Memorial Stadium, 1991.  Former Mayor Martin O’Malley’s apathy contributed to Baltimore’s failure to preserve the stadium’s distinc- tive dedication honoring the veterans of World Wars I and II when the facility was torn down after the construction of Oriole Park at Camden Yards and Ravens Stadium downtown during the 1990s.

DID NOTHING TO PRESERVE
MEMORIAL STADIUM TRIBUTE
TO WWI & II WAR VETERANS

ABC News Anchor George Stephanopoulos
is Clinton crony first, journalist second

IS ‘DEFLATEGATE’ NATIONALLY IMPORTANT?
 
By David Maril
 
While wondering if, for the good of Baltimore, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Gov. Larry Hogan will put aside their political differences and work together in a respectful and professional way, it’s interesting to note the following:

 Obviously, after campaigning around the country and pretty much going unrecognized, Baltimore still feels like home to Martin O’Malley.

The former Baltimore Mayor and Maryland Governor has chosen Baltimore to announce his decision on seeking the Democratic Party nomination for president.

His critics, who seem to be growing in number, suggest it would be appropriate for his announcement to be made in front of a Baltimore jail. His zero-tolerance policy as Mayor, which inflated arrest statistics that he used to claim he was lowering crime, is faulted by some as a factor in the current climate of alleged abuse by city police.

However, if it was up to me, he’d make his announcement on 33rd Street in front of where Memorial Stadium, demolished in 2002, used to stand.

His apathy, when he was Mayor and had local political clout, was a key factor in not preserving the stark and powerful “Time will not dim the glory of their deeds” façade of the old stadium. The front of the stadium was a tribute to war veterans who had sacrificed their lives.

The stadium’s façade should have been preserved there, on 33rd Street, as a permanent monument. This could have been incorporated into any of the proposed redevelopment plans.

Besides serving as a shrine to veterans, the façade would have provided lasting recognition and memories of a generation of great Orioles, Colts, Ravens and other civic-related highlights in Baltimore.

Most of the iconic wording from the Memorial Stadium dedication to America’s World War I and World War II veterans is enshrined near the front of Camden Yards, the location of Baltimore’s major downtown sports venues (Oriole Park and Ravens Stadium) — using the familiar typeface but now amended to include veterans of all American wars and dedicated by the entire state, not just the city.   Time Will Not Dim the Glory of Their Deeds.

 At some point if she runs for reelection as Baltimore Mayor or seeks another political office, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will have to explain in greater detail her problems communicating with the Governor’s office and apparent indecision on Monday, April 27th.

The vandalism and looting, broadcast live nationally for the world to see, during the unrest following the death of Freddie Gray, damaged Baltimore in many ways.

Peaceful marching and protesting had an extremely positive impact, heightening public awareness of serious issues. It was wise to emphasize restraint, through the protesting period, by the city police.

But on that day of looting, arson and vandalism, the presence of the National Guard, in peace-keeping mode, and greater numbers in state security details, were needed.

 The revelation, coming from outside sources, that ABC’s George Stephanopoulos has donated $75,000 over the last few years to the Clinton Foundation makes you wonder about his ethics and judgment. Is he even qualified to serve in the role of an objective journalist?

Having once worked for both Bill and Hillary Clinton, wouldn’t you think a guy, who has been viewed by Republicans suspiciously for years, would avoid any financial connection to them?

He unconvincingly, after the story broke, tried to defend himself by saying he wanted to support the humanitarian work the Clinton Foundation does.

That’s fine. But couldn’t he have donated to other charitable organizations, more removed from the political scene he is covering, that also support these causes?

Almost as bad as his missing sense of fairness and judgment is the fact he didn’t publicly reveal his connection to the Clinton Foundation. He even hid this connection from ABC, his employer.

