Just like many people taking to social media, there were few things better than getting home from school, tossing on ESPN (channel 25 and later 206 for me), and listening to sports analysts just talk sports, letting each program runover into the next because you knew you’d get something different from each one. Sadly, those days are long gone and one of the last remaining pillars of ESPN’s best years is closing its doors in a few months.
These days, ESPN is practically unwatchable. Save for Pat McAfee (who is constantly criticized and who many actually watch on YouTube) and Pardon The Interruption (though ESPN has mulled the idea of expanding it, which will probably ruin it during an attempt to modernize), the network has turned into 4 minutes of ear-piercing commentary on a single over-done topic followed by 10 minutes of commercials followed by a political take that no one asked for. The network clearly changed strategy in recent years and today’s kids will never understand what it was like to have a lineup of shows that covered all sports, all teams, and all stories with real passion and logical arguments either for or against. It was truly incredible and now one of the last bastions of that “Golden Age” will be departing the network.
Around The Horn Is Signing Off
ESPN announced that Around The Horn, a flagship program hosted by Tony Reali featuring a rotating panel of sports journalists who compete for points and try to avoid being muted, will be running its final episode early this summer after a 23-year run.
Friday, May 23rd will be the last time the program that gave us Tim Cowlishaw, JA Adande (probably my all-time favorite), Woody Paige, Bomani Jones, Kevin Blackistone, and many others square up to debate the hottest, and sometimes strangest, topics in sports will be airing. It was easily the most unique sports show of our time and truly one of the last remaining sports programs that weren’t just a glorified podcast.
Fans flocked online, reminiscing not just about this show but the Golden Age of ESPN, Around The Horn being the one of the last men standing from that era. This meme from a Bill Simmons Pod fan page sums it up perfectly:
“Getting home from after school activities in 2005 and turning on ESPN to watch Around the Horn with Woody Paige, Jay Mariotti, Tim Cowlishaw and J.A. Adande before getting PTI with prime Tony K & Wilbon”
Here’s what other sports fans are saying:
Around The Horn was an after school staple for me… it had a good run. https://t.co/tRqYVhAS67 pic.twitter.com/P85f0m6XpY
— Trevor (@trevordalton01) March 4, 2025
The end of Around the Horn will cut away many of the last remaining traditional journalists that ESPN put on TV:
JA Adande, Tim Cowlishaw, Bob Ryan, Kevin Blackistone, Woody Paige, Bill Plaschke
Newspaper reporters who are part of ESPN because of ATH, now gone
— Brendon Kleen (@BrendonKleen14) March 4, 2025
Watching around the horn with my grandpa after school was a huge reason I became interested in sports. Sad day.pic.twitter.com/yzOR9pr01Z https://t.co/VajRmJPxSW
— Dylan Holt (@DylanHolt_) March 4, 2025
ESPN in the lab concocting the worst show imaginable to replace Around the Horn pic.twitter.com/CToYnAUw3e
— Old Row Sports (@OldRowSports) March 5, 2025
That 5pm-6pm slot with Around the Horn and PTI when I was in 7th grade https://t.co/utNBjx2xqk pic.twitter.com/jNvaMTXEqc
— Will Frasure (@WillFrasure) March 5, 2025
Around the Horn was one of the best things on ESPN. In an era of broken social media gambits and gambling promotion, it one of one their only two or three programs with sports experts filling you in with the biggest stories in sports in quick and considered bits with commentary.
— Brrrrrrrrrando ☃️ (@BrALatham) March 5, 2025
Around the Horn being canceled is further proof that ESPN doesn’t care about sports
— .Nectar (@dotNectar) March 5, 2025
Honestly, I don’t know what ESPN’s strategy is these days. I’m a subscriber to ESPN+ and it’s truly one of the worst streaming services I’ve ever used. Constantly glitches out, logs me out, and does all sorts of things to irk me when I’m just trying to watch UFC or a ballgame. Their TV coverage is horrible, having replaced pretty much all the thinkers with people trying to infuriate the audience on purpose to create a viral soundbite. Sure, you may boost your social engagements through that strategy but you’re losing long term viewers who actually make it a point to tune in during the broadcast. Can’t imagine advertisers are going to be sticking around during the exodus.
We tend to glorify things from our childhood just because our lives were simpler but ESPN was actually better 20 years ago, there’s really no way to deny it. If they continue to pull true sports coverage for hot takes and gambling ads, I don’t know what happens but it certainly won’t be good.
RIP Around The Horn. You had a heck of a run and we’re all going to miss you dearly.
Growing up, @woodypaige’s chalkboard quips on Around the Horn always inspired me to want to write like him. I loved his use of puns, silliness and wit. Last bit of great ESPN content when it was just straight ball with no agenda. 🐐 https://t.co/jYcq3qr1AK pic.twitter.com/pYhvJfbi70
— 𝒅𝒂𝒍𝒊 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒂 (@dali_drama) March 5, 2025
