Sports Saturdays
ATW Jackie Harig & Orioles 2026 Season
Wednesday, January 21st, 2026 by The Professor
On Wednesday, 1/14/2026, WLOY’s After the Whistle host Yukesh Aryal interviewed the Director of Public Relations for the Baltimore Orioles, Jackie Harig, to learn about upcoming exciting news and offers regarding what the team has been planning for the fans and what we should be anticipating. Jackie was a member of Loyola’s class of 2016 and is also a member of the Alumni Advisory Board for the Communications and Media Department.
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Baltimore Sports History: Negro League Baseball
Wednesday, November 5th, 2025 by The Professor
Baltimore’s Negro League Baseball: Talent, Community, and Forgotten Glory
by Yukesh Aryal (host of After The Whistle)
When people talk about baseball in Baltimore, they usually mention the Orioles or legends like Cal Ripken Jr. But long before the major leagues were open to everyone, the city was already home to some of the best baseball talent in America in the Negro Leagues. Teams like the Baltimore Black Sox and the Baltimore Elite Giants not only gave fans great baseball but also gave a sense of pride to the city’s Black community during segregation
The story starts in 1913, when the Baltimore Black Sox were founded. They became one of the best-known Black teams in the country. The team’s strong infield earned them the nickname the “Million Dollar Infield” during the 1920s. The Black Sox played their games at Maryland Baseball Park and later Bugle Field, which were more than just ballparks as they were gathering places for families and friends who came to cheer and celebrate together. (more…)
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Inside the Lines: The Lamar Jackson Comeback Story Gets Real in Week 2
Monday, September 22nd, 2025 by The Professor
By: Yukesh Aryal, host of After The Whistle
If there was ever a snapshot of what the Ravens’ 2025 season could look like when things go right, whether it means clean offense, big defensive plays, and Jackson in command, it was Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Lamar Jackson threw four touchdown passes and Baltimore reeled off 21 unanswered points in the second half to steamroll Cleveland, 41-17. It was the perfect rebound after a heartbreaking loss in Buffalo.
Baltimore’s first half wasn’t auspicious, as they managed just 81 total yards and a shockingly few first downs. But everything changed after Halftime. Jackson connected with DeAndre Hopkins and Tylan Wallace in chunk plays, the Ravens’ defense forced two turnovers, and a blocked punt set up a touchdown drive. (more…)
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Alex Ovechkin Overtakes The Great Gretzky!
Thursday, April 10th, 2025 by Andrew Ciofalo
by Andrew Ciofalo ’25, host of After The Whistle
Wayne Gretzky’s scoring title of 894 goals has been dethroned! Washington Capitals left winger Alexander Ovechkin took over Gretzky’s crown on April 6, 2025, when he surpassed The Great One with goal number 895. Gretzky’s goal record was thought to never be broken, have we just seen the impossible? Well, no not even close. Highly improbably? Probably.
To know the feat that Alex Ovechkin just climbed, you must also know the feat that Wayne Gretzky climbed… Gordie Howe.
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The New Talk of MLB: Torpedo Bats
Thursday, April 3rd, 2025 by Andrew Ciofalo
by Andrew Ciofalo ’25, host of After The Whistle
Torpedo Bats have taken the league by storm this year… but what exactly are they? Does the bat itself create more power? Should they be allowed?
To answer all these questions, you need to know what a legal bat is defined as, and what this ‘torpedo’ or bowling pin style bat changes.
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Baltimore Sports History: Camden Yards
Thursday, March 27th, 2025 by Andrew Ciofalo
by Andrew Ciofalo ’25, host of After The Whistle
Baseball season is here! I know Baltimore is ready for another year of going out to the ballpark, bring your friends, family, or meet the other thousands of baseball fans alike at the park. The term “baseball park” really has meaning to me. Whether you associate it with your local baseball diamond, maybe high school or college fields or an MLB stadium, baseball parks give off a certain vibe. I think its important for the right vibe to be given off, and I think (from some good and bad experiences at MLB Stadiums) some parks do better jobs than others. Being a Baltimore Orioles fan, I’m blessed to call Oriole Park at Camden Yards somewhat of a second home.
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Tommy John: A Pitcher’s Nightmare
Thursday, March 20th, 2025 by Andrew Ciofalo
by Andrew Ciofalo ’25, host of After The Whistle
Pitching in baseball over the past decade or so has more and more become a science than just pure talent. Players are trying to improve so much, eek out every ounce of their fastball to get a tick higher average and increase spin rates to higher than ever before. The amount of data and analyzing that is done by coaching staffs nowadays is out of this world compared to just 10-15 years ago. The ways that every inch of the human body is being analyzed to be able to optimize motion in order to simply throw a ball 90ft is mind boggling.
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Are Robot Umpires Finally Coming to the MLB?
Thursday, February 27th, 2025 by Andrew Ciofalo
by Andrew Ciofalo ’25, host of After The Whistle
Baseball season is upon us as Spring Training is in full swing in Florida and Arizona. Teams look to workout prospects, get into game shape and be ready for the start of the 2025 MLB Season. This roughly months’ worth of preparation is key for these players and staffs ahead of a long, 162 game season. But the ball clubs aren’t the only ones preparing and trying out new players.
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The Philadelphia Eagles Dethrone the Defending Champions!
Thursday, February 20th, 2025 by Andrew Ciofalo
by Andrew Ciofalo, host of After The Whistle
The Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in blowout fashion, winning Super Bowl LIX by a score of 40-22. Although this looked to be a high scoring game, the Eagles won in old school ways that we might be learning is still the most important part of football. The key to this game was dominating and winning in the trenches. This has been and looks to continue to be the key to win football games in the NFL. Both teams have very great and stout defensive lines that were going to be key in this matchup. It was just a matter of which of its counter parts could hold up the most.
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Who Will Stop The Kansas City Chiefs?
Thursday, February 6th, 2025 by Andrew Ciofalo
by Andrew Ciofalo, host of After The Whistle
The NFL seems to have just one major theme over the past couple of years: Can anyone take down the Kansas City Chiefs?
So far, it’s looking like no one will. The Chiefs will be playing in their 4th Super Bowl in the past 5 seasons. On top of that, it is well known that this year they have the chance to win a record setting 3rd Super Bowl in a row. Their previous 2 have come against the San Francisco 49ers last year and the Philadelphia Eagles the year before. The Chiefs will play the Eagles in the Super Bowl once again this year, only 2 years removed from their last Super Bowl matchup. These two teams have dominated regular play these last couple years. A rematch of titans, one might say.
Before talking about the Super Bowl, let’s look at how both teams got there.
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