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Nestor Aparicio

King of Baltimore Sports gets underway…

Nestor Aparicio

Our summer promotion, “The Toyota Live Web King of Baltimore Sports” is now underway, as I’m sure you heard on WNST yesterday. We’ll be releasing more information daily regarding The King, which will begin in earnest on Monday and go daily through our 10th Anniversary celebration, which will be held at Sports Legends Museum on Aug. 8. We are also celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Baltimore Colts first team championship of the modern era and the 25th Anniversary of the most recent Baltimore Orioles world championship. We are planning on having a grand gala on Aug. 8th so mark your calendar. The 32-man brackets for the contest will be unveiled on Tuesday night at the Angle Inn in Dundalk. Here is your food for thought for the day: below is the list of all of the candidates we could cull for the final list of 32. So far… Tomorrow, we’ll release the 28 “first-ballot” entries. Next week, you can vote for the final four “play-in” contestants in right here at WNST.net. We figure that there have been about 5,000 different people who’ve worn the name “BALTIMORE” on the crests of their jerseys over the past 50 years in Baltimore.

Clem Florio (1930-2008)

Nestor Aparicio

I received word yesterday that Baltimore and the world lost one of its iconic lovers of horse racing and boxing on Sunday night when Clem Florio died in Hollywood, Fla. from pancreatic cancer. I wrote a tribute to Clem about 10 days ago. I actually chatted with his daughter, Clemma, on Sunday afternoon before his passing and she said that he loved the past year of his life in Florida with the warmth and even made the occasional trip to Calder during his illness, when he also suffered from dementia. There are several links on the web to Clem’s life and story, most notably pieces that Michael Olesker has written for The Examiner here and here. Vinnie Perrone also wrote a fabulous tribute here. Clem was my resident horseman and boxing afficionado during the 1990’s and he was truly one of my favorite people on earth. There was no way to spend time with Clem and not find it enjoyable. He was as engaging and kind and animated an individual as I’ve ever known. He was just great company! One friend wrote on an email thread last night: “I’m thinking of all the cliches here, but, damn, it ain’t easy

Last call for a Belmont Stakes bus!

Nestor Aparicio

I finally found an available bus for the Belmont Stakes trip next Saturday, June 7th. Here’s the deal: I only have a handful of people interested so far in doing the trip. So, I wanted to give one last chance to those folks who want to do a bus trip next weekend and see Big Brown attempt to make history at the big beautiful track in Elmont, N.Y. I’d love to do a bus, but it doesn’t make much sense to have a bus with 15 people on it. So, if you are serious about going — and it’ll be in the $100 price range for food, beer, sodas, ride, general admission ticket for the big day — please email me DIRECTLY at nasty@wnst.net I really hope we can do a bus next weekend but I just want to make sure we have enough folks to fill a bus. Thanks!    

Orioles go from penthouse to outhouse

Nestor Aparicio

Don’t look now, but the Orioles have gone from an “interesting” spring team with some exciting evenings to quickly becoming a team on a fast course to nowhere. That is, if they can’t find a way to start hitting the baseball. This morning, they wake up on a 80-degree Memorial Day again mired in last place of the AL East in the midst of a five-game losing streak. Worse than that, their weekend hiccup has allowed the Tampa Bay Ray (formerly Devils Rays) to be in FIRST PLACE in the division. The times they are ‘a changing… And here come New York and Boston to attempt to kick them while they’re down… Two weeks ago, I made a bet with Drew Forrester when the Orioles were 16-16 that the team would be hard-pressed to be 32-32 at the same juncture. Before the inevitable (and foolish) “Nestor hates the Orioles” comments start flooding this blog, remember this: they were picked by Las Vegas to win 65 games! So, knowing that, a .500 ballclub would be a reason for a parade! Right now, with seven games coming against the Red Sox and Yankees at home – where their talent will be overwhelmed

Jason Taylor ‘Dancing with the Ravens?’

Nestor Aparicio

Our competitors were on the radio all day Friday trumpeting Jason Taylor’s “purple carpet” welcome to Baltimore. (By the way, they were doing the same thing in San Diego. Taylor must have one helluva a pipeline from his agent, who is desperately trying to get him outta Miami!) Obviously, when this happens people turn to WNST to see if the rumors are true. And my phone rings off the hook anytime anyone starts a silly rumor on the internet. Such is media life in 2008… So, we do our jobs and research the stories that our competitors invent or fabricate or report. I chatted with three people “in the know” in Owings Mills and two well-connected media members from the South Florida area who gave me a litany of reasons why there’s “no way” it will happen. And several said the exact same thing to me: “NO WAY!” Here they are: 1.    The Ravens can’t afford Jason Taylor. The cap is a problem and Taylor, at this point in his career, won’t be taking less money to play football. 2.    The Ravens won’t give up a 3rd round (or better) draft pick to get him. 3.    The Ravens already have

Did Jim Palmer just call Sidney Ponson ‘Shamu’?

