Hold The Phone Mike Tirico Isnt Black? | Barstool Sports: New York City
Local African-American groups often invite him to speak during Black History Month and on other occasions, viewing Tirico as a prominent example of a successful black professional. He doesnt mind speaking, Tirico tells them, but he also lets them know a fact of his life: Hes not sure hes black. When people go around and say, You are black well, I dont encourage it, but by the same token I dont back off of it, he says. If you want to call me that, thats fine. But, you know, in my whole family, theres nobody I know who is black.
Raised in Queens Michael Todd Tirico grew up in a middle-class Italian family in Queens, about a five-minute drive from Shea Stadium. Tiricos parents, Donald and Maria, were separated when he was about 4, and he says he has since lost contact with his fathers side of the family. Tirico is an only child. Because of his dark skin and ethnic features, Tirico says, most people assume he is black. But hes seen pictures of his father, his fathers mother and his fathers sister all of whom are white, Tirico says. The only contact I had growing up was with my moms side of the family. And they are all as white as the refrigerator Im standing in front of right now, Tirico says, standing in his kitchen in the Clay townhouse where he lives.
Someday, he says, he plans to do genealogical research to find out if he has a black ancestor, but its not something he considers a pressing issue. Tirico concedes, though, that his uncertain ethnicity sometimes makes other uncomfortable. Even skeptical. I know the story sounds like a lot of bull, but its the truth he says. Does it matter to me? Yeah, Id like to find out the truth at some point, so I can answer questions for my kids. But me? Im living, Im working, Im leading an upstanding life. I dont worry about it.
If Im reading this correctly and Im pretty sure I am apparently Mike Tirico expects me to believe hes just an Italian guy from Queens. Are you fukking kidding me Mike! What the fukk is going on here? You expect me to take one look at this picture and say youre not a black man? You think Im gonna believe youre a guinea from Queens? For sure not. I know your last name is Tirico. But I also work with a guy named Feitelberg who is not Jewish and a guy named MacGregor that is Jewish. Just because your name isnt Kunta Kinte doesnt mean you aint black.
Lets just say, for arguments sake, Mike Tirico aint black. Lets just say hes an I-talian from Queens with a nice tan and some nappy hair because hes from Sicily or something. What an UNBELIEVABLE racial heist hes been pulling. If the Racial Draft from Chappelles Show was a reality, Mike Tirico is the Jerry West of shrewd racial life decisions. Secretly letting everyone believe hes black is the most diabolical move the entertainment world has ever seen. Just letting the NAACP give him awards and shyt every year. Checking off African American on every application hes ever filled out. Yet when you ask him about it, he will point blank tell you everyone in his family is whiter than cream cheese. Play on, playa! Snake it till you make it! Mike Tirico is a fukking white guy! Short of Jeff Van Gundy telling me hes black, thats probably the most shocking thing Ive ever heard in the world of sports broadcasting. Just an absolutely hilarious and mind altering piece of information.
Monday Night Football will never be the same. Now that Im envisioning Mikey Tirico from Queens, New York instead of an Uncle Tom black guy. As far as Im concerned hes an entirely new person.
