until Sunday, or you're going to get my opinion with a southern accent.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (27)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Can't wait for the new Paul Rudd/Steve Carrell movie to hit theaters, and it should be pretty obvious why. "Dinner For Schmucks" comes out in about two weeks and promises to be a big hit, even though I'm conspicuous by my lack of a cameo appearance. Pretty big oversight if you ask me.

Anyway, it's getting maximum promotion, including trailers during last night's All-Star Game on Fox. If you want to check one of them out, I picked one off of YouTube and included it below.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (23)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Hey, am I the only one who thinks that Dutch World Cup coach Bert Van Marwijk should be cast as the villain in the next Die Hard movie?

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

When I read Kevin Cowherd's column complaining about the way some pre-game singers perform irritating vocal gymnastics with the National Anthem and stretch it out way too long, I had only one reaction:

Amen!

I don't watch the clock during the anthem, but I've got a simpler rule than Kevin. If you can't hold your breath through it, then it's too long, unless you have asthma or something.

However, I have to get in Kevin's grill today. I've also got certain rules for sports columns. Like, if you're writing about the insufferable anthem showoffs, the column should be no more than 700 words. Cowherd was right on the money in his first column, but when he went for a second bite at the anthem in today's print edition, he stretched the subject out to a total of about 1,500 words.

For that, he should be forced to listen to the Roseanne Barr version of the anthem every day for a month.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

I'm going to admit right here that I got ambushed by Kevin Eck on Tuesday night on WBAL. I never had any intention of getting into the ring with him. I mean, do you know what that peroxide he's got all over his head will do to a good Tommy Bahama? Now, I have to defend the honor of The Schmuck Stops Here at the Maryland Championship Wrestling Shamrock Cup Show on July 31 in beautiful downtown Dundalk.

Clearly, Kevin can't even take a little ribbing. Check out this video he made for his wrestling blog. The guy -- and his readers -- are obsessed with me, which I would totally understand if they were women. Not a lot of guys out there with my combination of physical attractiveness, intelligence, sense of humor and raw athleticism, so I'll understand if Mickie James has trouble keeping her hands off me that night.

Really, fellas, I've enjoyed the running commentary about my chances in the six-man tag team match, but it's not like I'm going out there alone, though I probably could muddle through myself if necessary. I may be the only person in the arena who can read and write, so I might even change the script at the last minute.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: MCW: The Schmuckdown, Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Just when I thought all this wrestling foolishness was in my rear-view mirror, Ring Posts blogger Kevin Eck called the "Sportsline" radio show tonight (WBAL 1090AM, WBAL.com) and challenged me to show up at the Maryland Championship Wrestling show on July 31st in Dundalk and face him in a six-man tag team match. I tried to take the high road and avoid a physical confrontation, but the guy apparently wants a piece of The Schmuck, so who am I to argue? As you can see from the video below, I'm shaking in my boots.

;

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (42)
Categories: MCW: The Schmuckdown, Schmuck being Schmuck
        

It's really kind of sad when I try to offer an olive branch to my colleague Kevin Eck and all the great pro wrestling fans out there, and it gets slapped out of my hand. I just went over to Ring Posts and found that Kevin had taken a bunch of cheap potshots at me. Guess he wanted to get his name in one of the big boy blogs again.

Of course, I always try to take the high road, but it apparently doesn't pass through Eckville. I just read some of the comments under Kevin's diatribe and I'm surprised to see some of you grappling afficionados trying to psychoanalyze me to determine the motive for my earlier comments about the current state of the so-called sport.

Let me put your tiny minds at ease. I am not some bundle of insecurity who is threatened by Kevin's success, such as it is. If anything, I'm probably too secure because I'm such a good-looking and successful fellow who wears only the finest in Tommy Bahama fashions. I mean, think about it for a minute. Who else can get away with dressing like that for work? I must be pretty darned important.

For those of you who made nasty comments about my age, weight and alleged mental instability, do I need to remind you that you're the ones who pay $59.95 every month or so to watch giant men play fight in Speedos.

Now, can't we all just get along?

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (35)
Categories: MCW: The Schmuckdown, Schmuck being Schmuck
        

I'm a little confused, but maybe it's because I've been watching the Orioles all year. Most of you wrestling fans pay like $59 bucks to watch pay-per-views where the whole point is for the heroes and villains to be as over-the-top as they can possibly get, then you get all thin-skinned when somebody hits you with a verbal folding chair?

I thought I was doing Maryland Championship Wrestling a favor by advertising the July 31 show in Dundalk (Town motto: "When did we get a building big enough to host a wrestling event?"), but I apparently ruffled some feathers -- or at least some people with tattoos who look like they have feathers.

Certainly, there was no disrespect intended toward wrestling fans -- I thought the neck tattoo thing was a compliment -- and I hold my colleague Kevin Eck in the highest regard, or at least the highest regard I can muster for a guy with highlights and a secret crush on Golddust (above).

I guess what I'm trying to say here is, I'm really sorry if I offended anyone who thought I didn't show pro wrestling the proper respect. I hope we're still friends.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: MCW: The Schmuckdown, Schmuck being Schmuck
        

I've got a confession to make. When I was kid growing up in Southern California, I loved professional wrestling. The local television station (KTLA) would broadcast a three-hour program from the Olympic Auditorium in LA on Wednesday nights and I would stay up well past my bedtime to watch Freddie Blassie pound on some hapless "pencil-neck geek"

Of course, in those days, I was convinced it was more than just "scripted entertainment,'' as my friend Kevin Eck (left) calls it in his blog -- Ring Posts. I didn't know that it was about as real as Donald Trump's hair or Pamela Anderson's....well, I'm sure you get my drift.

The thing is, most of us grew up and started paying attention to real sports -- and girls -- and figured out that there is actually a legitimate use for a metal folding chair. The rest, I guess, spend their free time (and I suspect they have a lot of it) reading Kevin's blog and dreaming of the day that anabolic steroids are legal again.

Still, I recently checked out the blog and noticed that Maryland Championship Wrestling is putting on a big show July 31 in Dundalk (I mean, where else?). I tried to call Kevin today to find out who's going to win so I could post the results in advance and save you a trip, but -- apparently -- he and Peter Angelos aren't taking my calls anymore.

Who knows, maybe I'll show up and check it out for myself. Maybe even get a neck tattoo so I can blend in with the crowd.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (39)
Categories: MCW: The Schmuckdown, Schmuck being Schmuck
        

I'm going to be out of town all day today, which means you're going to have to get through tonight's Orioles game without someone to hold your hand and tell you that it's going to be all better some day soon. I was going to leave Bob in charge, but I'm afraid he might convince you all to become full-time soccer fans instead of World Cup bandwagoners like me.

My opinions for the day:

I think the signing of veteran quarterback Marc Bulger is a very smart move for a Ravens team that expects to go far in the postseason this year. No offense to the younger backups, but Bulger can fill a mentor role and can take the ball in an emergency and keep the team viable

I don't think that Fredi Gonzalez would be a good fit for the Orioles, even though I admire the stance he took with Hanley Ramirez and think owner Jeffrey Loria is going to miss him when he's taking the Braves to the playoffs next year.

I'm partial to black beans when I eat at Moe's/Chipotle/Qdoba.

Talk amongst yourselves...and try to keep it clean.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (217)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

The Ben Grubbs Celebrity Softball Game, which took place earlier today at Joe Cannon Stadium, was great fun, but it was also a humbling experience for those of us who are not high-profile, twentysomething professional athletes.