Nestor Aparicio

I’m in a baseball-kinda mood tonight and whenever Gary Thorne and Jim Palmer are calling a game in HD from Yankee Stadium, where else would you wanna be? It’s been about four years since I’ve been to Yankee Stadium and I’m kinda yearning to go to one last game there before they move into that Roman Coliseum looking place across the street next year. Right now, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be in October. HA! So, first I get that crazy double play catch that Nick Markakis from the wall. That was a phenomenal play and seeing Johnny Damon get doubled off was also pretty sweet for my wife, who still is kinda salty about him going from Boston to New York. It was a “high-five” moment. Now, Jim Palmer (who is quickly becoming my all-time favorite color announcer) and Gary Thorne are having an honest debate about why baseball moves so slow and how MLB is trying to speed up the games. Palmer always loves sharing his encyclopedia-like knowledge of baseball’s past, of course. (I’ve always loved hearing Palmer’s stories and I’ve been lucky enough to hear them in the press room and in hotels over the

Moose splattered in the headlights!

Nestor Aparicio

There were two groups of folks watching Mike Mussina get ripped by the Orioles last night at Yankee Stadium. It was as thorough of a first-inning ass-kicking as you could imagine. If you tuned into the game 30 minutes in, you’d have seen Mussina getting booed mercilessly as he left the hill, Brian Roberts who had batted for the second time in the inning standing on third base after a triple and the score 7-0 in favor of the guys with “Orioles” on the crests of their jerseys. (Wouldn’t BALTIMORE look better at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx?) A Derek Jeter error set up the whole big inning and rally with a brain fart by Robinson Cano, who was napping on a simple fielder’s choice that would’ve ended the inning by him simply covering the bag. The Montoursville morning line: 2/3 IP, 5 H, 7R, 1ER, 2W 1K It was the worst start of Mussina’s career. Those in the “I hate Mike Mussina” club, which is a perfectly acceptable position for any Baltimorean, had to feel like they got their money’s worth from their monthly MASN bill last night. “Hating” on Mussina is understandable and easily justified to many Orioles

American Idol…who won?

Nestor Aparicio

So like many of you (I’m sure, even if you DON’T admit it), I tuned out the Orioles game around 8:15 and flipped on “American Idol.” I’ll have a lengthy blog in the morning on “My life with the Mussinas.” I’m basically gonna write all of the bizarre thoughts that went through my mind during what was definitely the bizarre evening of his career. Moose and I were close at one time, and I have some fun stories and insights. His brother, Mark (one of my favorite people on earth), might even check in here on WNST.net in the morning as well. But for now, I’ve just concluded watching “American Idol” and I can’t help thinking that the Utah kid, David Archuleta, is going to steal this competition. Kinda sad if that happens, in my opinion. I thought David Cook won, and won by a large margin. (Especially that second “Rick Springfield-esque” song on the backside of the U2 tune, which he could’ve had the crowd singing for an hour if he wanted to). I thought the best two people made it to the final, but I couldn’t help think of Anson Williams singing “Put Your Head on My Shoulder”

Papa Bob gets evicted on Friday, still needs a home!!! HELP IF YOU CAN!!!

Nestor Aparicio

Bob From Parkville still needs help… About a month ago, I gave a shout in my blog regarding “Papa” Bob from Parkville, and his plight. Two months ago he lost is wife. And this Friday, he’ll be losing his home. And he has nowhere to go. I received many emails with many numbers and leads for housing for Bob. Bob has been as diligent as he can to follow up on all of the leads and he told me he “checks the newspapers every day.” When I left him a month ago, he had a stack of papers and a lot of leads, but so far he has not found a home. Catholic Charities, which was his best lead, doesn’t have any openings. Bob said he might be waiting 18 months to get placed by them. He’s got everything packed up in three boxes (a TV, that kind of stuff). He’s got nowhere to go. He could even put his stuff in storage. But he needs a home. I’m reaching out to the WNST community to see if we can get him some help before the end of the week. My original post is below… Anyone who has ever listened

Buses, Belmont and Baltimore pride…

Nestor Aparicio

I’ve been getting peppered with emails regarding a few things: 1. A Belmont Stakes bus trip. I’m currently working on obtaining a bus for June 7th to go to New York. If anyone HAS a bus company that has a bus, please email me at nasty@wnst.net. Buses are TOUGH for a Saturday in June at this late date… 2. A “Baltimore Pride” bus trip to Washington, D.C. on Sunday, June 29th to see the Orioles play the Nationals. We’ll all wear our BALTIMORE swag and  see a new ballpark an hour away. 3. Ravens roadtrips (not necessarily a bus, but we will offer a bustrip to the N.Y. Giants game at the Meadowlands  on Nov. 16th. 4. A D.C. United bus for later in the season. TBA. Instead of commenting below, please email me DIRECTLY (nasty@wnst.net) with a subject line of what trip you’d be interested in attending. Gas prices have driven up the price of obtaining buses, but we hope to keep these trips reasonable, affordable as (as always!!!) FUN. Just shoot me an email and I’ll keep an interest list for each trip. We’re hoping that the June 29th game against the Nats could be more like a

