Figuratively speaking, it had been a long time between drinks for Tiki Barber.
His first Barber Blast came in 2007. As a highly touted member of the NBC (News and Sports) roster, the Giants all-time leading rusher, during halftime of a “Sunday Night Football” preseason telecast, called Eli Manning’s attempt to lead an offensive meeting in 2006 “comical.”
This rankled Manning. It also put Barber, his former teammate, on the wrong side of Giants fans for just doing his job.
Barber generated his second media tsunami last week (18 years later. Man, THAT IS a long time between drinks!) on WFAN, where he co-hosts an afternoon-drive show with Evan Roberts. On Monday, after reports surfaced that Saquon Barkley was headed to the Giants despised NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles, Barber said Barkley, the most recent face of Big Blue, “is dead to us.”
“You’re dead to me,” Barber also said Monday on FAN. Barber initially made the comment on Thursday March 7. But after Barber’s Monday hammer job, Barkley responded on X (formerly Twitter), taking shots at the former Giants running back. His post fueled the flames.
After many years in the radio biz, the situation was a defining moment for Barber as a New York City afternoon-drive Gasbag. It was also a breakthrough for the “Evan and Tiki Show.” Nuance is a dirty word inside the Valley of the Stupid. In this rumble there was none. Either you were on Barber’s side, and viewed him as supporting Giants fans who now see Barkley as some sort of traitor. Or you came down on the side of Barkley, a beloved Giants who, in the end, revealed Joe Schoen to be Joey Scrooge.
While all this confrontation sounds serious, it’s really just Show Business. It’s entertainment. And everybody on the “inside” gets it. Barber claims he delivered the “You’re dead to me” line “tongue in cheek.”
He might even have been goofing, but fans who take the games people play — on and off the field — seriously, reacted with passion. So did national Bloviators, like ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. He lined up with Barber, who deserves a bonus for generating a controversy (and coveted NFL content) lasting more than a day.
And unlike his partner Roberts’ beard of many colors, it was spontaneous controversy that was not based on a sophomoric gimmick.
This Barber-Barkley thing is not over. CBS Sports will try to get a piece of the action next season. Don’t be surprised if CBS suits, who Barber works for as a game analyst, send him to Philly to get a one-on-one with Barkley for “The NFL Today” pregame show.
Maybe around Thanksgiving. They can talk about forgiveness. Admiration. And Show Business.
MORE TIKI TALK
PS: By late last week Barber also got into it with ESPN’s Ryan Clark, who said as an active player, Barber was never a “mentor.” Guess it’s open season on Tiki.
NOT SO SHARPE
If Shannon Sharpe says it, it must be so.
At least in his own mind.
Sharpe, the all-knowing Tower of Babble, appeared on a recent edition of “First Take” claiming LSU women’s hoops coach Kim Mulkey has “never” been taken to task for the things she says.
He insinuated his critique of Mulkey for her spiel after her team jostled (she said she would like to have seen Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso “push” LSU’s Angel Reese rather than a smaller opponent) with undefeated South Carolina, might have been the only time a voice fired back at her.
Sharpe must have forgotten (or didn’t have a clue) about the media fallout that crashed down on Mulkey when she coached Baylor. After an outside law firm reviewed Baylor’s handling of sexual assaults, the board of regents fired football coach Art Briles and many others.
Mulkey responded saying: “If somebody’s around you and they ever say, ‘I will never send my daughter to Baylor’ you knock them right in the face.”
Sharpe should know that back then, many in the media took Mulkey to task, including columnist Jane McManus who wrote: “As an example of absurdity, assaulting people concerned about assault works well.”
A DOC ON DECK
Instead of having one of his voices wondering if there’s a “doctor in the house,” YES’ president production/programming John J. Filippelli, might want to put an MD on retainer for this season.
With Gerrit Cole facing an uncertain-arm future and Aaron Judge, always a heartbeat away from his next injury, medical situations can be (some say they already are) a huge part of the Yankee season.
So why not have a doctor who can be brought on screen (and become familiar to viewers) during a game or on a studio show when there are medical questions or issues revolving around the Yankees.
On the fiscal side, it probably wouldn’t be hard to find an advertiser to sponsor these doctor appearances.
NEW VOICE OF MARCH
Ian (The Bird) Eagle flies on to center stage in the upcoming men’s NCAA basketball tournament showing primarily on CBS and the Turner Sports channels.
He will be paired with Bill Raftery and Grant Hill.
The transition from the long-time voice of the tourney, Jim Nantz, to Eagle will be seamless. Eagle has never made a broadcast about himself. He will give his two analysts plenty of space.
Nantz’s willingness to step aside as the top college hoops play-by-play voice is smart. Nothing goes on forever. He did the Final Four since 1991, when he took over the play-by-play from Brent Musburger.
Now Nantz can relax a bit and get fired up for the Masters.
AROUND THE DIAL
This just in: Michael Kay does not like Aaron Rodgers. Through all the controversy involving Rogers, Kay’s low tolerance for Gang Green’s apparent QB was made clear. The ESPN-98.7 Gasbag called Rodgers a “phony” who “thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room.” When a caller insinuated Kay’s use of “big words” puts him in the same “phony” category as Rodgers, Kay’s top popped. The talkie went loud on the dude before ending the call. Scintillating radio! … Tim Brando has always brought a consistent energy to any play-by-play microphone he works. His hoops portfolio for Fox this season provided ample evidence that for Brando, the beat goes on. … Can someone on ESPN’s “First Take” make sure Kendrick Perkins’ microphone is working before he goes on the air. … Reacting to his A-List of challengers to the Chiefs, Mina Kimes verbally KO’d Christopher (Mad Dog) Russo on Thursday’s episode of “First Take.” After taking it on the chin, Doggie went back to the SXM radio side, dusted himself off, and conducted a fast-paced, meaty interview with Deion Sanders. Nice bounce back.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: BAKER MAYFIELD
For his candor. The quarterback has had an up and down career, which he documented after signing a new 3-year contract worth $100 million with Tampa Bay. Yet when asked about earning less than Kirk Cousins, Mayfield said: “This is life changing money and I’m not going to act like otherwise.” Amen.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: JOHN TORTORELLA
He earned a two-game suspension for abusing officials and refusing to leave the rink, all on a night when Tortorella was being saluted by his former team in Tampa. Quite the hat trick, right? Yet the Flyers coach ultimately lands in this hallowed space for just being John Tortorella.
DOUBLE TALK
What Aaron Boone said: “I’ve decided who’s starting [on Opening Day]. I just want to let a few more days go off the clock. A lot can happen.”
What Aaron Boone meant to say: “I just want to make sure another guy doesn’t pull a Stroman and turn down the Opening Day assignment.”
