Talk Radio

All-sports-talk radio has returned to Baltimore's airwaves, courtesy of the man who first brought the format to town, Nestor Aparicio. Aparicio, whose original foray at running WNST (1570 AM) ended last August after a year, is back at the same spot on the dial and with the same format. However, unlike last year, when he was leasing the time from the station's co-owner, David Eppler, Aparicio is heading up a consortium of investers to buy the station. "When all is said and done, I'll be a majority owner.

Dennis Miller wants a doubting nation to know he has plenty of experience as a sportscaster - namely, three decades of sitting on the couch in his underwear, watching games and barking commentary at his TV. But seriously, folks ... Tonight, the hipster comic will make his debut on "Monday Night Football" in what qualifies as either a) another bold experiment from the network that gave the world Howard Cosell or b) an awful mistake. ABC is gambling that a comedic presence in the booth will rejuvenate its seminal game of the week, adding a twist to the coverage by veteran play-by-play man Al Michaels and former quarterback Dan Fouts.

I DON'T WANT to rain on Opening Day, but have you noticed something in the air? (I mean, besides News Chopper 11 and the plane pulling the Katz Insurance banner.) I might be wrong about this, but I doubt it: Callers to Baltimore talk-radio shows have never been as negative about the Orioles' prospects before the first pitch of a season. We're at an all-time high of pessimistic punditry. Tune in, you'll hear it. Of course, talk radio is not always an accurate measure of public opinion.

It's census time again. Time to share with the government a few mundane personal details so that everybody in the land gets counted. Who could argue? All you have to do is answer some questions. Well, many people are arguing. They're complaining to Congress, to the census bureau and, of course, to talk radio hosts. "It's the most intrusive form I've ever seen," said Max Neil Highstein, a Lutherville accountant. "It took me an hour to do my mother's form because I had to go to the tax return for her interest statements, dividend statement, Social Security, property tax information."

"Mellow" is not the first word most people would use to describe G. Gordon Liddy. This, after all, is an ex-FBI agent who plotted to kill columnist Jack Anderson, went to prison for his role in the Watergate break-in and wrote of testing his toughness by holding his hand over a flame. These days, he is the host of a nationally syndicated, right-as-red-meat show on talk radio.And one might have expected Liddy to be an especially long way from serenity yesterday during his visit to Baltimore.

Nick from Abingdon wants to talk Ravens, maybe offer a few suggestions for the Orioles. He's maneuvering through early-morning traffic, usually the wrong place and time to satisfy a sports jones. But with a flip of his cell phone, his opinions are spewed over the airwaves between gulps of coffee.For listeners of WKDB, this sort of jock chatter is music to the ears.Most recently a children's network station, 1570-AM was given a drastic makeover by Nestor Aparicio, the 30-year-old Dundalk native with the sharp tongue and grand visions.

This is the woman that goes with the magazine that goes with the television show that goes with the books.This is Martha Stewart, the anti-icon who's carved an entire career out of peddling an outdated - and virtually unattainable - version of the female American dream.Her home is impeccable, her cooking gourmet. Incredibly manicured gardens overflowing with flowers, vegetables and herbs (don't forget the hard "h," just like Martha) fill the perimeters of her Westport, Conn. estate.She raises her own chickens, for goodness sake.

Stand-up comedy. Late-night talk. Personal tragedy. Inevitable comeback. Tell-some book. TV weeper of the week. QVC merchandising. Talk radio.Oh, and bulimia too.Been there, done that, and kept the eyeliner on straight and the manicure unchipped throughout."

Baltimore Circuit Judge John Carroll Byrnes has been taking calls from Pam in Towson and Brian in Baltimore and Ray in Catonsville. He has ventured where judges rarely tread -- into the court of public opinion, to explain personally his decision in the highly controversial case of city police Sgt. Stephen R. Pagotto.Since sentencing Pagotto Feb. 27 to three years in prison for involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment, Byrnes has appeared on two radio talk shows to answer questions from hosts and citizens about why he would put a 15-year officer behind bars.

Mr. Talk Radio is taking on Goliath in Maryland's 3rd District congressional race.Former radio personality turned Republican candidate Patrick L. McDonough is looking for an Achilles' heel in politically powerful U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin by heckling him with Rush-Limbaugh-style barbs."