Only days after being called a quitter on National TV by Michael Irvin, Giants Running Back Tiki Barber fired back. Not only did he take the moment to take a shot at Irvin, but he took a shot at a few others who have talked negatively about his retirement plans."I will call them 'idiots' because they have neither spoken to me nor any one of my teammates or any of my coaches, yet all they do is criticize me for being a distraction with this retirement thing...That includes New York Daily News columnist Gary Myers, that includes Tom Jackson on ESPN, that includes the ultimate character guy, facetiously speaking, of course, Michael Irvin (of ESPN), please get a clue how to be a journalist. Don't make blanket assumptions about it (retirement). And obviously, as was evidence (Monday) night, I am a huge distraction to the New York Giants." Tiki said
I guess that about sums it up. Irvin had no place to question Tiki Barber, his morals or his decisions. Not only is Barber a far better athlete and human than Irvin is, was or every will be, he will also become a much better journalist than Irvin when the opportunity presents itself.
People were worried that Barber's retirement talk would become a distraction and originally I thought it wouldn't be. Everyone knew Barber had been considering retirement, so this did not really come as much of a shock. It was not until silly newspaper reporters and 'blanket journalists' started questioning his decisions did it become a problem. Last time I checked Barber was his own person capable of his own decisions. He has spent 10 years in the NFL and served the Giants very well. While I would like nothing more then Barber to stay another year or two, I have no problem with him moving on. He's been nothing but a great player and class act as he's represented the Giants organization over his career. Donating millions of dollars to charity and doing countless hours of community work and writing for children's books. The Giants, the fans and the state of New York could not ask Barber for anymore.
Like he said, anyone who questions him and especially calls him a quitter, are idiots. God speed Tiki, you've done more then enough for the Giants and New York. Now do us all a favor and go take Michael Irvin's job so we do not have to listen to him anymore.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
10-26-2006 @ 9:58AM
Laura Wood said...
Good Lord, I love me some Tiki Barber. He can do whatever he pleases and I'd be happy to pay to watch it.
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10-26-2006 @ 10:15AM
Bruce Ciskie said...
Instead of saying that they were idiots, Tiki should have called Irvin "retarded". That would have made him my hero for life.
But I'll take this. At least he fought back. I would, too, if someone like Michael Irvin called me anything but a "class act".
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10-26-2006 @ 10:30AM
Ron said...
There you go Tiki, way to put the ultimate TO as@kisser, Michael Irvin, in his place once and for all. He's always spouting off nonsence, and he is hardly ever called out about it. Keyshawn sort of told him off last year, but other than that, hardly no one else has responded to him. Tiki, do us all a favor next year, apply for the ESPN football analyst job and replace Irvin once and for all.
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11-05-2006 @ 9:06PM
Ron said...
Michael Irvin was on the "Mike and Mike" show this morning and Mike Golic and Irvin were going back and forth about Tiki's retirement being a distraction. Irvin kept comparing Tiki's retirement to TO and that everyone thinks that whatever TO does is a distraction, so therefore, this should be one as well. Golic disagreed. Comparing TO and Barber is like comparing Dennis Rodman to Tim Duncan. Irvin is a clueless, ignorant, TO enabler, who shouldn't be on TV anymore. Irvin should replace Kim Etheridge as TO's publicist.
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10-26-2006 @ 11:14AM
Mark said...
Thank you Irvin, Meyers, and Jackson. You have pissed Tiki off. He was doing everything possible to succeed to begin with, but he has acknowledged in the past that people's slights of him give him extra motivation. For example, he fought hard against the perceptions that he was just a third down back, to small to last in the league, couldn't catch well (early in career), fumbled too much, wears down over the season, etc. Now he gets to fight against the perception that this will be a distriction to the team and that he has already checked out. My prediction, he will now have his best yardage season ever just to shut those people up.
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10-26-2006 @ 10:54AM
Jr said...
First thing First...Tiki Thank You...Now please stay 2 more years..lol Tiki has done so much on and off the field, he can make any choice he wants to. Oh and another thing I never heard any rumors or stories about Tiki taking and DRUGS...Like we did from other people( IRVIN)
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10-26-2006 @ 11:30AM
vinnie said...
tiki outlasted a lot of backs and somehow irvin outlasted jail, the coke-head should do another line and send tiki an apology espn get a clue stupid is as stupid says
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10-26-2006 @ 2:04PM
hcohen said...
Mr. Barber,
You & your brother, are what sports figures should be.
Congrads, and wishing all the luck & of course fortune in the world.
