Whew! The last few hours have been extensive to keep up with, to say the least! The Run of the Roses was back, and the excitement is almost palpable. The return of the prodigal racehorse trainer, Bob Baffert, at the Kentucky Derby was imminent. However, it was an angsty rollercoaster ride ahead of Baffert’s seminal comeback.

With Rodriguez scratched, the 72-year-old celebrity trainer’s chances of picking up his seventh Derby win upon his return to Churchill Downs were significantly reduced; anyone would agree. However, while the lineup changes kept the fans’ attention glued to the “Winner’s Circle,” the changes in the NBC studio have the community irate.

On May 3, Awful Announcing took to X to reveal that veteran sportscaster Mike Tirico won’t be covering the 2025 Kentucky Derby. “Mike Tirico is feeling “under the weather” and has stepped away from NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage, at least for now,” the update remarks, while noting that Ahmed Fareed would be stepping in.

Tirico didn’t look all too great as NBC started its pre-game coverage. Soon after, he was replaced on-screen by Fareed. Tirico, known for his signature style and a jack-of-all-trades reputation, is beloved by sports fans from all over. A popular face, thanks to his highly-reputed NBA coverage, Mike also covered the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, with such a veteran of the industry getting sick before such an important event, Kentucky Derby fans couldn’t help but speculate what could have happened to the storied sportscaster.

Initially, fans thought Tirico wasn’t feeling his best because of the cloudy weather at Churchill Downs. It was later revealed that it was a “significant” nut allergy that caused the commentator to take the exit. However, fans believe it was something entirely different. “Too many mint juleps,” one fan suggested that the voice of “Sunday Night Football” had started his Kentucky Derby celebrations a little too early. Another also believed it was heady mead. “He’s drunk af,” read the fan’s comment. Others kept coming with more thoughtful suggestions of their own.

Kentucky Derby fans debate what took out Tirico

While some believe Sovereignty’s Kentucky Derby triumph was somehow known to Tirico beforehand and that’s what sent him toward the mint juleps, others suggested it instead had something to do with the commentator’s Italian ancestry. “Too much gabagool,” one fan posited that it was Tony Soprano’s favorite cold cut that got the commentator out of the game.

This year’s Kentucky Derby was all the more important because it marked the return of one of horse racing’s most iconic figures. Bob Baffert was suspended for three years by CDI after his horse Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone following their 2021 Kentucky Derby victory. With six Derby wins under his belt, Baffert is a seasoned veteran and was optimistic about the race and even noted his excitement. “You need to stay focused on what’s in front of you at all times,” he told The Associated Press before Citizen Bull took to Churchill Downs under Bob’s banner. With all the anticipation around Bob’s return, one fan was baffled that Tirico would allow his nut allergy to get the better of him on Derby Day. “Under the weather to miss the derby?!? Bro better be stroking out,” one fan sneered.

The NBA playoffs are on, and Tirico will have a lot on his plate till the NBA finals, slated to start on June 5. Citing that, one fan suggested that maybe a basketball-focused commentator should prioritize his work, even if they’re missing out on the Kentucky Derby. “He needs well-deserved relaxation for upcoming NBA coverage,” the fan commented. However, Tirico’s absence didn’t dampen the Derby, as Sovereignty sped into the history books by winning the 151st Kentucky Derby, and the sportscaster was later revealed to be doing well.