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Tiki Barber hosts NBC’s July Fourth special

Many of us might know the feeling:

A co-worker keeps boasting about his little girl. Someday, he says, she’ll be a star. We nod our heads and drift on.

Tiki Barber, who co-hosts NBC’s Fourth of July special, knows that well.

When he was a star running back for the New York Giants, a teammate was defensive back Phillippi Sparks. “He always took me under his wing,” Barber recalls fondly.

And he kept talking about his daughter. “She was this cute little girl ... He always said, ‘She’s going to be a star some day.”‘

The friends lost track of each other. Sparks retired in Arizona in 2000 after eight seasons with the Giants and one with the Dallas Cowboys. Barber retired in 2006 and joined NBC.

Then he heard that Jordin Sparks, Phillippi’s daughter, was an “American Idol” finalist. “She’s this beautiful, beautiful girl,” Barber says.

He watched every week, phoned in votes for her, asked others to do the same. When they met in New York, she was the “American Idol” champ.

Now she’ll be back on NBC’s telecast Wednesday, albeit briefly. There will be one number, Barber says, combining the top three “American Idol” contestants — Sparks, Blake Lewis and Melinda Doolittle. The hour also includes Martina McBride, Joss Stone and lots of fireworks.

“With the backdrop of the fireworks, it’s not going to be hard to have fun,” Barber says.

He’ll co-host with his “Today” colleague Natalie Morales, who also brings personal memories to the Fourth.

Her father, Lt. Col. Mario Morales, was in the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars. She grew up as an Air Force kid on bases in Taiwan, Panama, Brazil, Spain and the U.S.; July Fourth was big. “It was always a great show, a patriotic celebration,” she says.

One of her most memorable moments came when her dad arranged for them to watch the New York fireworks from Governor’s Island. Now she’ll have another close-up view.

Fourth on TV

All on Wednesday, July Fourth:

— “A Capitol Fourth,” 8-9:30 p.m. ET, PBS (check local listings); some stations rerun it at 9:30. Yolanda Adams, Elliott Yamin, Bebe Neuwirth, Tony Danza, National Symphony.

— “Taste of Chicago Fireworks Spectacular,” 8-10 p.m., MyNetwork. Grant Park Orchestra.

— “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular,” 9-10 p.m., NBC. Martina McBride, Joss Stone; also, a number by Jordin Sparks, Blake Lewis and Melinda Doolittle.

— “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular,” 10-11 p.m., CBS. John Mellencamp.