Maybe this is a case of "The older I get, the better I was," but I can't ever remember going hitless in a slow-pitch softball game. Maybe I'm just hanging around the Orioles too much, but my offensive highlight was a long fly ball that might have been an extra-base hit if I hadn't showed off my steroid-pumped power swing during batting practice and allowed the opposition to position the outfield accordingly. I guess that's why John Harbaugh doesn't like anybody texting during OTAs.

There wasn't all that much opposition. I played on Fabian Washington's team, which was packed with talent. Joe Flacco hit the ball very well and Juan Dixon should have been named MVP for a terrific offensive and defensive performance. We delivered a brutal 13-1 beating to the hapless squad that featured WBAL's Clarence Mitchell IV and 98 Rock's Mickey Cucchiella along with Ray Rice and an assortment of Ravens players with suspect hand-eye coordination.

Really, all you have to do is look at this publicity photo of Mickey and it pretty much tells the whole story.

We had a perfect game going when a thunderstorm forced the umpiring crew to interrupt the game temporarily. Sound familiar? Of course, that threw off our rhythm and we allowed a hit right after we returned to the field. I went out and shook hands with all of the umpires afterward, and was a little surprised when none of them broke into tears.

It was really a great event that drew close to a full house and raised some good money for the Ben Grubbs Foundation. And the best thing about it was that nobody -- especially me -- ended up with more than a bruised ego.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (119)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

...and so do I, so I'm not going to be at Camden Yards for the final game of the three-game series against the Boston Red Sox. Instead, I'm going to play in the Ben Grubbs Celebrity Softball Game at Joe Cannon Stadium this afternoon.

The game -- which benefits the Ben Grubbs Foundation -- will feature Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Ed Reed, Juan Dixon, Kimmie Meissner, Matt Birk, Michael Oher and, of course, Ben Grubbs. It starts at 2 and you can get tickets at the gate if you haven't got them from Ticketmaster.

What am I doing in that group of athletes? Good question.

The answer is simple: Hopefully not requiring the help of a world-class orthopedic surgeon later in the day.

Dr. Andrew Cosgarea at Johns Hopkins Sports Medicine did a terrific job of patching me up the last time I fooled myself into thinking I should run with the big dogs. I hope I don't have to slink in there on Monday and ask him to do it again.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (43)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Since I am a very well-rounded sports writer, I watched the final round of the National Heads-Up Poker Championship on NBC today, while occasionally switching over to the Orioles/Nationals game on MASN.

Even after all these years of poker on television, I'm amazed at the number of people who want to watch other people play cards. I've played in a few tournaments in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, so it's not like I have anything against Texas Hold-em, but the only reason this event held my interest was because it was on opposite the O's.

I mean, did they really need a slow-motion replay of runner-up Eric Seidel tossing in a stack of chips? Not unless some Jeffrey Maier wannabe lunged out of the crowd and caught them before they reached the pot.

While I'm shuffling baseball and poker, I should point out that the reason I haven't blogged very frequently the past couple of days is because this weekend has been jam-packed with important family stuff.

Friday was college graduation day for both of my kids and both of their significant others, so I spent Saturday deciding what to do with all the spending money I'm going to have now. And today is my daughter's birthday, so my credit card is going to take a severe beating at some foofy restaurant tonight. I hope you understand.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

There has been some righteous grumbling about a report that USC is paying new football coach Lane Kiffin $4 million per year, but I don't know what all the commotion is about. For Kiffin to have any credibility in the SC lockerroom, he has to make more than the players.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (42)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

So, I'm hearing that the new Paul Rudd/Steve Carrell movie -- Dinner For Schmucks -- has sparked some controversy over the appropriateness of the title. The television networks apparently are going to restrict commercial trailers of the movie to 9 p.m. and later, and the producers of the film will have to walk a tightrope in some foreign markets.

If this is something that you find interesting, you might want to check out this New York Times article on the subject. Or you can check out the trailer below:

Personally, I don't see what all the commotion is about, but that's what I thought back in California when I tried to get the word on my personalize license plate. Or when I tried to bond with relief pitcher J.J. Putz.

I've got only one problem with Hollywood exploiting the sacred Schmuck name to sell a movie. I haven't been invited to any premiers or screenings. You'd think being the most famous Schmuck in the mainstream media (if you don't count Bill Maher) would get you that much.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Since it is Mother's Day weekend, we decided to add a new member to the Schmuck brood, which should explain why there were precious few blog entries up over the course of yesterday's Orioles doubleheader.

The family had to travel to the Philadelphia suburbs to pick up Bogart, who -- I'm sure you'll agree -- is almost as cute as me.

It has been eight months since the passing of our first dalmation, which lived to the ripe old age of 16 years. We didn't originally plan to get another firehouse pup, but happened upon this little fellow and, obviously, couldn't resist. Slept through most of his first night with us, which is more than I could say for the kids.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (25)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Since I was in Los Angeles, where this is absolutely nothing to do, I went to see Death at a Funeral with an old high school friend. It's the latest American rip-off of a successful British film or television series, and it was okay. It's hard not to like anything starring Chris Rock, but I thought he was largely wasted. In fact, I thought just about everyone in the movie was under-utilized. It was funny, but it wasn't funny enough.

Which brings me to the reason I came to California in the first place -- to eat every meal at a favorite fast food joint and attend a college newspaper reunion tonight at my alma mater, Cal State Fullerton.

Every year, I get more nostalgic for my college life, which was basically a string of Springsteen concerts occasionally interupted by a midterm examination. I wasn't a particularly good student, but I was a pretty good concert-goer. Unlike some of my classmates, I even remember some of them.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (33)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

So far, the only thing that feels like it's on vacation is my self-discipline. I tried to get through the drive from Los Angeles to Fresno yesterday with only one stop at In-and-Out Burger, but you probably know how that ended.

Badly?

Tastily?

Well, both. If you've had the No. 1 combo from In-and-Out, you understand that I had to make the second stop in Bakersfield. Now, before you show your ignorance and joke about what else there might be to do in Bakersfield, you need to show a little respect. The town may be the butt of some jokes in California, but it's the birthplace of country music legend Merle Haggard and was the home base of fellow country star Buck Owens.

If you want a less upbeat travelogue. Bakersfield was also the site of the infamous Onion Field murder, which was chronicled in the best-selling novel by Joseph Wambaugh and a 1978 movie starring James Woods, John Savage and Ted Savage.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (126)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Apparently, I've grown bored with the Orioles' winning streak, because I'm at the airport getting ready to board a flight to Los Angeles this morning. Everybody deserves a little time off once in awhile, and it has been awhile.

I'll be attending a college reunion at my beloved Cal State Fullerton and visiting family. I'll also be bringing my golf clubs along, just for show. The highlight on my drive from the LA airport to Fresno will be a stop at In-and-Out Burger. Hopefully just one, but you never know.

See you on the left coast.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (90)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

There is a small but faithful segment of the Schmuck Stops Here readership that, like me, is always looking for the next great ballpark taste sensation. And, when you're talking unusual concession food, the conversation is eventually going to find it's way to the West Michigan Whitecaps.

If you recall, I called your attention last year to the infamous "Fifth Third Burger" that was unveiled by the Whitecaps. It included 1.67 pounds of hamburger (or five thirds of a pound), nearly a cup of chili, five slices of American Cheese, salsa and Fritos on an eight-inch sesame seed bun.

Well, the giant burger -- which can be quartered with a pizza slicer to serve four -- got so much national attention that the Whitecaps have come back with some new gastronomical monstrosities this season.

