Nasty Nestor Aparico is holding the "Free the Birds 2" Monday evening at the Baltimore Ball yard and I expect there will be a few fans to support this effort. Nasty makes some good points and following is an excerpt from what he sent us and I must say he does have the pulse of the people in what he says.

The glory days of the Baltimore Orioles have turned into the days of gory not glory.

Andy McPhail has not proved he has any magic that will turn this team around. As I said before you need to tell what minor league players the Birds are trying out each game.

I do disagree with Nasty that Flanagan had the organization headed in the right direction, I don’t think he did.

Now here’s a cut of what I received from Nasty. So folks get out to the ball yard Monday and support Nestor’s efforts to "Free the Birds 2."

We are doing FREE THE BIRDS 2 on Monday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Which begs the question: Why?

Not to be coy, but WHY NOT?

Honestly, are they not worthy of protesting?

Do you think anything has gotten better in the last 12 months?

We’re gonna send out a text, send out emails to the more than 2,000 people who signed up on www.freethebirds.net, send out our newsletter to about 10,000 people and talk about it a little bit on the radio this week and hope that the internet and email folks spread the word a little bit.

This little website had 23,350 unique visitors last Tuesday and has been averaging about 15,000 people per day. This website had 1,177,950 hits last Tuesday. This website has had 103,431 unique visitors in the last seven days totaling 4,925,431 hits.

I think the word will get out…

Let’s be honest: we’ve got about five days to get the word out, which, honestly is probably all it will take. Everyone who WANTS to walk in, walk out, scream like hell, sport a FTB T-shirt, wear bags on their heads, etc., will know about Free The Birds 2 and the hastily arranged congregation on Monday downtown.

How many people will come?

Who cares!

Maybe a hundred? Maybe a thousand? Maybe, if people get inspired and the weather is right, enough to outdraw the few that will actually be going to rally to see the game.

Honestly, I feel like I owe it to the all of the people who signed up on the website –those people who ARE as pissed as I am and want to express themselves!

If not now, when?

I will not be judging Free The Birds 2 on an "attendance" scoreboard. Nor will its success be based on how many people show up on Monday. And I don’t have any "theme" for this thing. There’s no "walkout" or "walk in" or specific rally cry.

I think this might end up being a night to just get all of the people who are pissed together in one place at one time at a ballgame just to see how many of us there are who still DO care!

Based on what I’m seeing and hearing, it might not be too many…but I assure you we’ll have a good time. We did last year!

Quite frankly, the interest in the Orioles is so low already that my expectations for Monday are quite tempered. I can’t blame you if you are one of those who say: "I don’t care any more!"

Well, that’s EXACTLY why I’m doing this again. Because you SHOULD care! I’m not going to expound – the last time I did that it turned into 19 chapters. Go back and read any or none of it. My feelings are quite expressive, extensive and eternal.

And while I know it’s as easy to be "numb" now with the Orioles ineptitude/lunacy as it is to be drunk with the annual purple fall fever, I think it’s about time that there’s a re-awakening as to just how screwed we’ve all been by this Angelos regime of orange terror.

There’s a whole web site (www.freethebirds.net) and a book that accompany the reasons why the Orioles are important to Baltimore in so many ways and how the Angelos family has betrayed that civic trust.

On Thursday, it will have been 52 weeks since the Sept. 21, 2006 "Free The Birds" rally.

And what have we seen in the way of "improvements" in the Orioles organization over the past 12 months?

Here’s my "short" list:

· The colossal embarrassment of Sam Perlozzo’s exit…

· The two-month "non-existent" movement of new "poobah" Andy McPhail…(OK, we’ll "credit" him with Matt Wieters, but who’s fooling whom? They got lucky, really!)

· The de-balling of Mike Flanagan and Jim Duquette, who had "the organization heading in the right direction" just days before their departure…

· The were swept at home by the Washington Nationals...