Baltimore comes alive on a sports weekend…

Nestor Aparicio

Big Brown rolls to a huge victory setting up a potential Triple Crown coronation at the Belmont in three weeks… The Orioles win yet another game, holding on in the end for a 6-5 victory over the dreaded Washington Nationals… I spent the day watching WBAL TV’s relatively lame Preakness coverage (obviously, I wasn’t watching the hockey game since it was non-existent in my living room), interleague baseball and then decided to go the Orioles game. Or, at least I WANTED to go to the Orioles game. We watched the Preakness at the Inner Harbor and rolled (literally) up to Orioles Park at Camden Yards. We arrived at The Warehouse right around 7:05 p.m. We expected a “little line,” especially on a nice weather night and a kid’s club night. We were NOT prepared for the mayhem we encountered. There were THOUSANDS of people who couldn’t get into the ballpark. I could tell you about it but you might not believe it. So instead, you can click on wnsTV and see it for yourself in “The Orioles Bandwagon in Living Color.” Build it and they will come… (Amazing what happens when you actually market your product and win a few

MASN — as in Mister Angelos & Sons Network

Nestor Aparicio

There’s some talk around town that I’m going “soft” on the Orioles. Yeah, I’ve written some “positive” Orioles stories this week – most notably in B today – because they’ve earned it by putting together an honest effort. Someone over there at The Warehouse has decided to either read this website, or else they just simply decided to start using their heads for something other than a hat rack. I’ve been saying for years that their manager should be out speaking to community groups. Their players should be doing it, too. Their players should be signing autographs at malls on weekends. Their players should also be participating in promotions to sell tickets. Their players should also be participating on radio, TV, community events all over Baltimore to win back this city. But as long as John Angelos and Greg Bader want to continue this crazy policy of  “get even with the media who screw us” they’ll get what they get. And so far that’s an empty stadium and mixed feelings about the team, even when they’ve enjoyed a strange “Oriole Magic” kinda start to the season. Kevin Millar has unwittingly led a promotional push probably because he thinks it sucks

Clem Florio and the day before Preakness

Nestor Aparicio

It’s a rough day for me today. While out at the Alibi Breakfast at Pimlico yesterday, my old pal Ted Patterson told me he saw a piece in The Examiner written by Michael Olesker about one of my favorite people not only in horse racing, but a true mentor to me, Clem Florio. According to the story, Florio, 78, is in a hospice in Florida and not doing so well. He told Olesker, “I need a win real bad.” Maybe some of you remember Clem’s work at The News American or with The Washington Post. Or maybe you remember his gentle laugh and his great voice on my show. The first decade that I did my radio show, The Budweiser Sports Forum, every Friday evening before the Preakness I was joined by Clem Florio. It started 16 years ago today. Clem would usually drive over to the studio, but he sometimes just did it on the phone (it was afterall, Black Eyed Susan Day) and it was always a show I loved doing. Anytime I got to spend time with Clem was always a joy. He was truly one of my favorite people to be around. The first time I

If you’re not having fun yet…

Nestor Aparicio

Wednesday was a very memorable afternoon. I went to the game with Bob Haynie, Drew Forrester and some other great friends and one of them just happened to have seats in the front row behind the third base dugout. (If I write his name, I’m sure the Orioles will look to have his season tickets revoked). Great seats, amazing weather, good friends, plenty of laughs to fill a dozen games and another amazing “Why Not-ish” comeback led by a Jay Payton grand slam en route to a 6-3 a victory to sweep the Boston Red Sox (OK, so it was only two games) at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. What else could any Orioles fan want in the month of May other than to have a chance, right? It’s been ELEVEN YEARS!!! I just got done watching Casey’s posted video of Kevin Millar and several of the good-natured Orioles doing a 30-year “send up” of “Orioles Magic” and I gotta tell you it’s the best thing that this organization has done in a decade. Imagine that? A player on the team actually doing what this lousy, miserable ownership has found to be impossible: Millar is RECRUITING the community! Tonight, on

For the love of baseball, hockey and Bobby Valentine…

Nestor Aparicio

I had a chance to go to the Orioles game tonight. I WANTED to go to the Orioles game tonight. But these are the toughest nights of the year. Hockey vs. baseball… As many of you know, I have some hockey friends and they wanted to watch the Flyers-Penguins game. (OK, truth be told, Hockey Meg and Kenny Ballgame talked me out of the Orioles game and saved me from donating $8 to Peter Angelos!) I am going to make a donation on Wednesday with Bob Haynie, Drew Forrester and Phil Stern (UMBC Women’s Hoops coach). I’m calling a 12:30 cocktail summit at Regi’s. All are welcome to adjourn at the main bar on Light Street. We will hit the upper left field reserves right around game time. So, instead of hitting The Yard tonight, I watched two periods of what must be a frustrating time for anyone wearing an orange Filthy jersey. I’ve hated the Flyers most of my adult life. But I’m kinda pulling for them to win because Terry Murray (a really good guy) would get his name on the Stanley Cup and I love Terry Murray! The Flyers stunk late in the game, apparently. But I