My favorite is the "Declaration of Indigestion," a half-pound hot dog on a foot-long sub roll that is covered with the ingredients of a full-size Philly cheesesteak. I'm not a big hot dog guy, but I may have to make an exception if I'm passing through Grand Rapids, which could be any day now.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (19)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

When I heard that one of the great sports cartoonists of our time – Mike Ricigliano – had been asked to do a caricature of me for my blog and other promotional purposes, my head swelled up even more than usual.

I hope this doesn’t sound egotistical, but I think Mike captured the essence of Schmuck – from the huge noggin to the embarrassing wardrobe to the love of any endeavor that requires a ball, a bat, a puck or a menu.

You’ll be seeing Mike’s artwork here on the blog, in some advertisements for The Sun and on a series of wacky T-shirts that will be available soon. Let me know what you think.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (29)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Just thought I'd let everyone know that you can now go to my Facebook page by clicking here and reading my updates or requesting me as a friend. More than 1,000 have already done so and I'm hoping to collect so many friends online that I can just dump all my real ones.

I've had a Facebook page for a couple of years now, but we're just linking it to the blog. This social media thing apparently is here to stay, so I thought I would drag myself into the 21st Century and join in the fun.

Of course, when I told my 91-year-old mother that I had a social media site, she told me that they can make something out of bread mold that will cure that. That's one funny old lady.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

If you're wondering what I did on my day off, I took my son to a place called Munchies 420 Cafe, which was featured on the Travel Channel show Man vs.Food last September. The place has several specialties, but the one that was featured on the show was the "Super Fat Daddy," a huge sandwich that includes -- among other things -- six cheeseburgers, french fries, mozzerella sticks, chicken fingers and, I think, a live possum -- and is topped with macaroni and cheese.

I'll just throw it right out there. Even I couldn't finish something like that, and my throat expands the same way as a boa constrictor's to fit the size of my meals. I had one of the cafe's famous Philly Steaks, which was terrific, and my son Dan had a "Fat Sandy," which is a smaller version of the signature sandwich.

If you're curious, you can find the show on You Tube,, but I've included a cell phone photo of the "Fat Sandy,'' which Dan proclaimed was one of the best sandwiches he has ever consumed. And, trust me, if you're trying to gauge whether he has eaten enough sandwiches to be qualified to make that kind of judgment, you'll just have to take my word for it that the apple does not fall far from the tree.

Now that I think about it, I should have put a ruler next to the sandwich so you could get a feel for how large it really is, but you'll just have to take my word for it. The castaways on Gilligan's Island could have survived on one for a month.

Gastronomical update: My kid was re-evaluating the Fat Sandy last night. He still thinks it is one of the tastiest sandwiches he ever had, but it was weighing a little heavy by nightfall and the diet guilt was setting in. "I don't know if I feel sick,'' he said, "or just dirty."

Photo by noted sandwich photographer Dan Schmuck

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Yes, I was in Clearwater earlier today to do some pregame stuff on the Orioles, but when that driving rain started to fall and the outlook seemed bleak for getting the game against the Phillies started, I bolted and returned to Sarasota to watch the Terps play Michigan State in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Of course, the rain ended and my colleague Dan Connolly was left holding the bag at Bright House Field. I'm so ashamed.

Not sure I made the right decision. It was a terrific game and it was a heartstopping finish, but it's going to take Gary Williams and the Terps awhile to get over that 3-point buzzer beater. They had staged one of the great NCAA tournament comebacks to take the lead twice in the final minute, and I've got to think a victory would have taken them at least into the Elite Eight.

No disrespect to Northern Iowa, but they probably had their moment in the Madness. I doubt Michigan State will have much trouble with them.

The Spartans fired the three with abandon all day and made so many of them that the game really shouldn't have been close at the end. The ball bounced their way at several critical moments, but that's part of the game. My favorite frustrating moment was late in the second half when the Terps forced a five-second inbound turnover and then disrupted the inbound on Michigan State's next inbound under the basket, only to see their deficit rise five points in the process.

Their comeback, however, was heartstopping and Grevies Vasquez went out with a terrific closing flourish, not that he feels too great about it right now.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (57)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Like everyone else, I love the NCAA tournament and I love filling out bracket after bracket in hopes of winning some bragging rights or even a bag of Tootsie Rolls or something, but I probably am the worst ever at this particular spring pastime. I've got seven sheets in front of me and I'm not looking respectable in any of them.

Should have known this was not going to be my week on Wednesday, which happened to be "Seniors Run The Bases Day" at Ed Smith Stadium. Nice little promotion. Senior citizens get to run -- or walk -- around the bases after an Orioles exhibition game. I'm all for it. It's the kind of thing Bowie Baysox PR guy Tom Sedlacek likes to do, though he'd probably throw in a free season ticket for anyone who actually knew Jim Bowie.

So, after the game, I'm rushing down to the field to get some Postgame Dave and I come out of the concourse tunnel and -- as God is my witness -- I'm stopped by an usher who says, and I quote, "Sir, if you want to run the bases, you're going to have to go to the end of the line."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (35)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

I'm getting a lot of questions about what I would look like with an alligator on my head, so I thought I better get this other picture up before the suspense is just too much for you.

Just for fun, I'm going to turn this into a pop quiz. Who can identify the location where this photograph was taken by nationally-known cell phone photographer Linda Schmuck (no relation)?

Here's a hint: There was also a giant tortoise there, but I wasn't about to go near it after my unpleasant experience with that incontinent box turtle last year in Fort Lauderdale.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Frankly, I had a choice between giving you an instant update on Brian Matusz's second exhibition start or putting up a picture of me holding a small alligator for no apparent reason. I'm pretty sure I made the wrong choice, but I'll be right back with some info on Matusz's first inning and a Brian Roberts update from Jeff Zrebiec.

Just to clarify. I'm at the game at Ed Smith Stadium. The photo is from a roadside attraction I stopped at last weekend. I'll probably post at least one more photo from that excursion during the game.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Just a little housekeeping note here, but if you've noticed that I have not published a "News item" column in a couple of weeks, don't be alarmed. Because I'm at spring training covering the Orioles pretty much exclusively, I'm going to concentrate on the O's in my column for the next few weeks, but the "News item" columns will resume either at the end of spring training or when I get my sense of humor back -- whichever comes first.

In the meantime, I'll try to pop a random "News item" and "My take" in here once in awhile. Here's one now:

News item: The U.S. bobsled team won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics for the first time in 62 years.

My take: I hope one of the guys got to shout "I'm going to Disneyland," since that's where a lot of Americans got their first taste of what it might be like to ride in a bobsled. Still remember my first time on the Matterhorn. I never missed bobsledding on ABC's Wide World of Sports after that, and I still miss Jim McKay, God rest his soul.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Have to admit, part of me would rather be at PGA headquarters today for the Tiger Woods announcement. Can't wait to hear what he has to say, though I can't really imagine what he can add other than another apology for his tawdry extramarital behavior and an announcement of his plans to play in the Masters. I've always thought that's where this was going, but we'll find out later today.

I've heard a lot of talk about his decision to handpick the media and not take any questions, which casts some doubt about the sincere nature of whatever he has to say, but I don't' know if there's a right way to do something like this.

If I am handling the guy, I'm not going to put him at a podium with 500 media in the audience and let everybody have at him. The way he's doing it, from a public relations standpoint, is probably the best of a bunch of bad options.

There's also been a lot of speculation whether his wife will be there to support him. Don't see how that really matters in this case, unless you're an avid TMZ fan. Nobody's going to be able to dress up this pig. Tiger is going to have to go out and play golf and start winning again. That's the only way he'll ever change the subject...but he'll never get completely out from under this scandal.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Good news. I just found my car. I'd been searching for it for a couple of days after the big storm and finally located it right in front of the house. Now -- thanks to a couple of charitable neighbors (Chip and Kathleen) who helped me dig it out -- I no longer have an excuse for lying around the house wondering what Jim Caldwell was thinking when he sent Matt Stover out to try that 51-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter last night.

