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ColumnNes

Ho Ho Home for the Holidays and the Maryland Crab Cake Tour

We’re out on the road with our friends at the Maryland Lottery and GBMC getting our Maryland Crab Cake Tour into some new places with some fresh faces and old friends as we gear up for Santa, family and football with lots of chances to say hello for the holidays. Come share a cup of cheer…

No One Listens Aparicio Nestor Nasty

Watch “No One Listens; Everyone Hears” – The Media Story of Nestor Aparicio, WNST and Baltimore Positive

Part biography, part civic documentary, this film uncovers the uncompromising journey of Nestor Aparicio—journalist, truth-teller, and founder of Baltimore Positive. Through battles with institutions, personal setbacks, and a stubborn commitment to his hometown, “No One Listens; Everyone Hears” shows what happens when one person refuses to stop believing in Baltimore.

It’s pretty obvious that Lamar Jackson is not right

There’s no explosiveness but there are five wins in a row to stack up for the Baltimore Ravens and a piece of first place on Thanksgiving is certainly more than acceptable. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the health of Lamar Jackson after a less-than-impressive win over the New York Jets and the lack of rest with the Cincinnati Bengals waiting after the turkey.

Searching for the soul of the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards

The Baltimore Orioles finished in last place, lost a half a million fans at the gate at Camden Yards and are searching for a soul this offseason while watching the rest of MLB hang bunting and play October baseball. Luke Jones attended the bizarre Tony Mansolino and Mike Elias press conference at The Warehouse on Monday. Nestor watched on his computer. Here, they discuss the word salad and measure the strategy of David Rubenstein and Michael Arougheti.

The story behind the story – how local journalism works and everything you need to know about the reporting of the Justin Tucker massage scandal

With three blockbuster tales of reporting the allegations of 16 different women accusing Baltimore Ravens’ kicker Justin Tucker of inappropriate behavior during massage therapy appointments more than a decade ago, reporter Julie Scharper of The Baltimore Banner answers all of Nestor’s questions about how the story came to light and the journalism, reporting and fact-checking done by their staff to confirm and write these “serious and concerning” stories.

Dear Catie Griggs: When Orioles fans ask why I don’t have an Orioles media credential, I’m sending them to you for answers

I’m pulling for you to fix the Orioles on-and-off the field, even if you continue the bizarrely petty Angelos family tradition of willfully, purposely and strategically mistreating me and restricting a legitimate professional working local media member from asking you serious questions in the David Rubenstein “Next Chapter” era.
“We all want the same things here.”

Talking aging, accountability and leadership with still-ready-to-throw Joe Flacco

We gave him a chance to announce his retirement but Joe Flacco says he is not done throwing the football. The well-traveled Super Bowl MVP comes home to Baltimore to talk about Father Time, kids in his house and the locker room, the family life in Indianapolis, great offense, bad analytics and hitting the quarterback. And the answer he gives as to why he went to the podium in Pittsburgh after throwing the Polamalu interception in the 2009 AFC Championship Game is as “elite” as he was in January 2013. Twelve years later, let Joe tell ya what he knows about real life and playing ‘ball…

Dear John Harbaugh: How many of the lies do you think we believe?

Making commercials when you win; hiding without accountability or the expectation of it when you lose. And, lately, you lose far too much…and hide far too frequently. And that starts with your owner and oozes into your locker room. And manifests with wealthy, entitled players hiding in defeat. It’s beyond a “bad look.” It’s what losers do – and true champions would never even consider. Accountability is optional for the Baltimore Ravens but the scoreboard and standings don’t lie.

Rightfully holding head coach John Harbaugh accountable for the stench of this Ravens disaster

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh thinks Nestor “hates” him. Actually, we’re here as local media to hold him responsible as the head coach of the team for the pathetic effort in the aftermath of a 44-10 loss and the embarrassment of the stadium emptying out in the 3rd quarter. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the horrific showing – on and off the field in recent years – and all roads lead to the top of the organization.