Bitter doesn’t equal better…

Nestor Aparicio

I saw a really great story tonight on the web about baseball, the people who love baseball and a smallish town in Colorado. ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick brought this story to life and if you haven’t read it, you should. So, what are you waiting for? Sometimes the best part of the connection of being on the web is when people recommend great stories to each other like a referral service. This is a sad story that is working toward a happier ending. (BTW: Kudos to the Hagerstown Suns for their involvement!) Sometimes all of the hate and mean-spiritedness I see in the “real” world and especially on the web make me think there aren’t guys like Rai Henniger. Then, lo and behold, a good man with a sad story and a hard road and a bad hand come along with a really positive attitude. “You can get better or you can be bitter, but you can’t be both.” Words to live by… I hope I get to meet and chat with Henniger someday. We both already have something in common: we love baseball! Anybody feel like going to the O’s-Sox game on Tuesday night? We’ve already got a posse for

Random thoughts on the Orioles…

Nestor Aparicio

First, Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers and moms out there… My Mom will be 89 on July 26th so I’m always grateful for another May Sunday with her. And yes, she spent the day watching the Orioles game, same as I did. By the way, it’s nice to see MLB get into the spirit of things and doing the “pink bat” thing on Mother’s Day. It was also a nice touch seeing the MASN crew work to get “shout outs” from all of the players to their moms and the mothers of their children today. Mark Viviano is working hard for Mr. Angelos’ money today from Kansas City, which is still my favorite AL ballpark. (I didn’t know he worked for MASN?). Good to see this Orioles Reach program actually reaching out with Chick-Fil-A appearances for Daniel Cabrera and Sports Boosters speeches by Dave Trembley this week. It’s almost as though the team has started taking WNST’s advice regarding how to treat the fans. Now if only they had some people watching or coming to the games… A few random thoughts from watching the game today: In the second inning, Buck Martinez actually started a praising rant

Meet the new boss…

Nestor Aparicio

Yesterday John Harbaugh made the first of many decisions that Brian Billick would have never made. On a dreary, 52-degree May afternoon in the driving rain, Harbaugh took his team out onto the main backfield at the Bellagio and welcomed the veteran players to the “new” Baltimore Ravens and the rookies to “Camp Harbaugh.” You can gripe or choose to commend Billick’s sensibilities as an NFL head coach, but his reigning philosophy was to never put the players at risk of getting injured in May. If Billick were the coach, they would’ve been in the bubble yesterday. And, certainly, you can take Harbaugh’s stance  on Friday that “it’s football” – a little rain never hurt anyone. And you wouldn’t be wrong either way. It’s not about a right way or a wrong way, it’s just a “different” way. But if there were any remaining doubts, the Ravens’ players found out yesterday (if they didn’t already know it), there’s a new sheriff in town and things will be done a different way under Harbaugh. Honestly, I expected to hear more players bitching about the conditions of their first team mini-camp practice yesterday, but at least on the face of it they

Who is this 6-foot-9 mystery man named Daniel Cabrera?

Nestor Aparicio

Another quality start, another victory and another opportunity to flip flop on Daniel Cabrera for any of us confused by this six-game run of prosperity. Last night he took the mound in Kansas City, threw strikes and left with a three-hit complete game in a 4-1 win over the Royals. Will the real Daniel Cabrera please stand up? Or IS this the real Cabrera? Has Rick Kranitz reached him a way that Leo Mazzone and those before him could not? Is this an aberration, this 3-1 record and Jim Palmer impersonation? Since the Orioles went into the tank over the past two weeks, it seems as though the enthusiasm for the team has waned a bit as well. They’re under .500. It’s hard to stay awake late every night watching sleepy games from the West Coast, especially from Oakland where the game feels like a “friends and family” gathering reminiscent of the Camden Yards endeavors of April. But Cabrera’s effort last night must be recognized. Here’s the line: 9IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 1W, 7K Manager Dave Trembley called it “his best effort.” Certainly, Peter Schmuck will be printing a retraction, no? I probably stand in that group that will never

Mark Teixeira and green and tomatoes

Nestor Aparicio

I’ve been down from blogging a bit lately (a lot of internal work and I had a death in the family last week). But today, I’m selling a bunch of advertising (by the way, if you own a business and want to be part of a cool promotion we’re doing next month, email me: nasty@wnst.net). And I’ve been doing some web reading this afternoon (reminds me of watching Phil Jackman cutting up newspapers in the press box of the Capital Centre in 1988…he was a MAJOR clipper of stories from New York papers!)… God, I love the internet…so much more efficient is life with the click! One story I just saw on SI.com written by Jon Heyman about Mark Teixeira that grabbed my interest. There’s a lot of opining I could do and add to it, but it stands on its own as a thought-provoking idea. If somehow, someway and with a BUNCH of money (think 10-20% MORE than the Yankees, Mets or Mariners will give him) they could grab him, it would be the biggest of big coups for the team. The Orioles clearly need to do SOMETHING with the $50 million-plus a year they’re siphoning from the fans

