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- [00:01]
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- [00:30]
Mike Wilbon
Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. It's National Haiku Poetry Day. Tone, you got some haiku for us?
- [00:39]
Tony Kornheiser
I'm Tony Kornheiser. The Bulls once were hot until the heat brought a chill. Now Wilbon shudders. How's that? That's a haiku 575.
- [00:50]
Mike Wilbon
That's what it is.
- [00:50]
Tony Kornheiser
That's it. That's what it is.
- [00:52]
Mike Wilbon
That's why when I was introduced to it in creative writing in college, I.
- [00:57]
Tony Kornheiser
Said, you don't wanna do it. Yeah, it's junk. It's hocus pocus junk.
- [01:04]
Mike Wilbon
Yeah, I know.
- [01:05]
Tony Kornheiser
It's not real poetry. Limericks. Limericks are real poetry. Welcome to pti, boys and girls. In today's episode, the Bulls lose. Ashton Genty writes a letter to GMs and the Canadiens make the playoffs. But we begin today with the Dallas Mavericks salvaging some small victory in their otherwise bleak season by beating Sacramento in a play in game last night. Dallas will now play at Memphis with the winner becoming the eighth seed in the real playoffs. Wilbon, what does this do for the Mavericks and Nico Harrison? And where does it leave the Kings who changed coaches and traded away a star this season?
- [01:40]
Mike Wilbon
Tony, I don't know what it does for Dallas other than it gives them. You referred to this in your lead just now. It's just a moment. But they, more than any franchise in the NBA, need a moment. They have just been pounced on since the day of the trade, sending Luca to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. They have just been had it heaped on them day after day, hour after hour, locally, regionally, nationally, inside the industry on late night talk shows. I mean, they've just been crushed. So to actually win this game and to win it convincingly, I found myself being happy for the moment for Dallas and then Sacramento. It's a big step back. Sacramento, two years. It was exciting to watch them light the beam and the purple beam that was lit in Sacramento when they won a game. It was a really fun story that was uplifting and encouraging and now they Lost a guy who was their franchise player. They fired a popular coach. They got isolation basketball, which is kind of worthless, and they've taken a big step back. A big one.
- [02:58]
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah. So I don't really know what this does for Dallas unless they beat Memphis and then win a real series in the playoffs, which they are unlikely to do because it's going to be Oklahoma City if they get in. Right. And I don't know what it does for Nico Harrison, except maybe extend the day on which he's going to get fired because he made you say they got crushed. They got crushed legitimately. He made the worst trade of all time. He did things you're not supposed to do. He traded young for old, and he traded great for very, very good, but always hurt. To me, Mike, Dallas has to make the NBA Finals for this guy to keep his job in the next two years. Not this year, but in the next two years. In terms of terms of Sacramento, you know, they're in the sort of flux that I guess Dallas is in as well. They fired Mike Brown in December after giving him an extension in July. They traded De'Aaron Fox to San Antonio for no apparent reason to me. I have no idea why they did it. Last night after the game, they fired. They're gm. They're gm. So they have no rudder.
- [04:08]
Mike Wilbon
Yeah.
- [04:09]
Tony Kornheiser
At the moment. They have no GM at the moment. Their coach, Doug Christie is still interim. So they're a mess. I think both of these teams are messy at the moment. I do.
- [04:19]
Mike Wilbon
Tony. Sacramento is a much bigger mess because they don't have the kind of hope at least. If you get Kyrie Irving back, and I see the reports out there talking about January, we have no idea. But if you. If you get Kyrie Irving back. Resigned and whole and playing with Anthony Davis and Lively and some of the other guys, P.J. washington, you got. You got a team. You said yourself, in the short term, Dallas could be something. Sacramento's in the short term right now.
- [04:44]
Tony Kornheiser
Nothing in the short term. I mean, Dallas is going to run out of time after next year. Like that's what they've got this year. Next year. That's what they've got.
- [04:52]
Mike Wilbon
Yeah. Light the beam. Light that beam. Last night's early game was tough for me. The Heat stomped the Bulls in Chicago. Boos everywhere. Tyler Herro scored 38. Miami never trailed, which is unexpected because the bulls had won 15 of 20, had swept the Heat 30 in their regular season series, and were playing hello again at home. So, Tony, you take a stab at what happened last Night and explain it to me and the nation.
