Does Baltimore really need to tear down and rebuild its 1960s vintage “Civic Center” for the 2020 Inner Harbor?

CHARM CITY’S ‘ARENA OF DREAMS’:
IF WE BUILD IT, WILL AN NBA OR NHL
TEAM COME TO BALTIMORE TO PLAY?

Hogan would gain bipartisan popularity
if he supports public transportation
and cleaning up Chesapeake Bay

AN APPEARANCE BY OBAMA IN PARIS
IN SUPPORT OF FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
WOULD HAVE BEEN DISINGENUOUS
 
By David Maril
 
While wondering what century is being referenced in the new biography on Bob Hope entitled Hope: Entertainer of the Century, it’s interesting to note the following:

 On the Martin O’Malley book trail, you’d have to figure unless he’s offering his proposed manuscript-autobiography as a cure for insomnia, the outgoing Maryland Governor must be a more engaging book author than he is a speechmaker.

Even though O’Malley is certainly no Richard “I Am Not a Crook” Nixon, thinking of the Maryland Governor’s long-plotted plan to run for president, I can’t get John Dean’s book title, “Blind Ambition,” out of my mind.

One certainty, unless Hillary Clinton picks him as her running mate, O’Malley will have plenty of time to tune up his manuscript.

 Let’s see, Baltimore doesn’t have any prospects for getting an NHL or NBA franchise and we still have the so-called obsolete Royal Farms Arena, which, according to The Sun, continues to be profitable, holding 130 events a year.

So why do we need a $450 million showcase arena built in the Inner Harbor? And, what happens to the existing facility, which we old Baltimore Bullets fans still refer to as the Civic Center?

Or does someone have inside information that a pro basketball or hockey team would come here if we only had a first-class, modern facility?

 The incoming Larry Hogan promises to offer a refreshing change of pace as Governor.

VIGOROUS, HEALTHY DEBATES ON KEY ISSUES

With complacent Democrats dominating the State Legislature, it could be very constructive to have vigorous, healthy debates on key issues. However, the biggest concern, if you truly care about the future of Baltimore, is his expected negative stance toward public transportation.

Hogan has painted himself as a highway and bridge guy, favoring an emphasis on cars and trucks.

No one would deny that the current roads, bridges and expressways need to be better maintained and not have money earmarked for repairs shifted to other state coffers. But the idea of expanding and creating more roadways, encouraging people to drive, is absurd and outdated.

Baltimore needs the proposed Light Rail “Red Line” to remain a viable city moving into the future.

All you have to do is look at other cities along the Northeast Corridor, like Boston, Philadelphia, Washington and New York, to recognize how much difference an efficient transit system makes. Mobility and access through public transportation helps both business and the environment, cutting down traffic and getting cars off the streets and highways.

Baltimore’s current transit system is, at best, feeble and limited. The success and expansion of the MARC Train system, with service between Baltimore and Washington, shows that the public will utilize rail service when it is reasonably priced and efficient.

THE LINE IN THE SAND THAT HOGAN SEEMS TO HAVE DRAWN

 The other area Hogan skeptics are rightfully concerned about is the line in the sand he seems to have drawn between cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay and boosting business.

Both goals can be achieved at the same time and it shouldn’t be one against the other. Looking at the region, a pristine bay and water system is going to be profitable for everyone, especially the business world.

 “Baltimore: The Birthplace of the Star-Spangled Banner,” is a pretty decent new official slogan, much superior to some of the earlier ones the city overpaid outside consultants to compose.

Personally, for Baltimore and the whole region, I still prefer National Beer’s classic and timeless “Land of Pleasant Living” theme.

 Speaking of the old days, when WBAL used to always carry the Orioles, one of the strengths the station retains is the political commentary of Blair Lee, who offers interesting observations on the insides and outsides of Maryland politics.

 An item you may have missed was the recent death of Stu Miller, the wily and amazing closer on the Orioles’ 1966 World Championship team. Miller, who died two weeks ago at age 87, was a superb relief pitcher who overpowered hitters with a remarkable change-up.

Orioles relief pitcher Stu Miller (1963-68) died Jan. 4th at age 87. In 1966 he helped lead the Birds to their first World Champion- ship and was 11th in voting for the American League’s MVP award (which was won by Frank Robinson, with Brooks Robinson in second place, followed by Boog Powell in third, Luis Aparicio in ninth, and Andy Etchebarren in 17th). Oddly enough, Miller never pitched in the World Series that year because none of the games required a closer: The Orioles won four straight over the Dodgers.

