A Contradiction In Dallas, UNC 33rd NFL Team?

Summary

Podcast Summary: PTI Episode – "A Contradiction In Dallas, UNC 33rd NFL Team?" Release Date: March 6, 2025

Hosts: Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon
Platform: ESPN PTI
Episode Title: A Contradiction In Dallas, UNC 33rd NFL Team?

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Introduction

The episode opens with a humorous and light-hearted exchange between Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon celebrating National Dentist Day, setting a casual and engaging tone for the discussion ahead. [00:36]

1. Dallas Mavericks & Kyrie Irving’s Playing Time

Discussion Overview: Tony and Mike delve into the controversy surrounding the Dallas Mavericks’ management of Kyrie Irving’s playing time. Irving has been averaging an unprecedented 39.3 minutes per game, the most since Luka Doncic was traded. Critics argue that this excessive playing time contributed to Irving’s recent torn ACL.

Key Points:

• Jason Kidd’s Defense: Mavericks coach Jason Kidd defends the decision, emphasizing that Irving’s injury resulted from a single play rather than cumulative minutes. He criticizes the contradictory narrative that stars don’t play enough yet overplay themselves. [01:58]

  Quote:
  “We're talking about one play, not many. Before that, we can't talk from both sides and say our stars don't play enough minutes. They rest. But now we're saying they play too much,” – Jason Kidd [02:20]

• Tony's Counterarguments: Tony counters by highlighting other star players who sustain injuries despite fewer minutes, citing Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard, Wilt Chamberlain, and LeBron James as examples that refute the direct correlation between playing time and injury risk. [03:31]

  Quote:
  “LeBron James has led the league in minutes three different times, has never torn his ACL. So I don't see a specific connection.” – Tony Kornheiser [03:31]

• Load Management Debate: The hosts agree that load management is more about stars choosing to rest rather than teams overworking them. They criticize the inconsistent narratives surrounding player minutes. [04:44]

2. North Carolina as the 33rd NFL Team

Discussion Overview: Bill Belichick’s Spring practices at the University of North Carolina have sparked discussions as the team markets itself as the “33rd NFL team.” This bold move aims to bolster recruiting by leveraging Belichick’s legendary status in the NFL.

Key Points:

• Upsides:

  • Recruiting Edge: Having Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl-winning coach, attract recruits by promising NFL-caliber training and exposure.
  • Prestige: Aligning with a coach of Belichick’s caliber enhances the program’s reputation, potentially attracting top-tier talent. [05:29]

  Quote:
  “We were in the NFL. We know the NFL. We coached in the NFL. We won in the NFL.” – Tony Kornheiser [05:29]

• Downsides:

  • High Expectations: Immediate performance pressure with no grace period for transition. Failure to win at least 10 games could lead to skepticism and criticism.
  • No Transition Period: Unlike other coaches who have a period to adjust, Belichick is expected to deliver results from day one. [06:24]

  Quote:
  “You better win 10 games this year. You can't go four and eight and lose to Georgia Tech. You're going to be laughed out of town.” – Tony Kornheiser [06:24]

3. Seattle Mariners' Free Agency Strategy

Discussion Overview: Tony and Mike analyze the Seattle Mariners' puzzling strategy in free agency, where they prioritized strengthening their pitching roster while neglecting to add hitters, leading to mixed results and player dissatisfaction.

Key Points:

• Justin Turner's Critique:

  • Turner expressed confusion over the Mariners missing the playoffs by one game yet not investing in additional hitters.
  • Quote:
    “The fact that they missed the playoffs by one game and didn't go out and add an impact bat or two when you've got the best pitching staff in baseball just seems absurd to me.” – Justin Turner [07:56]

• Payroll Considerations:

  • Initial criticism softened upon learning that the Mariners are mid-tier in payroll, prompting a reevaluation of their strategy. [09:44]

• Balancing Pitching and Hitting:

  • The hosts agree that while a strong pitching rotation is crucial, the lack of offensive reinforcement remains a valid concern for overall team competitiveness. [10:01]

4. SEC Sports Analysis: Ole Miss vs. Florida

Discussion Overview: The hosts compare recent performances in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), focusing on Ole Miss's victory over Tennessee and Florida's triumph over Alabama.