Laud and fraud: The hot seat of high expectations and low returns for John Harbaugh

When you’re expected to win the Super Bowl every year and somehow find more ways to squander the best talent in the NFL in crunch time than any other head coach in modern history, well…statistics somehow find you. The hideous Baltimore Ravens’ loss in Buffalo got John Harbaugh into stat memes for all of the wrong reasons for blowing games. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the laud and fraud of his tenure and oversight in the aftermath of the another Bills debacle in Orchard Park.

David Rubenstein Orioles owner

Dear David Rubenstein: I really believed things were going to be different with “The Next Chapter” of Orioles history – but I was wrong so far

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.

When the owners of Birdland ask Orioles fans for the next round of funding after a season like this…

When you invite three busy friends and guests onto the Maryland Crab Cake Tour at Costas Inn in Timonium and they all converge simultaneously, you host a candid, spontaneous chat about the realities of a Birdland Insider membership and being a modern Baltimore Orioles customer, fan and an ATM for ownership no matter what happens – on or off the field. A sports editor, a roofer and a duct sucker all walk into a bar with a guy from Dundalk…

Dear Steve Bisciotti: Ask Chad Steele what he thinks I said about Sage so I can tell Ravens fans why I was really exterminated

“What did do you do wrong, Nestor?” “Why would the Ravens throw you out?” “Why are you the only one in the local media whom they’ve thrown out?” “Why have they treated you this way?” “WHAT DID YOU DO WRONG!?!” I am fed up with these questions from Baltimore sports fans so I wrote to the owner because these questions are his to answer. Letters to John Harbaugh and Eric DeCosta are also coming soon.

For the Ravens, is it zero tolerance – or just zero accountability?

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh indicated that the future of the kicking position in Baltimore would be based on football, not the NFL investigation into the 16 women who have alleged improprieties during massage sessions with Justin Tucker. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the ongoing saga and the team’s eschewing of a “zero tolerance” policy when drafting edge rusher Mike Green, who had two sexual assault allegations while in college. Does any of it matter?

Are you as disgusted by the Orioles woeful leadership as we are?

The franchise with the “under new ownership” sign on its last-place standing in the AL East, an evaporating fan base and a cowardly baseball operation that is now fielding minor league tryouts at Camden Yards with the remnants of a bunch of No. 1 draft picks, decided to raise ticket prices while continuing to lower the bar for tone deafness. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss their mutual disgust with every aspect of the Baltimore Orioles, on and off the field – from David Rubenstein and Catie Griggs down to Mike Elias and the sloppy play on the diamond. Stink. Stank. Stunk…

The melancholy and infinite sadness of Baltimore Orioles baseball in 2025

Sure, some of you will simply say that Nestor Aparicio (finally) lost his mind on the radio on Thursday morning after the Baltimore Orioles lost an 8-0 lead in Tampa in losing 12-8 in a minor league ballpark in Tampa. There’s been a lot of trauma over the years but even Jim Palmer called it the worst loss of the year for a team mired in last place in American League East and headed to The Bronx this weekend.

A tribute to the Baltimore baseball legend of my former colleague Jim Henneman

Back in the 1980s, baseball coverage at The Evening Sun was sacred and Jim Henneman was the sage leader of Baltimore Orioles’ coverage and made quite an impression on a teenager who wanted to be a sportswriter. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the incredible baseball life of “Henny” and all of the old-timer Baltimore sports media legends who kept the stories of Brooks and Frank alive over the years.

Dear Steve Bisciotti: Are you Tuckered out on that zero-tolerance policy?

Methinks we’re kinda getting to the point where we’ll soon hear from “your people” in a two-sentence press release on the team website about the future of the kicking department of the Baltimore Ravens. Probably after lunch on Friday, the way all the cowards in your industry drop the news they want to bury. Not-so-bold prediction: Justin Tucker has kicked his last kick for your franchise.

