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Did Mike Tirico diss the NFL during live Olympics broadcast? (Video)

By Sarabeth Pollock

Sep 16, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; ESPN color commentator Mike Tirico prior to the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 16, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; ESPN color commentator Mike Tirico prior to the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mike Tirico throws shade at NFL with zinger during live broadcast

Mike Tirico is not going gently into that good night after being blocked from calling Thursday Night Football games by the NFL. Tirico managed to fire a zinger at the NFL and the Powers That Be on live television following the United States men’s basketball gold medal game against Serbia.

Tirico was broadcasting live from Maracana ahead of Sunday night’s closing ceremonies in the gap between the end of the basketball game and the medal presentation. Host Dan Patrick, who was broadcasting at the studio at Copacabana Beach, asked Tirico how Brazil fared as a host nation. Tirico went through the laundry list of Brazil’s highs and lows, giving them a final grade of a B+ as a host nation. That’s when things went awry.

After their discussion about and report card for Brazil as a host nation, Patrick made a comment about Tirico’s green pocket square, asking “Is that a Brazil shade of green in your pocket square there, Mike?” Tirico, without missing a beat, gestured toward it and replied “It could be, and I could give it back to you for future use on Football Night in America if you’d like.”

“Thank you, Mike,” came Patrick’s voice, sounding slightly flustered.

“Bye, Dan,” Tirico replied, smiling and smirking at the same time.

It was every bit as awkward as you can imagine, and the timing was so perfect that it was completely unexpected. Patrick was the unsuspecting victim in Tirico’s jab, and it came when millions of viewers were tuned in to watch the United States men’s basketball team in the gold medal ceremony.

Tirico left ESPN earlier this year for NBC, where he cut his teeth for his new network at the Olympics. Tirico hosted Monday Night Football for over a decade, but his broadcasting credentials apparently weren’t good enough for the NFL, who were looking for veterans like Al Michaels on the call.

Next: NFL bans Mike Tirico from calling Thursday Night Football on NBC

It’s not clear what the next steps will be for Tirico, NBC and the NFL. Needless to say, though, Tirico had a huge Bye Felicia moment on live television.

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