Key Points:

• Ole Miss Victory:

  • Ole Miss, with a 21-win season, defeated the number four ranked Tennessee.
  • Quote:
    “Ole Miss last night was 20 and 9… playing against a number four ranked Tennessee team.” – Mike Wilbon [14:06]

• Florida vs. Alabama:

  • Florida secured a significant win by scoring 99 points against Alabama’s 58 in the second half, reflecting Alabama's struggles post their encounter with Tennessee.
  • Tony predicts Florida positioning itself for a possible top seed in the NCAA tournament. [07:33]

5. NBA Highlights: James Harden vs. Celtics’ Twin 40-Point Game

Discussion Overview: The episode highlights a remarkable NBA game where James Harden scored 50 points, while two Celtics players each surpassed 40 points—a feat unprecedented in the franchise’s history.

Key Points:

• James Harden's Performance:

  • Harden scored his 24th 50-point game, showcasing his consistent high-level scoring ability.
  • Quote:
    “James Harden is a high volume scorer. Three times he has led the NBA in scoring.” – Tony Kornheiser [15:28]

• Celtics’ Dual 40-Point Scorers:

  • Two Celtics players, Derek White and Peyton Pritchard, each scored over 40 points, a first for the franchise.
  • Tony underscores the rarity by comparing it to historical performances by legends like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. [16:13]

  Quote:
  “James Harden… and now you have it. Jason Tatum didn't do it.” – Tony Kornheiser [16:11]

6. Trades and Player Movements

Joey Bosa’s Release:

• The Chargers released Joey Bosa, freeing up significant cap space. Bosa, a five-time Pro Bowl player with 72 sacks, has struggled with injuries over the past three seasons.
• Quote:
  “Bosa made the Pro Bowl five times during his nine seasons with the team.” – Tony Kornheiser [21:46]

Marcus Smart’s Trade:

• Marcus Smart, once a defensive stalwart for the Celtics, was traded to Memphis and subsequently moved to Washington. His departure is viewed as a pivotal moment for the Celtics’ roster dynamics.
• Quote:
  “Tony, the Bengals can't pay everybody. Joe Burrow wants him to play every receiver.” – Mike Wilbon [24:40]

Other Trades:

• Discussion on John Lucas taking over at the University of Miami and Derrick Henry seeking a trade from the Bengals, highlighting the ongoing shifts in team strategies and player roles. [23:10]

7. Notable Announcements and Milestones

Mike Tyson Anniversary:

• Tony celebrates Mike Tyson’s 31st birthday and reminisces about Tyson’s impactful early career, emphasizing his natural aptitude for boxing despite not having an Olympic background. [20:47]

Garrett Crochet’s Performance:

• Garrett Crochet of the Red Sox impresses with a seven-out over three in spring training, nearing Gretzky’s record for goals. Tony expresses confidence in Crochet breaking the record this year. [23:26]

Lakers’ Winning Streak:

• The Los Angeles Lakers are on an eight-game winning streak, with plans to host the Knickerbockers tonight. Tony and Mike express their hopes for continued success. [22:58]

Conclusion

Tony and Mike wrap up the episode by reinforcing their camaraderie and teasing upcoming topics, maintaining their signature blend of insightful sports analysis and entertaining banter.

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Notable Quotes:

• Jason Kidd on Player Minutes:
  “We're talking about one play, not many… you're saying they play too much.” [02:20]

• Justin Turner on Mariners' Strategy:
  “The fact that they missed the playoffs by one game and didn't go out and add an impact bat or two… absurd to me.” [07:56]

• Tony Kornheiser on Load Management:
  “There are many stars in the NBA, so called stars, who like to get time off… This is not dissimilar to starting pitching in baseball.” [03:31]

• Mike Wilbon on SEC Tournament Prospects:
  “I think 11 SEC schools will have earned making it, including Ole Miss, which now has 21 wins.” [15:05]

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Episode Highlights:

• In-depth analysis of Kyrie Irving's playing time controversy with the Dallas Mavericks.
• Exploration of Bill Belichick’s strategic move to brand North Carolina as an NFL-caliber team.
• Critical evaluation of the Seattle Mariners’ free agency decisions and their impact on team performance.
• Comprehensive review of recent SEC sports outcomes, focusing on key football victories.
• Examination of historic NBA performances, highlighting James Harden and the Boston Celtics’ exceptional game.
• Updates on significant trades and player movements shaping various sports teams.
• Celebratory moments for sports legends and rising stars, marking anniversaries and record-breaking performances.

