I walked into 400 E. Pratt Street in March 2006 just 10 months removed from turning my tassel at Towson University.
Today, as the elevator doors close on a once colorful, 11th-floor office, so too does a chapter in my career as a sports writer.
There have been plenty of memorable events that didn’t make the cut: Countless Orioles, Terps and Blast games that came down to the wire; Arundel’s extra-inning win over C. Milton Wright in the 2006 4A state baseball championship; watching Josh Pratt coach Towson Catholic to consecutive Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association basketball titles; and leading The Examiner softball team last summer.
At the top of my past 35 months, were two June afternoons: When I married my beautiful wife, Liz, and when our daughter, Chloe, was born.
But here are my top 10 moments with The Examiner:
10 » Scoring in the Blast celebrity game
If the Baltimore Mariners actually followed through with a verbal promise to let me tryout as kicker, this wouldn’t have made the cut. So I have to give props to Amy Keller and the Blast for seeing my true talent, which shined through on my opening goal. But the fault for our loss in the 2008 game falls on my shoulders for resting on my offensive performance. I failed to get behind the ball — that one’s for you, Danny Kelly — as an opposing player hit a three-point rocket over the outstretched alligator arms of goalkeeper Dave Carey. We lost, 3-2.
9 » Morgan State upsets Maryland
I was at the Ravens’ facility earlier in the day — my one and only trip to The Castle — and one of the most respected members of the local media, who shall remain nameless, said it was impossible for Morgan State to win. Morgan State had the better players on the court that night, and Todd Bozeman deserves a lot of credit for his work. Don’t expect Maryland to schedule the Bears anytime soon.
8 » Sean Mosley leads St. Frances to BCL title
I saw Donte Greene, Malcolm Delaney and Towson Catholic go without losing to a local team during the 2006-07 season. But Sean Mosley was the most dominant player I saw in three years. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior guard dropped 35 points with Gary Williams sitting courtside at the 2008 Baltimore Catholic League championship game. Mosley was a legit long-range shooter at SFA, and I’m confident he will be for the Terrapins, too.
7 » Nick Markakis hits three home runs in a game
It seems so long ago now. It was in August 2006 when the rookie belted three jacks off the Twins. It seemed so effortless. I recall watching Markakis fly around the bases at Aberdeen in 2003, and knew he’d be a big leaguer. I never thought he’d be this good so soon. My lineup sheet from that game hung in my cubicle until our final days, so this game has to be on the list.
6 » Rangers 30, Orioles 3
With seemingly endless free time to come up with a lead to a story, the writers in the press box at Camden Yards that 2007 night were spitting one-liners with every run scored. The winner? Orioles blogger Roch Kubatko with his “the Orioles are now 0-1 in 27-run games.” Classic.
5 » Exclusive interview with Gary Williams
There are a few sports personalities who make you think out your questions for days in advance. The unpredictable coach was to be the focus of a positive, reflective piece. Two days later, the Terrapins lost to Morgan State to begin a streak of five losses in seven games, forcing a significant change to the story. The venomous e-mails from Maryland fans found their way to my inbox. But even the classless, spiteful, personal attacks couldn’t take away from the joy of covering Gary and his program.
4 » Blast wins championship
I wasn’t there for the finale, but covering the Blast in 2007-08 was — pardon this horrible pun — a blast. I recall a January chat with sports editor Jon Gallo where I said the Blast would win the title. (Gallo: It’s true!) A championship alone is an amazing feat, but to see the Blast share it with their fans the following morning proves why this organization will survive whatever curveballs the unstable sport throws its way.
3 » Golfing with Ed Reed
Very few people can claim to have beaten Ed Reed at anything. But I took $5 off the All-Pro safety during The Ruth’s Chris Steak House Sizzling Celebrity Golf Classic in September 2008. After a friendly wager, my worm-burning iron on a par-three rolled a few feet inside his well-placed, high-arcing shot. The greatest safety in the NFL is an even better person, clowning around with our group for the entire 18 holes, and appearing so normal that the chef before the 18th tee had no clue who was driving my cart.
2 » Final game at Yankee Stadium
For all my hatred of the Yankees as a kid growing up in Harford County, my one and only trip to The House that Ruth Built was a privilege. I took in three games from the cramped, aging press box inside Yankee Stadium. I even drummed up some respect for the pinstripes.
1 » Cal Ripken’s Induction into the Hall of Fame
Having watched and idolized Ripken since I first swung a bat, it was a dream to be in Cooperstown, N.Y., to watch his induction. The daily treks from Binghamton, N.Y., to Cooperstown with my wife and colleague Matt Palmer, didn’t diminish the excitement. To document the crowning achievement of Ripken’s career qualifies as an early pinnacle in my own career.
It truly has been a pleasure to be a voice in the sport section. Thank you for reading.
Sean Welsh was a staff writer for The Examiner since its launch on April 5, 2006. He can be reached at [email protected]
