Baltimore-centric note: WBAL Radio’s Keith Mills has spoken to other media members about his struggles with an addiction to painkillers that led to legal problems and the loss of his longtime job with Channel 2 three years ago. But now he has written about some of what he went through for PressBox, in the context of Ryan Leaf’s recent issues.

Some people in Baltimore think Mills got soft treatment by the local media for something — particularly the burglary of medication from a neighbor — that an athlete or other public figure would still be feeling the heat about. The thing is, Mills built up a lot of goodwill among his print and electronic brethren over the years. Though I haven’t spoken with him in quite a while, I understand that goodwill, because he was always a good man to deal with in any context.

He also built up a lot of warm feelings among those who watched or listened to him. Mills has come across as a genuine Baltimore guy with a true affection and appreciation for the history and traditions of the city’s sports scene at all levels. That has always played well with a large segment of the audience. And if he has never been the most polished voice on the air, so what?

I applaud his honesty in the PressBox piece and am glad he’s still on the Baltimore airwaves.