· They’ve surrendered more memorable late-inning home runs than I can remember (A Rod, Big Papi, Wily Mo Pena) and had more bullpen arsonist implosions than in any year this side of 1988…

· They’ve been no hit by a rookie…

· They’ve given up 30 runs in a game…

· They’ve given up an 11-run inning and another 18-run game…

· They’ve had two nine-game losing streaks…

· They’ve had a lunatic pitcher throw at an opposing team’s skull, only to further attempt to incite a riot…

· The embarrassment of signing a new manager whose record is so bad since the signing, that I won’t even print it here. Oh, and there was that major league tantrum last week! (Poor Dave Trembley…I pity the folks who have to work in this organization…I really do!)…

· More lingering stench from the steroid fallout (see Jay Gibbons, etc.)…

· "Real" crowds (meaning people actually in the stadium, not the fictional numbers they announce) are, again, at an all-time low for modern baseball in Baltimore…

· The accompanying businesses in the downtown business district are once-again experiencing major financial losses due to the Orioles’ ineptitude…

· More degrading lip-service public relations and "faux" marketing…

· Another summer of Red Sox and Yankees fans taking over downtown Baltimore and disgracing our city’s sports fans (see any of the videos on wnsTV as Exhibit A through F!)

· The team’s two star players – Brian Roberts and Miguel Tejada – have all but asked to be given a one-way ticket out of this hell hole…

· The disgrace of having me fund his family’s Wayne’s World television network through my cable bill, which allegedly will "fund the betterment of the team on the field" sometime around 2021, or whenever they discover that high definition television actually exists…

· Muting the free speech of legitimate media members by banning them from covering a team they’ve covered for more than 20 years (and you wonder if ANYTHING you’re reading from "inside" the press box can be trusted when Peter Angelos "handpicks" who gets to cover the baseball team? And then "backdoors" them money via MASN or CBS Radio to preach the company line as "journalism")…

· Oh, and I didn’t mention their record! They are in a sweepstakes with six equally dreadful teams for the worst record in Major League Baseball??? And they’ve got a helluva chance of "outlosing" the pack…they really do!

On and on, so forth and so on…

#2 Maryland Takes Down #9 American in Field Hockey

Terps win, 4-0, and remain undefeated

In a battle of undefeated teams, the second-ranked Maryland field hockey team came away unscathed, defeating No. 9 American, 4-0, in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. Four different Terrapins scored in the win despite facing the top goalkeeper in the nation.

American’s goalkeeper Alyssa Poorman had allowed just four goals in the team’s first eight games of the season and boasted the top goals against average in the country. AU (8-1) seemed to be in control from the onset. In the first half, Maryland had just five shots and no penalty corners, but it made the most of its opportunities.

After AU’s had a wide shot on a penalty corner with about 20 minutes remaining in the half, Maryland countered on the restart and broke down field about. Freshman Katie O’Donnell sprinted down the sideline and took a running shot from the top of the circle to the opposite post, finding the back of the net, giving Maryland a 1-0 lead. It was the Terps’ first shot of the game.

With less than three minutes to go in the period, Maryland again countered on another American penalty corner, causing a breakaway situation for the Terps. Sophomore Nicole Muracco made a long pass to O’Donnell who was unmarked in the shooting circle, causing the goalkeeper to come out of the cage. O’Donnell tried to flick the shot in, but was caught under AU’s Poorman and the referee blew the whistle for the penalty stroke. On the stroke, junior Susie Rowe did not falter, giving the Terps a 2-0 cushion.

The second half was more evenly matched, as the teams seem to control the game equal time. The Eagles continued to draw penalty corners, nine in total for the game. But Maryland’s backfield, which is also ranked in the top five in the nation, pressured AU on the corners, limiting it to just one shot on its nine attempts.

The Terps added two more goals in the second half to claim the 4-0 win. Senior Janneke van Leeuwen scored the team’s third goal of the game. In the 47th minute, she collected the ball at the top of the circle, squared up and sailed a shot past the goalie. In the 68th minute, Muracco redirected O’Donnell’s long shot to the far post, for Maryland’s final goal of the afternoon.

Maryland was outshot, 11-10, and outcornered, 9-3. All three of its corners came in the second half. Senior Kathryn Masson , who came into the game with the nation’s fourth-best goals against average, had three saves, leading the Terps to its fifth shutout of the season. Poorman finished with just one save.

Along with North Carolina and Stanford, the Terps are one of just three remaining undefeated teams in the country.

Maryland returns home on Saturday, Sept. 22, hosting one of the big games of the season. The Terps take on No. 5 Wake Forest in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Tournament championship game, which Maryland won, 1-0, to claim its second-straight national championship. The game is slated for a 1 p.m. start. Admission and parking is free for the event.