No disrespect to Matt, who is a prince and one of the greatest kickers ever, but that wasn't the kind of percentage play you make when you're ahead in the Super Bowl in the fourth quarter and you're supposed to be the better team. The miss gave the Saints the ball back on the Saints' 41-yard line, and they marched in to score the touchdown and two-point conversion to build a seven-point cushion.

Radio, radio That will be one of the subjects up for Super Bowl debate when you join me at six for Sportsline on WBAL and WBAL.com. Hey, I'm not asking. You better be there because I'll be taking roll.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

So far, there are two feet of snow blanketing my neighborhood in Millersville with several hours and many more inches of precipitation reportedly ahead, and I'm pretty sure I'm thinking the same thing as all of you:

How's this going to affect the Mark Hendrickson signing?

Big Mark, who is so tall that the snow probably isn't even up to his knees yet, remains in some kind of unexplained medical limbo. I'm guessing that during his physical, they had the same problem as Ed "Too Tall" Jones in that Geico commercial, so they'll just have to guess-timate. I mean, it's not like he signed an $80 million contract.

Guess I don't need to remind anybody that there are just 11 days left until pitchers and catchers report.

Radio update: Coming up at noon, I'll be helping you get through the ultimate snow day on WBAL and WBAL.com, with more great talk and regular updates from the great WBAL news and weather crew. We'll take your calls and talk about sports, the blizzard and whatever else strikes your fancy. If you are outside of signal range, go to WBAL.com and click on the "Listen Live" icon.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (142)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

When I signed up for the Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Maryland, I didn't know they actually held the event at the North Pole. I could have sworn I saw one of Santa's cute little elves dashing through the heavy show that fell on Sandy Point State Park this morning and afternoon, but it turned out to be 98 Rock's Mickey Cucchiella.

Thousands of hearty plungers jumped into the icy -- and snowy -- Chesapeake to help our Special Olympics athletes. It's one of those events that brings together Marylanders of every stripe, which was reflected in the WBAL "Week in Review" team that featured me, Clarence Mitchell IV and Jimmy Mathis and was bankrolled by friends of the show, most notably top fundraisers Jamie and Kevin Courtney. I want to thank everyone who made a donation to ours or any group of plungers and encourage anyone who still wants to do that to go to WBAL.com and click on the MSP Polar Bear Plunge icon.

If you want proof that we took the plunge, you can take a look at Rob Roblin's report on WBAL-TV right here.

Overall, about 25,000 participated in the 1 p.m. plunge, but the 3 p.m. plunge had to be cancelled because of the blizzard conditions that dropped five inches of snow on the area.

The event makes strange bedfellows. It was interesting to see former governor Robert L. Erhlich Jr. doing his WBAL radio show just a few feet from the 98 Rock FM crew. Cucchiella teamed with Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco on a special VIP plunge that raised more than $100,000.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

I'm headed over to Sandy Point State Park to take part in the 14th Annual Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Maryland, and this might be the coldest one yet.

No problem. I have a special fat layer that protects me from the icy water and makes me attractive to certain species of seals. I just hope Captain Ahab isn't out sportfishing today.

If you're not going to be there, you can go to WBAL.com and click on the Plunge icon to contribute to the "Week in Review" team.

More pluggery: My Saturday "News item" column is up on the Web site. Check it out right here and tell me what you think.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

It has come to my attention that my comments about the impromptu announcement of Mark Hendrickson's new contract were construed as (a) a shot at York, PA, or (b) a shot at Hanover, PA. Nothing could be further from the truth, but I want to apologize to the Hanoverians for misrepresenting the location of the Rotary Club Sports Night that was the site of Hendrickson's revelation and I want to apologize to the Yorkies on general principles. I like those Pepperment Patties as much as anybody.

To the reader who chided me that -- based on my appearance -- I probably had never used one of your famous York barbells, that would have been a cheap shot if it wasn't true.

Really, I didn't mean to insult York or Hanover by saying sarcastically that I should have spent my night off in those fine towns. I didn't mean to diss the Rotary Club either. I was basically trying to make the point that it is impossible to attend every local event every night, though I have shown up for my share. What I should have done was give the Hanover Evening Sun a little credit for breaking an Orioles story on the big guys.

Do I think people from York or Hanover are yokels? Of course not, though the fact that Dan Connolly lives there makes you wonder sometimes.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (51)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

The Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge is this Saturday at Sandy Point State Park, and I'll be jumping into the icy Chesapeake Bay with a few thousand of my friends to raise money for Maryland Special Olympics.

If you want to contribute to the WBAL Plunge Team, you can click right here to make a donation. I will show my gratitude by not taking off my shirt when the time comes to immerse in the icy water.

If you're worried that my plunge will cause an unsafe rise in the water level of the bay, you can help my friend Tom Sedlacek of the Bowie Baysox, who will be wearing his Baysox jersey (and, hopefully, some kind of pants) when he risks a mild case of hypothermia to help Special Olympics athletes from Maryland. Tom's plunge link is right here.

If you want to get involved and actually take the plunge yourself, there's still time to sign up. I've done it the last four years and always have a great time.

But I know what a lot of you are thinking. You're saying to yourself, "Why would I jump into 35-degree water on my Saturday off when I can just sit in my warm basement like Wayne and rip the Orioles all day." That's certainly a fair question, but I'm pretty sure you'll have a great time if you decide to make a splash for a great charity.

If you want to know what it's like, you can take a look at this WBALTV/YouTube video of me and WBAL producer Jared Ruderman taking the plunge last year.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

This is one of those rare days when you're forced to endure a double dose of Schmuck. I already had written my News Item column -- which you can read right here -- when the news broke that Miguel Tejada was headed back to Baltimore.

So, being the good Baltimore Sun employee that I am, and because I want to continue receiving regular checks with Baltimore Sun written on them, I accepted an invitation to double up and write a column about Miggy (Some call him Miggi, I call it a slingblade) for today's print edition.

If you want to read that one, you can check out the great FanFest package in the print edition, which includes the terrific coverage from Jeff Zrebiec, or just keep the focus exclusively on me right here. I'll understand. There also is some great video from the Fest included with my column, which will help you feel like you were there even if you decided to stay home with Wayne yesterday and watch cartoons.

By the way, I have to tip my cap to the O's for putting FanFest back in the Convention Center and putting on a pretty good show. I never would have imagined that more than 12,000 fans would come out just to see me and Roch.

Obviously, you can't really see all 12,000 people crowded around us in the accompanying photo, but we felt the love and Roch wanted me to pass along how much he appreciated it, too. Frankly, I thought he was a little taller in real life.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (26)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

If you haven't already, you can check out my latest "News item" column by clicking here. I'm pretty confident the Ravens will beat the Raiders to advance into the postseason on Sunday, and so are the oddsmakers who have made them a 10 1/2 point favorite, but I'll be back soon with a Sunday column that explains why winning really isn't the only thing that matters this weekend.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (24)
Categories: Just football, Schmuck being Schmuck
        

I'm sure everybody overslept today, especially if you stayed up to watch the San Diego Chargers absolutely crush the Tennesee Titans on the road to lock up a first-round playoff bye. That puts an end to the Titans' dark-horse playoff run, though I still think you have to give Jeff Fisher credit for keeping his team focused after that horrible 0-6 start.

