My Staple: )
- TJ Barr
- Apr 21
- 4 min read
If someone asked me "whose the one person you would want to get a beer with?", I would say "there are 72."My Happy Hour is regularly sponsored by the various drafts and spirits that gave me the sustenance to do it again tomorrow. A lot of times, it was a reason to get out of bed 5 days a week for 13 years. Around the Horn has been a televised round table discussion on the world of sports since November 4th, 2002.
But if you wanna win points this is what you need to avoid
Hard to explain the perspective, appreciation, analysis, and passion the panelists display every day at 2:00, but there's a lot of love that stretches across the country. They come from all over, contributing from major cities in the great states, but they all find a home with Uncle Tony Reali.
Tony always looks like he is in a happy place, as the man at the helm telling sharks which guppie to eat. He wears black for a reason, but its not my place to extrapolate because I really don't have an answer. But the perma-smile make his despair look positive. He is exhuberant and while he is the one who distributes points, he really just counts on contributions, which is just rocks in a 23 year old ocean that has turned into an undeniable island.
Everyone involved provides their own insights that contribute to the half hour of 'pointless' competition. They get time to plug their school or town, they get time to gloat as "as the only panelist who was at the ...", and mostly they get time (and encouragement) to poke fun at the other characters. But for many, these characters are engrained in a different spin on entertainment, one that spoke to many fans better than most of their friends.
MY MOUNT RUSHMORE
Woody Paige
An accomplished writer for The Post, The Denver Post, and The Gazette, his best words of wisdom land on a chalkboard over his left shoulder that will never be erased from the minds of 'hornies'. The Denver stall-worth adds humor and hot takes that make him a fan favorite. The league leader in wins with 686, 2995 appearances, and mutessssh 247. He always brings his A game.
Pablo S. Torre
If I don't plug his podcast he will change professions prescribe medicine (he is my dose of happy)
With constant stubble, he never stumbles, and his intelligence jumps off the screen. With a Harvard degree in sociology, he has been a writing and television sports contributor despite familial pressure to be a doctor. Mr. Torre should be tremendously proud.
I saw him somewhere I did not expect, at the round table on the political show Late Night with Stephanie Ruhle. All of it was almost like seeing an old friend in the beer aisle of the grocery store and asking "what are you doing here?" Well played Pablo. Impressive.
Bob Ryan
If you wanna get into it with Bob Ryan, he will face off from a 3 point stance and get back on defense. Covering sports is his lifestyle and he has been a fixture in the Boston community since before Bird. Stepping away from the game, he humbly regarded his expiration (from the generation of twitter and podcasts) as his time to reminisce on his career that started with a typewriter. A legend in every way, his presence will never leave.
Israel Gutierrez
Izzy shoulders a weight that few can handle, one that, sadly, people think they need shoulder pads. When someone comes out, for some reason there is some sort of discourse that seems to need explanation. Honestly, it shouldn't be much different than saying I play basketball. Thoughtful and confident, you can recognize his analysis is as important as fundamentals, and he seems like a guy who would open the door with a toothy smile 😁
Honorable mention: my buddies CY, lisha, Frank the tank, Harry
Not a lot to say that Plashke didn't.
To me, this portion holds a special amount of significance, and is devoted to the recognition and respect of the woman who contribute to a culture that is dominated unfairly by men.
Jackie Mac needs her own statue. Elle is her own tower. I have a huge crush on Courtney Cronin. Ramona looks like she has the most fun. Mo couldn't be more charismatic. Mina has never said anything wrong except for banned words. Kap is underground funny. Spain is coming on a holiday, and Jen is always invited. What happened to Kate Fagan? And I really do miss Jamele.
Sportswomanship trophies: Lindsey Thiry, Kimberly Martin, Diana Russini, Malika Andrews, Christine Williamson
I don't think there is anything I can say other than you changed the game.
Far and away the best episode of the year is the Halloween special. Always marked on my calendar as a don't be scared day, the panel always comes through. They dress up as people or characters that are relevant for the year, and deliver their answers as if that person was giving their report. HILARIOUS. Court you make me sweat too 😅
The victor goes the spoils, which happens to be '30 seconds of Facetime' where the winning panelist gets to speak on any topic that they find important or noteworthy. It is an honor everyone is after, and wraps up a half hour of quality television.
So in my expertise, I submitted my March Madness bracket, into an ATH 244445 bracket pool of my constituents. I wasn't the worst, but I was competitive. But that is not the point. I was in a community of people ENTHUSED about sports and their contemporaries that share the same passion that drives everyone to tune in. So you can say what you want, but a chalkboard does not frame the world of athleticism.
People talk about when people leave, there is a gap in their life... mine is from 2:00-2:30. It is like watching my best friends swim away to live a great life even though they cut my legs out from under me. The power of sports.
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