This episode of PTI offers listeners a comprehensive and engaging discussion on current sports controversies, strategic team decisions, remarkable individual performances, and significant player movements across major leagues. Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon provide expert insights and lively debates, making the episode a must-listen for sports enthusiasts seeking depth and entertainment.

Transcript

[Narrator]

In case you didn't know, these young men are driven. They are prodigies, the savants, the ones we've been waiting for. Like Damian Lillard, for instance. He doesn't seek guidance or mentorship. He's a leader. He isn't waiting for the baton to be passed to him. He's taking it for himself. He's relentless in a pursuit of greatness, always pushing to one up himself. He is accomplished, but far from satisfied. He embodies what it means to have an unstoppable drive and are shaking up the status quo in their community and beyond. And. And Damian Lillard drives a Toyota. A new generation of Toyota drivers are here and they want you to know one thing. You can't stop my drive.

[Mike Wilbon]

Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbot. It's National Dentist Day. Tony, do you like going to the dentist?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm Tony Kornizer. No, I don't. I prefer doing the drilling. City is now telling me I need a license after all these years. I don't understand it.

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, you know, I don't dare say a bad word about dentists as you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, because your whole family, you married into a family of dentists. Yeah, I understand that.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I like my dentist.

[Mike Wilbon]

I mean, I'm Dr. Benjamin, but I'm Dr. Benjamin.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm good with it now. Yeah. Welcome to PTI, boys and girls. In today's episode, North Carolina calls itself the 33rd NFL team. The Mariners take heat for not adding hitters and two big results last night in the sec. But we begin today with criticism of the Dallas Mavericks for playing Kyrie Irving the most minutes in the NBA since his general manager traded away Luka Doncic. Irving was averaging 39.3 minutes per game, and the critics suggest that's what led to Irving's torn acl. Dallas coach Jason Kidd said, quote, we're talking about one play, not many. Before that. We can't talk from both sides and say our stars don't play enough minutes. They rest. But now we're saying they play too much, unquote. Wilbourne, is it fair to wonder if Kyrie's playing time contributed to this injury?

[Mike Wilbon]

No. It annoys me and it's stupid to wonder. And Tony, I heard this a few days ago before Jason Kidd talked about it publicly. And then let me just admit that Jason Kidd is one of those people that I have found myself agreeing with overwhelmingly on all issues in basketball and sport for the last 25 years. I love Jason Kidd, as you know.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes, I know.

[Mike Wilbon]

He Is so right on this, Tony. And I was screaming the response. Screaming with fingers in text chains to say, what are you talking about? All people talk about, all they're upset about is the NBA players not playing enough stars. Not playing enough stars. No longer playing 40 minutes a game like they used to. And now Kyrie irving goes about 38, 39 minutes a game, you know, without Doncic there. And he gets an injury. And I feel it's awful. I mean, Kyrie Irving was playing so great. And to me, I know he won a championship with LeBron, I get it. But to me, he was playing the best of his career. And people want to say, because he was playing, I don't know, three, four extra minutes a game that this caused the injury. I don't want to hear this. And stop the talking out of both sides of one's mouth. Please stop, please.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, so I do think it is fair to ask if the amount of minutes contributed to the injury. I reject it personally, but I think it's fair. But I would say this. Joel Embiid plays eight minutes and he gets hurt.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Kawhi Leonard plays five minutes and he gets hurt. Wilt Chamberlain went 48 every single game, had one serious injury in his life. Patella injury, came back the next year, played 82 games. LeBron James has led the league in minutes three different times, has never torn his ACL. So I don't see a specific connection. And like you, I find myself agreeing with Jason Kidd and I think we have to look at the heart of this. There are many stars in the NBA, so called stars, who like to get time off. Load management is about stars who want it, not about scrubs, about stars who want to take time off. And also teams that in order to contact those stars, make them, give them time off. This is not dissimilar to starting pitching in baseball. It's not. In baseball, if you go five, manager comes out, takes you out. In basketball, if you got a back to back, oh, you don't have to play, you don't have to play both sides. So I agree with Jason Kidd on the heart of this issue. And I also think, and I've certainly blamed Nico Harrison for a lot of things, but I'm not going to blame him for this. I don't think you can tie it into minutes and I don't think you can tie it into the Doncic trade. I think that's unfair.

