Published: January 30, 2008 11:32 am         

Song remains the same at both ends of the Parkway

We don't know if Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos is the one who slammed the brakes on the reported Erik Bedard deal, because nobody is saying. On top of that, we don't even know if the deal that would send Bedard, the Orioles' lefthanded ace, to the Seattle Mariners for center fielder Adam Jones (not that one), the centerpiece of Seattle's end of it, veteran reliever George Sherrill, 19-year-old pitching prospect Chris Tillman and one or two other prospects, was ever really in place.

Again, reportedly the deal was in place, but until it ever does or does not go through, we won't know.

Now, what we do know is most agents and general managers around the big leagues (yes, most teams have general managers) would rather go to Dr. Christian Szell to have their dental work done than deal with the Orioles. And until this potential deal between the Orioles and the Mariners is settled one way or another, Orioles fans believe they have a pretty good idea why baseball people would rather hear "Is it safe?" from their dentist than "Let's make a deal" from the Orioles:

Forty-year wars have been settled quicker than any dealing with the Orioles has because Angelos has to sign off on everything. And most of the time, Orioles baseball people are unable to receive an audience with the owner because he has so many other things on his plate.

It was finally going to be different this time around when Angelos hired Andy MacPhail to run the baseball side of the Orioles. MacPhail would call the shots and have the autonomy to steer this franchise out of its sorriness that has resulted in 10 straight losing seasons. MacPhail is as baseball as baseball gets. He is highly regarded in all circles of the game, and it is pretty much a given everywhere that if he is allowed to do his job the Orioles will be an outstanding franchise again, and they will win again.

Who's to say? Maybe Angelos will let MacPhail do his job. The recent news out of Baltimore, though, indicates nothing has changed. But again, not to go Yogi on you, until we know, we just won't know.

Which doesn't prevent us from having a pretty good idea.

Then there is Dan

The day after Joe Gibbs suddenly retired as head coach and president of the Washington Redskins, somebody wrote here, "Thus, many will view Gibbs's latest run with the Redskins to be a failure, but in truth, history will view it as another example as to why there is a bronze bust of Gibbs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, provided, of course, the team doesn't revert to the fantasy-league ways of its owner prior to Gibbs's return."

Don't look now, because it's too painful to look. Offensive coordinator in place, head of defense in place, most of the coaching staff in place. One little piece is missing, however: The head coach, who usually gets to select the aforementioned positions since it will be his arse on the line once he becomes the head coach.

So much for the carryover stability of the second Joe Gibbs regime. In fact, so much for Joe Gibbs having ever been there at all the second time around. The goodwill, the team unity, the family the organization had become, the painstaking progress of getting the franchise headed back in the right direction, the trust the Redskins had re-built in the community? Gone. All gone.

When it comes to running a once-proud sports franchise that, granted, he paid a pile of money to buy, Daniel Snyder gives every indication of wanting to be the next Jerry Jones. Unfortunately, the results he produces provide every indication he is the next Peter Angelos. Provided they are not already one in the same.

Hey, you never see them in the same room together, do you?

Maryland-Duke

One Maryland fan's Monday-morning concession to former Duke basketball captain Steve Vandenberg concerning Sunday's Duke victory at Comcast Center:

"Hey, if the Terps hadn't lost to American and Ohio U., last night wouldn't be a bad loss at all. Helluva game if you ask me, and Duke is very, very good. I enjoyed the game, frankly (not losing, of course), but like I said, the Ohio and American games are going to haunt Maryland all year - as they should.

"Hey, maybe we can get you next time. Congratulations.

"Elbows."

To which Captain Vandenberg replied, "Maryland is super tough and I don't think those early loses will hurt them too much. Late-season ACC wins will almost totally nullify those early loses.

"Watch and see.

"Double elbow."

As a Maryland fan, based on that replay, I'm counting on those Duke guys being as smart as advertised.

Contact Mike Burke at mburke@times-news.com.