Former Clinton aide, confidant and operative George Stephanopoulos, who has been an ABC news corre- spondent since leaving the Clinton White House, rising to chief anchor in 2014, gave up all claim to news ob- jectivity when he was outed near the end of last week for having contrib- uted $75,000 in recent years to the Clinton Foundation, which he conve- niently forgot to mention to his boss- es at ABC-TV, who nonetheless stood by their disgraced chief anchorman.

Amazingly he had the gall to cross-examine conservative author Peter Schweitzer on the book Clinton Cash, which focuses on the controversies of possible conflicts of interest surrounding huge donations to the foundation from foreign sources.

Stephanopoulos has shown he is a political activist/celebrity-entertainer and not a journalist/anchorman. If ABC wants to have any credibility, it will fire him as host of Sunday’s “This Week” and remove him from hosting any programming related to the 2016 presidential election coverage.

As the issues related to Hillary Clinton’s connection to the foundation’s funding questions draw more scrutiny through the presidential campaign, there is no way discerning viewers could take Stephanopoulos seriously.

One of the most unfortunate aspects of Stephanopoulos’s irresponsibility is it reinforces the belief held by some observers that there is a liberal bias in “the mainstream media.”

 With Stephanopoulos drowning in his conflicts of interest and the suspension of NBC Anchor Brian Williams for taking too much creative license in his reporting, Bob Schieffer will be missed even more when he retires at the end of this month.

The long-time CBS Anchor and host of “Face The Nation” epitomizes what journalism is supposed to be all about.

 Just a thought, but with their track record of earning millions from speaking engagements, if the Clintons do get back in the White House, perhaps they could raise money to help wipe out the national debt.

 What does it say about our culture when all the major TV networks and print media outlets make the punishment ruling on the NFL’s “Deflategate” the lead story? When did removing air from a football become more significant than war, politics, economic problems and, in general, issues and events that affect the lives of people all over the world?

Sure, it’s appropriate to report and debate the pros and cons of future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady’s four-game suspension. It’s a story that draws much public interest.

However, while Brady’s suspension and the Patriots’ fine and loss of draft picks was the most talked about headline, it was hardly the most significant story of the day.

 My hunch is that Brady isn’t the only NFL quarterback who has been involved in doctoring footballs. The severity of his punishment is related to the team, under Head Coach Bill Belichick, and its reputation, fair or undeserved, for bending the rules and doing anything to win.

It also comes at a time when the NFL is drawing scrutiny for its inconsistent and wishy-washy policies on domestic violence and injury issues that have long-term effects.

Brady’s biggest offense is stating he was unaware of anything being done to the footballs. You can be certain that equipment people, who are being made the scapegoats, wouldn’t take on this type of responsibility without the approval and encouragement of Brady and, most likely, the micromanaging Belichick.

National Football League Hall of Fame-bound quarterback Tom Brady, shown here with his Brazilian-born supermodel wife Gisele Caroline Bündchen, is appealing a four-game NFL suspension for illegally deflating New England Patriots’ footballs.

 You wonder if Brady is at all tempted to thumb his nose at the four-game suspension, which is being appealed, and retire. He’s 37 years old and could say he is leaving the game while he’s on top, having won the Super Bowl last season, capturing game MVP honors.

Except for his love of competi- tion, what is left for him as a player? He is a certain Hall of Famer who has won four Super Bowl championships and three game MVPs.

The 10-time Pro-Bowl selection is going to go down as the best quarterback since John Unitas. Married to international model Gisele Caroline Bündchen, Brady reportedly earns over $7 million a year in marketing endorse- ments and also has plenty of opportunities to appear on TV and in films.

While he has absorbed his share of physical punishment from playing 13 years in the NFL, he could walk away now in decent condition and enjoy the rest of his life.

Retirement has to be tempting.
 
davidmaril@voiceofbaltimore.org
 
EDITOR’S NOTE:  To read the full inscription at Memorial Stadium and the tribute at Camden Yards, double-click on each of the two photographs — or  click here  and  here.
 
“Inside Pitch” is a weekly opin- ion column written for Voice of Baltimore by David Maril.
 
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