Last Friday (May 23), the last episode of the sports debate show Around The Horn aired on ESPN. The half-hour show, which featured sports journalists from around the country, became a staple of the network’s afternoon programming until execs announced its cancellation months ago. Its host, Tony Reali, opened the show with an homage to the restaurant scene from Goodfellas, featuring everyone from the crew and family members.
“Life scores us all differently every day, with a rule book that changes every day. You have to roll with it right through good and bad,” Reali said at the close of the show, after using his final five minutes to detail his rules for giving writers on the show scores over the years. “Because what works one day may not work the next, but you’ll work through it, and you’ll work through it with the good people around you, because we’ll get through this together.” Fans tuned in to see sports writers debate the topics of the day, often resulting in engaging and comical conversations that impacted perspectives positively over the years.”
“In looking for the real, I found something that was even realer than real,” Reali continued. “You shared back because to me, that’s what made this show go. It’s the connection. Sports is connection. We watch it from our youngest days. We laugh and we cry. Sports connects people. People connect sports and when it’s genuine, it’s the best thing in the world. But this was even better than that. The notes about your families and your notes about yourself, where you opened up to me, that means most to me.”
Around The Horn aired over 4,900 episodes during its run opening up the 5 o’clock hour before Pardon The Interruption hosted by veteran sports journalists Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser. Reali got his start as “Stat Boy,” the researcher and on-air statistician for PTI. He was candid about his feelings about the show’s cancellation in a Sports Illustrated interview, saying that he doesn’t feel “hurt” by the decision but would “want more conversations. I have no qualms about saying that.”
He revealed that he’s unsure about his future at ESPN, stating: I’ve had two conversations over the last four months.”
Reali did invite fans to catch up with him on his TonyReali.com website and YouTube channel.
See social media’s response to the show ending below.