The chase for Gavin Floyd’s no hitter…

Nestor Aparicio

As I watch Gavin Floyd sit alone in the corner of the dugout awaiting the final three outs of a potential no hitter, I start to “geez” about watching no hitters. It is the Holy Grail, the last badge of legitimacy, luck, courage and honor in being a baseball fan. It’s a random occurrence and you can NEVER predict when or where it’s going to happen. Tonight, I watched a little of the Red Sox win over Detroit, a game where Tim Wakefield’s knuckler was working. Detroit, already hurting in a bad way, managed just three hits tonight. But I was all ready for some Orioles baseball tonight (if they lose tonight they might fall below .500 for good this year, who knows?).  At 9:55 p.m., I accidentally turned to ESPN and lo behold: Floyd is working a no no! I do not know Gavin Floyd. I met him once and chatted with him in the locker room of the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park (same place where the game is being held tonight). It was at the 2003 All Star Weekend “Futures” game. Seemed like a nice Baltimore kid. We knew some of the same people. I knew

A weekend of sports…

Nestor Aparicio

For anyone wondering if John Harbaugh has the ear and the participation of his new team, his actions over the weekend proved his head and his heart are aligned. While most of us were asleep on Saturday morning, Harbaugh covertly gathered virtually every member of the organization – players, coaches and front office staff — onto four buses and trudged them down to the Inner Harbor at daybreak to run a 5K race to benefit amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Running the race, inspired by former Ravens linebacker O.J. Brigance’s courageous battle against the disease, was a last-minute surprise for all but the participation was amazing. Many brought spouses and kids to run the race. See the videos at WNST.net.   Have the Ravens ever drafted a guy with more intrigue than Joe Flacco? Everyone wants to know more about the Div. 1-AA quarterback and whether he’s the savior of our purple Sundays. In the past nine days I’ve also had dozens of people mention their Blue Hen pride. Who knew there were so many Delaware grads around Baltimore? The Orioles snuck into and out of town so quickly this week that, once again, no one seemed to notice. Three games

Kentucky Derby picks…

Nestor Aparicio

I’ve been away for a couple of days and haven’t had a chance to write about the Kentucky Derby. So, an hour before the race, I needed to vent as a I sit here watching a flawless looking day at Churchill Downs. I’ve been to 7 Kentucky Derbies and it’s by FAR my favorite sports event to attend. If you’ve never been, you should go. It’s accessible, fun and fits almost any travel budget (you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get in…). The television coverage (as usual) has been sensational. I’m insanely jealous right now because I wish I were there today. Did I mention how much I love the Kentucky Derby? Here are my usual bad picks: Exacta box: Adriano & Z Fortune. I’d also box and a trifecta of Adriano, Z Fortune, Eight Belles and Big Brown. I think it’ll be VERY hard for Big Brown to win outta the 20 hole. It hasn’t been done in 75 years. Back to the great Tom Hammond…  

An Average Joe?

Nestor Aparicio

Many of you know it (and some of you don’t), but I’m the new sports columnist for the daily paper aimed at the younger set, B. I write a short column for them every Monday and Friday. The newspaper is free. It’s kinda ubiquitous around town the last two weeks. It’s orange. There are signs everywhere. And they called me a few months ago and asked me to write for them and I said “yes.” The column is called, appropriately I think, Be More. As a kid all I EVER wanted to be was the lead columnist of The Sun. Instead, I’m the lead columnist for “a Baltimore Sun publication.” Who knew that when I left 16 years ago, they’d somehow invite me back? So, why not? It’s been fun so far and their audience of folks younger than me is a whole new world for me. Here’s a little preview of what’ll be in their editions tomorrow: So the draft is over, and if you’re a Ravens fan like me, the weekend all comes down to one thing: Can Joe Flacco be a franchise quarterback for the next decade for the purple birds? Will there be a parade and

Wanna know more about the Ravens’ draft picks?

Nestor Aparicio

The day started early for the Ravens, with the selection of Miami ILB Tavares Gooden with pick No. 71. Click here for more on Gooden… Click here for video of Gooden at work with the ‘Canes… This pick will clearly address a coming need, with Bart Scott entering a contract year and the coming sunset of Ray Lewis’ career. (Of course, you can fill in the blanks here with your own conjecture about Lewis’ coming contract demands for an extension in the October of his career.) At at any rate, the Ravens clearly found great value in ANOTHER undersized University of Miami linebacker. ******* The Ravens just selected safety Tom Zbikowski from Notre Dame with pick No. 86. Click here for info on Zbikowski… Zbikowski has a history of boxing. YES…BOXING! Here are some links… Zbikowski boxing photo gallery here… The video of Zbikowski’s bout with Robert Bell is here… And when ESPN showed highlights, one of them was of Zbikowski making plays against Navy right on the field at M&T Bank Stadium. And like any good young man these days, Zbikowski also has a myspace page here… Zbikowski is known as a hard hitter, good tackler but did a

Blast win MISL Championship again!!!

