TONY REALI

Formerly, “Stat Boy.”

Now, “Stat Man.”

Or simply, “The Man.”

43-year-old Tony Reali is a seasoned TV veteran today, ESPN’s sharp MC of “Around the Horn.”

In April he signed a new multi-year contract, upon entering his twentieth year at the network.

20 years.

Reali was a fresh-faced newbie out of Fordham when his career began in 2000, as a researcher and writer for the sports-themed ESPN quiz show, “Two Minute Drill.”

When “Pardon the Interruption” (PTI) debuted in 2001, he assumed the role of “Stat Boy,” the end-of-show ombudsman responsible for identifying, citing and then alerting show co-hosts, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, to any omissions or errors they may have made during that evening’s broadcast.

He was good at it, fitting in seamlessly, accompanied by that huge, omnipresent smile.

His job was to artfully correct the heralded pair as necessary, happily absorbing Kornheiser’s acerbic wit, occasionally tempered by Wilbon’s softer side.

After about a dozen fill-in opportunities on ATH in 2003, Reali was named the show’s full-time host in February 2004.

A host with a producer’s mentality — 17 years and more than 3800 ATH shows later — he remains at the console, invariably garbed in all black (sometimes with a dash of white) ready to score the day’s sports discussions, and mute when he thinks he should.

And he frequently thinks he should.

How else to control a stable of luminaries, including record-setting ATH veteran Woody Paige — 634 wins in 2,805 appearances — the dour Bill Plaschke, the venerable and avuncular Bob Ryan, Michael Smith — 30.2% winning percentage (the highest with a minimum of 200 appearances) and the long-since deposed Jay Mariotti?

(Mariotti was summarily released of his ATH responsibilities in the immediate aftermath of his felony arrest some time ago, related to domestic assault).

Tim Cowlishaw, J.J. Adande, Jackie MacMullan, Kevin Blackistone, Bomani Jones, Clinton Yates, Izzy Gutierrez.

Ramona Shelburne, Frank Isola, Domonique Foxworth, Mina Kimes, Pablo S. Torre, Sarah Spain, Jorge Sedano.

Emily Kaplan, Joon Lee, Monica McNutt, Dianna Russini, Justin Tinsley…

Reali regularly holds panelists to their predictions regarding game and sporting event outcomes; correct picks are handsomely rewarded, while incorrect prognostications bring a hefty penalty in the form of deducted points — not to mention, plenty of good-natured ribbing — during their next appearance(s).

He, himself, has a wide body of sports knowledge and a certain panache, enshrouded in a self-effacing and self-deprecating demeanor.

According to him, “self-promotion is the mating call of the mute button.”

As are panelist complaints, interruptions, rambling, waffling, or the use of “banned” buzzwords, such as optics, narrative, elite or problematic.

Reali is the maestro, shepherding some of the country’s greatest sports journalists through the landscape of entertaining roundtable discussion.

He doesn’t suffer fools — or abject foolishness — gladly.

He keeps it light with a gentle touch but unmistakable firmness, as any good host would.

Right down to the inimitable paper toss, the signature sign-off of the broadcast.

“We’re on a 23-and-a-half-hour break.”

Or on Fridays: …a 71-and-a-half-hour break.”

Or, if there is an extended period before the next show: …You do the math!!!”

[Editor’s Note: This piece was written by Mr. Kaplan in October 2021.]