"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

♪♪] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT, A TIME MACHINE BRINGS BACK THE WORDS OF SPORTS LEGENDS THAT IS COMING UP.

>>> FIRST TONIGHT MODERN-DAY SPORTS LEGENDS IN THE MAKING THE OLYMPIC GAMES MINTED NEW HEROS AND OFTEN THE STORIES INVOLVE OVERCOMING INCREDIBLE CHALLENGES BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL.

JOINING US IS Dr. DAVID MCDUFF, SPORTS PSYCHIATRIST AT MD SPORTS PERFORMANCE.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD PUBLIC SUCCESS AND THEN FAILURE AND FOUGHT THEIR WAY BACK TO MORE SUCCESS.

I WANT TO LEARN HOW THEY DO THAT.

BUT BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS FIELD?

>> WELL, I'VE BEEN A PSYCHIATRIST FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

I STARTED OUT AS A MILITARY PSYCHIATRIST AND ENDED UP SPENDING 28 YEARS TOTAL SERVICE RETIRED AS AN ARMY COLONEL.

IN 1988 I LEFT ACTIVE-DUTY AND JOINED THE FACULTY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE WHERE I HAVE BEEN SINCE 1988.

AND IN 1996 WHEN THE RAVENS MOVED TO TOWN FROM CLEVELAND, THE ORIOLES WERE ALSO LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO RUN THEIR TEAM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND IN THE SAME YEAR, TWO PSYCHIATRISTS COLLEAGUES AND I WERE ABLE TO START WORKING IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.

AND THEN WE BROADENED OVER TIME TO WORKING AT COLLEGIATE SPORTS HAD A LONG STINT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK AND MORE RECENTLY I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE WORKING TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, AND ADVANCE EXPANSION OF SERVICES INTERNATIONALLY.

>> Jeff: IN GOLF THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE YIPS AND SIMONE BILES A FEW YEARS AGO THEY CALLED IT THE TWISTIES.

WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOMEBODY'S HEAD WHEN THEY HAVE PROBLEMS LIKE THAT?

>> WELL, THE PROBLEM IS FUNDAMENTALLY AS YOU ARE UP IN YOUR HEAD, YOUR THINKING IS ON WHEN IT SHOULD BE QUIET.

YOUR EMOTIONS ARE SPARKING.

AND THOSE THOUGHTS WHICH ARE TYPICALLY DOUBTFUL OR NEGATIVE GET CONNECTED WITH EMOTIONAL CIRCUITS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BRAIN AND YOU ARE NOT DOWN IN YOUR BODY FOCUSED ON WHERE IS YOUR BODY IN SPACE.

AND IN A SPORT LIKE GYMNASTICS WHERE THE INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF ANTIGRAVITY TWISTS AND SUMMER SALTS YOU HAVE TO BE FOCUSED ON YOUR BODY.

YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR THINKING BE ON.

IN HER CASE, SHE JUST CAME TO THE TOKYO OLYMPICS WITH A WHOLE LOT GOING ON IN HER LIFE WITH A LOT OF HER ATTENTION TO HER BRAND AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

SHE WAS ADVERTISED AS THE DIVA OF WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS, WHICH SHE CERTAINLY IS.

I THINK ALL THESE THINGS JUST SORT OF ACTIVATED HER THINKING AND INTERFERED WITH HER AUTOMATICALLY PERFORMING HEROUX TEENS IN THE WAY THAT SHE DID IN PRACTICE.

>> Jeff: WHAT PERCENT OF THE TOP ATHLETES YOU'VE EVER WORKED WITH HAVE SOME OF SORT OF MENTAL DEMONS THOUGHTS THEY WISH THEY COULD GET OUT OF THEIR HEAD BUT THEY CAN'T, BECAUSE THE MORE YOU THINK ABOUT IT IT'S LIKE TRYING TO FAKE CONFIDENCE.

THE MORE YOU THINK ABOUT THE PROBLEM YOU REINFORCE THE PROBLEM, RIGHT?

