PressBox: October 12, 2011

October 12, 2011

By Larry Harris

• A Bath For Johnny U.: It has been almost nine years since sculptor Fred Kail created the statue of John Unitas that graces M&T Bank Stadium. Acid rain and bird droppings have done a deteriorating number on old No. 19, so Jeff Provenzano of the Stadium Authority says a cleaning and wax job is in the process of being scheduled.

• Topsy-Turvy Orioles: Perhaps it's the wave of the future, but doesn't the field manager usually answer to the general manager? Maybe owner Peter Angelos should go all Connie Mack and run the whole deal himself.

• Ancient Wonder: Can that be the same Arthur Rhodes relieving for the Cardinals who pitched the first nine years of his major league career for the Orioles? It just seems as if Rhodes (42 this month) is older than Satchel Paige.

• Karmic Pondering: Surely Jay Cutler of the Bears must be wondering what he did in some other life to deserve being stuck behind Chicago's awful offensive line.

• And Nobody Cared: Outside of the usual Internet columnists, how many folks are running around in sackcloth and ashes because NBA owners have made an even dumber decision than a lockout?

Posted Oct. 12, 2011