WNST Owner / Founder Mr. Nestor Aparicio has posted a blog today, asking what Oriole Owner Peter Angelos has in-common with the Cuban and Venezuelan Dictators Fidel Castro, and Hugo Chavez.
To be clear, Aparicio’s specific point is about his media access to Oriole games, and comparing that to the lack of Freedom of Speech afforded to Cuban, and Venezuelan citizens.
I do think that WNST should have a Season-media Credential for all Oriole games. However, my understanding is that WNST (as a station, not Mr. Aparicio) does have access to the O’s on a daily-basis if they so decided. I believe the WNST employees have to file for the daily press-pass.
While that might seem in-just to WNST, the fact that the station can gain access, really limits the argument that Mr. Aparcio is attempting to make.
As I write this, I feel compelled to mention that I do respect Mr. Aparicio. He hosted a nationally syndicated show on The Sporting News Network, and has built the WNST station in the past decade.
He clearly cares about his Community, and makes efforts to give back. When people complain about the limited strength of the radio signal, Aparicio correctly points out the gains the station has made through their on-line content.
Those gains are best shown via Alexa.com which ranks online web traffic. Below are some recent numbers for local sports web-sites… the lower the number, the higher the traffic-rank.
insidemdsports.com- 92,514
Masnsports.com – 106,546
WNST.net – 115,452
Orioleshangout.com – 253,848
Ravens24x7 – 418,690
1057thefan.com – 792,492
Clearly, WNST has a local voice, and Mr. Aparicio deserves the credit for that. Personally, I have to again publicly thank Mr. Aparicio for having me as a guest, and allowing me to be in his King of Baltimore Sports Talk competition. He did not have to put me on his air, and I thank him for the exposure he provided.
However, I think Mr. Aparicio’s blog today is over the top. Many would agree with WNST that Mr. Angelos is not a good owner. Making the comparison between a man you believe to be a poor sports owner and two dictators is just not right.
Making that comparison, between a man who has made so many grand philanthropic endeavors to the City of Baltimore; and men of the character of Castro, and Chavez, is just not right.
Making that comparison, and complaining about not receiving a full-season press-pass is laughable.
WNST can have, and state whatever opinions that they so choose. That is their right. It is the right of the Baltimore Orioles to not go out of their way to support WNST.
I worked for The Baltimore Orioles in an extremely limited capacity during 2001-2003. As a part-time employee working full-time hours in the Fan & Ticket Services Department, I came to know and develop relationships with many decision makers within the O’s organization. My impression at the time was that Mr. Angelos had limited interest in the O’s. He visited his office, maybe once a year. Management within the organization, were often left to wait extended periods of time for decisions from Mr. Angelos. It was an organization in disarray.
The O’s have continued to struggle from that time-period through today, but this is clearly an organization on the up-swing.
The infra-structure of the O’s organization has greatly improved, and there are tangible results showing that improvement.
Some examples of that improvement would be the Spring Training facility, the Dominican facility, the International Scouting Department with John Stockstill, Orioles Scouting Director Joe Jordan being allowed to draft the players he identifies, and sign them over-slot if necessary.
Player Development Director Dave Stockstill also deserves some credit for the O’s best prospects by and large improving as they advanced through the system this year.
MASN is improving regularly, and will continue to grow as a revenue producer for the organization.
The Oriole Reach program continues to build, and shows how the O’s are committed to being civic partners in the community.
With Markakis, Jones, Wieters, Reimold, Roberts, Scott, Snyder, Bell, Matusz, Tillman, Arrieta, Bergesen, Hernandez etc etc… there is clearly a core of talent to move forward with.
In the overall scheme of things, things are as good as they have been for the Orioles since 1997.
My opinion is that if you do not see that, you either have your head buried in the sand and refuse to see the obvious, lack basic analytical skills, or are aware of these things – and are intentionally striving to distort reality.
If you are going to right-fully blast Mr. Angelos for the mistakes him and the organization have made since 1997, you have to also acknowledge the gains that have been made, and the current direction charted.
Again, WNST is entitled to their opinions if they disagree. If they disagree, they should continue to take the daily press-pass, and make their arguments. That is their right.
If the station makes arguments for what they deem as problems with the organization, nobody will attempt to muzzle them.
WNST has the belief that they are the only ‘ray of truth’ in Baltimore, and that nobody else is willing to criticize the O’s. The O’s are critiqued on a daily basis by all quarters, and held accountable by all. The idea that WNST presents an accurate representation of facts is just not correct.
I continue to believe the O’s should provide the station (and Mr. Aparicio in particular) with the full-season press pass he seeks.
It is an unproductive feud from both sides that should come to an end. Giving him the full-season press-pass will do nothing but completely eliminate Mr. Aparicio’s main argument.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.