Kellerman -- SENT OFF. Next: CueBall and Kornholio?

My guess is that ESPN will show whatever they think will reach whatever demographic group they're targeting, "Real Sporting Event" or not. "Around The Horn" wasn't doing that, but PTI seems to be doing just fine.

 

Re: Re: Kellerman -- SENT OFF. Next: CueBall and Kornholio?

They just celebrated their 500th episode.

 

I'll miss Kellerman's boastful opinions on FNF.

 

Is Around the Horn actually cancelled? I couldn't find anything about that. I do know that Kellerman is supposedly going to Fox Sports, but I have heard nothing about ATH being canned.

 

Considering that PTI is one of the reasons Tony is leaving his radio show, I think you're wrong.

 

Has PTI done more than any other entity to make Freddy Adu a mainstream sports story?

Discuss.

 

A) Don't diss PTI. Kornheiser and especially WIlbon give more air time to soccer than most

B) ATH is still on, but the host is now the "Stat Boy" from PTI

C) Kellerman is a boxing guy. No more, no less. He was great for Friday Night Fights, but I don't think he can hack it as a catch-all sports guy. I hope he focuses on boxing, there are so few advocates for it out there.

 

Kellerman is going to Fox Sports Net to do a daily talk show and he will also be on their Sunday Night Fights series replacing Rich Marotta. The great Barry Tompkins will be back on blow by blow. Should be an interesting pairing. Don't know if Sean O'Grady will also be back.

I'll miss Max on Friday Night Fights, but he seems to be getting out at the right time since ESPN is not committed to boxing and seems to be, whether purposefully or not, killing off their coverage of the sport. I used to really enjoy the show and of course still watch it but it has become more of struggle each week. They didn't get a decent replacement for Bob Papa, the repetitive Teddy Atlas, and the constant pimping of The Ring magazine has made the show a weak imitation of what it once was.

 

I listen to his show all the time but I missed when he explained why he was leaving. Was that the only reason?

ESPN needs to dump Around the Horn alltogether. Stat Boy is awful as the man in control. At least Kellerman had a pretty commanding presence behind the joysticks. Try and think of a show that doesn't completely rip off PTI.

 

http://espnradio.espn.go.com/espnradio/show?showId=1058219

There is a link on TK's page on ESPN radio with the clip from when he announced he was leaving the radio on March 26.

Mainly he is getting older and wants to still write for the Post and PTI is his big payday. Also, ESPN radio is going with more local programming in major markets. (I have no idea why, yes they may be more popular, but ESPN is a national not local network) Some ESPN radio affilates only play the games and overnite show these days.

Tony has been pulled in NY, LA, Chicago, and other large markets for some time. He will be back on the radio locally in DC soon.

 

pti rocks

i never did like around the horn... don't know why... just don't like the format

 

Could it be that Max Kellerman annoys you as much as he does me?

 

Between him and Jay Mariotti, the Twit-O-Meter reading goes off the scale. And the format, too. It's like watching a high-tech home version of "Let's Play PTI," which as far as I'm concerned renders Around the Horn pointless TV. I mean, it's better than, say, Cold Pizza or Fox's The Best Damn Sports Show Period (which I knew would suck when I saw that Tom Arnold was their go-to guy for non-jock comedy). But in TV terms, that's like being the best alpine skier in Chad.

 

At least the women are good looking on Cold Pizza.

==
How to improve Around the Horn: Get Robin Bakay to host the show and wear skimpy outfits. No other guests needed

 

And that's the thing - you can't replicate PTI because the appeal of PTI is in the chemistry between Wilbon and Kornheiser - behind the yelling lie so much humor and insight. And even when one of the two is off on assignment (or suspension, as the case may be), the substitutes tend to be pretty gosh darn good.

 

I agree completely about Wilbon and Kornheiser but disagree about their subson PTI. In my eyes, they usually don't strike the right balance between humor and insight, either tending to be funny but vapid (eg, Chad) or analytical but humorless or even mean (eg, LeBatard). As a result, I rarely watch anymore if W&K aren't on. Their chemistry is irreplaceable to me.

 

We need to watch. Ratings=viewers=continued programming.

What else is on at this time slot. Its not like there is anything better to offer on a weekday afternoon.

ATH is better than nothing, its just fancy talk radio on TV.

 

Disagree.

Nothing = silence = absence of Kellerman's grating, horrifically stupid voice in my head.


I'll take nothing.

 

Isn't doing Around the Horn without Kellerman a bit like The Doors recording without Jim Morrison?

The joy of ATH is seeing Woody Paige in all his gruff glory lecturing Kellerman and whichever guy the Globe trots out besides Ryan.

Maybe they should move ATH to Denver and let Woody host. Heck, kick everyone else off and just bring in a guest each day for Woody to bark at.

 

That's all TV does these days. As soon as a show comes along, it's being ripped off. Sad, but true.

 

If you guys check out PTI, when "stat boy" makes corrections towards the end of the show, there is a Manchester United jersey in the background. I also saw a Celtic jersey there a couple a weeks back. I know "stat boy" is not a soccer fan because of some comments he's made on ATH. So somebody behind he show must be a footie fan.

 

What has stat boy said in the past that makes you think he doesnt like soccer?

 

I don't really remember what he said, but I have heard him talk about soccer a few times and it’s never anything positive. He may respect soccer a little, but I don’t think he likes soccer at all. I use to like him as stat boy but I just find him annoying on the Horn. It's not a bad job for his first host job. He was on Tony K. radio show a few weeks back and said that’s what he wants to do in the future host a TV show. I think he would be a good host just not on a show where he has to act like wanna be Max Kellerman.

 

A few weeks ago a Celtic jersey was on the wall behind Stat Boy and it was followed by a Manchester United one.

Kornhiser and Wilbon have been working together for something like 25 years so they act like an old married couple whenever you see them together (PTI, radio, local TV). They are really good friends, I remember hearing how Wilbon took Tony's son to the premire of Ali in DC and they sat a few seats from Ali himself.