#1 Maryland(8-0) 2 2 - 4

#9 American (8-1) 0 0 - 0

GOALS: MD, Katie O’Donnell (un), 14:28; Susie Rowe, ps, 32:26; Janneke van Leeuwen (un), 46:09; Nicole Muracco (O’Donnell), 67:03. AU, None. SHOTS: MD 10, AU 11. PENALTY CORNERS: MD 9, AU 3. SAVES: MD, Kathryn Masson 3 (0 GA, 70:00); AU, Alyssa Poorman 1 (4 GA, 70:00). ATTENDANCE: 812.

#1 Maryland Field Hockey Wins Opening ACC Game at BC

Terps shutout Eagles, 2-0

Top-ranked Maryland field hockey got off to a good start in ACC play, traveling to No. 11 Boston College on Saturday afternoon for the opening conference game of the season. The Terps scored once in each half

then kept the Eagles off the board to come away with a 2-0 victory.

Maryland (7-0) took a 1-0 lead in the first half, taking advantage of one if its five penalty corners in the period. In the 13th minute, junior All-American Susie Rowe hammered a shot into the back of the net, with assists coming from freshman Katie O’Donnell and senior Janneke van Leeuwen. It was the 44th assist of van Leeuwen’s career, placing her in the top five at Maryland all-time.

The Eagles (5-2) did not have an answer for the Terps, as the teams played evenly for most of the rest of the game. In the 62nd minute, however, sophomore All-American Nicole Muracco knocked in an insurance goal, hitting the top-left corner of the cage, making the score 2-0.

Maryland, who posts its fourth shutout of the season, held the edge in shots, outshooting BC, 11-7, as senior All-American Kathryn Masson made three saves. Her counterpart, Julia Berkowitz made seven in the Eagles’ cage. The Terps also outcornered Boston College, 10-3.

The two-time national champion Terps have won their last 11 games, dating back to the start of the 2006 NCAA Tournament.

#1 Maryland(7-0, 1-0 ACC) 1 1 - 2

#11 Boston College (5-2, 0-1 ACC) 0 0 - 0

GOALS: MD, Susie Rowe (Katie O’Donnell, Janneke van Leeuwen), pc, 12:53; Nicole Muracco, un, 61:16. BC, None. SHOTS: MD 11, BC 7. PENALTY CORNERS: MD 10, BC 5. SAVES: MD, Kathryn Masson 3 (0 GA, 70:00); BC, Julia Berkowitz 7 (2 GA, 70:00). ATTENDANCE: 442.

BOWIE DOWNS VIRGINIA UNION

Home has been pretty good for Bowie State volleyball this season. The BSU Lady Bulldogs improved their divisional record to 2-1, beating the Lady Panthers of Virginia Union 30-14, 30-6 and 30-26. The three game setback kept Virginia Union without a win in 2007, as the Lady Panthers dip to 0-3 in the Eastern Division, 0-8 in the CIAA and 0-9 overall.

Bowie State (4-3 in the CIAA and 6-8 overall) simply overpowered Virginia Union the first two games but had to hold on down the stretch of game three, before claiming the sweep. Bethany Sloat and Tamira Conner Rogers were Bowie State’s leaders once again. Sloat led Bowie State with 13 kills to go along with six service aces and seven digs. Conner Rogers totaled seven kills, seven service aces and racked up a game-high 11 digs.

Stephanie Bell and Shayla Bryson were Virginia Union’s top performers, combining for eight total kills and five service aces. Bell also led the Lady Panthers with 25 attacks and Lashira Williams accounted for a team high 10 digs.

The Lady Bulldogs of Bowie State University will host Indiana (PA) University – Saturday (9/22) at 2 p.m. in the A.C. Jordan Arena. Virginia Union’s next opponent will be Glenville State in the opening round of the California (PA) Tournament – Saturday (9/22) at 10 a.m.

For additional information about Bowie State volleyball, contact the Office of Sports Information at (301) 860-3574 or log on to www.bsubulldogs.com.

Zeus heads a 10 card Ballroom Boxing event at Michaels 8th Avenue Thursday, September 27th.

Vernoca L Michaeland Blue Horizon Boxing Promotions

presents

Breast Cancer Awareness Show

Undefeated Jr. Middleweight prospect, Lightning Harry Joe Yorgey** will return to the Legendary Blue Horizon on Friday, October 12th in the featured bout of a big night of boxing that will be promoted by Vernoca L. Michael and Blue Horizon Boxing Promotions.