[Mike Wilbon]

Tony, Tony, if you were going to, if everybody was going to get hurt because a star wasn't in the lineup, Then Maxi, I mean, Maxi would just be in a permanent hospital bed because Joel Embiid is not even out there. Maxi is one of the leaders in the league in minutes play. That just, just, just nonsense. Bill Belichick's first spring practices with North Carolina are underway. Players are wearing numberless jerseys, something Belichick had the Patriots do back when they were winning Super Bowls. In fact, team GM Mike Lombardi is billing the Tar Heels as the, quote, NFL's 33rd team. Close quote. Tone, what are the upsides and the downsides of this?

[Tony Kornheiser]

The upside is recruiting. You identify a player who wants to go to the NFL and you are able to say to him, we were in the NFL. We know the NFL. We coached in the NFL. We won in the NFL. You come with us, we'll get you to the NFL, play at North Carolina, then play in the NFL. That's very hard to resist to me. And plus, this is Bill Belichick, who has won six Super Bowls. How many has the guy at Wake won? How many has the guy at Pitt won? What about the guy at NC State? I don't think they've won six. It's just a guess on my part. The downside, Mike, is this. You better win 10 games this year. You can't go four and eight and lose to Georgia Tech. You're going to be laughed out of town. There is no grace period for Belichick. There is no transition period for Belichick. You got to come loaded to go right now because even Nick Saban never called himself the 33rd NFL team.

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, Tony, I completely agree with you. You know, there are no downsides right now because you're gathering, you're building, you're amassing. Everywhere you go, people want to be associated with you. I mean, I know what a storm there is in high schools across America, and one particular one in Washington, D.C. that I pay tuition to. When Bill Belichick has come to recruit one of the young men there, or more than one, Tony.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I saw the picture.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's just. It's all good. That's what it is. Yeah, but it's results based. It's results based. You are so right that if Belichick comes in, man, if he goes 11 and 2, I mean, everybody's going to be so jealous. They're going to be angry. They're going to be saying, oh, Belichick did this, Belichick did that. When all he did. If you can't trade in on your, as they used to say, jewelry that you're wearing on Your fingers then what else are you going to trade in? So Belichick has every right to do this. He's earned it. Now, Tony, if he goes as little as 7 and 6, people will be.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Saying they made the wrong not good enough. I agree with that. So Belichick opened his practice yesterday to the media and he talked with people and in New England, if he did that, he did it through clenched teeth. He only did 16 minutes and his predecessor Matt Brown would have done 60. But he was out there and I found it amazing. You know why he's out there Mike? Because he's selling. He hasn't had to sell his whole life.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Now that's how it works. We move now to baseball and the Seattle Mariners taking a pass on free agency. Seattle had the best starting pitching rotation in baseball last year, but spent no money acquiring hitting in free agency. This confounded Justin Turner who played in Seattle last year and and wanted to return but got no offer. Turner told Bob Nightingale of USA Today quote, the fact that they missed the playoffs by one game and didn't go out and add an impact bat or two when you've got the best pitching staff in baseball just seems absurd to me, unquote. Will Bond, does it seem absurd to you as well?

