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On August 3rd, 1998, Nestor Aparicio inked a letter to local sports fans in The Baltimore Sun. Now 25 years later, did he live up to his promise and goals to serve the local community?
If you ever bump into Nestor and want one of the wilder stories of his journey, ask him about the night he did a charity event with Steve McNair in Nashville. We took several busloads and planeloads of Ravens fans to Nashville several times. The 2001 playoff party was legendary but it was in January 2009 when the former Oilers, Titans and Ravens quarterback came to Limelight to greet a sea of purple. And then we threw a party. The videos tell the story better than we ever could. Especially that poor taxi driver…
Even though this is further down the list, it might be the greatest thing we’ve ever done. When Jennifer Ford Aparicio was diagnosed with leukemia in March 2014 and survived that summer watching baseball, Nestor was inspired to live out a dream and make it matter. And the 30-30 MLB Give A Spit Tour was born. In June and July of 2015, the couple swabbed for the bone marrow registry in 18 ballparks, swabbing thousands of baseball fans over 30 days and even made it Cooperstown. No rainouts, one passport forgotten, many celebrities and wonderful friends we visited and made along the way on behalf of There Goes My Hero.
If you ever participated in or witnessed a decade of fun times, live radio shows and Baltimore sports memories with us at The Barn on Harford Road back in the 1990s when WNST was birthed by the local community, then you know it’ll never be replicated. Go through the photos and see how many legends you can identify who spent time eating crabs, drinking beer and talking sports with us – and you – in Parkville. As John Steadman once said: “Didn’t we have some good times?” What’s your favorite memory of a WNST live event over these 25 years of awesomeness? The night we brought the Lombardi Trophy by in the aftermath of Super Bowl XXXV didn’t suck.
On March 20th of this year, it’ll be ten years since Jennifer Aparicio was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia that was later traced back to her work as a project engineer in telecom at 9/11 and the World Trade Center in New York City. As she fought for her life and awaited the first of two bone marrow transplants from a miracle German man who saved her life, our WNST community rallied to get swabbed for the bone marrow registry and the local charity There Goes My Hero. Jenn is alive and well and visited with her DNA twin Niels in Europe recently for NFL football in Franfurt. Meanwhile, we remain incredibly grateful for the support of our community here at WNST Baltimore Positive that kept her spirits high and hopes alive during her gruesome battle. Hug the people you love!
Nestor thanks one his favorite miracle people, Michele Bresnick Walsh and There Goes My Hero, for helping #JennStrong through her leukemia battles. Quite a story here in this friendship over the last decade.
Our pal and longtime WJZ television producer Mark “The Blade” Brodinsky tells Nestor the “why” behind his “You Matter” message and movement at Pappas in Cockeysville on “A Cup Of Soup Or Bowl Week” at Baltimore Positive.
Doug Shea discusses how Sharp Dressed Man puts men in position to get a job and succeed – and how founder Christopher Schafer took his vocation and passion and put it to work for others.
Luke Jones and Nestor discuss all changes in Ravens front office and coping with the upcoming on-the-field losses in free agency at Koco’s on Crab Cake Row on “A Cup Of Soup Or Bowl Week” for the Maryland Food Bank.
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The world lost a force of nature. We lost a dear friend, mentor and spiritual north star when longtime sportswriter and columnist Phil Jackman of The Evening Sun died at 87 last week. This is a 2003 sitdown with the reformed TV repairman. It’s two hours of his life, views on sports and the world and tales never told about Ali, Yaz, Earl Weaver and Andre The Giant.
On the eve of his 56th birthday, Nestor receives a gift from the aurora borealis gods when the Northern Lights descend on Towson, Maryland on an October night. Leonard Raskin joins Nestor for birthday pineapple pizza at Pizza John’s on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour and tales of a No. 1 “bucket list” item being unwittingly crossed off on an hour’s notice.
In the days before the win over the Commanders, the Ravens brought back a sage and a mentor to defensive coordinator Zach Orr to get more productivity and cohesion on the backend. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the pieces of the Ravens defense and the addition of Dean Pees to help a beleaguered secondary that held up against Washington.
What does it say that Nestor Aparicio has been professionally bullied, gaslit and banned by Orioles and Ravens ownership after four decades of covering Baltimore sports as a professional reporter, author and journalist? Plenty. About billionaires, money, fealty and the death of local sports journalism and the emergence of team websites as monopoly “news” sources. Read and learn…
After having its way all day against the less-than-stellar Washington Commanders defense in a 30-23 home win, Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the arrival of King Henry and this royal offense of Lamar Jackson we’re seeing as Todd Monken starts to draw it up and the line starts to gel and block it up. And weapons multiply in the passing attack.
As we start to shuck and enjoy 26 oysters, 26 ways in 26 days, please allow Damye Hahn of Faidley Seafood in Lexington Market and James Bond of Living Classrooms to educate you about the power of the Oyster Recovery Partnership to restore the Chesapeake Bay and make the water cleaner and the crabs to thrive and grow bigger and tastier.
