Five-time WNBA All-Star, two-time Olympian, and Baltimore native Angel McCoughtry is set to host a new TV show about her hometown, which will premiere this Tuesday, Feb. 27.
“Ballin’ in Baltimore” will showcase aspects of Baltimore and the surrounding region that capture the area’s essence, from hanging out with Ekiben co-owner Steven Chu, to hitting baseballs at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen with Ryan Ripken, son of Cal Ripken Jr.
Other highlights of the season include making RoosTarts at Iron Rooster, meeting dolphins at the National Aquarium, learning the Park Heights Strut dance, and more.
McCoughtry’s motivation for hosting the show comes from her desire to change the national perception of Baltimore.
“I’m so sick and tired of people calling Baltimore ‘The Wire,’” McCoughtry said. “I have to show the true side of the city. And that’s what we did.”
McCoughtry hopes viewers will watch the show and realize the positive features around Baltimore.
She has traveled all over the world, including places where there is a strong, negative perception of the area. McCoughtry mentioned Kingston, Jamaica as a place she had heard was dangerous to visit, but found it was the opposite when she arrived.
“That’s what I want to do for Baltimore,” McCoughtry said. “To show that it’s not this crime-driven city that people think it is.”
The Baltimore area houses major companies like spice and seasoning giant McCormick & Co., the headquarters of athletic appparel brand Under Armour, and a Domino Sugar refinery. It also is home to rich and diverse food, arts, and cultural scenes. Most people outside Baltimore don’t see that, but McCoughtry hopes “Ballin’ in Baltimore” will improve the city’s national reputation.
McCoughtry praised Baltimore for its creativity, despite often being overlooked compared to larger cities like New York City, Los Angeles or Atlanta.
“Baltimore is a creative city with the art, the music scene,” she said. “Even the drama scene, the acting. There’s so much.”
The show will air on Very Local, a free streaming platform Hearst Television owns. So far, the show has only one season, but McCoughtry hopes to do more seasons, whether it’s in Baltimore or other cities.