Nestor Aparicio

It was quiet and not without television difficulties, but the Baltimore Blast won their fourth MISL championship in six years last night in Milwaukee. Read Patrick Johnson’s account of the evening here. Denison Cabral scored three goals and the Blast battled back from a 6-2 early deficit against La Ra Za at the crazy neutral site game in Wisconsin. Carlos Garcia also had a pair of goals and Sagu made 14 saves to preserve the Blast’s victory.  

I love the NFL Draft

Nestor Aparicio

Unpredictability. Differing opinions. Mel Kiper’s hair. Cold beer and great food at Looney’s North in Bel Air. Another first-round quarterback. Trades up and back, all over the place, and in the strangest circumstances and situations. Even drunk Jets fans screaming at the television cameras all day. Saturday had it all! And, with the 10-minute first-round clock this year, it all happened kinda lightning fast (especially from a process that sometimes felt glacial in its pace in the past). And the seven-minute second round picks almost made the entire process (and I’m not crazy about this 3 p.m. start) feel a little like “speed dating.” If you want to see how we spent our day, just click on wnsTV for videos from Looney’s Pub in Bel Air, where there was electricity in the air. Alas, you know the story. The Ravens traded from No. 8 to No. 26 and then back to No. 18, where Delaware’s QB Joe Flacco was their man. Sure, they would’ve LOVED to have had Matt Ryan, but Mike Smith and the Atlanta Falcons had other plans. For the Ravens, the questions now begin. And like every other draft, it will take years to evaluate yesterday’s flurry

Now HERE’S an owner with class & dignity…

Nestor Aparicio

A sad story that I saw on the web, but I thought I’d pass it along. John McConnell — the name might not really mean anything to you which is EXACTLY why I’m passing this story along — died today in Columbus, Ohio. For those of you who know about my passion for hockey, here’s another example of some of the cool people who fall in love with and get involved with hockey. Just read the story…and see what kind of legacy “Mr. Mac” (incidentally, that’s what the entire neighborhood called my Pop) left that city. A very powerful story, I think… I never met him, never knew him or even read his story before five minutes ago (although I know Doug MacLean who worked for him until last year). He sounds like he was a cool, old dude. I wish I had met him and chatted with him while he was still here.    

Orioles Magic grows; NFL Draft looms…

Nestor Aparicio

While most of us are fast asleep in the middle of the night, the Orioles continue to win on the West Coast. Look at those AL East standings this morning, and you can still play fantasy games about what would happen if the team could go 13-9 over the NEXT 22 games. And then again. And so on… That’s nearly a .600 clip, and that would make for quite the interesting summer here in Baltimore. (I’m still not convinced that if they win people will really pay money to come back to Camden Yards, but that’s for another day…) And they’re really not finding easy ways to victory. Last night, after a poor outing and questions about Adam Loewen’s health, it took a five-run comeback and an 8th inning homer by Brian Roberts to lead them to a late-night win. On Wednesday night, they got one of those rare efforts from Daniel Cabrera (eight innings, five hits , five strikeouts and ZERO walks) that leads them to believe he could be a Cy Young candidate. Sure, it’s early, but over the first month of the season, the young Orioles have proven to be quite resilient and exceedingly fun to watch

‘Rocking The Red’ leaves me feeling blue…

Nestor Aparicio

The ending could’ve been a whole lot better, especially for what an amazing and memorable event it was. And for a little while, I felt like I was in the twilight zone and it was 1987 all over again. I was sitting on the roof of a Game 7 Capitals home game, and five feet to my right was Phil Jackman, the same guy I sat with 21 years ago when a Game 7 overtime went on all night. This time – mercifully but not benevolently – it ended quickly and abruptly with Joffrey Lupul’s goal at 6:06 of the first overtime, squashing the Caps’ series comeback from 3-1 and their season. The initial penalty call on Tom Poti was questionable to begin with, and what a way to have a season end on a cheap call like that? But, honestly, that’s been the story of the Capitals’ existence since 1974. Good enough – in the minds of their fans — but never left standing at the end of the dance. This team truly wasn’t good enough to win a Stanley Cup as assembled, but they were certainly good enough to win last night’s game. And the referees, as Poti

NHL Game 7 is as good as it gets in sports world

Nestor Aparicio

Tonight is a VERY special night. I have tickets to Game 7 of a Stanley Cup playoff series and it’s actually happening. I purchased tickets about 10 days ago, not knowing if, when or how this $50 I’ve invested is going to take root and become a memory. When the seconds wound down on the clock last night at the Wachovia Center and the Caps (really, Alex Ovechkin, almost single-handedly) beat the Flyers to force the final whistle tonight, I knew that something good and fun was going to happen. There is NOTHING that compares to the atmosphere at a Game 7 Stanley Cup playoff game. The only thing that can TOP it is a Game 7 overtime. And that’s still a possibility. Some of you are new to WNST.net and don’t know about my history with hockey and the Caps. Some of you have been on this ride for 16 years and have seen the entire trip – from the Skipjacks to the Bandits, from the Caps of Landover to the Craps of the MCI Center. I’ve done Stanley Cup finals. I’ve done puck buses. I’ve written about, watched and enjoyed hockey all of my life (much to my

Should the O’s chase Frank Thomas?

