Whatever happened to Max Kellerman on Around the Horn?

[ISiddiqui]

Recently, I've been watching AtH, and Kellerman is not the host, but Reali (Stat Boy on PTI) is. I thought it was just going to be for a bit while Kellerman was on vacation or something, but on the website it now says Reali is the host. So did something happen or did Kellerman just decided to leave the show?

[JeeberD]

The whole show needs to go on vacation...

[vtbub]

Kellerman and ESPN parted ways.

[The_herd]

Recently, I've been watching AtH, and Kellerman is not the host, but Reali (Stat Boy on PTI) is. I thought it was just going to be for a bit while Kellerman was on vacation or something, but on the website it now says Reali is the host. So did something happen or did Kellerman just decided to leave the show?

Don't know, don't care. The show is actually almost watchable with Stat Boy running it. Kellerman and his Yankee biased views are awful. Stat Boy is incredibly knowledgable, and much better at the job than Kellerman was. Kellerman should stick with boxing, a sport that he actually knows something about.

[OldGiants]

Kellerman wanted more money than ESPN was willing to pay. Rumors are rife the show won't last out February.

As if anyone cares about the yowling on it.

[The_herd]

Kellerman wanted more money than ESPN was willing to pay.

Did he actually think he was worth more than whatever ESPN was paying him?

[Easy Mac]

Even if it gets cancelled, Stat Boy needs his own show... maybe the Sports Guy can hook that up when he gets ESPN6.

[bosshogg23]

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=642&more=1

It wasnt about money with Kellerman. ESPN has a contract with Sugar Ray Leonard's boxing promotion company that lasts 10 more fights. ESPN could only guarantee Kellerman 10 more appearances on Friday Night Fights. He refused that offer and is well into negotiations with Fox Sports Net. FSN starts their boxing season in March and is supposedly going to carry 15-20 live fights this year.

[SteelerFan448]

I didn't like him on the show at first, but Kellerman did an OK job overall. Around the Horn isn't too bad, but PTI blows it away. I would like to see more of an assortment of newspaper guys on there, rather than the 6 or 7 that they have.

[cthomer5000]

Kellerman sucked. I still hate the show but Reali makes it more watchable.

[ISiddiqui]

Stat Boy is incredibly knowledgable, and much better at the job than Kellerman was.

Indeed... I still love the show. I actually like it better than PTI. Stat Boy DEFINETLY has earned his name. He really knows his stuff.

[Draft Dodger]

Kellerman is rather obnoxious, but he's actually pretty decent on the show. Reali is better (and will be even more improved if he stops trying to imitate Kellerman).

I don't mind the show anywhere near as much as I thought I did - I'll usually watch it everyday. SteelerFan is right, though, they need to get a far wider variety of writers. And they need to get Mariotti off completely - he's the biggest ass I think I've ever seen on TV, and he shouldn't be on at all...let alone every single day.

[Draft Dodger]

btw - what is Reali's background?

[sabotai]

He's spent the last 10 years or so reading every sports almanac printed in english.

[Logan]

Well I can tell you that he went to Marlboro High School, in Marlboro, NJ. Just like me. His younger brother was on my little league team for years.

And yes, the show is much better with him on it.

EDIT: Now that I think about it, his brother did go to a private school for a couple years, so maybe he went there too.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Wasn't too fond of Kellerman (though he could be funny sometimes), but I don't like PTI at all. So nyah.

[ISiddiqui]

SteelerFan is right, though, they need to get a far wider variety of writers.

True.. but the problem, of course, is getting writers who want to do the show and having newspapers which will let you take a corner to set up a camera and lighting every week or so to get the stuff taped. I think that is the reason that the other writers they have on the show are from the same papers.

Well I can tell you that he went to Marlboro High School, in Marlboro, NJ.

Woot! Jersey!

[Neuqua]

I have to change the channel everytime I see Marriotti's ugly mug on screen.

Otherwise I am apparently one of the few who didn't mind Around the Horn and PTI back to back.

[atatange1]

I like Around the Horn and liked Kellerman. On the G block on Fox News, they said he wanted 850k a year. And now he might go to FSN. I don't mind stat boy, but hearing "lets light this candle" makes me cringe every time. I can't take it.

[Eaglesfan27]

I like Around the Horn enough to watch it when I'm home early enough to watch it but I don't worry about taping it. I must admit I like it more with stat boy and it might become a show I regularly tape like I do for PTI.

[Young Drachma]

Big fan of PTI and I can tolerate around the horn, because it gets me more geared up for PTI. PTI is great, I just want my own network of commentators talking about sports all the time.

Okay, I'm kidding. I want a network so we can talk about sports all the time. How about we get Viacom to buy that, eh, Michael Powell?

[ISiddiqui]

Sports Reporters 24/7 channel!!! ;)

Ok, we can squeeze in PTI and AtH once in a while. Maybe ESPN3 ;).