[Mike Wilbon]

Tony? It doesn't seem absurd. I'm curious about it and I understand Justin Turner. He is seeing this while he's played on several teams and now he's on my team. He's seen us through the lens of a Dodger and the lens of a Dodger means you look around and they're very rose colored because you think everybody has as much money as your franchise has.

[Tony Kornheiser]

100%. That's not true.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's just not the case. So I get that and still but I'm with him on this, Tony. I'm curious as to where the balance is and how many teams have it. And you know I said to you yesterday cuz I was complimenting Mark Walter who I do know, the primary owner of the Dodgers, cuz not only does he have a gazillion dollars, he's ambitious and he wants to win. And most of all even being right there with being smart and ambitious, is he smart as hell and he knows how to apply, he knows who to hire and the Dodgers have done this now successfully. I don't know that the other teams are that ambitious or that smart. And the Mariners are in the middle of the pack so I don't want to call it absurd.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So I was going to when I first heard about this story, I was going to pounce on Seattle and I was going to talk again about having a salary cap where the most important thing to me is a floor that you have to spend a minimum amount of money in order to go get talent. But then I found out that Seattle is 16th in payroll this year.

[Mike Wilbon]

Right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

16 out of 30. That's right in the middle. They're spending $157 million, which is more than the team I love in Washington, the Nationals, more than Milwaukee, which is a division winner, more than Cincinnati, a great baseball town. So I backed off. And to emphasize your point that you made, Justin Turner has played for the Dodgers, richest team out there. He's played for the Red Sox, a rich team. Toronto, a rich team, and now the Cubs, a rich team. So he's never had to contend with an organization that was counting pennies. But I agree with him in this sense. That's a great starting rotation, Mike. Five guys started 149 games out of 100 games. Never happens. 340 ERA, yeah. The lowest opponent batting average in the entire league, so. And that's a winnable division, Mike. The A's aren't good, the Angels aren't good, Houston isn't what it was and Texas may have been a one year wonder, so I agree with him in principle. Let's take a break. Coming up, did Ole Miss or Florida pull off the bigger win last night in the sec?

[Mike Wilbon]

And which was more impressive last night? James Harden scoring 50 or two, Celtics each going for 40. It was a shocker. It's one shocker.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He has only played for rich teams. He's never had to worry they were going to get people after the deadline. You know, bring them up.

[Commercial Speaker]

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[Narrator]

In case you didn't know, these young men are driven. They are prodigies, the savants, the ones we've been waiting for. Like Damian Lillard, for instance. He doesn't seek guidance or mentorship. He's a leader. He isn't waiting for the baton to be passed to him. He's Taking it for himself. He's relentless in a pursuit of greatness, always pushing to one up himself. He is accomplished, but far from satisfied. He embodies what it means to have an unstoppable drive and are shaking up the status quo in their community and beyond. And Damian Lillard drives a Toyota. A new generation of Toyota drivers are here and they want you to know one thing. You can't stop my drive.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's time for Toss up. Two men enter, one man leaves, finishes the show, then spends the evening obsessively talking to friends and family about the weather. And I do that with the Capital Weather gang. And it's windy tonight and I'm nervous.

[Mike Wilbon]

Toss.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Bigger win in the SEC last night. Ole Miss beating Tennessee or Florida beating Alabama? Okay, I am going to say it is Florida beating Alabama. And I'm going to explain it this way. Yes, I'm going to explain it this way, that I'm giving Tennessee a pass. The last time we saw Tennessee, they made a miraculous win over Alabama at home with that half court shot. Total miracle. And so I think there had to be Mike, an emotional letdown, going to play unranked Ole Miss. To me that feels like a classic trap game situation. I'm going to go with Florida for putting 99 on Alabama at Alabama, 58 in the second half because I didn't have Alabama felt bad after Tennessee. They feel much worse today. This is an awful week for the coaching, awful week for the coaching staff at Alabama and the players at Alabama. And to me, Florida has put itself in consideration now because it's fluid in the SEC, but in consideration for a one seed in the NCAAs.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah, Tony, there's so many teams in the SEC that are in and I look, I find this where I'm still being a little skeptical. It's fascinating and it's much viewing for college, men's college basketball right now. Look, when I saw the scores and said, whoa, let me go to this Mississippi Ole Miss game because they got a chance to win this game. Ole Miss last night in real time was 20 and 9. Now to me they're in, but they're unranked and they go. They're playing against a number four ranked Tennessee team. You know, I'm not going to call it an enormous upset, but I was just more impressed, shall we say, with Ole Miss winning that game. Tony, I think that the SEC is going to get legitimately 11 teams in the tournament. Now look, all the Big Ten in the SEC now seems like they have 20 some schools in Each conference, they don't. I think we have 18. I don't know if the, if the SEC has 16 or 18. I can't keep count.

