Mike Tirico Explains the Medical Event That Caused His Sudden Exit From Kentucky Derby Coverage on NBC
NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico is explaining his sudden absence from the Kentucky Derby.
The 58-year-old sportscaster – who you may recognize from his commentating with Sunday Night Football each NFL season – was supposed to be on-air during the Derby this weekend, but abruptly left and was replaced by Ahmed Fareed live on the air.
Ahmed simply told viewers, “I am Ahmed Fareed. Mike, as you may have heard, is feeling under the weather right now so I’m going to step in, take over for a bit.” Mike never returned.
On Monday (May 5), Mike ended up appearing virtually on the Today show to explain he had a severe allergic reaction to a nut and had to take an EpiPen.
Keep reading to find out more…
“I ate something that had a nut in it and had a nut allergy, causing your throat and your nose all that stuff to kind of clog up and swell. It affects your breathing a little bit, so [I] wasn’t feeling well, couldn’t go on with the show, took an EpiPen shot, got treated by EMTs, felt better about 8, 9 o’clock came along, but it takes a long while to get out of your system,” he said.
“It’s a real thing. My son has it. Lots of us know someone who has a food allergy, so read labels — and I do, as often as possible, to check. Sometimes it will say, ‘Made in a factory where nuts are present.’ You have to be really careful about that stuff,” Mike said.
EpiPen shots are an auto-injectable that delivers a drug known as epinephrine, which is usually given when patients are in anaphylaxis.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to something you’re allergic to….[and] causes the immune system to release a flood of chemicals that can cause you to go into shock”
We’re so glad to hear Mike is feeling better and doing okay!