- [05:22]
Tony Kornheiser
Okay. Well, the first thing I would point to is, is that it would be better for Chicago if someone had volunteered to actually guard Tyler Herro. Tyler Herro had 38 points. His high all season was 40. And he just had 38 in what is at least nominally a playoff game to some degree. He was 13 for 19 from the field in the first half. And I watched the first half and then I stopped. Because it was a non competitive game in the first half. He didn't miss any shots at all. And what he did was continuously take the ball on the ground to the rim and he would score. And nobody, Mike, nobody ever got in his way. Okay? Missed no shots in the first half. So Miami has 71 at the half and they're leading by 24, the most points they have led by all year at the half. So that's how I would explain it and I would look to Chicago. And you mentioned this. Chicago had swept the season series from Miami 3, 0. They never led it home. They didn't even lead to nothing. They end up with 90 points. They're low of the entire season. They shoot 38.9%, which stinks. It's just terrible. So please refrain from telling me about the great young core that we talked about yesterday with Chicago.
- [06:46]
Mike Wilbon
I'm going to tell you that I would be handing people pink slips today, okay? This is the franchise of my entire life. I would fire people today. I don't think Billy Donovan's a good coach. I damn well know Billy Donovan's a good coach. He's got championship rings and he's a good developer of talent. He's a hell of a coach. I'm throwing people out. I would deactivate their key cards to get in the building. And the GM as well. Patrick Williams is the guy who's supposed to guard sometimes. Tyler Herro, he can't guard me. And they paid him $90 million on an extension last year in one of the dumbest extensions in the league currently. The Bulls made. They. They. They didn't just. They no showed. They didn't play poorly. They were scared. They were terrified. They were in over their heads. That's a failure at the top of the pyramid. In addition to the players, if I ran the team, and luckily Jerry and Michael Reinsdorf, who I know and like both of them tremendously, they're a lot nicer person than I am because I would say, get out. All of you, get out now. Get out.
- [08:00]
Tony Kornheiser
You know what I like?
- [08:01]
Mike Wilbon
Embarrassing.
- [08:02]
Tony Kornheiser
I like the Play in format. I like the play in format. I, I hope the NHL goes. I honestly like it. But three of the four that we've seen so far are routes. So it becomes a tough sell. Let's turn to the NFL draft and the letter Boise State running back Ashton Genty wrote to all 32 teams via the Players Tribune. Genty said, draft me, you won't be sorry. Here's a direct quote. If you pick me, it's simple. I'm coming to your franchise to do what Saquon Barkley and the Eagles just did. Unquote. Here's another quote. Is tackle football. You know what I'm saying? I'd draft a guy they can't tackle. Unquote. No shortage of confidence there. Will Bond Does Genti make a persuasive case to NFL GMs that he can become the next Saquon Barkley?
- [08:44]
Mike Wilbon
I don't know about GM's Tony, but he persuaded me and I don't need him to be the next Saquon Barkley because I don't want him to go to a second team. Particularly if my team is lucky enough to draft him at 10 if he falls past the Raiders. Saquon Barkley had to do that and he also had to have a horrific knee injury. So I don't need him to be the next Saquon Barkley. Just be the Ashton Genti that we saw in college if he can carry that to the next level. And as you know Tony, once upon a time the position where performance and talent best translated immediately was running back. For decades, for generations this happened. So Ashton Genty to me again, I'm hoping he falls past the Raiders all the way to my team at 10 because we got pictures of guys in that building in Lake Forest wearing 34 and 40 on their chest of all time great running backs. Chicago knows what to do with one. If these other GMs don't know what to do with them, let him pass. Let him go somewhere because I believe he can play. I believe he's a stud.