Yorgey, of Bridgeport, PA will bring a record of 19-0-1 with nine knockouts when he enters the ring. Yorgey is coming off an exciting unanimous decision over Edson Aguirre on June 1st at The Legendary Blue Horizon. In that fight, Yorgey was dominant as he applied pressure from the first round to the final bell and won by scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 78-74. This will be Yorgey eighth appearance at The Legendary Blue Horizon (7-0, 4 KO) and this fight could spring board him into a national television date.

Exciting Jr. Welterweight, Elad Shmouel** of Tel Aviv, Israel will once again make the long trek to Philadelphia to appear on the co-feature. Shmouel, 17-1 with eight knockouts, brings all action style that has endeared him to the knowledgeable Philadelphia fight crowd as he will be making his sixth start at The Legendary Blue Horizon (5-0, 2 KOs) coming off six round unanimous decision over Jason Jordan on April 6th at The Legendary Blue Horizon.

OliviaThe Great Fonseca**will be making her Legendary Blue Horizon debut on October 12th. The much talked about Fonseca has a record of 1-0-1 with one stoppage win. That win came on August 31st in Atlantic City when she stopped the more experienced Yolanda Blackmer in just thirty-eight seconds.

Opponents for Yorgey and Shmouel and Fonseca have yet to be announced. A full undercard is being put together by matchmaker Don Elbaum.

The Legendary Blue Horizon is coming off a great night of boxing on September 7th when Joey Abell destroyed Levon Warner in the first round of the heavyweight main event.

That fight took place in front of a star-studded crowd that included such luminaries as Bernard Hopkins, Steve Cunningham, Tex Cobb, Eddie Chambers and Jacqui Frazier. That is just a brief sample of who you may see when you come to a Blue Horizon fight card.

Purchase your tickets TODAY and enjoy an exhilarating night of boxing at "The Blue" Friday, October 12th. Doors open at 6:30 P.M. with the first bout at 7:30 P.M. Ticket prices for this great night of boxing are $200 for Queen Seating, $125 for Presidential seats, $60 VIP, $47 Ringside and $40 General Admission.

We’re gearing up for another great night of boxing in the ballroom. Seven foot, 325 pound Ernest Mazyck "Zeus" headlines a great night of fights. The card features five heavyweight bouts and up to nine matches. Tickets are available by calling 410-766-7474. Prices are $100 for Premium Ringside, $50 Reserved Ringside, and $35 General Admission. Come and see what Baltimore Magazine calls Baltimore’s Best Sports Scene!!!

RAVENS, REDSKINS WIN

Kyle Boller hit for two TD’s and the Ravens beat the NY Jets 20-13 and this week they host the Arizona Cardinals in a 1:00 p.m. game (9/23) in "Purple Paradise". The Redskins were a 20-12 victor over a wingless and sorry Eagles Team. This week the Skins have a vacation week.

Look for KC, New Orleans, Oakland, Miami, St. Louis and of course the Ravens to win this week.

Byron Leftwich has signed with Atlanta.

Tony Romo is producing for the Cowboys. New England is the class of the NFL.

Former Baltimore Raven Derrick Anderson is producing for the Cleveland Browns.

What is "Big Ego" complaining about? He won didn’t he?

BALL STATE BEATS NAVY, 34-31

Ball State beat Navy in OT 34-31 and of course "Little Ego" (Paul Johnson) again blamed the players for the loss, he has more excuses than J.P. for his ineptness.

Maryland was crushed by West Virginia 31-14 and it proves the Terps are far from being a top 25 football team. The Terps just can’t play with the big guys.

Michigan embarrasses Notre Dame 38-0, it looked like the Irish offense line was missing in action or took the wrong bus to the stadium.

Virginia Tech survived Ohio 28-7. Massachusetts crumbled Towson 36-13. Slippery Rock slipped by Bowie State 35-7.

Salisbury upset Christopher-Newport 35-21.

Catholic downed McDaniel 28-21 behind Kevin Riccas 25 of 36 pass attempts, 392 yards and two TD’s.

Shanorm Young ran for 175 yards and 2 TD’s to help Frostburg State stop Randolph-Macon 20-13.

Winston-Salem State edged Morgan State 19-17.