>> ABOUT 30% OF ATHLETES WILL HAVE AN ACTIVE MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOM OR DISORDER.

TO VARYING DEGREES OF SEVERITY.

ANOTHER 40% WILL STRUGGLE WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE.

AND STAYING FOCUSED AND REGULATING THEIR EMOTIONS.

SO WHEN YOU PUT THOSE TWO GROUPS TOGETHER, 70-80% OF PERSONS CAN BENEFIT FROM THE PRESENCE OF SOMEBODY WHO HAS CLINICAL TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE IN MENTAL HEALTH AND STRESS CONTROL.

AND THEN ALSO WITH PERFORMANCE CONSULTATION WHERE WE TEACH MENTAL SKILLS THAT GET INTY GREATED INTO PHYSICAL AND TECHNICAL TRAINING.

>> Jeff: LET ME REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR OUR GUEST, SEND US AND E-MAIL YOU CAN CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN OR THE E-MAIL ADDRESS IS LIVE QUESTIONS@MPT.ORG.

GET TO THE TECHNIQUES BUT, BEFORE WE DO THAT, THERE WAS A FABULOUS TWEET LAST NIGHT FROM THE YOUNG MAN HE'S LOCAL, WHO IS NOW THE FASTEST MAN IN THE WORLD.

HE RAN THE 100 METER DASH WON IT BY A NOSE.

AND HE TWEETED THIS.

I HAVE ALLERGIES, ASTHMA, DYSLEXIA, ADD, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.

WHAT YOU HAVE DOES NOT DEFINE WHAT YOU CAN BE.

A GREAT ATTITUDE.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY ATHLETES WELL RESPECTED ATHLETES WHO HAVE SPOKEN OUT ABOUT THE FACT THAT MENTAL HEALTH SHOULD BE ON A PAR WITH PHYSICAL HEALTH.

AND HE'S ARTICULATED THAT EXTREMELY WELL.

THERE IS ASSISTANCE FOR ATHLETES OUT THERE AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR THAT MATTER, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH 30% OF ATHLETES MIGHT HAVE A STRUGGLE WITH A MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOM, PERHAPS ONLY ONE-THIRD OF THAT GROUP WILL EVER FIND SERVICES FOR IT.

PARTLY IT'S STIGMA THAT REMAINS.

BUT THAT STIGMA IS BEING BROKEN APART BY THESE ATHLETE TESTIMONIALS PARTICULARLY THE OLYMPIANS.

SIMONE BILES, NOAH LYLES, MICHAEL PHELPS.

PEOPLE FROM OUR AREA WHO HAVE REALLY OPENED PEOPLE'S EYES AND TRIED TO GET THEM TO BE MORE ACCEPTING.

AND THE MIND AND THE BODY ARE NOT SEPARATE.

THEY ARE INTERCONNECTED AND IMPORTANT WAYS AND YOU HAVE TO STAY PHYSICALLY HEALTHY AND MENTALLY HEALTHY AND PREPARED.

>> Jeff: WELL, LET'S TALK TECHNIQUES MAYBE THIS IS USEFUL FOR SOMEBODY WHO HAS TO GIVE A SPEECH, GET UP IN CHURCH OR WHATEVER OR HIT THE BALANCE BEAM AT THE OLYMPICS.

THE ONE I'VE READ ABOUT IS VISUALIZATION.

TELL US WHAT IS IN YOUR ARSENAL?

>> WELL, THE MOST IMPORTANT I BELIEVE IS REGULATING YOUR BREATHING.

AND THERE ARE RELAXATION BREATHING PATTERNS AND THERE ARE STRESS BREATHING PATTERNS.

IF YOU WERE TO GO ON YouTube AND PUT ON STRESS BREATHING AND RELAXATION BREATHING AND DO A SPLIT SCREEN YOU WILL SEE SOMEBODY BREATHING RAPIDLY FOCUSING ON INSPIRATION.