ColumnNes: My letter to Orioles President Catie Griggs

This month, I’ve had many Orioles fans ask me on the streets of Baltimore why David Rubenstein, a full year into his new ownership and trying to spread a different image from Peter Angelos with a stunt like this bobblehead promotion this weekend, would continue to deny me legitimate press credentials after 40 years of covering Baltimore sports. So, I wrote this letter to new President Catie Griggs a month ago, a week before Opening Day:

R.I.P. Mister Costas Triantafilos – the loss of a legendary man in Dundalk

Costas Triantafilos was a giant of a man in my community because his presence was omnipresent. His authenticity, beauty and kindness, displayed over a lifetime, leave no words here that will ever convey. Not many folks know a community like Dundalk, a place like Costas Inn or a man like the man whose life and business was profiled by Vice just 15 months ago, capturing his absolute essence brilliantly.

IMG 2580

Chapter 6: Baseball punched me a ticket to see The World

Ever watch a baseball game from far away and think: “It’d be cool to see that ballpark?” That was what inspired Nestor to see the world and chase Baltimore sports anywhere a plane would take him. And that was long before 30 MLB ballparks in 30 days in 2015.

Chapter 3: My Pop and Little League in Dundalk

What are your Little League memories of youth? Here’s how Nestor fell in love with baseball at rec leagues at Colgate, Eastwood and Berkshire in Dundalk with his Pop as an umpire and manager for kids. And the tales of the diamond that last a lifetime…

My good walk of deep admiration and sportswriting on the brink with John Feinstein

John Feinstein and I had an awkwardly weird and beautiful friendship that had been strengthened by deep conversation and mutual respect over the last two decades since we somehow found ourselves in Brian Billick’s coaching office after games in stadia all over the country during the 2004 season. I know so many of you will miss his work. I will miss him.

What is the Rubenstein threshold for new Orioles’ payroll?

With the news that Grayson Rodriguez and Andrew Kittredge will begin the season off the field, we wonder whether Mike Elias will be out buying more pricey relief pitching in a sport with no salary cap. Luke Jones and Nestor debate the Baltimore Orioles’ pitching needs and the threshold for payroll in the world of David Rubenstein. The money and tough-talk financial realities of small-market MLB in this one…

Ho Ho Home for the Holidays and the Maryland Crab Cake Tour

We’re out on the road with our friends at the Maryland Lottery and GBMC getting our Maryland Crab Cake Tour into some new places with some fresh faces and old friends as we gear up for Santa, family and football with lots of chances to say hello for the holidays. Come share a cup of cheer…

No One Listens Aparicio Nestor Nasty

Watch “No One Listens; Everyone Hears” – The Media Story of Nestor Aparicio, WNST and Baltimore Positive

Part biography, part civic documentary, this film uncovers the uncompromising journey of Nestor Aparicio—journalist, truth-teller, and founder of Baltimore Positive. Through battles with institutions, personal setbacks, and a stubborn commitment to his hometown, “No One Listens; Everyone Hears” shows what happens when one person refuses to stop believing in Baltimore.

It’s pretty obvious that Lamar Jackson is not right

There’s no explosiveness but there are five wins in a row to stack up for the Baltimore Ravens and a piece of first place on Thanksgiving is certainly more than acceptable. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the health of Lamar Jackson after a less-than-impressive win over the New York Jets and the lack of rest with the Cincinnati Bengals waiting after the turkey.

Searching for the soul of the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards

The Baltimore Orioles finished in last place, lost a half a million fans at the gate at Camden Yards and are searching for a soul this offseason while watching the rest of MLB hang bunting and play October baseball. Luke Jones attended the bizarre Tony Mansolino and Mike Elias press conference at The Warehouse on Monday. Nestor watched on his computer. Here, they discuss the word salad and measure the strategy of David Rubenstein and Michael Arougheti.

The story behind the story – how local journalism works and everything you need to know about the reporting of the Justin Tucker massage scandal

With three blockbuster tales of reporting the allegations of 16 different women accusing Baltimore Ravens’ kicker Justin Tucker of inappropriate behavior during massage therapy appointments more than a decade ago, reporter Julie Scharper of The Baltimore Banner answers all of Nestor’s questions about how the story came to light and the journalism, reporting and fact-checking done by their staff to confirm and write these “serious and concerning” stories.