[Tony Kornheiser]

16.

[Mike Wilbon]

But I think 11, 11 SEC schools to me will have earned making it, including Ole Miss, which now has 21 wins.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's go toss up next, more impressive.

[Mike Wilbon]

Number from the NBA last night.

[Tony Kornheiser]

James Harden scoring 50 or two.

[Mike Wilbon]

Celtics scoring 40 plus for the first time ever.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is not close.

[Mike Wilbon]

Not close.

[Tony Kornheiser]

James Harden is a high volume scorer. Three times he has led the NBA in scoring 23 times. Prior to this, he went 50 or better. This was number 24. This is in the realm of the normal for James Harden. It is not in the realm of the normal to have two people score 40 points or more in the same game. The Celtics, the greatest franchise ever. They never did it. Russell and Havlicek didn't do it. Bird and McHale didn't do it. Garnett and Pierce didn't do it. And now you have it. Jason Tatum didn't do it.

[Mike Wilbon]

Jalen Brown didn't do it. What?

[Tony Kornheiser]

What are we talking about here? Derek White and Peyton Pritchard.

[Commercial Speaker]

What?

[Tony Kornheiser]

What?

[Mike Wilbon]

Tony?

[Tony Kornheiser]

So that's what I'm saying.

[Mike Wilbon]

This was one where I see the score. Not the score, but the individual scoring totals. Because I'm watching something else. I think I'm watching Marquette and UConn or something. And I said Peyton Pritchard has 40. And I'm like, no, no, no, no, no. This bears more investigation. Not that Peyton Pritchard, who's going to be up for six man of the year, is not a fine player because he is. And Derrick White has already been a fine player. One of the best players on a championship team. But you're right. James Harden. So who scored more than 50 in the history of the NBA more times than James Harden? Let's see now. Top of my head, Wilt Jordan, Kobe, Wilt Jordan and Kobe. I'm going to say that's it. That's the list. That's the list. I was almost going to say Allen Iverson, but okay, so those three.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No. So no.

[Mike Wilbon]

When you see those two guys score 40, they have now done that the same number of times in the same game as teammates as Michael Jordan and Scotty Pippen, who did it 29 years ago and they did it once. Amazing.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's a remarkable thing. I know people have done it, but it is remarkable whenever it happens. And a guy. 50. Who gets 50?

[Mike Wilbon]

Stop.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's it.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yep.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's take one last break. Still to come. The Chargers say see you to Joey Bosa.

[Mike Wilbon]

Wow. And will the Lakers make it eight in a row when they host the Knickerbockers tonight in Los Angeles?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I hope that's on national television. Yeah, I hope that's on national television somewhere.

[Mike Wilbon]

Absolutely. But it's a Thursday night, so you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Know where it is on our Laker game.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy time people. Happy 31st birthday Marcus Smart. Couple of seasons ago, Smart was a starting point guard on the Boston Celtics and had been named Defensive Player of the year. In 2022. The Celtics traded him away to Memphis as part of the deal that brought in Kristaps Porzingis Wilbot. At the time you were very skeptical of the deal. You thought it was the end of the Celtics. Well, the Celtics won the championship last year with Jew Holiday at the point. Smart was in Memphis for one year plus. He's now in exile in Washington Smart and Chris Middleton arrived at the trade deadline to a young team that has no use for them. Yet the few games the Wizards have won lately are largely because of Smart Middleton and they will probably be gone next season.