So, you might as well start your day at noon with Sportsline on WBAL (1090 AM). We'll continue to size up tomorrow's big game between the Ravens and Steelers and look back on the sports year that was 2009. I'll be soliciting calls from local fans ranking the top stories of the year. If you're not in signal range, go to WBAL.com and click on the "Listen Live" icon.

Today's column: You can do your homework by reading my year-end "News item" column either in today's print edition of The Sun or by checking it out right here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Just want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and give a special shout out to all of you who believe there's a liberal media conspiracy. You're not just being paranoid. My daughter has blown the lid off it with the accompanying photo of me in my Soviet writing uniform.

Actually, that's a mekhovaya shapka, which is Russian for -- you guessed it -- "fur hat," and it comes direct from the old country, where my girl has been going to school off and on for the past year or so. It's one of the coolest (and warmest) Christmas gifts I've ever gotten, and it will certainly come in handy over the next few weeks.

I'm pretty sure it's real fur, so I won't be taking it on my next play date with Pamela Anderson, but I'll wear it proudly until the weather warms up.

Obviously, there doesn't figure to be any O's news today, but in case you aren't counting, there are just 55 shopping days until pitchers and catchers report to the Orioles' new spring training location in Sarasota.

In the meantime, if you got or gave someone an interesting or off-the-wall Christmas, Kwanzaa or Hanukkah gift, why don't you tell us about it.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (29)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Maybe everybody got cabin fever during a whole day of being snowed in, but that isn't any excuse to turn the blog into an attempt to determine who has the most testosterone. We're discussing baseball (mostly) here, which is a form of entertainment not to be taken so seriously that anyone has to challenge anyone to throw down in the M&T Bank Stadium parking lot before today's Ravens game. Save all that energy for the Bears.

I'm doing my best not to censor the comments section, but if I have to start taking down threatening comments, I'm going to block those URL's from further participation. I doubt that will be much of a deterent, since there are thousands of blogs out there that will accept whatever anybody wants to put into words, but we've had a great group of people conversing here for the past 16 months and I really like the tenor of 99 percent of the conversation.

It doesn't matter if you think I don't know squat about baseball or you agree with everything I write. The fun is in the debate, as long as nobody's trading addresses or using gross profanity. Let's try to stay in that spirit. And, for the record, I definitely know squat, but I don't like his OPS.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

If you haven’t noticed, there’s at least a foot of snow on the ground outside – looks like about 1 ½ feet at my house – so I’ve been forced to cancel many of my normal activities. Here are some of the things I won’t be doing today:

2:15 p.m.: I won’t be making my usual trip to 7-11 for a Diet Dr. Pepper and a Go-Go Taquito at halftime of whatever non-descript bowl game is boring me to tears. Tried to shovel the driveway. Realized after about 10 minutes that these hands are much to valuable for such menial work. My wife, however, disagrees and is refusing me lunch. Claims this is a perfect opportunity to get some cardiovascular exercise and ice my repaired Achilles tendon at the same time.

2:20 p.m.: Probably won’t be able to blog for a few minutes, because I’m going to jump on WBAL (1090 AM or WBAL.com) with Greg Bianco and Jim Duquette to talk about the Orioles offseason moves. By the way, I’ll have a column on that up later today, if it isn’t up already.

3 p.m.: My afternoon Dorito run to Safeway isn’t looking good either. My daughter’s car is actually parked on the street, so I wouldn’t have to clear the driveway, but I can’t see it from here, which is a bad sign.

4. p.m.: Was planning to do some first-minute Christmas-Hanukkah-Kwanzaa shopping this afternoon, but the neighborhood plow truck just increased the height of snow in front of my driveway to about four feet. Two or three more passes and we’ll be able to rename the area Schmuckie’s Bluff and sled off it.

5 p.m.: Still planning on answering blog mail during this hour, but stay tuned for further weather-related announcements.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (20)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Or, at least, there’s no place like home this side of Antarctica. Returned last night and just made the last connection through Chicago to get back to Baltimore ahead of the blizzard. Rode in with dozens of Chicago Bears fans, who weren’t the least bit concerned about the long airport delay as long as they kept the bars open at Midway Airport.

Frankly, I’m a little worried about tomorrow’s game, at least from a crowd perspective. Bears fans are used to getting drunk and standing around the stadium parking lots all day in three feet of snow. I’m pretty sure Jamison Hensley will be giving them the advantage in the “Ravens Drunk Disgusting Fan Behavior vs. Bears Drunk Disgusting Fan Behavior” section of his Ravens Scouting Report in tomorrow’s paper.

I sat near one Bears fan who acknowledged that, even though the game had been moved back to 4:15 p.m., he and his group would still begin drinking at 8 a.m. It’s some kind of rule.

Quick teammate plug: Before I do anything else, I want to thank Jeff Zrebiec and Dan Connolly for keeping the home fires burning on the blog this past week, while I took my lovely spouse on her birthday trip to California and Oregon. Tried to leave her there, but she always manages to find her way home.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Jeff is doing such a good job keeping everybody up to date on the Orioles that I'm starting to worry that you might not miss me, so I thought I'd pop in and give you an update from not-so-sunny Southern California. I'm not going to just come right out and tell you why I'm here, but there are two clues in this post -- one verbal and one visual -- that will give you an idea of what's going on here.

I'm on vacation, of course, but the notion -- spread by some of my coworkers -- that I go on vacation every month is slightly exaggerated. This is a special holiday trip in which we (my wife and I) are visiting some places that we never experienced while we lived here. In some cases, we're finding out why. I do enjoy traveling the backroads and checking out the odd roadside attraction, and this particular location would certainly qualify.

Just want to point out that no matter where I go these days, I'm plugging the Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge to benefit Maryland Special Olympics. Check out the jacket in the accompanying photo.

Okay, back to the subject at hand. From the small handful of clues provided here, I want you to tell me exactly where I am in the picture and the significance of it.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (42)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

I'm heading to BWI to catch a flight to California this morning, so my participation here may be uneven for the next few days, but I have some very good news. Orioles beat reporter Jeff Zrebiec has agreed to help me out a little bit and keep the blog fires burning. He'll be posting a few entries -- and he has an interesting take on departed reliever Chris Ray ready to pop in the next half hour or so -- so there's still going to be good reason to stop by for your daily baseball fix.

I'm not going to be completely out of pocket either. I'll be chiming in from time to time on the Orioles offseason machinations, and I may even give you my take on the Central Coast wine country as my wife and I visit family from Los Angeles all the way to the coast of Oregon. It's going to be a whirlwind trip and I'll be home in less than a week, but I'm pretty sure Bob (blancione) will have me fired by the time I get back.

Just a couple more words about Jeff:

Be gentle.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Hate to divert your attention from the final day of the Winter Meetings, but The Sun is putting together a list of the 10 strangest moments in Baltimore sports history -- which could include anything from Jeffrey Maier's rude reach to that plane that crashed into the stands at Memorial Stadium.

I'd like to have your input. What do you think was the strangest incident in local sports history (and it doesn't really have to be confined to the Baltimore city limits)?

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (134)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Take a careful look at this cover of the January issue of Golf Digest, which leads with a story titled "10 Tips Obama Can Take From Tiger."

In fairness to the magazine, the January issue was printed in mid-November, well before the Tiger Woods scandal broke, so there is nothing the folks over there can do but take their lumps and try to laugh about it. The rest of us sure will.

Of course, the likelihood of something like that happening was pretty high, considering Woods' status as the golf media's go-to cover guy and the seemingly minute possibility of anything coming about that would alter his status as the most popular athlete in the world or smudge his squeaky clean public image.

