About

Birds Watcher Staff:

Domenic A. Vadala, Managing Editor/Lead Columnist

I’ve been in and around sports since I was a child as a player, coach, and a fan. I coached youth basketball from 1996-’99, and consistently led the league in technical fouls. In one famous incident in 1999, I was tossed out of a game for protecting a player from what I perceived as poor officiating. I can still be heard barking at umpires from my perch in section 17 of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. When I’m pretending to work at my day job, my true profession of choice is that of a sports fan, analyis, critic, etc. I try as hard as I can to be a positive force on behalf of my favorite team, and while I’ll be critical if necessary, I try to do it in a constructive way. I attended my first Oriole game at Memorial Stadium with my Dad when I was eight years old. The Orioles beat the Oakland A’s 4-2 that day, and we had the most amazing seats, about halfway up the lower concourse behind home plate. While the “old lady” was far from a thing of beauty, to that point I had never seen grass so green, tasted hot dogs so good, or smelled beer so cold! Since then I’ve been to numerous other games, and I try to get out to at least ten or eleven or twenty per season if I can. Each time I go I pay a bit of homage to that eight year old boy sitting in Memorial Stadium with his father. Go O’s!!!

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @DomenicVadala

Randy Buchman, Staff Writer

Hey everyone! I’m a long-time Orioles fan dating back to the 1960s and the
first World Series Championship 4-game sweep of the Dodgers! I was there for
game 4! I have been a newspaper sportswriter earlier in life, and more
recently penned an independent blog about my favorite sport and favorite
team. But now, it is a pleasure to blog as a part of the staff of Birds
Watcher. Along with tracking the Orioles, I coach the varsity boys and girls
cross country teams where I live in Williamsport, Maryland. Beyond sports, I
write a Civil War blog (www.EnfiladingLines.com) and can give you a killer
tour of the Antietam Battlefield. My primary occupation is as the Lead
Pastor of a church in Hagerstown called Tri-State Fellowship. So let’s just
pretend we sat down together at Camden Yards to watch the Birds play, and
how about we have a conversation about what we see?

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @osayorioles

Amanda Redman, Staff Writer

One of my earliest memories is of going to Memorial Stadium to watch the O’s with my father. One of my coolest memories is going to 2131 with my father. (I still wish he’d taken me to the 1993 All-Star Game instead of my brother.) I believe being at Camden Yards with a beer in one hand and a hot dog in the other is the closest thing to heaven on earth. The Orioles are my passion, and I’m so glad to have a chance to talk Orioles baseball with you!

Twitter: @mandy_redman

Steve Katz, Staff Writer

I’m a lifelong Orioles fan who somehow managed not to be completely repulsed by 14 losing years before being rewarded by the joyous surprise that was 2012. A Maryland grad who grew up an Oriole, Baltimore Colts, Baltimore Bullets and Maryland hoops nut. Pet peeves: Wrong names and cheerleading. This vehicle does not stop for sports announcers who can’t pronounce names right or don’t know any history before ESPN. If you can’t do that job your agent got for you, I’ll take it. What did I mean by cheerleading? I’d much rather call a spade a spade than sugarcoat.

Margaret Hooper, Staff Writer

I have a very unique view of growing up as a Orioles fan in Baltimore, which has definitely influenced how I talk & write about sports today. My grandfather is Vince Bagli, he was the sports director at WBAL & the voice of the Colts for many years, a Baltimore legend. Because of that, I have a deep appreciation for what it means to be a Baltimore sports fan. I’ve been lucky enough to meet some greats like Chuck Thompson & Jon Miller, I lived down the street from Mike Bordick & somewhere in my childhood bedroom are signed pics of me with Brady & Cal. My first game was in ’95, sitting in a skybox with my whole extended family to watch my grandfather throw out the first pitch; the game was against the Brewers back when they were in the AL! When I was 12, my dad’s new job moved us to Portland, Oregon, but I never stopped bleeding orange & black. I’ve been with you guys through every one of those 15 losing seasons, wondering, “maybe next year…” so what a relief that “next year” arrived this year with the magical 2012 season. I’m now based in California, ironically close to another team who sports orange & black, the 2012 World Series champion Giants, but I will always root for our boys of Eutaw Street.

Jessica Auburger, Staff Writer

Jessica is a University of Alabama student, majoring in Sports Broadcasting. Her goal is to be an NCAA football sideline reporter. She’s lived in Maryland for her entire life, and Orioles Magic runs in her blood! You can also find her writing for Fansided’s affiliate site, www.alloverthehill.com.

Email: [email protected]

Contact Info:

For all editorial and marketing/advertising inquiries, contact senior editor Adam Best at [email protected]

For all business and technical inquiries, please contact business director Zach Best at [email protected]