[Mike Wilbon]

Tony I did I thought that Marcus Smart was the heart and soul of the Celtics. I thought they would win several years ago, like 21 and 20. I thought they'd win and he would be part of the reason they won. Instead, he leaves and they win. Lafitte Feel a little bit for Marcus Smart who nonetheless has been a an important player and done the dirty work that some people don't want to do, like play defense.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy anniversary Mike Tyson. We do this one a lot because we really like it. On this day 40 years ago, an 18 year old Mike Tyson made his professional boxing debut in Albany, New York. His opponent was Hector Mercedes, who I like to say should have stayed in the car. Car Mercedes did not get out of the first round as Tyson, always going forward, hit him with a barrage of hooks to the body that dropped Mercedes to one knee and made a technical knockout, an easy call. WILL von you know what I think of the early Mike Tyson? That he was perfectly suited to boxing and was both fearsome and charismatic at the same time.

[Mike Wilbon]

Tony he was indeed, you know, not long before that Mike Tyson. People will say, wait a minute, he has so many boxers, Floyd Patterson, Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, who were in the Olympics. What about Tyson? He lost in the box off. I believe I was there for that. But not long thereafter we saw that Tyson's greatness didn't need an Olympic stamp of approval.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Nothing like him putting his head through the towel and walking into the ring. Happy trails, Joey Bosa. The charges released the outside linebacker last night, freeing up more than $25 million in cap space. Bosa made the Pro bowl five times during his nine seasons with the team. His 72 sacks ranked second in team history behind Leslie O'Neal. Bosa started out so strong, winning defensive rookie of the year, setting an NFL record with 19 sacks in his first 20 games. But the 29 year old has battled injuries the past three seasons, playing in a little more than half of his team's 51 games, and he recently told the Athletic quote, there's not a lot of time left for me. Probably it's coming fast, unquote.

[Mike Wilbon]

Tony As a guy who's a fan of a team who needs a pass rusher, I wonder if Bosa's got anything left. That same team also has another guy who I think is going to the hall of Fame named Khalil Mack, who was already in a Bears uniform. I want one of them. I don't know which. I don't know who has more left. I mean, does Bosa have anything? He even hints at it. Does he have anything left? And do you take a flyer? Because you can get him at a bargain basement price, I would think, at this point.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I would love to see him play with his brother. I would love to see it that way. Let's go to the big finish. Garrett Crochet of the Red Sox now chuck out seven over three. Yesterday's spring training start. You impressed?

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, he's over 100. You're impressed until people's elbows fall off and then you're not as impressed. Impressed. Mav's assistant, Alex Jensen will be the new head coach at the University of Utah. And Duke assistant John Lucas will take over at the University of Miami. Your thoughts?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I am familiar with the father of Lucas, John Lucas, the number one overall draft pick. In the end, yes, he was and was apparently an all American tennis player at the university Maryland.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. The Bengals gave past Russian Trey Hendrickson permission to seek a trade. What, are you surprised?

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, he led the league in sacks of 17 and a half each of the last two seasons. He's had 17 and a half. But he'll get like a million dollars a sack, maybe. I mean, he's worth it if you can pay and give up the chips in the trade. Interesting deal coming. Alan Sovetska scored last night, is now 10 away from breaking Gretzky's record. Your review, sir.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's in close. It's on a power play, which is his meat. He's going to break it this year. We've been through this. He's going to break it. Last one, Nixon. Lakers tonight we got.

[Mike Wilbon]

The Lakers have won seven in a row there. They're on a heater, as they say. Staying with the Los Angeles Lakers at home.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We're out of time. We will try and do better the next time. And I'm Tony Cornhole.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm Mike Lobos. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads. You can get the podcast on the apple raffle Podcast. Tony, the Bengals can't pay everybody. All right? Joe Burrow wants him to play every receiver.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Isaac got a sack guy. You pay him.

[Mike Wilbon]

This is SportsCenter with El Duncan. These are big facts.

[Commercial Speaker]

Little solo show for me here on SportsCenter today.

[Narrator]

PTS.

[Commercial Speaker]

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[Narrator]

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