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10-26-2006 @ 10:15PM
Diana said...
Tiki might want to take second to reflect on his own statements, and act as he suggested others do with regard to public comments about others. Although I agree that most assertions with regard to his retirement have been for the most part "opinion based" in nature ... that is exactly what most sports reporting amounts to ... opinions. Irving is entitled to his just as Barber is also equally so entitled. I think most football fans are bright enough to separate the facts from personal opinions.
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10-26-2006 @ 2:27PM
Jackie said...
Tiki Babber is the ultimate player in my book. He is someone that kids can look up to an idolize. He has done nothing but good for the team and for Michael Irvin to call hima quitter is just stupidity showing through. Irvin needs to step down and let a real man take his place. Tiki Barber!!!!
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10-26-2006 @ 2:25PM
alex said...
i hate to say it, but i'd rather listen to neon deon sanders ramble than irvin.
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10-26-2006 @ 2:59PM
Ray said...
While I am a resident of New Jersey and originally North Jersey, I never was a Giant fan but rather a "Baltimore" Colt fan. I follow the NFL religiously and root for the Giants any time they aren't playing the Colts. Tiki has been, in my estimation, the epitome of class. He is well spoken, does not sling mud and simply does his job to the best of his ability. On the other hand, I am tired of listening to that idiot Irvin who spends more time defending T.O. then commenting on the games in progress. T.O. couldn't hold a candle to Tiki and I refer specifically to his lack of pronounciation and english skills. Perhaps before he criticizes anyone, he should reflect on his lack of character when he was palying. I have never heard a bad thing about Tiki (drugs etc.) I cannot say the same for Irvin. As was said before, Tiki is a class act and God speed. Enjoy the rest of your life, healthy, with your family.
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10-26-2006 @ 2:36PM
RICHARD FASS said...
Tiki Barber is great example of what Pro's should be on and off the field,enough said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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10-26-2006 @ 2:46PM
John Ziegler said...
MY GIANTS DON"T NEED ANY DISTRACTIONS TO FALL APART !
IT'S MR.BARBER'S LIFE
WHY SHOULDN'T HE RETIRE WHILE HE STILL HAS MORE BRAINS THAN MOST "PLAYERS" ON OR OFF THE FIELD !
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10-26-2006 @ 2:45PM
David said...
I am an Eagles fan. So my distaste for Tiki and Irving on the field is high. But most of the time I can seperate the person from thier colors. Although I can't stand how Tiki kills my Eagles, he seems to be a good guy and a smart one that doesnt want to end up rolling around in a wheel chair in his 40's. I even enjoy the commentery of Troy Akiman (who I think is the best color guy out there now).
But Micheal Irvin is a classless piece of crap. He is on national TV but acts as if the Cowboys are the only team. He is not a good person with numorous run ins with the law setting the stage for what seems to be the endless supply of "me me me" Wide recivers in the NFL. I wish ESPN would grow a pair and get rid of that bum. I mean he is an admitted cocain user and a convicted felon. If he knew anything about journalism or commentary, he could proboly slip by with those notches on his record. But we all know that his journalistic skills are just as good as his ability to shut up.
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10-26-2006 @ 2:55PM
Eric said...
Coming Soon: You Got Served 2
Starring Michael Irvin
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10-26-2006 @ 3:02PM
amart said...
From a die-hard Cowboys fan, it doesn't hurt a bit to say this - Tiki Barber is not only a GREAT football player (showed my Cowboys on Monday night), but a GREAT human being. This man is not just a sports role model for kids everywhere, he is a LIFE role-model. His retirement will not only be a great loss to the Giants, but to the NFL as well. Good luck. I have enjoyed watching you play.
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10-26-2006 @ 3:11PM
Barry said...
The league could use a few more role models like Tiki and less gangster thugs from the "U". Irvin was a great athlete but nonway compares to the athlete and the man that Tiki has been.
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10-26-2006 @ 3:09PM
Daniel Telley said...
Michael Irvin just got kicked in the BALLS! Now that, that's done just go and smoke some more crack. Michael Irvin, you are a piece of garbage and a disgrace to my race. Yes I did say my race because I'm a proud black man and I know that I speak for a lot of other black people. When I tell you that you are a disgrace to us! Stop making a FOOL of yourself and just go away, don't go away mad just go away!
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10-26-2006 @ 3:23PM
mark said...
Michael - just shut up! Once again you have proven to be typical thug/idiot fron THE U. Tom Jackson - I am shocked, you are normally a voice of reason and sanity. Maybe you wil learn from this one.
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