Todd Karpovich
Todd Karpovich is a sports and news journalist who connects Baltimore’s teams and events to the business, policy and history that surround them. He is the Assistant Metro Editor at the Baltimore Sun and reports on a wide range of Baltimore-area and Maryland topics for the masthead’s emerging news desk. Across the Sun and national outlets, he writes and edits stories that span breaking news, game analysis, long-form features and industry-focused sports reporting.
Maryland horse racing and state investment
At the Baltimore Sun, Karpovich has recently focused heavily on Maryland’s horse racing industry and the state’s financial stake in its future. His coverage includes an examination of how Maryland is “spending big” on horse racing at the same time rival venues such as Belmont Park are undergoing major transformations, framing the sport within a changing competitive landscape. He reports on the state’s multimillion-dollar investment in the Preakness Stakes and redevelopment of Pimlico, detailing the debates among experts over whether those commitments still make economic sense. In a cluster of stories on a new national Thoroughbred Championship Series, he tracks how the Preakness was excluded, the surprise inside the Moore administration, and the argument from local business leaders that state ownership of the race and Pimlico’s overhaul underpin its long-term value.
He complements these policy and economics pieces with on-the-ground coverage of live racing, such as the opening of Laurel Park’s fall meet, and profiles tied to the local racing community, including longtime Maryland thoroughbred trainers.
Baltimore Ravens and NFL analysis
Karpovich’s sports work is distinguished by sustained, detailed coverage of the Baltimore Ravens and the broader NFL. He has written game stories that emphasize turning points and context, such as the Ravens’ narrow win over the Cleveland Browns, a finale against the Cincinnati Bengals where a short-handed roster still pushed a surging opponent, and an overtime comeback against the Indianapolis Colts driven by a record-setting performance from Lamar Jackson.
His Ravens coverage includes “what we learned” pieces and power rankings analysis, placing single games within the team’s season trajectory and the league hierarchy. He also explores franchise history, writing about how the Ravens’ name was chosen and how that identity connects to the team’s place in the city. Karpovich adds human-interest and developmental angles, profiling a rookie like Tyler Badie reminiscing about growing up in the region and tracing how players such as Mark Ingram contribute to traditions like Alabama’s reputation as “Running Back U.”
His professional background includes work as a beat writer and analyst on the Ravens and previous reporting on the Orioles and lacrosse, reinforcing the depth of his football and local team expertise.
Multi-sport coverage and long-form books
Beyond the Ravens, Karpovich covers multiple sports and levels, and extends that work into long-form books. His author and contributor bios note experience across outlets such as ESPN, Forbes, the Associated Press, The Sporting News, PressBox and major newspapers including the Boston Globe, Dallas Morning News, Boston Herald and Chicago Tribune. He has written or co-written six nonfiction sports books, including a Ravens-focused volume of sideline, locker room and press box stories, a profile of Buck Showalter’s tenure with the Orioles, and titles on Manchester United, Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees, and the Michigan State Spartans.
That catalog shows a range from NFL and Major League Baseball to European soccer and college football, with an emphasis on team culture, leadership and program history. His reporting at other outlets also includes soccer coverage, such as pieces tied to Bruce Arena and the U.S. Men’s National Team, underscoring his familiarity with international and national soccer narratives alongside his local beats.
Local business and emerging news reporting
In his role at the Baltimore Sun’s emerging news desk, Karpovich covers business and commercial development alongside crime, public safety, government, weather, environment, restaurants and education. His portfolio includes stories on commercial property deals and new ventures, such as a piece on a warehouse sale in Timonium and plans to convert the space into a boutique gym. This mix of business coverage and general news gives him a vantage point on how sports, real estate, public investment and neighborhood change intersect.
His work is grounded in straightforward reporting on concrete decisions and projects, whether state spending on Pimlico or a local operator reshaping a warehouse, making him a fit for stories that sit at the junction of sports, money and community impact.
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Adair Reid
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Adam Stern
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Albert Burneko
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Albert Samaha
Albert Samaha is a sports investigative reporter who uses games to examine how power, money and culture shape players, workers, fans and communities. He works in The Washington Post sports section, covering global tournaments, migration, fan culture, sports betting, match-fixing, ownership, NIL money, football safety, participation gaps and the changing culture of women’s basketball. His reporting connects events on the field to decisions in boardrooms, betting markets, government offices and law enforcement. He previously reported for BuzzFeed News and wrote for the Village Voice, San Francisco Weekly and the Riverfront Times. His work has also appeared in The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, The New York Times and The Paris Review. He writes long, deeply reported stories that combine narrative scenes, data analysis, public records, medical records and other documents.