Tiki Barber
Tiki Barber is the unique individual who combines a stellar portfolio of athletics and broadcasting with a captivating story-telling presence at the podium. He is a renaissance man without equal today, as evidenced by a resume that includes: NBC correspondent, Pro Bowl running back, Sirius Satellite radio host, author, producer, actor, corporate spokesman, scholar and philanthropist.1
When the New York Giants’ star running back and biggest play-maker Tiki Barber announced that he was going to retire after the 2006 season ? In it, he spoke frankly about Giants coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning.2
At this moment, Ronde Barber, Tiki’s twin brother and an equally—or arguably more—successful player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is sleeping late at their agent’s home in north Jersey. It’s been a long weekend for the Barbers.3
The presence of former New York Giants football player Tiki Barber as the celebrity guest did little to inspire the designers in this menswear challenge. Poor Tiki — one of the greatest running backs in NFL history and the designers’ commentary is all about spandex.4
Tiki and his identical brother Ronde Barber were born in Blacksburg, Virginia to James and Geraldine Barber. When his mother heard him screaming strenuously shortly after being born, she named him Attiim Kiambu, or ?Fiery-Tempered King?.5
Medical science may explain the doctors’ then pessimistic outlook on Tiki and Rond?146;s athletic potential. But the fierce determination Barber passed on to them explains, in part, why her sons defied those expectations.6