I'm just waiting to see if President Obama invites Tiger and Elin over to the White House for a beer. It has worked before.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Let's just stipulate right here that we're all most thankful for our friends, family and the people who defend our safety and liberty at home and abroad. That way, I can get back to making wry observations that occasionally cause a huge political backlash on the blog. Fortunately for you, I'm going to try to stick to sports (and a little history) today.

The other thing I'm most thankful for today is that the Founding Fathers had the foresight to create a special football holiday in the middle of the week. Don't know how they knew, since football wouldn't be created for another century or so and television wouldn't be invented for another half-century after that, but that's the beauty of the American system. Somehow, they seemed to have everything figured out in advance..

Thanksgiving as a legal national holiday only dates to the Franklin Roosevelt administration, but Americans have been replaying the Pilgrims' first thanksgiving feast since that early colonial period. George Washington even declared a one-time official Thanksgiving holiday, though the timing wasn't really settled until Abraham Lincoln designated the last Thursday of November as the official day of thanksgiving for the nation.

It became an official football holiday nearly 20 years before it became an official national holiday. The founding fathers of what would eventually become the NFL played their first Thanksgiving games -- six of them -- in 1920. The first game listed on the Pro Football Hall of Fame Web site pitted the Akron Pros against the Canton Bulldogs. The only two current NFL cities represented were Chicago (the Tigers and Boosters) and Detroit (the Heralds).

Fourteen years later, the Detroit Lions made their first appearance on Thanksgiving Day and the Motor City would become the traditional site of the NFL's annual Thanksgiving game until the Dallas Cowboys became the second traditional Thanksgiving host team in 1966 (though the Cowboys have been off the Thanksgiving schedule a few times since then).

During the 1960s, the American Football League also started playing games on Thanksgiving Day, but the NFL returned to a two-game schedule after the merger. The NFL scheduled two games every year after that until 2006, when the Thursday night game was added.

Now, aren't you thankful for that history lesson?

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

This is so much fun, I'm thinking of starting a political blog on the side. With one off-hand comment -- which was a bit of a joke within a joke -- at the end of an unrelated item I managed to anger both the "Birther" people and the anti-birther people who have happened upon the blog today. When you have the most strident people on both sides of an issue mad at you, I think that means you're doing something right.

Happy Thanksgiving in advance.

Here's the thing I'm most thankful for this week: That we live in a country where you have the right to make a joke about the most powerful politician on the planet and people have the opportunity to criticize you or applaud you for it in a public forum without fear of some government goon -- or political thug -- showing up on your doorstep to try and silence you.

Hope that's something we can all agree upon.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (26)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

You know what. There's a time to take yourself seriously and a time when it's okay to joke around about stuff. I took a sideways poke at the Obama "birther" thing yesterday and a lot of people came out the woodwork to complain about how inappropriate it was to make a "snide" comment about the whole Obama birth certificate controversy in a sports blog.

Lighten up.

I've seen the Honolulu newspaper birth annoucement for President Obama. I know the birth certificate thing is silly. I was basically saying that with that wise crack, but there are a lot of people out there who are so consumed with their politics that they assume everything has some greater meaning or some evil intent. And there are a few who just don't have the gene that allows them to filter sarcasm.

It was a joke. There are going to be more. Laugh or don't laugh. Read this blog or don't. I'll also poke at Sarah Palin and Nancy Pelosi if I think I can get a quick laugh. If you can't handle that, you have my permission to move on.

I don't think politics or baseball is a religion and I'm not going to tiptoe around people who are too sensitive for their own good. I watched the Saturday Night Live skit the other night that was brutal to Obama and thought it was very funny. I also watched months of brutal SNL stuff on Sarah Palin and thought it was hilarious. It's great to see the humor on both sides of the aisle. You get double the fun. Some of you -- and you know who you are -- ought to try it some time.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (43)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

I really do have a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack, but I think I was the only sportswriter around here who didn't go to see Bruce Springsteen on Friday night at First Mariner Arena. Made a pass at StubHub and found a single for $300, but I think you had to sit in your own car in the parking structure and feel the bass.

Check out Roch's blog for a rundown. He was there with Jim Hunter -- glad to hear they're dating again -- and they saw Ken Rosenthal a few rows away. I'll just assume he was standing on his chair.

Do I sound bitter?

All kidding aside, it sounds like it was another terrific show by The Boss. I've seen my share and never been disappointed. I'm glad my guys (though Roch, Jim and Kenny would probably bristle at that description) and any of you who were there had a great time.

Sun file photo

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Frankly, I wasn't all that excited about ESPN's 24 straight hours of college basketball...until my Cal State Fullerton Titans upset UCLA at Pauley Pavilion in last night's double-overtime midnight matchup. I'm still yawning after staying up until nearly 3 a.m. to see the end.

Got to wonder about UCLA. The Titans were picked to finish seventh in their conference and UCLA got just about every call from the Pac-10 offciating crew and still couldn't outlast one of their cannon fodder preseason opponents. The Bruins are in a rebuilding year, but that still shouldn't happen to a program of that magnitude.

I'm not whining after a victory, but Fullerton was smothered under the rim down the stretch and UCLA did not get called for a single personal foul for the first 15 1/2 minutes of the second half. If they were that good, they wouldn't have been behind almost the entire game.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Good to see the home fires are still burning here in spite of my recent disappearance. My travels took me to Southern California and Nevada (I'll admit it, I still love the Southwest) and allowed me to recharge my batteries for the baseball offseason and the second half of the Ravens schedule. I'm boarding a plane (Southwest, of course) in a couple of hours and will be back on the job in time for tomorrow's Ravens workout.

What did I learn over the past 10 days? Sadly, I learned that the Ravens may not be a playoff team, which would be a great disappointment after their 3-0 start. I learned I'm not a jinx -- I think it's been the defensive secondary all along. I learned that traffic in Maryland is never really that bad, at least in comparison to Los Angeles. I learned that playing golf on a repaired Achilles tendon is the best excuse yet for the way I play golf.

Believe it or not, I ran into a few of our regular contributors on the blog while I was out West, which made me feel pretty good. Marshall McLuhan's "global village" is a reality, and the proof is right here, from Jim Doss out in LA to our European Prof in Latvia to Kevin in Iraq and all the great local sports fans that have made this one of the top regional blog destinations.

Thanks for carrying my water for the past 10 days. If you spent some of that time over at the School of Roch looking for dating tips, that's fine too. I'm just glad the blog will still be here when I get back tonight.

By the way, just heard the Orioles claimed right-hander Armando Gabino off waivers yesterday. Don't know how I could have missed that.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (24)
Categories: Just baseball, Just football, Schmuck being Schmuck
        

No, I'm not referring to the fact that the Orioles ranked 28th in the major leagues with 64 victories. I guess it's just a coincidence that Baltimore was just ranked No. 28 in a poll by The Sporting News to determine America's best sports town. Here are the actual rankings, which are particularly galling when you consider that Pittsburgh rankes first and Washington (Are you kidding me?) ranks 14 places ahead of Charm City.

I love this stuff. TSN is one of several publications who rank the various sporting communities every year or so, with criteria that ranges from the performance of the local teams to the enthusiasm of the local fans. I guess if you go by the number of pro teams here and the fact that only the Ravens have had any success over the past decade, I guess I can't argue that Baltimore should be in the top five, but I can't believe it's twice as far down the list as the home of the Nationals and Redskins.

