in Baltimore media via contests, job interviews, internships and a live microphone.
But, now, after watching my wife’s life go to the brink of death – and back – over the spring and summer of 2014, it’s time to take care of her and my family and my future.
Back when Hall of Famer Rod Woodson played for the Ravens, I’d ask him: “Howya doing, Hot Rod?” He’d say: “I’m just trying to get right.” I’ve always loved that phrase.
This is very simple: it’s time for me to be happy.
And go back to having fun with my life and career.
On Tuesday, September 2nd, we’ll roll out a new version of WNST.net & AM 1570 on the radio. Over the next 10 days you’ll be hearing some WNST memories as well as some daily content with the Orioles playing a bunch of important games and the Ravens preparing for another exciting season. I promise that what you’ll be hearing in the future is a quality conversation with a Baltimore flair, plus sports content, information and analysis that is the most intelligent in the marketplace.
We’re still going to be taking you all over the country with our WNST road trips this fall – New Orleans, Tampa, Miami and beyond. We’ll be out eight times this fall with new Ravens WR Steve Smith and we’ll also be working with several other players in the community, which we’ll announce as we get closer to the season.
To honor my wife and the man who saved her life, every event we do moving forward will serve as a bone marrow donor drive for the worldwide registry.
And as you’ve seen over the past six months with our #JennStrong & #BmorePositive initiatives for There Goes My Hero and all leukemia-related and bone marrow transplant donor awareness, we’ve only just begun to save lives and pay forward all of the generosity of her donor – a kind and humble 21-year old man from Germany who wrote her the best letter I’ve ever read two weeks ago.
It’s worth your time to read it!!!!
Thus far, WNST has raised over $20,000 for There Goes My Hero foundation. In addition, through swabbing at our WNST purple events, we’ve added more than one thousand people to the bone marrow transplant donor list. Those amazing folks are now in a prime position to save a life, just like the 21-year old man from Germany who saved my wife’s life. Our goal is to work to increase those numbers to $100,000 and 10,000 swabbers and beyond as we move forward into the coming months and years.
I hope everyone in my world understands and respects why I’m doing what I’m doing. It certainly isn’t because WNST is struggling, although I’m sure many of our fan boy detractors in cyberspace basements will tweet lies like “WNST is going out of business” or “Nestor is losing his mind.” I can assure you, that’s not the case. You can Google the links to my amateur competitors prematurely predicting my demise in 2007, 2008, 2009, etc. I’ve already attached the one from 1998 in the then-monopoly world of information in The Baltimore Sun. And it’s been Peter Angelos’ solemn goal to put me (and WNST) out of business and mute me when he took my press credentials in 2006 after 21 years of serving Baltimore sports facts the unvarnished truth about the Orioles. And when his pathetic ex-employee tried to sue and defame me, and my company, in 2011, we survived and continued to grow.
In truth, none of them even understand my business at WNST.
Entering 2015, we’re stronger and larger than we’ve ever been thanks to social media reach that no mean-spirited, petty 85-year old billionaire could even comprehend let alone squash. And our sponsorship is up considerably in 2014 since I came back on the air on April 1. The names, logos and pride of our partners in Baltimore business is all over this website – to the right, left, above and below.
I’m proud of my work but I promise not to rest on my laurels or to look backward with anything other than fondness and appreciation for all who’ve participated in some positive way.
I want to be happy and be surrounded by strong, upbeat people who share a love of life.
WNST is still here and stronger than ever thanks to our audience and our sponsors. You are the reason we do what we do.
On behalf of my wife, son, family, partners, sponsors and supporters, we’re not going anywhere but forward and reaching to the next generation of Baltimore sports fans and our new “relaunch” after Labor Day will be as ambitious as anything we’ve done in the past.
We’re authoring a unique story at WNST.net. We’re the only AM radio station in America that operates in this fashion, with a guy from Dundalk following a dream, powered by the people.
I also can’t thank you enough for supporting us through the most trying period of both of our lives and my wife’s battle with cancer. Whether it was a card, a Facebook “like” or a simple fist bump when I ran into you on the street.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
I realize how fragile life is. I don’t want to live with any regrets. Even approaching my 46th year on the planet, I still dream big and I set high, lofty goals. I don’t want to look back 20 years from now and regret not taking this leap and trying to do what makes me happy and what I feel is the best for my wife and family at this time.
I hope you’ll join me in this next phase of my life.
I hope you’ll continue to support the new WNST as feverishly as you supported the old WNST. I always say that without our sponsors, WNST wouldn’t exist. The truth is, without you, WNST wouldn’t exist.
I hope you’ll tune in on Tuesday, Sept. 2. You won’t be disappointed.
And in the meantime, we’ll see you on the internet with daily updates leading up to Labor Day. And you also might hear a few pretty good interviews on WNST.net & AM 1570 this week.