Nicknamed “The Bullet” because his fastball was so underpowered, it was said he had three speeds:  slow, slower, and slower.

Miller, a 5-11 165-pound right-hander, would jerk his head forward as he was releasing the baseball, making it appear as if he was throwing a 95-mile-an-hour pitch. The joke was that Miller never had to worry about a sore arm, just a sore neck.

Hitters were usually way out in front, finishing their swing before the baseball reached catchers Andy Etchebarren, John Orsino and Dick Brown.

Between 1963 and 1966, he and Boston’s Dick “The Monster” Radatz were the two best closers in the league. They would both often earn their saves coming in during seventh and eighth innings, and finishing out the games.

When they faced each other late in games it was a great clash of contrasts. Radatz, a 6-foot-6 245-pound power pitcher, fired a heavy, overpowering fastball.

I remember one game against Boston when Miller was ordered, with first-base open, to intentionally walk free-swinging Lee Thomas. Thomas, however, had other ideas and swung and missed at the first two outside pitches.

He was refusing a walk. So, with an 0-2 count, Miller threw Thomas a change-up in the strike zone and struck him out.

 With all due respect to the resourcefulness of Orioles’ Executive Vice-President Dan Duquette and his ability to unearth underpaid productive players, I’d like to see him head north to Toronto sooner rather than later.

Unless he is willing to come out and, on the record, declare he has no intention of getting out of his long-term contract and leaving the Orioles, he should hit the road.

With 11 players eligible for free agency after this season and key decisions needing to be made on the future of the team, it’s bad business having the top personnel executive rumored to be headed to one of the team’s division rivals.

Duquette, who was rescued off the scrap heap by Orioles owner Peter Angelos when no other major league team would give him a chance, needs to show some sign of loyalty and commitment to Baltimore if he is staying.

 The Orioles’ being bypassed to host the 2016 All-Star Game is outgoing MLB Commissioner Bud Selig’s farewell payback to the team for its MASN TV contract dispute with the Washington Nationals.

SELIG DOESN’T LIKE THE ORIOLES

Selig, who prefers to have unpleasant issues vanish, doesn’t like the Orioles trying to maintain, in court, the favorable contract percentage rights they were awarded as territorial compensation for allowing the return of baseball to Washington.

The fact that San Diego was awarded the All-Star Game over the Orioles means that it will be in National League stadiums two straight seasons. However it is supposed to alternate between American and National League cities each year.

This is even more absurd when you consider the All-Star Game outcome determines which league has the home-field advantage in the World Series.

 It’s nice to see Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is finally getting the overall respect he deserves for his poise, leadership, and passing ability.

These days, when the team gets beaten, he is no longer singled out as the scapegoat.

 Here’s predicting that in contrast to last year, the Ravens’ off-season will be free of off-field controversy.

 Barack Obama received heavy criticism for not joining other world leaders in the recent Paris unity march against the acts of terrorism in the French capital city. However, since part of the focus was on freedom of the press, it would have been a bit hypocritical if he had.

More than 40 world leaders came to Paris on January 11th to march in unity, in denunciation of the terrorist attack that killed 12 journalists at the satirical French weekly Charlie Hebdo four days earlier, along with five others, including a French policewoman.  Shown here marching arm in arm with French President François Hollande (center, right) are, from left, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.  Conspicuously absent were President Barack Obama and any high-ranking American government officials, despite the fact that outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder was in Paris at the time.

Approve or disapprove of his six years so far in the White House, Obama has been one of the worst presidents as far as stonewalling the media and journalists trying to do their jobs.

His Attorney General, Eric Holder, was in Paris at the time but also chose to not participate in the peace rally. And that was also appropriate because Holder has been as hostile to the press as Obama.

 Speaking of the press, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, who ran ABC’s Sunday morning “This Week” news program quickly into the ground before being axed, left many cable-TV viewers scratching their heads when she made at least one reference to the terrorists in Paris as “activists.”

 Washington and Maryland were actually the winners when Boston was named the U.S. finalist to bid internationally for the 2024 Olympics.

Already in Boston there are arguments, if the city does get the Olympics, over where the billions of dollars needed will be coming from to build costly temporary facilities and structures.

There is also less than overwhelming support among residents, who are dreading the traffic gridlock and security issues the event will impose.
 
davidmaril@voiceofbaltimore.org
 
“Inside Pitch” is a weekly opinion column written for Voice of Baltimore by David Maril.
 
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