Welcome back to “On the Air,” in which Sports Media Watch Podcast co-host Armand Broady will offer in-depth breakdowns of broadcasters’ on-air performance and career journeys, plus chronicle broader trends in the industry.
After a 23-year run, ESPN’s “Around the Horn” is ending this week, and the contract of its host Tony Reali is up this summer.
Debuting as “Stat Boy” on ESPN’s popular talk show “Pardon the Interruption,” Reali replaced Max Kellerman as host of “ATH” in 2004. Under Reali, a show described in its infancy by the L.A. Times as “30 minutes of hell orchestrated by a blathering self-important loudmouth” has transformed into a half hour of mostly good-natured sports talk.
That good-naturedness has been met with criticism from those who found the heterogeneous mix of panelists off-putting. Reali and the show’s producers have been intentional about showcasing women and people of color. Some, including controversial former panelist Jay Mariotti, have railed against the show, accusing it of being a vehicle for left-wing “woke” commentary.
Over the past few days, Reali has pushed back against those critics.
“It’s a fine headline to write,” Reali said on “The Dan Patrick Show” earlier this week. “I don’t believe what that is. We did 50,000 topics over 23 years. You’re going to tell me 10 or 15 drew an eyebrow up? I’ll be like yeah. We were doing some complex topics from time to time. Maybe there’s one or two I would take back if you asked me — those aren’t my regrets, not at all. We have men, we have women all on a level playing field. That’s never going to be a negative for me.”
In a recent interview with New York Magazine, Woody Paige, ATH’s elder statesman and most prominent panelist, addressed the public’s response to the show’s evolution.
“It was always middle-class white guys (when the show started),” Paige said. “The point is that we had to grow and expand not only with the people on the show but expand our talking points. I think that kept us fresh, but it also might have kept us from reaching higher heights in our ratings.”
Paige’s comments suggest an awareness that “Around the Horn” had plateaued. Along the way, it lost its magnetism.
“During the day, it’s about relevance and brand,” ESPN president of programming Burke Magnus said to Ben Strauss of The Washington Post.
“Around the Horn” was reliable, but not relevant. In an era of hot takes, personal attacks, bluster and blathering, it didn’t move the needle, and, despite his efforts, not even its friendly emcee and arbiter could save it.
“You want games? I can do games! You don’t like the mute button? It’s gone,” Reali told executives, according to Strauss. “You want me to bring streamers? I can bring streamers. I wanted to put our heads together. But the message was just keep doing what you’re doing.”
Reali, 46, now faces a dilemma — finding a new job. According to reports, contract conversations with ESPN have been largely unfruitful.
He met with NBC about a spot on its Olympics roster. In March, with news of ATH’s cancellation already well-known, Sports Illustrated columnist Jimmy Traina asked Reali about his potential interest in succeeding Scott Hanson as host of the popular “RedZone.” Hanson’s contract expired after the 2024 NFL season.
“Oh, my goodness,” Reali said. “Come on. Do you watch the RedZone? It’s the best. That is a jewel of television. That’s one of the best jobs in TV.”
Reali’s charm and geniality make him a comfortable fit for several spots. The reality, however, is that many of the hosting jobs Reali could do are taken by established anchors like Maria Taylor, Rece Davis, Mike Greenberg, Laura Rutledge, Mike Tirico, etc. An occasional hour in the “SportsCenter” anchor chair hardly seems desirable for a host in Reali’s position.
While he has experience as a contributor on “Good Morning America,” there just doesn’t seem to be much room for Reali in the network morning show ecosystem.
Perhaps he should take a page from a few of his ATH colleagues. Jemele Hill, Bomani Jones and Pablo Torre are three notable ATH alums who have embraced the podcast medium, tailoring content to loyal audiences who wait on their unique perspectives. Given Reali’s popularity, his thoughtfulness and his openness regarding the importance of mental health, including his well-documented story of grief and loss, a podcast exploring the intersection of mental health, sports and society could serve Reali well.
Plus: How TNT can best serve its audience in ECF
Thirty years ago this month, Reggie Miller scored eight points in 8.9 seconds to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 107-105 win over the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
It was one of a few memorable moments from a sizzling 1990s rivalry. Indiana and New York met in the playoffs five times in the 90s, with series that delivered high drama and intensity.
After losing media rights to the NBA, TNT is broadcasting its last conference finals, and Miller is once again involved in a Pacers-Knicks playoff matchup, this time as one of the network’s game analysts.
While it is reasonable to expect Miller, a Pacers legend and Naismith Hall-of-Famer, to be treated like a heel in New York and a hero in Indiana, TNT must remember Miller is not the focus of the series. With a trip to the NBA Finals on the line, Miller, the TNT production crew, co-game analyst Stan Van Gundy and play-by-play announcer Kevin Harlan must chronicle the stories as they unfold and resist the urge to smother the broadcasts with excessive references to Miller’s 1990s rivalry with the Knicks. New heroes have emerged, and with so many subplots, TNT will best serve the viewers by directing the attention to players like Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns.
