Goodbye Tiki

Word out of New York last night and today is that the great Tiki Barber is looking towards retirement. And the best part? National media coverage is limited, and it’s clear why – Barber has kept his nose, hands, body, and genitals clean in the view of public perception. And doing so in the media mecca of New York is no small feat. If one can survive the gauntlet of NYC and the constant pressure of being on the worlds greatest sports stage, then it can be assumed that Barber is exactly what everyone expects he is – a humble, upstanding athlete, willing to give back to the community and use his gifts for the betterment of others.

And sports fans say, “Who cares?”

Is it any wonder that we have athletes stepping on each others heads, doping up with steroids, shooting at people outside of strip clubs, or starting brawls in the OB reminiscent of the Socs vs. Greasers in The Outsiders? The youth sports community grows up idolizing whatever makes it onto Sportscenter – and the only thing that makes Sportscenter these days is actions looking like something off Jerry Springer. And yet when you get someone the moral caliber of Tiki Barber claiming he may retire, it barely makes it to the bottom line on ESPN2.

Here is a guy who went to one the great public universities in the country, The University of Virginia, and who actually – GASP- graduated! Stop the presses, a black ACC football players graduates. I am sure in the mind of many lower income black communities, he’d be considered a sell-out, ala Condi Rice. Apparently getting a degree and making good based on intellect is a sell out to the black Hip Hop community. But I digress. Back to the point.

Barber and his twin brother, Ronde, host a weekly radio show on satellite radio. Tiki works with Fox News on Wednesday talking about something BESIDES sports. Imagine that. Can you picture Terrell Owens on CNN? “We got issues in North Korea, sure. I’m not blaming anyone, the fault is ours, but c’mon, get me the ball! I love me some ME!”

The sports world tends to focus more and more on the negative personalities and incidents than on those folks making a positive difference. Maybe it’s because TO is more entertaining, jackass or not, than Tiki. Maybe it’s because we can’t believe the ghastly events in Miami that occurred over the weekend, and we DEMAND consequences for the game, while quietly enjoying the downward spiral of Thug U. (On a side note, the ratings for the replay for the FIU vs. Miami game would SKYROCKET if the fight which broke out will not be cut out)

All I am saying is let’s take some time to recognize and reward an established career by a young man who our youth can look up to as a role model. Would it hurt to take a look back at his magnificent career, and ask him for just one more year? I’ll be watching with mournful eyes Monday night in Dallas.


Of course, I still hope my boy TO runs the score up on those goody-good Giants…