Nestor Aparicio

I’m just saying… He’s available. He’s pissed. He’s got to improve some part of this lineup, somehow, some way. But will he have other options? Does anyone want him? (Certainly, the National League isn’t a real option…) What about this $10 million kick in clause for 2009? Who is on the hook for that? Just the first few thoughts now that he’s been released for about an hour… Drew will be on a rampage with this one tomorrow morning, I’m sure. ******* I’ve been watching a LOT of hockey this week. My beloved Nashville Predators were eliminated about 20 minutes ago after a hard-fought six-game series. They couldn’t create offense, their goalie was fabulous, but in the end the class and strength of the Detroit Red Wings was too much. They’ve never won a playoff series. It’s been painful to be a fan, but I’m sure these are the “character building” years. ******** I also did a lot of Orioles watching this weekend, thinking they had a chance to pull a sweep today. I’m just shocked that they got nine innings in given the forecast. And they almost made it all the way through. John Harbaugh and Rex Ryan looked

A fan from the O’s stands in Sect. 384

Nestor Aparicio

My buddy Matt wants to write a blog on WNST.net. At least, I think he does, anyway. While I spent my evening watching the game in glorious MASN HD, Matt went to the game last night and I found this in my inbox this morning. He asked me to post it as a “guest” blog (whatever that is, LOL?). Here it is:   What an experience last night was.  I get a call from a buddy at 5:15 saying he has two nosebleeds for the game.  I, somehow or another, get approval from the wife, and he shows up at my house at 5:30.  We hurry to our local establishment for a quick beer and a shot.  From there we head to the White Marsh Park and Ride, where we board the bus at 6:25.  We make downtown by 6:45, but the bus has to go around the entire stadium before the driver lets us off.  The line to get in the ballpark is enormous and largely dressed in pinstripes.  As we wait, one of the pinstripes waiting behind me (some 200 pound overweight slob) has the nerve to say to some guy in a Red Sox jersey “We call

Quinn Sypniewski injured at practice…

Nestor Aparicio

The players have all spoken out about the major differences between Camp Harbaugh and Camp Billick. Almost every returning player has cited the “intensity” increase. Today, the hard practices claimed a victim. Third-year tight end Quinn Sypniewski collided with Antwan Barnes across the middle on a passing play and got tangled up. Both players went down. Barnes got up. Sypniewski left the field on a cart with what could be a severe knee injury. The players are doing “two-a-day” practices in new coach John Harbaugh’s system and are working in “shell” equipment. Light contact is expected, but certainly this is not what Harbaugh was looking for during his first 48 hours on the field. We’ll keep you updated as we get more information on Sypniewski.        

New York Times piles on Angelos…

Nestor Aparicio

Not that there’s any “new” information in this story, but it is noteworthy that the New York Times is now writing about how sad the situation is in downtown Baltimore on game nights. Here’s the story… In a semi-related piece, the Baltimore Business Journal wrote a listing of how much it costs to go to baseball games throughout MLB. That piece is here…  

So I went to the Orioles game tonight…

Nestor Aparicio

And right now I’m sitting on my couch watching the Birds and the Caps play in extended action. And I went to Oriole Park and actually gave them $9 tonight… Have ANY of you been to a game this year? And if not, why NOT tonight? The team was still above .500. The weather was postcard perfect. And it only cost me $9! I looked high and low for scalpers while my son stood in the L-O-N-G and S-L-O-W lines to get tickets. The Orioles are so bad the scalpers don’t really stock the tickets (or unload them way ahead of time) and they don’t have any “cheap” seats, just the pricier season tickets that come their way. So I bought from “the man” tonight. Of course, I only stayed seven innings. (I left after the back to back home runs came when I was peeing in the restroom behind Sect. 384…I wasn’t in the bathroom 90 seconds and I missed them BOTH!) I left because the third period of the Caps game was starting and I wanted to get home to watch the chase for the goblet. I figured if the Caps were going down in flames (again) in

No excuses tonight…it’s 70 degrees! Come to the O’s game with us!

Nestor Aparicio

Come one, come all. (And ya better hurry cause the damned Yankees are coming to town tomorrow!) We’re encouraging all WNST fans, Orioles fans, Free The Birds fans, beer drinkers and baseball fans to come downtown tonight and watch a baseball game with us. And we hope to do it without giving Peter Angelos a nickel. The party starts at 4:30ish at Regi’s in Federal Hill. Why Regi’s? Because Alan, the owner, is a good guy and when I told him I was trying to put together some happy hours before Orioles games he told me that his bar “used to be a regular stop” for many Orioles fans before games at Camden Yards. Now, like most bars (and I was IN the DSX last night at 6 p.m. and saw the lack of business there…just like the Wharf Rat and Hooters over the past two weeks), his business and clientele don’t even know a game is happening downtown. Hopefully, we can fill up at least a dozen stools at his bar tonight and eat some of his great food and drink some cold beer before we head over to see Jeremy Guthrie battle local-boy Gavin Floyd with the White

Who wants to have a BLAST tonight?