AND RELAXING BREATH WOULD BE IN THROUGH THE NOSE AND THEN A FOCUS ON EXLATION, I CALL IT A CLEARING BREATH.

AND MANY POSITIVE THINGS HAPPEN WHEN YOU CLEAR THE BREATH AND YOU DO IT LONG.

IT WOULD LOOK LIKE THIS.

>> Jeff: AND THE BEAUTY OF THAT I'M GUESSING IS THAT IT GIVES YOUR BRAIN SOMETHING ELSE TO FOCUS ON THAN THE NERVES OR WHATEVER YOU ARE GETTING WORKED UP ABOUT.

>> YOU ARE FOCUSING ON THE FEEL OF YOUR BREATH, THE SOUND OF YOUR BREATH, IF YOU COMBINE THAT BREATH WITH RHYTHMIC MOVEMENT EVEN IF I WAS GIVING A SPEECH AND I WAS A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS, UNDER THE PODIUM OR ON TOP OF THE PODIUM IF I JUST CLEAR MY BREATH AND SYNC IT WITH RIRGT McMOVEMENT IT IS THE MOST POWERFUL TRICK OF OUR BODY'S RELAXATION CIRCUITRY.

WE NEED IT TO BE ACTIVATED TO BE MOTIVATED.

BUT WE DON'T WANT IT TO DOMINATE.

WE HAVE TO LEARN RELAXATION SKILLS IN THE CENTER OF THAT ARSENAL IS REALLY HOW YOU WREATH.

AND -- BREATHE.

AND ALL THESE TECHNIQUES COME FROM ANCIENT BREATHING PROTECT KNICKS IN YOGA FROM INDIA AND PAKISTAN.

>> Jeff: ON THE VISUALIZATION IDEA DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU THE IDEA, I THINK, IS IF YOU ARE ON THE HIGH DIVE YOU VISUALIZE YOURSELF DOING IT SUCCESSFULLY AND THAT IMAGE CARRIES YOU FORWARD.

IS THERE ANYTHING TO THAT?

>> IN SPORTS LIKE GYMNASTICS AND PLATFORM DIVING WHERE THE MOVEMENT PATTERNS ARE COMPLICATED YOU WILL SEE A PLATFORM DIVER BEFORE THEY GET UP ON THE 10 METER PLATFORM THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THEIR DIVES.

YOU WILL SEE THIS IN DOWNHILL SKIERS AND IN GYMNASTS THEY ARE OFF TO THE SIDE AND THEY ARE DOING WHAT WE WOULD CALL MENTAL REHEARSAL.

AND THEIR EYES ARE CLOSED.

THEY ARE NOT JUST SEEING THE PATTERN OF MOVEMENTS, THEY ARE FEELING IT.

AND YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

AND WE KNOW FROM A CERTAIN TYPE OF BRAIN IMAGING FUNCTIONAL MRI THAT WHEN YOU SEE IT AND YOU FEEL IT, YOU TURN ON THE SAME EXACT CIRCUITS AS IF YOU WERE DOING IT.

SO IT IS A LEGITIMATE BRAIN REPETITION WHICH GETS YOU MOVING MORE QUICKLY IN THE DIRECTION OF MUSCLE MEMORY WHICH IS YOU KNOW, DEFINED AS AUTOMATIC MOVEMENT WITHOUT THINKING.

>> Jeff: WE JUST HAVE TWO MINUTES AND I WILL BRING UP A TOPIC WE CAN SPEND 10 MINUTES ON, AS A MEDICAL DOCTOR IS THERE ANY SUBSTANCES TO GIVE AN ATHLETE THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL PSYCHOLOGICALLY WITHOUT CROSSING RED LINES.

>> OCCASIONALLY WE WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO DO IF IN TRAINING THAN COMPETITION.

BUT THERE ARE SOME MEDICATIONS WHICH CAN KEEP YOUR HEART RATE FROM ACTIVATING TO TOO HIGH A LEVEL.

