Tom Brady was commissioned by NBC to open the broadcast of the 2023 Kentucky Derby, at the beginning everything was going well until the former New England Patriots quarterback compared himself to Secretariat, the mare that in 1973 won the triple crown.
The former NFL player started with the animal’s birth and then started talking about him.
“I want to tell you a story about destiny,” Brady began. “It takes place in 1969. Two horse breeders have an agreement. They flip a coin. The winner will get the first choice of two foals, or baby horses. The loser will get his choice the following year. A woman named Penny, interestingly enough, is one of the owners. And she loses the coin toss. And a year later, in 1970, only one foal is born. And that’s how she ends up with a young horse named Secretariat.“
“Now I want to tell you another story about fate. It takes place about 30 years later,” Brady said. “A guy you might recognize is sitting on the bench in New England, backing up one of the best quarterbacks in the league. But then that QB gets hurt, and the kid gets his chance to come in.
“Maybe Secretariat would have become Secretariat even if I’d had another owner, another coach, another jockey. And maybe I would have found my way into a lineup even if my good friend Drew Bledsoe hadn’t been injured that day on the field. But I know the way it worked out for both of us was a lot like fate.”
Fans criticized Brady and NBC
Horse racing fans erupted on social media over the “poor” comparison, they feel it has nothing to do with anything.
“I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you can’t compare the luck that your NFL career started when your team’s QB1 got hurt to the natural ability of a racehorse.”
Wait, no. It’s Tom Brady who needs to hear this.”
“Ah yes the greatest Kentucky Derby narrator in history Tom Brady (the slowest man on Earth) talking about Secretariat (the fastest horse on Earth).”
“Shame on NBC for doing this piece on Tom Brady in ANY WAY! If you’re going to salute a horse make your piece about THE HORSE!!!”
