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Suggest pagesTony Reali
| Tony Reali | |
|---|---|
 Reali in 2009. |
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| Born | Anthony Joseph Paul Reali July 4, 1978 Staten Island, New York, U.S. |
| Education | Fordham University |
| Occupation | Sports talk show host |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Employer | ESPN |
Anthony Joseph Paul "Tony" Reali (born July 4, 1978) is an American sports personality and television host, and the host of Around the Horn on ESPN. He is also the ombudsman or "stat boy" on Pardon the Interruption.[1]
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[edit] Pre-ESPN career
Born in Staten Island, New York, Reali spent most of his childhood living in New Jersey and graduated from Christian Brothers Academy High School in 1996. Reali was a sportscaster for WFUV at Fordham University from 1997-2000 as the voice of football and men's basketball. He also was a beat reporter covering the Yankees, Mets, Giants, and Jets. In May 2000, he wrote for WPIX-TV of New York.
[edit] Career at ESPN
Reali joined ESPN in 2000 as a researcher/writer for ESPN's quiz show 2 Minute Drill. He later joined Pardon the Interruption in October 2001 as "Stat Boy", where his role was to correct and fact-check hosts Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon at the end of every episode.[2] Reali became so popular that he started appearing daily on Tony Kornheiser's radio show for a daily segment called "Preview the Interruption", in which he discussed what was going to happen on PTI later on that afternoon. After Reali became the host of Around the Horn and his popularity continued to rise, Kornheiser and Wilbon eventually started introducing him by his actual name instead of simply calling him "Stat Boy." On occasion, Kornheiser will add several ridiculous middle names when introducing him to poke fun at his long name (such as Anthony Joseph Sage Rosenfels Reali). In addition to conducting his usual fact-checks, Reali now also judges Kornheiser and Wilbon when they play the games "Oddsmakers" and "Report Card" on the show and introduces the topics for segments such as "Over/Under" and "What's the Word."
In February 2004, Reali replaced Max Kellerman as the host of Around the Horn, the show that precedes PTI in the ESPN weekday schedule (he was guest host on Around the Horn six times, and was a panelist six other times before becoming host). As host of Around The Horn, Reali awards points at his own discretion based upon the quality of the guests' comments. Tony is known for his in depth knowledge of sports statistics and corrections of panelists on "Around the Horn". He will deduct points or mute the guest when a nonsensical comment is provided, or when a submitted argument differs from his own personal point of view, awarding points when a panelist agrees with his opinions, makes a convincing argument, bold prediction, or amusing pop culture reference.[3][4]
In the early hours of October 1, 2007, Reali's apartment was destroyed by a fire,[5][6] a fact acknowledged by Tony Kornheiser on Pardon the Interruption on October 1 and by Reali himself, along with the various correspondents, on Around the Horn on October 2. Jay Mariotti verified that no one had been injured.
[edit] Personal life
Reali is of Italian-American descent.[7] He grew up in Marlboro Township, New Jersey and graduated from Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, New Jersey.[8] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Communications and History from Fordham University.[9]
Reali is a Catholic.[7] "My faith is very important to me. So is my spirituality. It has made me who I am, and it has got me to where I am. And it's where I am going."[7] He is known for wearing ashes on his forehead on-air on ESPN every Ash Wednesday. [7]
[edit] References
- ^ Tucker, Ken (2005), Kissing Bill O'Reilly, Roasting Miss Piggy: 100 Things to Love and Hate about TV, St. Martin's Press, p. 208, ISBN 031233057X
- ^ Barron, David ([dead link]), 'PTI' hosts have 25-year history, http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4282090.html, retrieved 2007-10-15
- ^ Cowlishaw, Tim, Cowlishaw chat: Analyzing football failures, http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/091306dnspochatwrap.2694b4a.html, retrieved 2007-10-15
- ^ Walters, John (2005-10-24), "My favorite Brunette", CNN, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/john_walters/10/24/campus.blitz/, retrieved 2007-10-15
- ^ Mathis, Sommer, Almost Eight Hours Fighting Fire on Adams Mill Rd., http://dcist.com/2007/10/fire_on_adams_m.php, retrieved 2007-10-02
- ^ Moreno, Sylvia (2007-10-02), "Fire Chief Says Electrical Event Cause of Adams Morgan Fire", The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/02/AR2007100201657.html?sub=AR, retrieved 2007-10-02
- ^ a b c d It’s our faith that makes us who we are (2.26.10)
- ^ Concha, Joe. "RealHoboken Celebrity Series: An Interview with ESPN’s Tony Reali", RealHoboken.com. Accessed October 23, 2007. "One of the aforementioned shows, Around the Horn is hosted by 28-year-old Tony Reali, a Marlboro, New Jersey native and graduate of Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft in 1996."
- ^ Tony Reali ESPN Bio, http://espn.go.com/eoe/reali_bio.html, retrieved 2007-10-15
