Nestor Aparicio

Last updated

Nestor Aparicio (born October 14, 1968), known by the nickname "Nasty Nestor," [1] is an American sports writer and radio personality.

Contents

Aparicio was born and raised in Dundalk, Maryland. [2] He is Venezuelan-American, and the first cousin, once removed of former Major League Baseball shortstop Luis Aparicio, as his father is a first cousin of Luis Aparicio. [3] He began as a sports writer at The Evening Sun edition of The Baltimore Sun where he continued as a sportswriter and music critic from 1986 until 1992. Starting in 1992 at WITH-AM 1230, Aparicio began doing daily sports talk radio both in Baltimore and later for three years at Sporting News Radio in national-syndication with 425 cities across the USA. He retired from daily radio in 2004 to concentrate on running the WNST radio station and website, which he owns and operates as Nasty 1570 Sports, LLC.

Free the Birds

2006 marked the Baltimore Orioles ninth straight losing season, causing much of the Baltimore fan base to become disgruntled with the team's ownership. A grass-roots movement called "Free the Birds" was spearheaded by Aparicio.

For several weeks, WNST aggressively promoted a protest rally that was to take place against the Detroit Tigers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The protest was not so much aimed towards the team itself, as it was the club's owner, Peter G. Angelos. [4] According to the Associated Press (AP), during the fourth inning of the game, at exactly 5:08 p.m., Aparicio led a "walkout", with the protest fans leaving the game in unison. The precise time of departure, 5:08, was significant in that "5" stood for Brooks Robinson's number and "8" for the number worn by Cal Ripken Jr. Many of the protesters wore black T-shirts that read "Free the Birds", a phrase that was chanted loudly through the walkout. [5] Aparicio estimated that 2500 fans were involved in the protest, but the Associated Press gave a figure of 1000. [6]

After the walkout, Aparicio was quoted in the AP by saying, "We have a chance to make a memorable civic statement about how we, as fans, are fed up with the embarrassment that the Orioles have become." [5] Peter Angelos had a different take on the rally. "Whoever joins that protest has no comprehension of what it costs to run a baseball team," Angelos said. Referring to Aparicio, Angelos added, "he is a very unimportant person who has delusions of grandeur." [7]

In the weeks following the protest, Aparicio created a website in honor of the rally, and declared to his listeners that he would form a union in protest of Angelos and his ownership of the franchise. Aparicio likened it to what "many of those in those asbestos lawsuits did a generation earlier" (a knock on the litigation that led to Angelos' success as a trial attorney). "And what could Peter Angelos possibly say to disparage the same kind of union that made him a wealthy man", said Aparicio after launching his website. [8]

Disputes

Aparicio was videotaped attempting to strangle Gordon Keith of KTCK-AM The Ticket in Dallas while covering Super Bowl XLIII in January 2009. The two were separated and police were called. [9] [10] The year before, Nestor reportedly called a member of The Ticket a "[expletive] Jew" during Super Bowl week. [11]

On March 30, 2011, it was reported that Jennifer Royle, a Baltimore sports reporter for WJZ-FM (105.7) filed a $800,000 defamation suit against Aparicio and two WNST hosts, Glenn Clark and Drew Forrester. [12] Royle, who also worked for MASN, claims that Aparicio and the WNST hosts hurt her reputation with damaging statements about her professional and personal life. [12] Aparicio's lawyer said the accusations are "baseless", and Aparicio denied wrongdoing in a blog entry. [13] Royle later dropped the lawsuit. [14]

Published works

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baltimore Orioles</span> American professional baseball team

The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the American League's eight charter teams in 1901, the franchise spent its first year as a major league club in Milwaukee as the Milwaukee Brewers before moving to St. Louis to become the St. Louis Browns in 1902. After 52 years in St. Louis, the franchise was purchased in 1953 by a syndicate of Baltimore business and civic interests, led by attorney and civic activist Clarence Miles and Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro Jr. The team's current owner is David Rubenstein. The Orioles' home ballpark is Oriole Park at Camden Yards, which opened in 1992 in downtown Baltimore. The oriole is the official state bird of Maryland; the name has been used by several baseball clubs in the city, including another AL charter member franchise which folded after the 1902 season and was replaced the next year by the New York Highlanders, later the Yankees. Nicknames for the team include the "O's" and the "Birds".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cal Ripken Jr.</span> American baseball player (born 1960)

Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr., nicknamed "the Iron Man", is an American former baseball shortstop and third baseman who played his entire 21-season career in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles (1981–2001). One of his position's most productive offensive players, Ripken compiled 3,184 hits, 431 home runs, and 1,695 runs batted in during his career, and he won two Gold Glove Awards for his defense. He was a 19-time All-Star and was twice named American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP), in 1983 and 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oriole Park at Camden Yards</span> Baseball stadium in Baltimore, Maryland

Oriole Park at Camden Yards, commonly known as Camden Yards, is a baseball stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the ballpark of Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles, and the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s. It was completed in 1992 to replace Memorial Stadium. The stadium is in downtown Baltimore, a few blocks west of the Inner Harbor in the Camden Yards Sports Complex.

Gordon Keith is an American broadcaster on KTCK SportsRadio 1310 AM "The Ticket" in Dallas, Texas. He has shared hosting duties with George Dunham and Craig "Junior" Miller since 1994.

The 1966 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1966 season. The 63rd edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the American League (AL) champion Baltimore Orioles and National League (NL) champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The Orioles swept the series in four games to capture their first championship in franchise history. It was the last World Series played before MLB introduced the Commissioner's Trophy the following year. The Dodgers suffered record low scoring, accumulating just two runs over the course of the series, the lowest number of runs ever scored by any team in a World Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MASN</span> American regional sports network

Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) is an American regional sports network owned as a joint venture between two Major League Baseball franchises, the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, the channel broadcasts regional coverage of sports events in the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore metropolitan areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Bisciotti</span> American football executive

Stephen J. Bisciotti is an American business executive and the current majority owner of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He founded Aerotek, the largest privately owned staffing and recruiting company in the U.S. based in Hanover, Maryland, and cofounded Allegis Group, an international talent management firm headquartered in Hanover, Maryland, that owns Aerotek; TEKsystems; Actalent; MarketSource; Major, Lindsey & Africa; Aston Carter; and Allegis Global Solutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Angelos</span> American trial lawyer (1929–2024)

Peter George Angelos was an American trial lawyer and baseball executive from Baltimore, Maryland. Angelos was the majority owner of the Baltimore Orioles, a team in the American League of Major League Baseball, from 1993 until his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beltway Series</span> Major League Baseball rivalry in Baltimore-Washington, D.C area

The Beltway Series, promoted by the teams as "The Battle of the Beltways," is the Major League Baseball (MLB) interleague rivalry series played between the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals. The Orioles are a member of the American League (AL) East division, and the Nationals are a member of the National League (NL) East division. The series name is taken from the beltway highways, the Baltimore Beltway (I-695) and the Capital Beltway (I-495), that serve Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gus Triandos</span> American baseball player (1930-2013)

Gus Triandos was an American professional baseball player and scout. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher and a first baseman, most prominently as a member of the Baltimore Orioles where he was a four-time All-Star player. He also played for the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers of the American League (AL) and the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros of the National League (NL). In 1981, he was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame.

The Baltimore Orioles baseball franchise can trace its roots back to the original Milwaukee Brewers of the Western League (WL), beginning in 1894 when the league reorganized. The Brewers were still league members when the WL renamed itself the American League (AL) in 1900. At the end of the 1900 season, the AL removed itself from baseball's National Agreement, the formal understanding between the National League (NL) and the minor leagues, and declared itself a competing major league. During 1901, the first season the AL operated as a major league, the Brewers finished last among the league's eight teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNST</span> Sports radio station serving the Baltimore, Maryland area

WNST is a sports radio station located in Towson, Maryland, near Baltimore. It is owned and operated by local sports media personality Nestor Aparicio through Nasty 1570 Sports, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John P. Angelos</span> American businessman (born 1967)

John P. Angelos is an American businessman who managed the Baltimore Orioles from 2020 until its sale to David Rubenstein in 2024, leading the club's front office and overseeing day-to-day business operations. Previously, he served as the Orioles' COO and executive vice president, a position he held since 1999. He also serves as president and chief operating officer of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), overseeing the network's business operations. Angelos is the elder son of Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards</span> Exhibition place in Baltimore

Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards was a non-profit sports museum in Baltimore, Maryland. The museum is owned and operated by the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum. It opened on May 14, 2005, with Julia Ruth Stevens, the daughter of celebrated baseball player Babe Ruth, in attendance. The 22,000-square-foot (2,044 m2) museum, housed in the former Camden Station, was adjacent to the main gate of Oriole Park at Camden Yards and had artifacts and interactive exhibits profiling Maryland's sports history. Exhibits included such area teams as the Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore Colts, Maryland Terrapins, Baltimore Elite Giants, Baltimore Black Sox, and the Baltimore Blast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Jones (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1985)

Adam LaMarque Jones is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles and Arizona Diamondbacks and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 Baltimore Orioles–Cuba national baseball team exhibition series</span> Baseball games in Havana and Baltimore

The 1999 Baltimore Orioles – Cuba national baseball team exhibition series consisted of two exhibition games played between the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Cuba national baseball team on March 28 and May 3, 1999. The first game took place in Havana, while the second was held in Baltimore. This series marked the first time that the Cuba national team had faced a squad composed solely of major league players and the close of the hiatus since 1959 that an MLB team played in Cuba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jen Royle</span> American sports journalist and chef (born 1974)

Jennifer L. Royle is an American former sports reporter and writer who is known for working for the YES Network as a New York-based reporter for the MLB New York Yankees baseball team from 2003 to 2006. She is also known as a chef and contestant on ABC's The Taste and Food Network's Beat Bobby Flay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Chicago White Sox–Baltimore Orioles crowdless game</span> First such game in Major League Baseball history

On April 29, 2015, the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Chicago White Sox 8–2 in the first crowdless game ever played by Major League Baseball teams. The lack of crowds was due to civil unrest in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray, an African-American man who was critically injured while in police custody 10 days earlier. With all the civil unrest, there were insufficient security resources available for the game. The previous two games in the teams' series had been postponed, but the remaining game could neither be moved to another venue on short notice nor made up later in the season, so the decision was made to play the game at Camden Yards without allowing any fans to attend. The scheduled evening start time was also moved up to the afternoon for security reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nestor Cortés Jr.</span> Cuban-American baseball player (born 1994)

Nestor Cortés Jr., nicknamed "Nasty Nestor" and "the Hialeah Kid", is a Cuban-American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners.

References

  1. ↑ "Nestor Aparicio's Blog". WNST Radio. 2009. Archived from the original on February 1, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  2. ↑ Anft, Michael (March 27, 2002). "That's Sportsertainment". Baltimore City Paper . Archived from the original on February 26, 2006. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  3. ↑ Cox, Ted (March 31, 2000). "Another Aparicio Hits Chicago Sports Scene". Daily Herald . Arlington Heights, Illinois. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Freethebirds Manifesto". Free The Birds!. 2006. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008.
  5. 1 2 "Orioles protesters walk out on team". The Sporting News . Associated Press. September 21, 2006. Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
  6. ↑ Chass, Murray (September 22, 2006). "Fans Lament Decline and Fall of the Orioles". New York Times . Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  7. ↑ "'Free the birds': Orioles fans walk out in protest". ESPN. Associated Press. September 21, 2006. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  8. ↑ Aparicio, Nestor (August 1, 2007). "This is how I felt all over again..." Baltimore Positive. WNST. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  9. ↑ Chandler, Rick (January 30, 2009). "Tensions Boil Over On Super Bowl's Radio Row!". Deadspin . Retrieved July 24, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Gordon Keith attacked during radio show". TXCN . Archived from the original on May 8, 2009. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  11. ↑ Powell, Brian (January 30, 2009). "Two Sports Radio Personalities Fight On Radio Row". Awful Announcing. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  12. 1 2 Rosen, Jill (March 30, 2011). "Sports reporter Jennifer Royle sues hosts at rival station for defamation" . The Baltimore Sun . Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  13. ↑ Aparicio, Nestor (March 30, 2011). "An Indictment of Local Journalism: Here's Our Side of Baseless Royle V. WNST Lawsuit". WNST.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  14. ↑ Zurawik, David (August 29, 2011). "Jennifer Royle drops suit against Nestor Aparicio, claims victory in ending 'harassment'" . The Baltimore Sun . Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.