Pointing out the joys of parenting and baseball with Mark Viviano

May 10, 2026 - 21:24

About once a year, we manage to pull longtime WJZ sports director Mark Viviano off the bench and away from his kids' Little League games. This time, he sat down with us at Planet Fitness in Timonium as part of the Maryland Crab Cake Tour. We talked about life after television, the press box, and the locker room at deadline.

Viviano spent decades covering Baltimore sports, but these days his focus has shifted to the diamond in his own backyard. He spoke about the simple pleasures of watching his children play, the thrill of a well-hit foul ball, and the lessons that only a game of catch can teach. He also reflected on the importance of good deeds and fair play, both in sports and in everyday life.

For Viviano, the transition from professional deadlines to parenting has been a welcome change. He finds joy in the small moments: the dirt on the uniform, the sound of a bat connecting, and the quiet pride of seeing his kids grow. It is a reminder that some of the best games are played long after the cameras stop rolling.