Dear Catie Griggs: When Orioles fans ask why I don’t have an Orioles media credential, I’m sending them to you for answers

I’m pulling for you to fix the Orioles on-and-off the field, even if you continue the bizarrely petty Angelos family tradition of willfully, purposely and strategically mistreating me and restricting a legitimate professional working local media member from asking you serious questions in the David Rubenstein “Next Chapter” era.
“We all want the same things here.”

Talking aging, accountability and leadership with still-ready-to-throw Joe Flacco

We gave him a chance to announce his retirement but Joe Flacco says he is not done throwing the football. The well-traveled Super Bowl MVP comes home to Baltimore to talk about Father Time, kids in his house and the locker room, the family life in Indianapolis, great offense, bad analytics and hitting the quarterback. And the answer he gives as to why he went to the podium in Pittsburgh after throwing the Polamalu interception in the 2009 AFC Championship Game is as “elite” as he was in January 2013. Twelve years later, let Joe tell ya what he knows about real life and playing ‘ball…

Dear John Harbaugh: How many of the lies do you think we believe?

Making commercials when you win; hiding without accountability or the expectation of it when you lose. And, lately, you lose far too much…and hide far too frequently. And that starts with your owner and oozes into your locker room. And manifests with wealthy, entitled players hiding in defeat. It’s beyond a “bad look.” It’s what losers do – and true champions would never even consider. Accountability is optional for the Baltimore Ravens but the scoreboard and standings don’t lie.

Rightfully holding head coach John Harbaugh accountable for the stench of this Ravens disaster

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh thinks Nestor “hates” him. Actually, we’re here as local media to hold him responsible as the head coach of the team for the pathetic effort in the aftermath of a 44-10 loss and the embarrassment of the stadium emptying out in the 3rd quarter. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the horrific showing – on and off the field in recent years – and all roads lead to the top of the organization.

Laud and fraud: The hot seat of high expectations and low returns for John Harbaugh

When you’re expected to win the Super Bowl every year and somehow find more ways to squander the best talent in the NFL in crunch time than any other head coach in modern history, well…statistics somehow find you. The hideous Baltimore Ravens’ loss in Buffalo got John Harbaugh into stat memes for all of the wrong reasons for blowing games. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the laud and fraud of his tenure and oversight in the aftermath of the another Bills debacle in Orchard Park.

David Rubenstein Orioles owner

Dear David Rubenstein: I really believed things were going to be different with “The Next Chapter” of Orioles history – but I was wrong so far

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.

When the owners of Birdland ask Orioles fans for the next round of funding after a season like this…

When you invite three busy friends and guests onto the Maryland Crab Cake Tour at Costas Inn in Timonium and they all converge simultaneously, you host a candid, spontaneous chat about the realities of a Birdland Insider membership and being a modern Baltimore Orioles customer, fan and an ATM for ownership no matter what happens – on or off the field. A sports editor, a roofer and a duct sucker all walk into a bar with a guy from Dundalk…

Dear Steve Bisciotti: Ask Chad Steele what he thinks I said about Sage so I can tell Ravens fans why I was really exterminated

“What did do you do wrong, Nestor?” “Why would the Ravens throw you out?” “Why are you the only one in the local media whom they’ve thrown out?” “Why have they treated you this way?” “WHAT DID YOU DO WRONG!?!” I am fed up with these questions from Baltimore sports fans so I wrote to the owner because these questions are his to answer. Letters to John Harbaugh and Eric DeCosta are also coming soon.

For the Ravens, is it zero tolerance – or just zero accountability?

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh indicated that the future of the kicking position in Baltimore would be based on football, not the NFL investigation into the 16 women who have alleged improprieties during massage sessions with Justin Tucker. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the ongoing saga and the team’s eschewing of a “zero tolerance” policy when drafting edge rusher Mike Green, who had two sexual assault allegations while in college. Does any of it matter?

Are you as disgusted by the Orioles woeful leadership as we are?