BUT THE BEHAVIORAL TECHNIQUES IF YOU CAN GET AN INDIVIDUAL TO PRACTICE THOSE AND THEN CERTAINLY IF YOU END UP DIAGNOSING AN ANXIETY DISORDER, IT CAN BE PERFORMANCE ANXIETY ONLY BUT IT COULD BE MORE GENERALIZED TO OTHER AREAS OF LIFE, AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF EFFECTIVE MEDICINES THERE.

THE SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS WHEN COMBINED EARLY ON WITH A BEN SO DIE AS PEEN WHICH YOU HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR IN ATHLETES BECAUSE YOU DO NOT WANT THEM TIRED, IF YOU COMBINE THEM AT LOWER DOSAGES AND CONNECT THEM WITH BEHAVIORAL STRATEGIES WE HAVE GOOD RESULTS WITH THE ATHLETES THAT WE SEE.

>> Jeff: BEFORE WE GO, ARE PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES GOOD PATIENTS OR DIFFICULT PATIENTS?

I'M GUESSING GOOD BECAUSE THEY ARE USED TO BEING COACHED?

>> THEY ARE GOOD.

THEY ARE RECEPTIVE WHEN THEY TRUST YOU.

AND YOU HAVE TO BUILD TRUST.

I WORKED FOR THE RAVENS FROM '96 TO 2013 AND THOSE FIRST FEW YEARS, MANY PLAYERS WERE WARY BECAUSE THEY NEVER HAD A PSYCHIATRIST IN THE TRAINING ROOM BEFORE BUT THE HEAD TRAINER WOULD INTRODUCE ME TO PLAYERS.

AND AS TIME WENTZ BY THE NEXT YEAR, 25% CAME TO SEE US THEN 45%.

AND THAT WILL TELL THEIR TEAMMATES WHEN THEY HAVE HAD A SUCCESSFUL ENCOUNTER WITH A MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST, WORD WILL GET AROUND AND THEY WILL COME UP AND TALK TO YOU.

>> Jeff: DOCTOR WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

Dr. DAVID MCDUFF WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: AND NOW A NEW SPORTS MEDIA PROJECT IS RESTORING DECADES OLD INTERVIEWS WITH SPORTS LEGENDS LIKE THIS CLIP OF KEN SINGER TON TALKING ABOUT THE LATE ORIOLES MANAGER EARL WEAVER.

>> I REMEMBER ONE TIME IN MILWAUKEE I TRIED TO STEAL THIRD AND I GOT THROWN OUT AND CAME BACK TO THE DUGOUT I WAS MAD BECAUSE I GOT THROWN OUT.

HE WALKED INTO THE DUGOUT POINTING A FINGER AND TELLING ME LOOK I'M THE ONE WHO PUT THE STEAL SIGN AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET IT OFTEN.

I WAS TOOK ALL THE HELMETS AND KNOCKED THEM ALL OFF.

AND I DON'T THINK ANY HIT HIM BUT THEY CAME CLOSE.

AND HE DIDN'T YELL AT ME THAT OFTEN IT WAS BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE REASON TO YELL AT ME.

HE YELLED AT SOME GUYS A LOT.

>> Jeff: JOINING US IS JOHN EISENBERG WELCOME BACK TO MPT.

TELL US ABOUT THE BIRD TAPES?

>> WELL, IT ALL STARTED A QUARTER CENTURY AGO I WAS A COLUMNIST AT "THE BALTIMORE SUN" MY PRIOR LIFE.

AND I TOOK ON A SIDE GIG, I WROTE A BOOK ABOUT THE ORIOLES I WAS COVERING THEM I WROTE A BOOK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF ORIOLES THEY WERE NOT FIVE DECADES OLD AND I WENT AROUND THE COUNTRY INTERVIEWING EVERYONE WHO HAD DONE ANYTHING FOR THE ORIOLES WHO WOULD TALK TO ME AND WAS STILL ALIVE.

I GOT A LOT OF INTERVIEWS A LOT OF STUFF ON TAPE I PUBLISHED THE BOOK IN 2021, BIG, THICK BOOK.

SO I KEPT THE TAPES THEY WERE NOT ALL ON TAPE BUT A LOT WERE.

ALL THE LEGENDSES 50 GUYS ON TAPE.

PUT THE TAPES IN A SHOE BOX THEY ARE MICRO CASSETTE TAPES AND PUT THEM AWAY.

I DID NOTHING WITH THEM FOR 20 SOMETHING YEARS UNTIL I WAS CLEANING OUT MY CLOSET LAST FALL AND SAID LOOK AT THESE TAPES I NEED TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE IT'S THE HISTORY OF THE TEAM.

AND IT'S SITTING IN MY CLOSET.

SO I NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING SO I'M TAKING THE TAPES OUT AND GETTING THEM DIGITIZED AND RELEASING THEM ON A SUBSTACK A MEDIA PLATFORM.

AND I'M PUTTING THEM OUT ONE WEEK AT A TIME.

ALL THESE VINTAGE INTERVIEWS AND THEY ARE BIOGRAPHICAL INTERVIEWS TELLING THEIR LIFE STORIES.

>> Jeff: YOU DIDN'T HAPPEN TO HAVE THE RECORDER AT THAT TIME YOU RECORDED THIS STUFF ON?

>> I DID NOT.

I DID NOT.

I COULDN'T FIND IT THE MICRO CASSETTE RECORDER BUT I HAD THE PLASTIC TAPES AND I FOUND SOMEONE WHO CAN DIGITIZE THEM AND I'M GETTING HELP.

IT DOES TAKE A VILLAGE AND UP TO SPEED.

SO THE AUDIO IS CLEAR.

BUT YOU CAN HEAR IT IS A 25-YEAR-OLD INTERVIEW WITH EARL WEAVER OR BROOKS ROBINSON THEY ARE YOUNGER AND TELLING THEIR STORIES.

AND I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING HONESTLY THAT ORIOLE FANS WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN GREAT.

>> Jeff: IT'S COOL.

BECAUSE I WONDER WHEN YOU LISTEN TO IT IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT AT THE TIME MAYBE DIDN'T SEEM IMPORTANT OR INTERESTING.

BUT NOW, SEEM ESPECIALLY INTERESTING OR VICE VERSA.

HOW MUCH DIFFERENCE DOES THE 25 YEARS MAKE?

>> LISTENING TO MYSELF BECAUSE I'M INTERVIEWING 25 YEARS LATER AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF TIMES WHEN I GO WAIT YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED SOMETHING THERE.

BUT YOU KNOW, I WAS A MUCH YOUNGER MAN.

BUT, YES, FOR INSTANCE, I INTERVIEWED FRANK ROBINSON.

AND HE WAS TELLING ME ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE WHEN HE CAME TO BALTIMORE.

AND COULDN'T FIND HOUSING.

AND HE COULDN'T FIND -- HE COULD FIND HOUSING HIS WIFE WAS LOOKING FOR IT AND EVERYTHING WAS GREAT UNTIL THEY FOUND OUT SHE WASN'T BROOKS ROBINSON'S WIFE.

HE TOLD ME THAT STORY.

AND FASCINATING STUFF.

AND I EXPLORED IT A LITTLE BIT I SHOULD HAVE EXPLORED IT A LOT MORE.

>> Jeff: AND IT WORKS OUT WELL FOR YOU THAT THE TEAM IS GOOD THESE DAYS.

IF THE ORIOLES WERE STILL LOSING 100 GAMES A YEAR, THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST MIGHT BE MORE ACADEMIC OR LIMITED?

>> I AGREE.

THAT WAS PART OF THE CALCULUS FOR ME I WILL FULLY ADMIT.

IF THE TEAM IS IN A GOOD PLACE AN INTERESTING PLACE, AND SO YEAH, IF IT WAS 110 LOSSES THEN YOU HAVE TO JIN UP ENTHUSIASM BUT THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE TEAM.

SO YEAH, IT'S WHAT I HOPE TO DO WITH IT THERE IS A LOT OF NEW FANS AND CONNECT THE DOTS A LITTLE BIT AND SAY LOOK THE STUFF THAT IS HAPPENING NOW IS COOL AND GREAT.

BUT IT'S USUALLY NOT THE FIRST TIME IT'S HAPPENED AND THERE IS A CONTINUUM HERE.

IT STARTED IN 1954.

IT WAS ONE CONTINUUM ORIOLE HISTORY AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IS PART OF IT.

>> Jeff: WE USED TO HEAR ABOUT THE ORIOLE WAY ALL THE TIME.

WHAT WAS THAT?

>> THE ORIOLE WAY WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS A WAY OF PLAYING BASEBALL WHICH WAS AND IS WRITTEN DOWN AND PUT IN A MANUAL AT THEIR SPRING TRAINING CAMP IN THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA IN THE EARLY 60s.

AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORS, EARL WEAVER, CAL RIPKEN, SENIOR THEY HAD THEM WRITE A CHAPTER THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR RELAY PLAYS FROM THE OUTFIELD TO THE INFIELD.

THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO RUN THE BASES.

THIS IS HOW WE WILL HAVE INFIELD PRACTICE BEFORE A GAME.

THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO PITCH.

SO THERE ARE COPIES OF ORIOLE WAY.

BUT WHAT IT WAS LARGER THAN THE PRINTED DOCUMENT WAS A WAY OF PLAYING BASEBALL AND WHAT THE ORIOLES WANTED WAS FOR THEY HAD SEVEN OR EIGHT MINOR LEAGUE AFFILIATES.

THEY WANTED THE SAME BASEBALL PLAYED AT EVERY STOP.

SO THAT WHEN THE PLAYERS MOVED THROUGH AND MAYBE HOPEFULLY REACHED THE MAJOR LEAGUES THERE WERE NO SURPRISES THEY WERE RUNNING THE SAME PLAYS THEY RUN IN THE MINORS.

>> Jeff: YOU ALSO TALKED TO EARL WEAVER AND ABOUT EARL WEAVER THE LATE MANAGER A LOT.

AND HE WAS REALLY AHEAD OF HIS TIME.

HIS DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM INVOLVED INDEX CARDS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ACTUALLY BEFORE THAT, HE R THE INDEX CARDS BECAME FAMOUS BUT RIGHT AFTER HE BECAME MANAGER AND HE TELLS THIS STORY IN THE BIRD TAPES INTERVIEW HE TELLS THE STORY.

BECAUSE IT IS FAMOUS STUFF AND LED TO SO MUCH.

AT THE END OF THE SEASON HE WENT TO THE PR GUY AND SAID CAN YOU TELL ME HOW BOO POWELL DID THIS YEAR?

AND BOB SAID SURE I CAN DO THAT.

HE CAME TO -- HE WROTE IT DOWN LONGHAND WITH A PEN AND PAPER AND SAID HERE IS HOWEVER BATTER DID AGAINST EVERY PITCHER.

THEY WOULD DO THAT IN 1969.

EARL HAD THE RESULTS IN FRONT OF HIM.

AND INSTEAD OF JUST RELYING BATTING AVERAGES, NOW YOU CAN SEE INSIDE THOSE AVERAGES HOW CERTAIN HITTERS WERE DOING AGAINST PITCHERS.

HE PUT THEM ON INDEX CARDS HE WAS AHEAD OF THE OTHER MANAGERS DOING THAT STUFF AND IT HELPED THE ORIOLES.

>> Jeff: AND IT WAS BEFORE ANYBODY KNEW WHAT AS SPIN RATE WAS?

>> WELL BEFORE ANYBODY KNEW WHAT A SPIN RATE IS OR THE STAT CAST, THE LAUNCH ANGLE AND THE SPEED OF A BATTED BALL AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND ALL THE STUFF THAT IS COOL THAT IS GOING ON NOW.

BUT IT WAS MUCH SIMPLER.

>> Jeff: GIVE US ANOTHER NAME OR TWO.

WE TALKED ABOUT FRANK AND BROOKS AND EARL.

WHO ELSE STANDS OUT?

ANY STORIES STAND OUT?

>> OH, GOSH.

WELL, I'VE DONE ALL ERAS THE 50s, THE 60s, JIM GENTILE A GAME WE'RE GOING BACK HERE BUT THE FIRST BASEMAN FOR THE ORIOLES IN THE EARLY 60s.

AND HE WAS REALLY THEIR FIRST SLUGGER, THE FIRST POWER HITTER AND ON A DAY IN 1961 IN A GAME IN MINNESOTA HE HIT A GRANDSLAM IN THE FIRST INNING AND HE HIT A GRANDSLAM IN THE SECOND INNING.

ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS DAYS IN ORIOLE HISTORY AND I WENT TO OKLAHOMA WHERE HE LIVED.

I INTERVIEWED HIM IN HIS LIVING ROOM.

HE WAS VERY FORTHCOMING, FUNNY AND I SHOULDN'T TELL YOU THE STORY OF THAT DAY.

I SAID NOW YOU HAVE TO.

AND SO HE TOLD ME HE HAD BEEN OUT ALL NIGHT THE NIGHT BEFORE.

AND IT WAS A DAY GAME IN MINNESOTA.

AND HE GOT A CUP OF COFFEE AND A CAB TO THE BALL PARK AND HIT TWO GRANDSLAMS BY THE SECOND INNING.

>> Jeff: AND HE HAD TO TRY IT AGAIN THE NEXT NIGHT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HE WAS A GREAT STORYTELLER HE PLAYED WITH SANDY KOUFAX AND JACKIE ROBINSON.

THIS BASEBALL HISTORY IN MY MIND UNFOLDS WEEK AFTER WEEK IN THE INTERVIEWS.

>> Jeff: I KNOW YOU INTERVIEWED THE LATE OWNER PETER ANGELOS.

WAS THAT ON TAPE?

>> IT IS ON TAPE.

I HAVE NOT DIGITIZED IT YET.

BUT I WILL.

THAT ONE -- >> Jeff: YOU DESCRIBE THAT AS A LIQUID LUNCH.

>> IT WAS A LIQUID LUNCH WE'RE TELLING THE STORY.

HE WOULDN'T TALK TO ME BACK IN THE DAY FOR "THE BALTIMORE SUN".

HE WAS NOT HE DID NOT APPROVE OF THE NEWSPAPER'S COVERAGE OF HIM.

I'M SAYING THAT NICELY.

AND SO BUT AT THE END OF THE PROCESS, I INTERVIEWED AND HE CONSTANTLY REBUFFED ANY AND ALL INTERVIEW REQUESTS HE WAS THE LAST GUY THAT I INTERVIEWED FOR THE BOOK.

I INTERVIEWED EVERYBODY AND THINKING HE WOULD NOT DO IT I SPOKE TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEAM THEN AND RAN THE OFFICE AND HE GAVE ME THE INTERVIEW.

BUT THEN HE WENT TO PETER.

AND I THINK HE SAID YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LOOK GOOD HERE HE HAS TALKED TO EVERYBODY SO I GOT A CALL.

YES, WE MET FOR TWO HOURS IN I WILL ITALY THE TAPE RECORDER WENT ON.

HE TOLD ALL STORIES.

DEFENDED HIMSELF OF THE DISCOVERSIES AND AT THE END OF IT I TURNED THE RECORDER OFF AND SAID YOU SHOULD DO THAT MORE OFTEN YOU ARE GOOD AT THIS.

HE WAS LIKE FORGET ABOUT IT.

THAT IS COMING TO THE BIRD TAPES IN A COUPLE MONTHS.

>> Jeff: WAS HE ULTIMATELY RIGHT THAT THE ARRIVAL OR THE RETURN OF A MAJOR LEAGUE TEAM TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WAS GOING TO SPELL BOOM FOR THE ORIOLES IN -- DOOM FOR THE ORALS IN TERMS OF FINANCES AND COMPETITIVENESS?

>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS TOTAL DOOM AS EVIDENCED WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

HE WAS RIGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.

IT WAS A PROBLEM AND HE NEGOTIATED, THE TERMS OF THE TV WERE FAVORABLE FOR THE ORIOLES.

AND A NUMBER OF THINGS.

AND YEAH, I MEAN IN A WAY I THINK HE WAS RIGHT.

IT'S TAKEN YEARS FOR THE ORIOLES REALLY TO SORT OF PULL OUT OF THAT SITUATION.

AND REESTABLISH THEMSELVES.

>> Jeff: SO AS A LONGTIME OBSERVER OF THE TEAM WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CURRENT SITUATION?

A LOT OF YOUTHFUL TALENT AND THE NEW SET OF DEEP POCKETED OWNERS?

>> IT'S REALLY GOOD.

IT IS A REALLY GOOD SITUATION RIGHT NOW.

THE DEEP POCKETED OWNER WHO IT APPEARS WANTS TO DO RIGHT BY BALTIMORE, IS THAT'S JUST A GREAT THING IT IS A GOOD THING.

AND PRIOR TO THAT, THEY HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB OF FILLING THE TALENT PIPELINE.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT AND HAVING GONE BACK THE OLDTIMERS WILL TELL YOU, THEN THERE WERE A LOT OF PITCHERS THAT CAME AND THE ORIOLES WERE GOOD FOR A LOT OF YEARS AT DEVELOPING GUYS AND TONS OF THEM.

BUT I DON'T THINK YOU CAN NECESSARILY TOP WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH JUST YOUNG STAR AFTER OTHERS AND NOW THEY ARE COMING TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES INTERESTING.

>> Jeff: WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE BIRD TAPES.

>> IT'S ON SUBSTACK.

THE WEB ADDRESS IS BIRDTAPES DOT SUBSTACK.COM.

YOU CAN GOOGLE MY NAME AND BIRD TAPES IT WILL COME UP.

IT'S ALL OVER.

AND YES, IT IS A SUBSCRIPTION MODEL SUBSTACK DOES THAT THAT'S HOW THEY OPERATE THE YOU CAN DO FREE MODEL OR PAID MODEL TO HEAR THE TAPES.

BUT IT'S ON SUBSTACK.

>> Jeff: AND IF ANYBODY OUT THERE IS LOOKING FOR A BEACH READ, FOR THIS SUMMER YOU'VE BEEN A PROLIFIC WRITER OF BOOKS THE MOST RECENT WAS ABOUT THE BLACK QUARTERBACKS OF THE NFL.

>> YES.

YES.

THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT.

IT CAME OUT LAST YEAR.

THE TITLE IS ROCKET MEN.

IT'S IN A WAY ALL THE LEAD UP TO HOW IN THE WORLD DID LAMAR JACKSON LAND HERE AND END UP BEING AS GREAT AS HE IS AND GET THAT OPPORTUNITY.

SO YEAH, THAT'S MY MOST RECENT BOOK.

AND WITH FOOTBALL SEASON GEARING UP IT'S OUT THERE WHEREVER YOU WANT TO GET IT.

>> Jeff: GREAT TIME OF THE YEAR.

SPORTS WRITER JOHN EISENBERG THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

JOIN US FOR THAT FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

REMEMBER YOU CAN SEE PAST EDITIONS OF OUR PROGRAMS AT VIDEO.MPT.TV.

AND AS WELL THROUGH THE FREE PBS APP.

YOU CAN FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT MPT NEWS.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]