Maryland hosts Georgia Tech, should be a wipeout for the Rambling Wrecks, Navy’s off, Morgan State is hosting North Carolina A&T, Howard hosts Cheney State, Georgetown plays at Penn, James Madison plays at Northeastern, Notre Dame travels to UCLA, Towson’s home against Richmond,

HIGH SCHOOL SCORES:

Westlake routs Leonardtown 59-0, Patuxent ripped Lackey 41-20 despite Michael Johnson’s 275 yards and 2 TD’s, Caleb Porzel ran for 209 yards and 3 TD’s to lift Good Counsel to a 42-8 victory over H.D. Woodson, Jubar Knight (203 yards and 2 Td’s) and Josha Brooks led Coolidge to a 22-10 win over Maret, Linganore 49 Thomas Stone 15, Ballou 30 Theo. Roosevelt 24, Cardozo 20 Springam 14, LaPlata 57 Great Mills 12, McDonough 39 Calvert 12, Surrattsville 52 Owings Mills 7, Dunbar 22 Carroll 6, St. Mary’s (Annapolis) 50 Pallotti 0, St. Johns (DC) 44 Harriston 14, Friendly 32 Forestville 12, Josh Haden rushed for 164 yards and 2 TD’s for the Patriots, Gonzaga 20 Georgetown 12, Carl Carmichael tallied 3 TD’s as Gwynn Park blanked Central 35-0, Lefty Lewis hit paydirt 3 times as Huntingtown topped Chopticon 21-8, McNamara 19 Ireton 14, DeMatha clipped Friendship 28-14, James Proctor scored twice in Suitlands 29-0 win over Wise.

Former Gonzaga and U of MD quarterback Hank Lilley is now in a high post with the MD Department of Transportation and is a computer expert.

Eleanor Roosevelt football coach Rick Houchens and one of his assistants Roman Morris have been suspend for the rest of the season because of alleged recruiting violations.

When I was broadcasting football and basketball games in Southern Maryland some of my favorite eating places were the Martha Washington (the Majestic sandwiches were super) and the Frankenstein in Lexington Park was another favorite of mine.

Roy Yonosh was a terrific analyst on my broadcasts and was loads better than some on the networks.

I remember the Garner Brothers and Jerome Michael were very good to me.

SPORTS NOTES

When are the Wizards going to come up with a legitimate NBA center?

Cheer on Donnie Neuenberger at Dover Downs this weekend. Royal Farms has signed on as sponsor for Donnie.

Look-a-Likes: Paul Weasel and Alfred E. Newman, J.P. and Gene Simmons.

Note to the Governor—Ron Freeland would make a great Secretary of Transportation. The last good one the State had was Jim Lighthizer. See next weeks column for the ratings of the Transportation Secretary’s over the years. Kathy Waters would make a super MTA Administrator.

MARC should be extended to Newark, Delaware and the Naval Base at Lexington Park. Makes sense and its probable that the MTA planners will recommend against it.

Poker Parlors for Maryland, UMM, finally something positive from the Governors office and slots are okay too 81% of my readers want slots.

Is Baltimore becoming the murder capital of the world? Maryland’s murder rate? I wonder what it is?

How many remember "Pennies for Lane"? Wasn’t that slogan related to the sales tax?

One of the top new Delegates in Maryland is Jim Mathias, the former Ocean City Mayor who brought the sea side mecca of Maryland into the modern era of the world. He was a super mayor and he’s fast becoming a "mover and shaker" in Annapolis.

Our deepest sympathy goes to former Secretary of Agriculture, State Senator and Delegate, Lew Riley on the death of his wife and daughter.

Rumor has it former Senator Frank Shore running for his old seat in Annapolis,

The Washington Caps should be a contender in the NHL this season.

Ed Cole of Cole Travel is thinking about putting together a tour of baseball parks next season if the interest is there.

What sport do you think is losing interest among fans, NFL, NBA, WNBA, NASCAR, or NHL?

Do we really need a new Maryland Life Sciences Advisory Board and how much is this Board going to cost the TAXpayers of Maryland? I know one board member who looks like Tuluse Latrac and is an expert on Chinese affairs but have no idea who the others are.

A DC area vs. Baltimore area fight will take place in the 2010 Governors race when Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon throws her hat into the race.

The Emmy’s were handed out this past week and I was disappointed. Where were "Monk", "The Closer", "Amazing Grace", "CSI", "Top Chef", "Bobby Flays Throw down", "Burn Notice", "Project Runway", "Shark", James Woods, and "Las Vegas" and Jim Caan?

Next week I will review my retirement dinner some great happenings from Mike Miller, Tim Maloney, and Roy Dyson and some other surprises.