Hey, I'm back on the air: Just wanted to remind everyone that I'm back on WBAL (1090 AM) after what was basically a 2 1/2 week absence for vacation and other personal reasons. Tune in at six and we'll discuss the upcoming game between the Ravens and Bengals and get your thoughts on the TSN snub. If you're out of radio range, go to WBAL.com and click on the "Listen Live" icon.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (57)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

During our final day in Israel, we traveled to Masada, where a large group of Jewish rebels chose to commit suicide rather than be captured by the Roman legion that laid siege to the mountaintop fortress in the first century A.D.

The accompanying photo is of a couple of my traveling companions – Father Stew Bullock of St. John the Evangelist Church in Severna Park and Frank White, who obviously is not the former Kansas City Royals second baseman.

When I noticed the Orioles caps, I rushed to get this picture before ushering the two of them away from the steep precipice you can see directly behind them. Didn’t want to take any chances with the way the Orioles have been playing lately.

I’m scheduled to be home today, but may mix a few more recollections of my trip with my final week of in-season observations about the Orioles, who – I suspect – will not be getting to the Promised Land any time soon.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (28)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Thought you might like a little proof that I’m actually in the Middle East and not just trumping up a phony vacation so I don’t have to suffer through the Orioles’ latest losing streak with you. This is me trying to start my rental car, and it’s not going very well.

I'm starting to wonder if this noble fellow has a weight limit...or an Achilles injury...or too much pride to be seen carrying a Schmuck around on its back in Israel, if you get my drift. That's the old city of Jerusalem in the background. If it's not on your bucket list -- regardless of your religious affiliation -- it should be.

While you’ve been reveling in the Ravens’ big victory in San Diego and debating whether the O’s will make it to win No. 63, I’ve been touring the Holy Land with a group organized by St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Severna Park. It has been a very enlightening trip – especially at a time when President Obama is trying to broker new peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians.

This is a politics-free zone (the blog, not the Middle East), so all I want to say about the situation here is that it has been very interesting to be a fly on the wall for the past week, traveling both in the Israeli-controlled sections of the country and in the areas under the Palestinian Authority.

I’ve tried to keep up with American sports, but the tour schedule has been intense and the seven-hour time difference has made it difficult to pay attention in real time. I followed the Ravens victory late Sunday night on the internet in a hotel lobby in Tiberius – reading the play-by-play on the ESPN.com gamecast. Tuesday morning, I saw the sun come up over the Sea of Galilee while watching the live broadcast of Peyton Manning engineering that final drive to defeat the Dolphins on Monday Night Football. Pretty cool.

Tomorrow, we’re headed for Masada and then to the caves where they found the Dead Sea Scrolls before heading to the airport for a 4 a.m. flight to Frankfurt and then home just in time to miss the Ravens game. I’m pretty confident they – and you -- can get through one more weekend without me, but I’ll have the blog back up to speed before you know it.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (172)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Don't know how to break this to you, but I returned to the land of the walking just four days ago and now I'm headed out of the country for the next nine days. I'm spending the Jewish New Year in Israel, even though I'm not Jewish. They say there's plenty of old stuff there for every denomimation.

So you're going to have to talk amongst yourselves for awhile, though I may chime in occasionally with a travel anecdote or something. Jeff Zrebiec and Dan Connolly also may step in with some guest entries, particularly if there's some breaking news of great note. We'll also have somebody monitoring the posts in case of a spam storm or a run of real bad blog behavior.

I'm not being shut down for the season. I''ll be back for the final week and whatever happens in the immediate aftermath. I'm guessing the first week after the season will be more interesting than anything that has happened since at least the All-Star break. Can't miss that.

By the way, thanks for jumping all over the last post and throwing out your "The 2009 season has been so long..." responses. The people on the blog obviously are far more clever than anybody on any of the other local sports blogs, and I'm not just trying to flatter you. You're all too smart and good-looking to fall for anything like that.

And, Bob, I'll definitely be back before there's a decision on Trembley's future, so don't do anything rash while I'm gone. The season ticket renewal forms don't even come out for a couple more months.

Reimold's season ends: There were a number of posters here who wondered why Nolan Reimold would wait another three weeks before undergoing surgery to repair his frayed Achilles tendon. Well, the Orioles obviously heard you, because they just put him on the disabled list and he'll have the surgery on Wednesday. The recovery time is three to four months, which means he could have been ready for next year either way, but this adds a little more wiggle room for his recovery. I know what he's about to go through and I wish him the best. I'm sure you all do, too.

Oh, and one more plug: I just put up my last column for a week or so. It'll be in tomorrow's print edition, but if you are so inclined, you can read it right here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (164)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

The Orioles could not complete the three-game sweep in New York, not after Jeremy Guthrie allowed 15 baserunners in 5 2/3 innings, but nobody around here should turn your nose up at a series victory over the Yankees.

That was just part of a pretty good weekend for local sports fans. Navy bounced back from a slow start to run over Louisiana Tech and Maryland survived a wild one against James Madison, which evened the Terps record at 1-1 after last week's blowout loss to California. Don't want to think about the angst that might have accompanied a loss on Saturday, and neither does Terps coach Ralph Friedgen.

Last but not least, of course, was the Ravens' 38-24 season-opening victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, which was much closer than the final score. The Ravens unveiled their upgraded passing attack and overcame a couple of big mistakes to get off to a happy start, but they'll have their hands full next weekend in San Diego. Pretty sure they won't be rollling up 501 yards against the Chargers.

If you'd like to read my column about the Ravens' apparent new offensive philosophy, you can do that right here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (24)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Had the remote control working overtime during the first inning, so I could watch Chris Tillman pitch to Derek Jeter and also see as much as I could of Michael Jordan's Hall of Fame induction speech on ESPN.

Saw Tillman strike out Jeter, but was engrossed in the Jordan speech when Alex Rodriguez launched his three-run home run later in the inning. Guess I timed it just right.

Jordan spoke the way he played, spontaneously and with conviction. He had some prepared comments, but he largely talked off the cuff about the people who had an influence on his life. It was heartfelt, funny, entertaining and -- at times -- a little defiant. He didn't shy from his feud with controversial Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krausse and spoke openly of the conflicts that motivated him throughout his career.

The only first-hand contact I ever had with Jordan was during the time after his first retirement when he attempted to reinvent himself as a baseball player. Went down to interview him in Birmingham, AL, and he was honest, straightforward and helpful. Couldn't help but like him and never had any other opportunity to change that opinion. Seemed like the same guy at the podium in Springfield tonight.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

The clock is finally starting to run down on my 2 1/2 months of home confinement, which seems like a pretty stiff penalty for one lousy rebound. I will not be returning to the basketball court any time soon, but I hope to be back in real action on Monday, when the Orioles return from their uplifting tour of Boston and New York.

The past 10 weeks has seemed like forever, but I will count my blessings. If nothing else, I'll come out of it a thinner, healthier guy -- at least until I can start driving to Burger King again. I'd like to say that during my recovery period, I had an epiphany about my eating habits, but what really happened was that I no longer could get to the fast food joints and the ice cream aisle at Safeway on my own and my family basically refused to give me anything to eat that was actually worth eating.

Haven't had a Dorito since June, and the withdrawal symptoms weren't pretty. Been forced to survive on a lot of green stuff, which the PETA people say is pretty good for you. I've adjusted for the most part, but nobody has seen the cat around here for a couple of weeks and I'm not talking.