- [09:43]
Tony Kornheiser
So I loved what he wrote and I want to love the kid. But before we get too carried away, there is something I have to point out that Saquon Barkley is listed as 6ft 233 pounds. And Ashton Genty is listed at 58 and a half to 11. Now there have been great short running backs. Barry Sanders is listed at 5 8. Emmett Smith is listed at 5 9. They are, they're all time running back. But would I be concerned at five eight and a half. I might, I might actually be concerned now. He was remarkably durable in college because I got more numbers here. He carried the ball 374 times last year. It's almost 30 times a game. He averaged seven yards a carry, Mike. And his Yak was 1900 yards, the most in college. So you can't tackle him. You can't. So I would think he's, you know, the way we led into this or the way he writes this letter, you think, oh, he's the second or third round choice. He's a first round choice. Mel Kuiper says, and you're alluding to this, that the Raiders are going to draft him at six. So, yeah, I would draft them too. Right.
- [10:48]
Mike Wilbon
He looks, looks like offensive play caller, a creative offensive play caller. And if you've got a quarterback and if you've got a line, if you were playing in Detroit for Ben Johnson last year with that line and that quarterback and those receivers, you put in a lineup.
- [11:05]
Tony Kornheiser
Yes.
- [11:06]
Mike Wilbon
What? Yes. Give it to me.
- [11:08]
Tony Kornheiser
We have, we have reached a turn in the era where this year running backs were important. Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Bijan Robinson. So, I mean, he may have come along at the right time. He may have come along at the right time. Let's take a break. Coming up, Jorge Lopez gets ejected after going high and tight to Andrew McCutcheon. What's the word for that?
- [11:31]
Mike Wilbon
How best to describe the turnaround that got the Canadiens into the postseason? You know, the Bulls gm, who I would fire, you know, he asked for patience at a press conference today. He asked for patience.
- [11:42]
Tony Kornheiser
They all ask for patience.
- [11:44]
Mike Wilbon
Give us a while. No, the guy with no wizards asked.
- [11:48]
Tony Kornheiser
For five to eight years, said, where can you stand?
- [11:52]
Unknown
What?
- [11:53]
Mike Wilbon
Just show up for a play in game. Show up.
- [11:56]
Tony Kornheiser
No, you should get two years.
- [11:58]
Mike Wilbon
Yeah, please.
- [11:59]
Tony Kornheiser
Two years, three years max.
- [12:01]
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- [12:32]
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- [13:07]
Tony Kornheiser
Time to showcase our spectacular vernacular. And what's the word? What's first? It's blank that the Canadiens clinched a playoff berth. It's sweet. I'm happy that they did that. They beat Carolina 42 last night in the last game of the regular season, Mike. They needed one point to get in. They got two. Carolina rested some people. So what? Montreal will now play Washington in the first round of the playoffs. And of course, I'm going to root for Washington, but I'm happy they're in because, Mike, if they weren't in, five of the original six teams would be out of the playoffs. The only team that would be in is Toronto, and Toronto has not won a Stanley cup in almost 60 years. It's sort of quirky that all four American original six teams aren't there. Chicago and New York and Boston and Detroit. But I think it would be worse if the Canadian teams aren't there. So I'm glad they're in the playoffs. And it is the first time since 2021 for the Canadiens.
- [14:08]
Mike Wilbon
And Tone, because of the second part of what you talked about, it's scene setting. They're going to now go against the greatest goal scorer of all time and Alexander Oveskin and your Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs. Look, the Capitals have been knocked out early before when they've been the best team in the Eastern Conference. You and I have seen it back when we actually covered a lot more hockey. And so don't look at this as sort of, oh, wait, the Canadiens barely snuck in. They have no chance, but they get this. They get this chance of theirs against a totally glamorous player. I mean, I guess nobody's going to really argue that Oveskin is the MVP of the league, but he had the great season. He had the great historic season which saw him move past Wayne Gretzky, and now the Canadiens get him. Who better to be involved in anything historic than the Canadiens? So I'm looking forward to seeing this first round series.
- [15:05]
Tony Kornheiser
That's what happens, Mike. Hockey, more than any other sport, has upsets in the first round of the playoffs.
- [15:09]
Mike Wilbon
They do all the time.