The franchise with the “under new ownership” sign on its last-place standing in the AL East, an evaporating fan base and a cowardly baseball operation that is now fielding minor league tryouts at Camden Yards with the remnants of a bunch of No. 1 draft picks, decided to raise ticket prices while continuing to lower the bar for tone deafness. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss their mutual disgust with every aspect of the Baltimore Orioles, on and off the field – from David Rubenstein and Catie Griggs down to Mike Elias and the sloppy play on the diamond. Stink. Stank. Stunk…

The melancholy and infinite sadness of Baltimore Orioles baseball in 2025

Sure, some of you will simply say that Nestor Aparicio (finally) lost his mind on the radio on Thursday morning after the Baltimore Orioles lost an 8-0 lead in Tampa in losing 12-8 in a minor league ballpark in Tampa. There’s been a lot of trauma over the years but even Jim Palmer called it the worst loss of the year for a team mired in last place in American League East and headed to The Bronx this weekend.

A tribute to the Baltimore baseball legend of my former colleague Jim Henneman

Back in the 1980s, baseball coverage at The Evening Sun was sacred and Jim Henneman was the sage leader of Baltimore Orioles’ coverage and made quite an impression on a teenager who wanted to be a sportswriter. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the incredible baseball life of “Henny” and all of the old-timer Baltimore sports media legends who kept the stories of Brooks and Frank alive over the years.

Dear Steve Bisciotti: Are you Tuckered out on that zero-tolerance policy?

Methinks we’re kinda getting to the point where we’ll soon hear from “your people” in a two-sentence press release on the team website about the future of the kicking department of the Baltimore Ravens. Probably after lunch on Friday, the way all the cowards in your industry drop the news they want to bury. Not-so-bold prediction: Justin Tucker has kicked his last kick for your franchise.

ColumnNes: My letter to Orioles President Catie Griggs

This month, I’ve had many Orioles fans ask me on the streets of Baltimore why David Rubenstein, a full year into his new ownership and trying to spread a different image from Peter Angelos with a stunt like this bobblehead promotion this weekend, would continue to deny me legitimate press credentials after 40 years of covering Baltimore sports. So, I wrote this letter to new President Catie Griggs a month ago, a week before Opening Day:

R.I.P. Mister Costas Triantafilos – the loss of a legendary man in Dundalk

Costas Triantafilos was a giant of a man in my community because his presence was omnipresent. His authenticity, beauty and kindness, displayed over a lifetime, leave no words here that will ever convey. Not many folks know a community like Dundalk, a place like Costas Inn or a man like the man whose life and business was profiled by Vice just 15 months ago, capturing his absolute essence brilliantly.

IMG 2580

Chapter 6: Baseball punched me a ticket to see The World

Ever watch a baseball game from far away and think: “It’d be cool to see that ballpark?” That was what inspired Nestor to see the world and chase Baltimore sports anywhere a plane would take him. And that was long before 30 MLB ballparks in 30 days in 2015.

Chapter 3: My Pop and Little League in Dundalk

What are your Little League memories of youth? Here’s how Nestor fell in love with baseball at rec leagues at Colgate, Eastwood and Berkshire in Dundalk with his Pop as an umpire and manager for kids. And the tales of the diamond that last a lifetime…

My good walk of deep admiration and sportswriting on the brink with John Feinstein

John Feinstein and I had an awkwardly weird and beautiful friendship that had been strengthened by deep conversation and mutual respect over the last two decades since we somehow found ourselves in Brian Billick’s coaching office after games in stadia all over the country during the 2004 season. I know so many of you will miss his work. I will miss him.

What is the Rubenstein threshold for new Orioles’ payroll?

With the news that Grayson Rodriguez and Andrew Kittredge will begin the season off the field, we wonder whether Mike Elias will be out buying more pricey relief pitching in a sport with no salary cap. Luke Jones and Nestor debate the Baltimore Orioles’ pitching needs and the threshold for payroll in the world of David Rubenstein. The money and tough-talk financial realities of small-market MLB in this one…

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