Around the Horn airs its final episode today: May 23, 2025. It’s difficult not to feel sad, but it’s even more difficult to not already feel nostalgic for what we know we’ll be missing. But as the oft-used saying goes, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
That general positivity is, of course, how Tony Reali – ATH’s beloved host – has decided to view things. He’s been on a simultaneously whirlwind and slow-burning tour around the media landscape reminiscing about the show, its impact, the panelists, etc. But his mindset has not been that we are losing something; rather, that we had experienced something amazing.
At least in most of his interviews and comments, anyway. He did let one mournful thought slip through his grateful demeanor, mentioning that he was a little sad (though he was surprised at the emotion given his awareness of the media and sports industries). But his sadness was not about the fact of cancelation; It was about the fact that the show had more to give, more to say, more to do.
ATH definitely does have more to give and say and do. And that’s because it’s a timeless program. While much of that is due to Reali’s hosting, personality, and years of dedication to crafting the program, it could always exist beyond him if ESPN were to so choose or had it not been canceled and he decided to retire one day. It’s timeless because it’s a place for sportswriters (not just sports media personalities) to have fun talking about sports.
It’s like the audience got a front row seat to the sports desk for the Chicago Tribune, or the LA Times, or any number of papers large and small. We got to see these writers speak on something that they not just love – passionately – but something that they have incredible knowledge on (historically, analytically, visually, etc.). And then they took that and connected it with current events, politics, and developing news before further developing their takes with sympathy, empathy, and genuine care. It was a sports nerd’s dream.
The show also gave a platform not only to established writers like Woody Paige, Kevin Blackistone, Jackie MacMullan, and Bob Ryan, but to up and coming writers like Mina Kimes, Clinton Yates, Pablo Torre, and Emily Kaplan (and so many more) as well.
This mixture of voices young and old, of different races, of different genders, of different sexualities, etc., etc. was what elevated the show above everything else. It allowed for people’s perspectives to be heard and for so many different types of people to be represented on screen.
Around the Horn might be the catalyst for the most sportswriters careers of the 21st century of any program, website, or paper. Nothing outside of the sports themselves has inspired more people to become sportswriters, bloggers, journalists, or to get into the sports business than Around the Horn has. I would bet my house on it (a toothless bet in reality, as I’m one of the woeful younger millennials still renting and hoping for a house – but the sentiment stands!).
As ATH’s run approaches and crosses the finish line, the show has received an outpouring of love, gratitude, support, and coverage. That’s because everyone loves ATH. Outside of chump haters who think “woke” is an end-all be-all insult, and weirdo incels who don’t think women should talk about sports, everyone who is into sports loves this program.
No one more so than the panelists themselves. They’ve all spoken out to praise the show for the opportunity, format, face time; as well as about Tony Reali for his hosting, friendship, empathy, directions, support; and about both for welcoming with open arms new faces, voices, and ideas.
On a personal level, losing this program hurts. I’ve seen plenty of sports programs I love change for the worse or get canceled, but none of them hold a place in my heart like ATH does. While I’m not generally a sportswriter, I am a writer. And that’s due in part to Around the Horn, where I witnessed the absolute joy of the panelists at getting to write and talk about their favorite things.
I also felt more connected to the panelists on ATH than other sports media stars who were former professional athletes or too big for the everyday fan, like Stephen A. Smith. I could even reach out to them and they would respond, like when I thanked Clinton Yates for his emo kid tribute in the 2023 ATH Halloween special.
Beyond that, many people are saying that Around the Horn was an integral piece of their childhood. The same goes for me (although I’ve watched through my young adulthood as well). There was nothing better than watching the amazing host and panelists of ATH drop knowledge with an electric mixture of care for and excitement about sports and its people.
Around the Horn might be airing its final episode, but I will always carry it with me. And I’ll continue to follow my favorite sportswriters, most of whom a discovered through this amazing show. It’s exceedingly rare to have anything in sports so humble, down-to-earth, giddy, connected to its audience, and plain-old fun as Around the Horn has been. I’ll always be smiling that, in all of time and existence, I got to watch it happen.
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