- [15:11]
Tony Kornheiser
Simple all the time. What's next? What's next? Jorge Lopez's ejection last night was blank. My word is warranted. And obviously the league felt it was warranted because today they suspended him for three games. There's a backstory here for the game we're talking about. The pirates hit Paul DeYoung right in the face. Okay, so Jorge Lopez comes in in the seventh last night in a one nothing game, Pittsburgh's leading, one nothing. He gives up a couple of singles, he gives up a run, and then he hits Bryan Reynolds. He hits him on the first pitch, and then he goes high and tight to Andrew McCutcheon and knocks McCutcheon down. And maybe it's coincidental, Mike, but I believe that last year when Lopez was on the Cubs, he gave up home runs to both of those guys. So maybe he remembered that and it looks like there's going to be a fight. And they run Lopez and they run him justifiably because he was the protagonist in this. Let me just give you his numbers because this is my team. And the bullpen stinks year after year. His ERA is now 10.57. He's pitched seven innings, I believe. Four walks and two hit batters. He says out loud he's having trouble with his delivery. I think he's having trouble with pitching, and I don't care if I see him again.
- [16:26]
Mike Wilbon
The whole thing, his ejection, what he did with batters at the plate, his whole demeanor, stuff he's done in the past, everything about him is nonsense. And yes, the ejection is warranted, but the episode is nonsense. He's about nonsense. You know what he reminds me of? Tony reminds me of Nick Kyrgios, before Kyrgios picked up a microphone and became the most charming man in. In the world. This guy doesn't seem on the verge of any explosion of charm. He's just about nonsense. So they should run him and suspend. They did suspend him for three games. Not enough.
- [17:03]
Tony Kornheiser
Three games.
- [17:04]
Mike Wilbon
Good.
- [17:05]
Tony Kornheiser
They suspended the manager, too. Davey Martinez. I suspended him. I believe he didn't manage today. I believe that. That's the final word. Let's take one last break. Still to come, the Bucs get good news about Damian Lillard.
- [17:16]
Mike Wilbon
I told you. I told you it was coming. And an update on the future of the quarterback that Tennessee just cut loose.
- [17:24]
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah, who's gonna pay him? Are we gonna learn who's gonna pay him? Cause somebody's gonna pay him. Okay, that's college football. Now, how much money you got?
- [17:35]
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- [18:05]
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- [18:31]
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- [18:40]
Tony Kornheiser
Happy time people. Happy 24th birthday. Christian Brown, the Nuggets 6 foot 62 guard was the 21st overall pick in the 2022 draft out of Kansas, where he won the NCAA championship. His last year there, Brown had 12 points and 12 rebounds in the title game in North Carolina. Brown went to the Nuggets and immediately was on an NBA champion. As a rookie in Denver, Brown scored about five points a game with almost three rebounds and statistically that's not much. But in Game 3 of the Finals against Miami, Brown had 15 points and by this season Brown was a starter in Denver averaging 15 points and five rebounds. Brown shot 58% from the field, almost 40% from three. So his is a success story so far.
- [19:24]
Mike Wilbon
Tony, he's a nice player, but his teammate Joker has still never played with an all NBA caliber player. And that series though their first round playoff series Series Denver against the Clippers. That's got some heat to it. You got two lead characters who have led teams to championships. Those guys, when healthy they are something to watch. And Brown ought to feel lucky he's playing alongside Joker.
- [19:50]
Tony Kornheiser
I thought you told me Jamal Murray was a superstar a year ago.
- [19:54]
Mike Wilbon
No, I didn't. Nice try.
- [19:57]
Tony Kornheiser
Oh actually you did. Happy Anniversary Nolan Ryan. On this day 42 years ago, the hall of Fame right hander then pitching for the astros struck out Montreal's Andre Dawson to record strikeout number 3,500. His fastball, nicknamed the Ryan Express, was clocked near 100 miles an hour. When Ryan retired, he had 5,714 strikeouts, by far the most of all time. Randy Johnson is second with 4875. So Johnson would need about 800 more innings to catch Ryan. Following Ryan and Randy Johnson with at least 3,500 strikeouts come Roger Clemens, Steve Carlton, Burt Bly Levin, Tom Seaver, Don Sutton, Gaylord Perry and Walter Johnson. Active pitchers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer are the next two. They're in the 3004 hundreds.