[tucker342]

Don't know, don't care. The show is actually almost watchable with Stat Boy running it. Kellerman and his Yankee biased views are awful. Stat Boy is incredibly knowledgable, and much better at the job than Kellerman was. Kellerman should stick with boxing, a sport that he actually knows something about.

agreed

[Malificent]

I liked Kellerman. He had charisma, I thought, and Stat Boy has the charisma of a limp cauliflower. I didn't mind his Yankee biased views because I wasn't looking for an unbiased host. It was actually half the fun seeing how everyone reacted to each other's biases. Not sure whether I'm going to keep watching.

[sterlingice]

Wasn't too fond of Kellerman (though he could be funny sometimes), but I don't like PTI at all. So nyah.
I'm with you. AtH had the problem of "suck up to the host to get the points". Then again, I can't stand Kornheiser so that hour of ESPN was watched once or twice and then never heard from again here.

SI

[Pumpy Tudors]

I've tried watching PTI, but I honestly really don't give a fuck what those guys have to say, so I quit watching. If I want to see people argue with each other, I'll just get my parents into the same room.

[bosshogg23]

FYI Fox Sports confirmed that Kellerman joined them on Thursday.

Link (http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=2157514)

[Philliesfan980]

FYI Fox Sports confirmed that Kellerman joined them on Thursday.

Link (http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=2157514)
Which brings up a good point. I wonder how much guys like him make? You know, the guys on ESPN who are good and all, but aren't quite "superanchors" yet. Maybe 200k?

[Philliesfan980]

Dola.

Stat Boy is the luckiest guy on the planet. He can't be much older than 24, and he already has a great future in sports setup for him right in front of him. Its gotta be one of those "Right place, right time" sort of deals. He does know his stuff though, but so do alot of other sports geeks out there.

[Young Drachma]

Agreed. Talk about taking an opportunity. Somehow, I think it was Wilbon and Kornheiser who incorporated Stat Boy into the show, rather than some producer or something, giving Reali - small, but still - airtime that he otherwise wouldn't have got. So, I'm sure he'll ride out the AtH gig as long as he can. I hope he develops his own style though, he's trying to do too much of what Kellerman did and its not his style, seemingly.

[Young Drachma]

Dola-
I found this on stat boy,

While Max Kellerman and ESPN were negotiating terms of a new contract, Fordham University graduate Tony Reali filled in as the host of "Around the Horn." The parties didn't agree on terms, so Reali's temporary assignment is now officially an audition. He is one of several candidates vying for the spot.

[Young Drachma]

Did you all know Woody Paige had his own web site?

http://www.woodypaige.com/


It's really scary. The people on the message boards there talk about Woody Paige like he's some deity. It's. really. weird.

From what I can get from web folk, it seems people either love stat boy or hate him as host of AtH. Either way, I'm sure ESPN won't dump him, especially now that Kellerman is gone, they'll find somewhere to put him. I think he'll stay on the show, personally.

[Young Drachma]

From those weirdos at woodypaige.com, though this is funny.

Kellerman: "These four things I know are true! I need more money! I need more benefits! I need more vacation time! And I *am* Max Kellerman!"

ESPN: "...Yes. Well. Unfortunately we can't offer you a raise right now, but there is a contract on the table with the same money you were making before and slightly more -"

(Max mutes ESPN.)

Kellerman: "Come on, that's ridiculous! Show me the money! NEXT TOPIC."

ESPN: "Uh... huh. Well, we feel it would actually be best if you moved on. We'll get Stat Boy or somebody to do your show."

Kellerman: "Interesting. Let's go Around the Horn to Woody Paige!"

Woody Paige: "Max, you need help. You have to admit that you have a problem. Lots of problems. We're here to help."

(Max mutes Woody Paige.)

Kellerman: "I don't need your help, NEXT TOPIC!"

(ESPN has security eject Max Kellerman.)

Kellerman: "No! You can't do this! I'm Max Kellerman dammit! Disemobied voice! Tell these people they're making a big mistake!"

Disembodied Voice: "No thanks, I like my job and it's hard for the disembodied to get work. See you around...THE HORN!!!"

[cthomer5000]

that transcipt is great. The disembodied voice really wraps it up perfectly.

man that show sucks. It's basically all the worst elements of PTI.

[ISiddiqui]

The people on the message boards there talk about Woody Paige like he's some deity.

He isn't? ;) I love Woody Paige :D.

man that show sucks. It's basically all the worst elements of PTI.

BAH! I'd watch AtH any day over PTI.

[GoSeahawks]

I for one like both PTI and AtH. I hated Around the Horn initially, but it sort of grew on me. Now I try to catch them both when I have free time.

[AgPete]

I like PTI better than AtH but they're both entertaining shows. I wish AtH would get better journalists. There are too many guests that talk out of their @ss just trying to win the match.

[JeeberD]

No shit. Folks in Denver give Woody way too much love...

[TredWel]

I always eat dinner to PTI.

AtH took a while, but I've gone from liking it to hating it to liking it again . Making Stat Boy the host did help things, but I think Kellerman didn't do so bad a job. I'll watch it if I'm around and have the time, but it's not appointment television for me.