Longtime NFL insider Mike Silver returns to tell Nestor the roots of his new book, “The Why Is Everything,” exploring the history of the Shanahan family football tree, with roots in the franchise of Dan Snyder in Washington more than a decade ago. Silver praises the talent of Lamar Jackson and still wonders how the Ravens ever let him test the free agent market last spring.
Was it ZZ Top, Rush or Ted Nugent? Was it Hulk Hogan as a heel vs. Bob Backlund or Dusty Rhodes coming north? Was it Wayne Gretzky or Magic Johnson or Larry Bird? Nestor Aparicio and Leonard Raskin reminisce about their youth and experiences at Capital Centre and discuss the significance of keeping mementos from their past experiences.
We always felt like this should be more of a “rivalry” than a novelty. Luke Jones and Nestor get ready for a high-stakes battle between the team from the south in the burgundy in gold coming to Baltimore to face the Ravens as a 4-1 upstart NFL darling. Should be plenty of offense in this one on Sunday.
Earning back the trust of lost fan bases has been a theme here this week. Our old pal Chick Hernandez of USA9 returns to give Nestor some truths about the incredible transformation of the Washington NFL franchise, hailing victory once again and coming to Baltimore (and bringing fans buying high-priced tickets) for a Jayden Daniels vs. Lamar Jackson matchup that has locals ready for football.
After a huge first month of football and sports wagering, John Martin of The Maryland Lottery discusses the record numbers, the popularity of the Ravens scratch-off and a new way to play Mega Millions in 2025.
He spent two days at Camden Yards covering Orioles playoff games and will be eagerly awaiting this Jayden Daniels vs. Lamar Jackson matchup in Baltimore on Sunday. Thom Loverro of The Washington Times tells Nestor about the suddenly deodorized burgundy and gold NFL franchise and the emergence of the Commanders’ first superstar since Dan Snyder left Landover.
Dave Preston of WTOP gets Nestor ready for the Jayden Daniels Experience and the new look, new ownership 4-1 Washington Commanders coming to Baltimore to stir up the Battle For Maryland.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Todd Rundgren talks Meat Loaf, baseball, Daryl Hall, Kauai and making a difference through art, song and connection with his Spirit Of Harmony and Global Nation TV. He performs at Appell Center in York, Pennsylvania on Sunday, October 13th.
If learning the game has been on your “to do” list, our Classic 5 LPGA pro Julieta Stack of Baltimore Golf Academy at Pine Ridge shares with Nestor the feeling of hitting that perfect shot. A nice time to fall in love with the game when the weather is perfect and the pace is right to pick up a club and get back on a course or the range.
Our mentor and longtime columnist at The Baltimore Sun, John Eisenberg returns with more lost Bird Tapes telling the history of Orioles baseball, and schools Nestor on Orioles offseason ownership history and some Washington and Baltimore football lore as the Commanders come north to face the Ravens.
After Joe Burrow and the Bengals marched up and down the field at will on Sunday in Cincinnati, Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the deficiencies of the Ravens’ defense and the problems young Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders will present for defensive coordinator Zach Orr this week in Baltimore.
Our pal Solomon Wilcots of Sirius XM Radio joins Nestor from his hometown of Cincinnati to discuss paths of the Bengals and Ravens after a classic AFC North shootout on Sunday. Bottom line: The Bengals need to be more than just Joe Burrow.
Every special Capital Centre memory of music and sports and childhood wonderment told by Nestor to retrospective author Kevin Leonard at Costas Inn in Dundalk on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour.
After another big offensive game on Sunday, Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the emerging Todd Monken offense of Lamar, King Henry and the victorious Ravens in Cincinnati.
In their usual wide-ranging chats, our financial guy Leonard Raskin joins Nestor to celebrate their birthdays this week while discussing the Orioles’ struggles on the field and in the stands, the Ravens’ performance in Cincy and the differences between Baltimore and Washington over the years as Jayden Daniels and the Commanders come to the Charm City.
It’s been a tough start to the season for Baltimore Ravens special teams unit over the first quarter of the season. After watching the Bengals operation fail with the game on the line, Luke Jones and Nestor give the purple special teams and the Hall of Fame foot of Justin Tucker some overtime conversation for saving day and beating Cincinnati.
In a game full of exciting plays and an unlikely come-from-behind 41-38 overtime win over division rival Cincinnati, Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the continuously curious coaching decisions of John Harbaugh with timeouts and game and clock management.
If the whole sections of empty green seats at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in October don’t send a bright orange signal for change and improvement to the new ownership of the Baltimore Orioles, there is no hope. Luke Jones and Nestor wonder aloud where the franchise goes – on and off the field – with new owner David Rubenstein in what they hope will be an offseason of massive transition and accountability that fans haven’t witnessed in three decades.
Trying to educate folks about their health on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour at Costas Inn, Nestor welcomes his lifer Dundalk High friend Theresa Battaglia and former editor colleague at The Baltimore Sun Andrew Ratner to learn about the power of Maryland Health Benefit Exchange for all citizens.