- [20:47]
Mike Wilbon
I know you know who has the most no hitters of all time. I know you know that. Nolan Ryan.
- [20:52]
Tony Kornheiser
I do.
- [20:52]
Mike Wilbon
Who's got the most 1 hitters of all time?
- [20:57]
Tony Kornheiser
I'm betting because you're saying it. It's going to be Fergie Jenkins. Am I close?
- [21:01]
Mike Wilbon
Nolan? Nolan Ryan.
- [21:03]
Tony Kornheiser
Oh, he tried one, too.
- [21:04]
Mike Wilbon
For most two hitters. Most two hitters.
- [21:06]
Tony Kornheiser
I want to say Nolan Ryan.
- [21:08]
Mike Wilbon
Yeah. Three hitters of all time.
- [21:11]
Tony Kornheiser
Really? Really.
- [21:13]
Mike Wilbon
How about that? Great.
- [21:15]
Tony Kornheiser
Wow.
- [21:15]
Mike Wilbon
Yeah.
- [21:16]
Tony Kornheiser
Happy trails to two college quarterbacks. Former Tennessee starter Nico I am Oliva. I hope I get that right. Is reportedly talking to UCLA after getting dumped by the Vols last week. The red shirt sophomore had missed a Tennessee spring practice, reportedly holding out for an increase in nil from 2.4 million per year to $4 million a year. It doesn't appear he'd be getting that level of money from UCLA either, but he's from Southern California. And Ryan Brown is reportedly leaving North Carolina just five months after transferring there from Purdue to play for Bill Belichick. This comes in the wake of reports that Belichick has turned his eye towards South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez.
- [22:00]
Mike Wilbon
Tony, I'm glad these kids are getting paid. I am. For so many years. They should have been and weren't. But you know what? They all think they're Joe Montana now and they're not. They all want $4 million to come in and play for Old state. Uh, and 90% of them aren't worth what they're asking. So that's just where we are. The pendulum has swung.
- [22:22]
Tony Kornheiser
If he's getting 2.1, that's so much money. And he wants 4. Hello. Let's go to the big finish. Ross Duhard. Damian Lillard has been cleared of deep vein thrombosis. He is off blood thinners. Your thoughts good?
- [22:36]
Mike Wilbon
He's still going to miss Game 1 or Schedule 2 against the Patriots, but I think when that thing goes back to Milwaukee, I'm hoping to see Dame. I really. I hope this works out for him. Commanders and the District of Columbia are close to a deal for a new stadium inside the city. We both expect that to happen. Do we not?
- [22:53]
Tony Kornheiser
Absolutely. We both covered games at RFK and we know what a great home field advantage that was. Princeton guard Xavian Lee transferring to national champion Florida. Is that a good fit?
- [23:05]
Mike Wilbon
Absolutely. This kid hasn't been seen much because he played in the Ivy League. He can play replacing Walter Clayton Jr. Justin Thomas. Eleven birdies at Harbor Town this morning. Eleven. Big deal.
- [23:17]
Tony Kornheiser
It's more than I've had in my whole Life. He shot 61. Fabulous last one. Lee Corso will retire from college game.
- [23:25]
Mike Wilbon
Day after week one.
- [23:26]
Tony Kornheiser
Your reaction?
- [23:27]
Mike Wilbon
Corso and Dick Vital brought a level of fun to college sports and the broadcasting of these games that we all ought to be thankful for. Thank you, guys. Thank you, Lee.
- [23:39]
Tony Kornheiser
We're out of time. We'll try and do better the next time. Congratulations to my school, Binghamton University national debate champion.
- [23:46]
Mike Wilbon
I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads. You can get the podcast on the Apple podcast.
- [23:54]
Brad Milke
Hey, I'm Brad Milke. You may know me as the host of ABC Audio's daily news podcast. Start here. But I'd like to add aspiring true crime expert to my resum? And here's how I'm gonna make it happen. Every week I'm gonna unpack the biggest true crime story that everyone is talking about. ABC's got some unique access here, so I'll talk to the reporters and producers who have followed these cases for months, sometimes years. We'll bring you the latest developments and the larger context on the true crime stories you've been hearing about. Follow the crime scene for special access to the people who know these stories best.