RIP Around The Horn

For well over a decade and maybe two by now, ESPN’s daytime programming in my mind consists of a single show that runs all day called “Guys Giving Sports Opinions at an Uncomfortable Volume.” I understand they change out the graphics and sets every so often and sometimes focus on a single sport for a 30 or 60 minute block. But it is all the same show.

 

I think the same thing. In fact, by reading the latest submissions to this thread, I have learned that PTI and ATH are two different shows, AND, Max Kellerman and Tony Reali are different people (although I could not identify either if I ran into them on the street).

 

I miss the SportsCenter reruns. And BodyShaping.

 

Bring Gilad back.

 

Bring barrel jumping back.

 

We laugh, but for a brief moment poker ran sports television.

 

I was working at ESPN during that period when a ESPN official (a name who shows up now and then on these threads) told me, “we’re enjoying this while we can. As soon as an Asian guy wins it, we’re done.” When is the last time you saw WSOP anywhere?

 

Kellerman is far more accomplished than Reali.

 

For a while in the early 80s, the America’s Cup got built up like it was Ali-Frazier. And workaday PGA tournaments solved the problem of what to show on Thursdays and Fridays for a huge chunk of the year.

 

I just miss random ass NFL Films magazine shows. Art Donovan was a folk hero of my generation for that alone.

 

I was alarmed to see last Super Bowl that ESPN doesn’t even run the NFL Films Super Bowl recaps on ESPN2. That used to just be on in the background for 10 hours that weekend.