I’m still “under review” and denied media credentials. You’re still under review by every fan of the Baltimore Orioles and every citizen who chipped in $600 million toward your $1.725 billion asset. Be a better person and a better baseball owner than Peter Angelos. Be the noise for truth, accountability and decency. Make “The Next Chapter” a truly inclusive one, David.
It was mandatory that we begin the Maryland Oyster Tour – 26 Oysters in 26 Days in 26 Ways to celebrate our 26th WNST Baltimore Positive anniversary – with family. Allow our wonderful cousin-by-marriage-of-our-daughter-in-law and Chesapeake chef savant John Shields of Gertrude’s at The Baltimore Museum of Art tell Nestor the joys of fried oysters in Baltimore and why we need to expand our gastronomic palate and embrace the infinite flexibility of the mollusk.
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Reserve guard Ben Cleveland had never lined up on field goal block until Week 5 after telling Chris Horton he wanted to try.
The world lost a force of nature. We lost a dear friend, mentor and spiritual north star when longtime sportswriter and columnist Phil Jackman of The Evening Sun died at 87 last week. This is a 2003 sitdown with the reformed TV repairman. It’s two hours of his life, views on sports and the world and tales never told about Ali, Yaz, Earl Weaver and Andre The Giant.
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As the Orioles promise to keep us twice as busy this week after the Ravens kept us up late on Monday night, Wendy Bronfein of Curio Wellness tells Nestor about the Good Day energy she needs when her toddler gets an overnight illness and work meetings come early in the morning.
In the first of many Coppin State conversations in our 14th year of Baltimore Positive partnership as the WNST flagship of Eagles sports, President Dr. Anthony Jenkins returns to get Nestor for another semester of learning and life in West Baltimore, where the campus and spirit grows at The Nest.
John Martin of Maryland Lottery celebrates fall baseball excitement and tells Nestor about the huge Multi Match jackpot that is all about us.
Bill Cole and Nestor debate why more Baltimoreans don’t go to College Park for Terps football games in the era of big money, Big 10 action.
Was it ZZ Top, Rush or Ted Nugent? Was it Hulk Hogan as a heel vs. Bob Backlund or Dusty Rhodes coming north? Was it Wayne Gretzky or Magic Johnson or Larry Bird? Nestor Aparicio and Leonard Raskin reminisce about their youth and experiences at Capital Centre and discuss the significance of keeping mementos from their past experiences.
Our Chief Digital Officer Mike Rosenfeld offered Nestor a chance to be a suite life guy for the recent Journey and Toto concert at CFG Bank Arena and wanted his feedback. Comedy and music and Danny DeVito and PacMan and free booze and why Edie Brown needs a room named after her at the former Baltimore Civic Center.
As the Orioles promise to keep us twice as busy this week after the Ravens kept us up late on Monday night, Wendy Bronfein of Curio Wellness tells Nestor about the Good Day energy she needs when her toddler gets an overnight illness and work meetings come early in the morning.
In the first of many Coppin State conversations in our 14th year of Baltimore Positive partnership as the WNST flagship of Eagles sports, President Dr. Anthony Jenkins returns to get Nestor for another semester of learning and life in West Baltimore, where the campus and spirit grows at The Nest.
Bill Cole and Nestor debate why more Baltimoreans don’t go to College Park for Terps football games in the era of big money, Big 10 action.
Was it ZZ Top, Rush or Ted Nugent? Was it Hulk Hogan as a heel vs. Bob Backlund or Dusty Rhodes coming north? Was it Wayne Gretzky or Magic Johnson or Larry Bird? Nestor Aparicio and Leonard Raskin reminisce about their youth and experiences at Capital Centre and discuss the significance of keeping mementos from their past experiences.
John Martin of Maryland Lottery celebrates fall baseball excitement and tells Nestor about the huge Multi Match jackpot that is all about us.
Our Chief Digital Officer Mike Rosenfeld offered Nestor a chance to be a suite life guy for the recent Journey and Toto concert at CFG Bank Arena and wanted his feedback. Comedy and music and Danny DeVito and PacMan and free booze and why Edie Brown needs a room named after her at the former Baltimore Civic Center.
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Because serendipity has been on the menu throughout this crazy month of the Maryland Crab Cake Tour, fitness coach Sandra Gallagher-Mohler offers some wisdom and advice for being in the right place at the right time.
I hate parades. I don’t watch them on television. I don’t attend them. I don’t even understand the point of them. Prior to Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2001, I had been to one parade in my life, and I didn’t like it.
Former Ravens center Mike Flynn discusses the Super Bowl expectations of Lamar Jackson and the big Baltimore football fans he’s raising and coaching as a dad of boys in the heart of Patriots kingdom, where they’re not playing January football these days.
It’s the greatest cocktail party story that Nestor Aparicio has in a lifetime journey that has exceeded all expectations. Back in March 1999 while in Havana, Cuba covering the Orioles historic baseball visit and Fidel Castro, he ran into Woody Harrelson and Andy Summers in La Bodeguita del Medio and convinced the legendary Hall of Fame guitarist from The Police to join a local band. Summers insisted that Nestor play the role of Sting in the band. Let the trio who were there tell you about it…
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