Nestor Aparicio

In my never ending attempt to have fun with my spring and summer, tonight should live up to the expectations. As many of you know, I’ve always been a big advocate of soccer and more specifically, the Blast. The BALTIMORE Blast (note the first name of the franchise) will be hosting the dreaded Milwaukee Wave tonight at the First Mariner Arena and I’m recruiting some folks who want to have fun and enjoy a Wednesday night with a family sport downtown. We’re starting the party at the DSX at 5:30-ish and will roll over to the 7:05 game in time to root on the Blast to a potential semifinal victory and a chance to win a fourth MISL crown. Honestly, I’m just looking to sit with some fun people who love the team and have some fun watching the local guys play. I went to the game last week with my wife and son and we really DID have a Blast. If you haven’t been to a Blast game this year, tonight is as good of an opportunity as any, with this being the final home game of the season. The championship game is set for Saturday, April 26th in

What will be Sept. 7 be like downtown?

Nestor Aparicio

Already the ideas are coming on the big Sept. 7 “doubleheader” downtown. Word is that MLB screwed up the scheduling and had to make those two September dates “TBD.” Ol’ Peter must be PISSED that the Ravens are moving him out of the stadium in September. The last time WBAL pre-empted his baseball team, he pulled away their rights (and of course, granted AM 1090 free speech once again). I DID NOT write this. This was an email from Mike B. I’m just passing it along… Thought the WNST crowd was the perfect bunch to promote this kind of idea if the Orioles could be talked into going along with it. When I saw the Ravens schedule with that Sept 7th home game I had a brain storm for the Orioles to do a good marketing idea. Have a Ravens / Orioles double header. $5 admission to the Orioles game at 6pm on Sunday with a game ticket from the Ravens game. In reality the Orioles will make their game a 7pm start after a 1pm football game and try to avoid all connection with the Ravens game. And parking will surely work out fine. I mean let’s face it.

Ravens Schedule & Liars Luncheon intersect…

Nestor Aparicio

RAVENS 2008 SCHEDULE Preseason: Aug. 7 — at New England, 7:30 Aug. 16 — MINNESOTA, 7:30 Aug. 23 — at St. Louis, 8 Aug. 28 — ATLANTA, 7:30 Regular Season: Sept. 7 – CINCINNATI, 1 Sept. 14 – a Houston, 4:15 Sept. 21 – CLEVELAND, 4:15 Sept. 29 – at Pittsburgh (MNF), 8:30 Oct.  5 – TENNESSEE, 1 Oct. 12 – at Indianapolis, 1 Oct. 19 – at Miami, 1 Oct. 26 – OAKLAND, 1 Nov. 2 – at Cleveland, 1 Nov. 9 — BYE Nov. 16 – at New York Giants, 1 Nov. 23 – PHILADELPHIA, 1 Nov. 30 – at Cincinnati, 1 Dec. 7 – WASHINGTON, 1 Dec. 14 – PITTSBURGH, 1 Dec. 20 – at Dallas, 8:15 (NFL Network) Dec. 28 – JACKSONVILLE, 1 Get the FULL NFL schedule here… I live for this stuff…I really do! ****** As for the “Liars Luncheon,” it’s been fascinating so far. For the first time I can remember, Ozzie Newsome  talked about his playing days and pointed out the sheer volume of quality quarterbacks he played with during Alabama and Cleveland days. He talked about “four traits of great quarterbacks” and he refused to elaborate on the formula, which chuckles

Clem Florio (1930-2008)

Nestor Aparicio

I received word yesterday that Baltimore and the world lost one of its iconic lovers of horse racing and boxing

American Idol…who won?

Nestor Aparicio

So like many of you (I’m sure, even if you DON’T admit it), I tuned out the Orioles game around

Meet the new boss…

Nestor Aparicio

Yesterday John Harbaugh made the first of many decisions that Brian Billick would have never made. On a dreary, 52-degree

A weekend of sports…

Nestor Aparicio

For anyone wondering if John Harbaugh has the ear and the participation of his new team, his actions over the

Kentucky Derby picks…

Nestor Aparicio

I’ve been away for a couple of days and haven’t had a chance to write about the Kentucky Derby. So,

An Average Joe?

Nestor Aparicio

Many of you know it (and some of you don’t), but I’m the new sports columnist for the daily paper

I love the NFL Draft

Nestor Aparicio

Unpredictability. Differing opinions. Mel Kiper’s hair. Cold beer and great food at Looney’s North in Bel Air. Another first-round quarterback.

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