By the way, I don't spend a lot of time plugging my competitors, but Roch Kubatko's morning post at The School of Roch is pretty hilarious, and since he took a quality shot at me in it, I'm going to link it right here. I don't think it's a real school, because the admission form only asked for my measurements and a link to my teen model Web site. I provided both, but I doubt I'm going to get accepted.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
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Sorry, I'm just waking up after staying up all night watching the Maryland football team cash it's IOU in California. Remember that the Terps ambushed a ranked Cal team early last season at Byrd Stadium, 35-27, in a game that wasn't as close as the final score. This one wasn't much closer than the 52-13 final, but both games prove how tough it is to travel coast-to-coast and play three time zones away from home.

It wasn't pretty, but I'm pretty sure the Terps are a better team than that...or, at least, I certainly hope so.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
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In another act of shameless personal cross promotion, I am posting a link to this week's "News item" column, which appears in today's print editions. You can read it right here, and I hope you like it.

Really, I'm only doing this to buy some time because I have to write my Sunday column on the Orioles and then I have to watch Navy play Ohio State, the Orioles take on the Rangers and Maryland's late-night opener against Cal. Full day of sloth, but I'll try to keep the blog stoked throughout the day.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
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This is just a shameless plug for the column I just wrote for the Saturday print edition. If you want to check it out here, I weigh in on a variety of subjects, including Michael Vick, Bart Scott, Brett Favre, Eagles fans (yes, you), Danica Patrick and the rumors she will be part of a nude photo spread in ESPN The Magazine, as well as a few other random subjects.

It felt funny when I wrote it, but reading your own humor is like listening to yourself sing in the shower -- you may think you sound like Pavarotti, but there's a much better chance that you just look like him.

Let me know what you think.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)
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Sorry for the recent baseball inactivity, but I was assigned to provide instant blog updates from the Ravens-Jets game last night and then write a column today about the Ravens for tomorrow's print edition. Obviously, I'm a versatile fellow, but my intellect -- though vast -- is not vast enough to concentrate on the column and the blog at the same time. Therefore, I'll get cracking on the blog tonight during the second game of the series between the O's and Twins at the Metrodome.

In the meantime, the two-sport fans here can read my Ravens column on the Web site now by going here.

Bonus shameless plug: Tune in to Sportsline at six on WBAL (1090 AM) and join the discussion of last night's Ravens game, which was more interesting than it was conclusive. If you're not in signal range, go to WBAL,com and click on the "Listen Live" icon.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
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Hey, sorry for the lack of activity so far this morning, but I've been dealing with a spam storm in the comment section. I was able to preserve almost all of the legitimate posts, but if one of yours is not there, it's not because I censored anyone. There was a handful of posts that I had to delete because they were buried under hundreds of junk comments. It was either that or force all of you to read a thousand phony Cialis ads.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (20)
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It's time for another edition of Schmuck's Shameless Self-Promotional Plugs, so pay close attention or you might miss an opportunity to blast me in the posting section or call me out tonight on the radio show.

If you want to read my column evaluating the Aubrey Huff deal before tomorrow's print edition, you can do that right here.

If you want to hear me make fun of Brett Favre and talk about the Ravens and the rest of the sports news of the day, tune in to WBAL (1090 AM) at six for Sportsline. If you're not in signal range, go to WBAL.com and click on the "Listen Live" icon. Lots of people do and call in from all over the country to tell me what an idiot I am.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (28)
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Did anyone really think that Brett Favre was going to go quietly into retirement, even after he balked at reporting to Vikings training camp three weeks ago? The only way this guy is leaving the stage is if he makes like Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and falls off it.

OK, be honest now. How many people really believed that Stephen Strasburg was going to leave $15 million on the table and go play in some independent league? I sure didn't, and said so many times over the past few months. Both sides needed each other way too much.

And who thought that Aubrey Huff was going to finish the season in an Orioles uniform? Well, I'll give you this one. Once he cleared waivers, I didn't think anybody would be willing to give anything up to get him. Now, I can't wait to hear him on Bubba the Love Sponge after six weeks in Detroit.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (49)
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If you bristle at all the Red Sox and Yankees fans who take over Camden Yards when their teams come to town, you're not going to like what may be a growing trend in sports marketing and promotion.

The New Jersey Nets recently unveiled a new ticket promotion that -- if it's successful -- could be coming to a ballpark near you. The Nets are offering a 10-game ticket plan that includes games against some of the top teams in the NBA and a promotional giveaway that features some of the game's top stars. Fans who buy two of the 10-game plans get five Nets jerseys, each of them reversible...and guess what's on the other side of that Nets logo?

The jerseys reverse to feature the names and numbers of the league's top opposing players, so a geographically displaced Lakers fan can turn the Nets jersey inside out and it becomes a Kobe Bryant jersey.

Nets CEO Brett Yormark was just on CNBC explaining that the Nets have to reach out to casual basketball fans to boost attendance. Opponent marketing, as this kind of thing is called, is nothing new, but the Nets have taken it to a whole new level. The 10-game plans start at $350 and fans must buy two to get the five jerseys, which feature a total of 10 players (five Nets and five opposing stars). The deal also includes a four-week subscription to the New York Post. Hmmmm.

The Orioles depend heavily on the patronage of Yankees and Red Sox fans to boost attendance for almost a quarter of their home dates. MASN already aggressively markets opposing players in its "Who will own it?" campaign. What's next? Nick Markakis/Derek Jeter Reversible T-shirt Tuesday?

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (28)
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Check out my column in today's print edition of The Sun. I take issue with the NFL and several other major amatuer and professional sports governing bodies for the lawsuit that they filed to stop Delaware's attempt to add sports betting at its racinos.

I don't expect everyone to agree with me -- What fun would that be? -- but I think it's pretty hypocritical. Take a look at it right here and tell me what you think.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 2:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
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Quick programming plug. Ravens running back Ray Rice will join me at six on "Sportsline" (WBAL 1090AM) from Westminster. We'll talk football with ray and take your calls throughout the program. We'll also recap today's Orioles loss to the Detroit Tigers and update you on today's sports news around the country. If you're outside of signal range, go to WBAL.com and click on the "Listen Live" icon.

Radio update: If you missed tonight's show and want to hear the Ray Rice interview, go to my show page at WBAL.com, where we post the audio from all our "Sportsline" interviews.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
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The FedEx guy just showed up at the door today with my son's Washington Redskins season tickets, which created another opportunity for me to question my wife's parenting skills. We moved to the Baltimore area during the city's years in NFL limbo, so the kid adopted the 'Skins against my advice and put himself on the season ticket waiting list while he was still a young teenager. His name came up this year.

I told him he should have put his name on the Orioles season ticket waiting list instead. The wait is not nearly as long, you don't have to park in some satellite lot in Upper Marlboro and you don't feel bad when you have to miss a game, but he wouldn't listen. They never do.

Don't know exactly where we went wrong. When he was applying to college, one of the essay questions on one of the applications for one of the more elite schools asked him to name the most influential person in his life and why? Did he write an essay about me? Of course not. Abraham Lincoln? No. Martin Luther King? No. Gandhi? No, but judging by my guy's eating habits, I doubt Ghandi was ever in play.

He wrote about Marty Schottenheimer.

True story. He didn't get accepted, so I'm guessing that school took the kid who wrote about Dick Vermeil.

It's only a matter of days now before he starts trying to convince me that Jason Campbell is better than Joe Flacco, and I'm chained to the couch with this Achilles thing so I'm virtually powerless to stop him.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (39)
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Ravens coach John Harbaugh joins me tonight at six on "Sportsline" (WBAL/1090 AM) to talk about the first week of training camp and look ahead to the 2009 season. During the regular season, Harbaugh will join Gerry Sandusky every Tuesday night at six to recap the previous Sunday's game and take calls from Ravens fans.

If you're not in signal range, go to WBAL.com and click on the "Listen Live" icon.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck