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Tim Kurkjian Tim was born in Bethesda, Maryland, on Dec. 10, 1956, where was spoken daily by his father Badrig Kurkjian, who went by the name “Jeff.” Tim’s grandparents on his father’s side came to Watertown, Massachusetts after the massacre. His mother is from England. In a Today, Kurkjian and his wife Kathy live in Darnestown, Maryland and have two children, Kelly, 20, and Jeff, League 17. His journalism career began with the Washington in 1978 following his graduation from the University of Maryland the same year. He also of his Own worked briefly for the There are athletes, and then there are those who pass on Baltimore News American in 1981 prior to beginning their stories and legacies for generations to come. No sport a professional career brings generations together better than baseball. No one covering baseball as the does it better than . beat writer for the Dallas Morning News, where he worked Text Manouk Akopyan from 1981 to 1985. He then covered the for beginning in 1986 to 1989. He was a senior writer for from 1989-1997 as well im Kurkjian is a graduate of real life. He talks about baseball with a as a reporter for CNN-SI TWalter Johnson High School, named boyish enthusiasm not seen even in a from 1996-1997. Kurkjian after the greatest pitcher of all time. little leaguer standing in line for a snow joined ESPN in March Kurkjian wrote for The , the school’s cone after a game. Statistics roll off his 1998 as both an analyst appropriately named newspaper that tongue verbatim as if reading the back of and reporter for Baseball nods to both journalism and baseball. a baseball card. The acronyms he abides Tonight and Sportscenter. For the last 14 years, everyday from the by are ERA, OPS, SLG. He is also a senior writer months of February through October, “There are players in the majors – for ESPN The Magazine viewers have watched his Ruthian-like whether its or David and a columnist for ESPN. performances on ESPN’s Baseball Eckstein – who aren’t that much bigger com. He has authored Tonight and Sportscenter. There’s only than I am. It’s one of the great beauties two books: America’s one . He’s not a baseball player; he’s of the game and another reason why I Game (2000), a three- the network’s lead baseball analyst and love baseball, because it’s open to all dimensional interactive reporter extraordinaire. shapes and sizes,” Kurkjian says. “I’d like book featuring documents Topping the charts at 5’5”, his act is to be as big as Mark McGwire one day, and photographs from nonetheless large both on-screen and in but I’ll take what I got at 140 pounds.” the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and Is This a Great Game or What: From A-Rod’s Heart to Zim’s Head: “Tim’s a grinder, he works hard, and is very My 25 Years in Baseball knowledgeable and passionate about the (2007). game, and people respect the heck of

him,” says Orioles Manager . Roark David

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After graduating from Walter Johnson, “, is the greatest player of all and , players with dirty It was a sad reality for Kurkjian to accept, Kurkjian accepted that his baseball time, and there really is no close second. marks. The last five years, he has ended who prior to joining ESPN in 1998, was a career was over before it even began. So After , he was the most up being the minority as it’s been pretty reporter for Sports Illustrated and several it was only inevitable that he would end important player in league history,” says clear how voters feel about steroids. He different newspapers over the years. up with a career as a baseball writer – Kurkjian. “I find it interesting that people believes that an awful lot of players were But as it is apparent now, print edition one that has seen him cover over 3,000 find him to be this big fat guy who couldn’t doing something illegal in the steroid newspapers are in a neck-and-neck fight games, and every World and All- and ate hot dogs in the middle of the era and to just out a few and say with the fax machine to see which will Star game for the last 30 years. game, when the real truth is, he was a “we are going to punish you guys” just be on the extinct list first. Kurkjian is the best at what he does, fabulous athlete. In his prime, he was doesn’t seem right to him. At this point, At 54-years-old, Tim would rather which is one of the reasons that in July certainly bigger, better, faster, and stronger he’ll vote for Bonds and not deal with all the technological of last year, it led to his own bobblehead than anyone who played in his era.” for the 2013 class, too, as they both hullabaloo of today, so he’s dipping his night in his hometown for the Bethesda Although Armenians love beer, hot dogs begin perjury trials for lying to Congress. feet in very slowly. In March, he started Big Train. The bobblehead shows and women as much as Ruth did, they “Keeping them out of the Hall of Fame is tweeting at “Kurkjian_ESPN”, where you Kurkjian standing on the pitchers mound, are largely a minority when it comes to the easy way out. As we try to examine can read such updates like “(Stephen looking as sharp in a clay suit as he baseball. In Armenia, until this day, you who was doing what, it makes for a very Strasburg) has 6-pac abs. And he is so usually does on TV. still can’t find a . Stickball cumbersome issue. Whether it’s corked much more comfortable this spring,” He says that baseball is the hardest game games on street corners are simply non- bats or scuffed balls, it seems to me that referring to the acclaimed Washington to play – in the world – and he is always existent. The only hint of the game is a people have been in baseball Nationals pitcher, and “Talked to Yogi eager to argue his point. But be warned. bat, and that doesn’t even since since its first day 150 years ago.” Berra today. He had 23 RBI’s in a Anyone willing to argue should get ready it’s a universal form of self-defense – or Kurkjian is not in favor of labeling steroids in minor leagues.” for a historical, statistical and anecdotal assault. Just ask Juan Marichal. users as ‘cheaters’ and simply ending the “It’s troublesome for a 54-year old guy who mutilation, and invariably, end up When speaking of eras, the conversation debatable problem by putting asterisks grew up learning there is a certain way accepting Babe Ruth as their lord quickly moves into steroids – which has next to records. What he is in favor of is to journalism, and now clearly, the rules and savior. clouded the game over the last 20 years. attaching a story to each controversy and have changed with (the Internet and social “I’m not sure if anybody enjoys baseball As a Hall of Fame voter for the last 21 letting fans make up their own minds.“If media),” he says. “There used to be a day and its storytelling, history and years, Kurkjian finds himself caught in a we start putting asterisks now for all of 30 years ago when I was working for a traditions more than Tim,” says Karl pickle as to how to clean up a mess created our sluggers, every single page is going newspaper where you had a story at 10 Ravech, host of for by the Sultan of Swats of the late 20th to have about 20 asterisks on it,” he says. o’clock at night and you could keep it quiet the last 16 years. “I feel honored to and 21st centuries with , Jose “This era’s debate should be in the hands of for the next couple of hours – and you had work with somebody who takes his job Canseco, McGwire and hundreds of others. the fans. There is no way around it.” a story the following morning that was seriously and respects the game the way “It is the single hardest issue I have dealt Last year, an end to a record era also going to live all day. Now, it simply doesn’t he does. He is very unique in his ability with in my years of covering baseball. came to a somber close for Kurkjian – work that way. It’s a 24-hour news cycle to put accomplishments into historical that never ends. It’s very exciting in a way, perspective with clear and open eyes. His and I really like it, but yet, it worries me context and frame of reference in regards that we’re not interested in journalism to baseball makes you think that he can “I’m not sure if anybody enjoys baseball and today and getting things right, but rather, easily be the next commissioner. He’s just being first.” such a cheerleader of the sport and really its storytelling, history and traditions more “There’s no meanness to him; he’s very has a love affair with the game.” than Tim,” says , host of ESPN’s factual,” says Showalter. “When he walks When Kurkjian talks about baseball, his into a locker room, a lot of people have

storytelling and excitement for it can Faraoni Joe Baseball Tonight for the last 16 years. respect for him because they know he make lining chalk along the foul lines cares about being right.” sound as exhilarating as Game 7 of the Whatever the next media may . Bedrosian and being mistaken for Kurkjian lists his top three hitters of all I don’t even pretend to have the right and it had nothing to do with anything be, be assured that Kurkjian will be “There is not anyone I respect more fellow reporter Armen Keteyian by two time as Babe Ruth, and Ty answer. Given all the factors and how happening on the field. Frankly, it was sitting right on top of it, connecting with in this business than Tim,” says Buck Armenian waiters at a Seattle restaurant Cobb, in that order. Walter Johnson, Cy little we know about steroids, and what the greatest baseball streak never heard a microphone and notebook better than Showalter, manager of the Baltimore during the 2001 All Star game. One day Young and Lefty Grove round out his exactly it does to a ballplayer, in a lack of of. After 21 years, Ironman Kurkjian anyone else in his league today. Orioles. “He’s one of my favorite people in in the clubhouse, former top three on the mound. “In baseball, evidence and proof on the highest level, put an end to a streak when he stopped “I have the greatest job in the world, and the game. Tim’s a grinder, he works hard, manager Jimy Williams dropped some more than any other sport, true greatness I find myself voting for these guys,” he clipping every newspaper box score of I know people say stuff like that all the and is very knowledgeable and passionate “ batch of pilaf” knowledge on transcends all eras,” he says. says. “I am the son of a mathematician every game into a spiral notebook, “a time, but I really mean it, and I really about the game, and people respect the Kurkjian. Evidently, Williams had spent Babe Ruth, who had 94 wins, 107 complete and am married to a lawyer. I need daily task that I’ve estimated, at roughly do appreciate it,” he says. “I understand heck out of him.” a summer in Fresno with an Armenian games, and 17 shutouts as a pitcher before more proof than what we have now as to 15 minutes per day, has cost me 40 days how lucky I am to be where I am. I get to Kurkjian also shares stories of former roommate and learned the recipe. writing the record books with 714 career exactly what steroids do.” of my truly pathetic life,” he says. go to baseball games, and talk and write Armenian ballplayers Jim Essian, and “Remember, two batches, two pots!” home runs and an almanac of other Kurkjian said that in ballots of years Alas, the Cal Ripken Jr. of sports section about it for a living. How many people 1987 Cy Young award winner Steve Williams advised. records, is his crème de la crème. past, he’s voted for the likes of McGwire clippings finally took a day off – for good. would love to do that?”

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