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Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbond. The World cup is underway. Tony, do you have soccer fever?
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I'm Tony Cornheiser. Maybe. Does it give you hives on your inner thighs? Do that.
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I'm fired up. I'm ready to go. Here's a watch.
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You go when you say you're gonna go. No, no, no. I'm not go. I thought you were gonna go.
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I was gonna go.
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You're not gonna go?
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No, no.
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I'm gonna sit.
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From the tv multiple T and veg out.
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Welcome to pti, boys and girls. In today's episode, the spurs try to stay alive. Texas Tech plays defense and Taylor Twelman joins us to preview tonight's World cup opener for team usa. But we begin today with last night's Stanley cup final series game in which the home team, Carolina, improved its playoff home record to 8 and 2 and took a 32 lead in the series by beating Las Vegas 4 2. Vegas coach John Tortorella said, quote, we will be back here. I'm going to leave my clothes here. They'll be in the hotel, unquote. Will bond. You share Tortorella's confidence that the series is headed to game seven?
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Nope, nope. I wouldn't be surprised if it gets there. Confidence. The key word here is confidence. No, I don't because Carolina's too good for me to be confident that somebody's going to knock them off when they have. That would be game seven on their home surface. No, no, no. So I'm not going there. I am preoccupied though with Bussy and Anderson. I am the goalies, the goal, the goaltenders for Carolina y Bussy played last night. He made 23 saves, only allowed two goals, although he was down one nothing in that game. Right. And then his teammates come back and score four unanswered. He gave up two goals. He this 27 year old rookie and they show his parents in the stands and they seem.
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Long island boy.
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That's right. And they seem to be alternating between oh my God. In disbelief and very proud, which is what parents. What parents wouldn't be that. But his story, Tony, is really cool. Not to say that they couldn't go back to Anderson or they couldn't rely on Anderson if they needed to. But Bussey and the place he's in right now in this series is. I don't know. I'm curious.
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I'll give you one statistic on Bussey that since they put him in. In game three. Yeah. Carolina has outscored Las Vegas 13 to six. So he may also be a good luck charm, not just very good.
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Yeah.
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I want to go back to what Tortorello said. I love what Tortorella said. I love the bravado of what Tortorello said. I'm going to keep my clothes there. Good for him because let's face it, what do you think the air freight charges are to mail those clothes back to him? Six bucks, eight bucks? He is probably not putting clothes that he even likes in a hotel. You wouldn't do that with your Canali cashmere sweaters?
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No, I just bring them with me.
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I wouldn't leave, you know. You wouldn't do that. I mean, your clothes are too good for that. Let me go to Jordan Stahl. Jordan Stahl scored again last night for Carolina. He now has at least one goal in each of the first five games of the Stanley cup final series. You know the last person to do that?
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You.
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No, no, no, no.
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Before Gordy. How.
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Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
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Before Gordy how.
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John Belo in 1956. And before him, Maurice Richard in 1951. The Rocket. And as one other guy in 1918, Cyclone Taylor of the Vancouver Millionaires. In an era where there are very few millionaires, not like now, where everybody is a millionaire, it's different.
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What number was Beliveau's jersey?
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I'm going to guess four, but I don't know. Yeah, long time. Those are great.
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Joined.
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Great names.
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Hell of a list. He's joined the NBA Finals. Continue tomorrow night in San Antonio. You can make a case that the spurs should have won all four games and yet find themselves down 3:1 after that collapse in game four. Tony, it feels like the series is over. But if the spurs win tomorrow night's game five, will you give them a big chance, little chance or no chance at all to win the series?
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Well, I know what you said yesterday. You said you gave them no chance that the series was over. So I will. I will take a different tack. I will say that if they win this, I will give them not quite a big chance, but the smallest line under a big chance because if they win Game five, I think that gives them momentum into Game six, which I acknowledge is in Madison Square Garden. But I also think that all of those Knicks fans who were buoyant after winning Game four are going to be very nervous if it ends up with Game six. And I don't think. I don't think that the spurs would be blown out like they've been blown out before, because I think there's a lesson learned there. I'm not saying I think they're going to win, but I'm saying it's not going to be as Perk would say. They're going to fold like clean sheets. I don't think it's going to be that. Let me get back to my notes here. The truth of the matter is that the spurs have been ahead by double digits in every one of these games. And the truth of the matter is that you could see a scenario in which they won all four games and I didn't. They choked in a couple of the games. I understand that. But 2 and 4. I'm suggesting to you that the question that exists here is how much have they learned and how quickly can they apply it?
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I completely agree with you there, but I think there's another factor, and that's the New York Knicks. And these Knicks are connected in a way that championship teams only are connected.
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Agreed.
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There's a chemistry about them. They have a clearly defined leader in Jalen Brunson, and they have a quiet. I'm gonna say Gary Cooper. Like, I just. Nobody. I just took our audience out. Gary Cooper, like, you know, heroic, silent figure. You know what I mean?
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It's a long time
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on any sports show.
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It's a long time.
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And Anunobi. But you know what I'm talking about. And I think they have all the players in the proper roles that I think Mike Brown is a perfect coach for them. And I think I believe in. I believe in this. There comes a point in every series where both teams know which one the better team is. And we're at that point.
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Okay. And I appreciate that. I've been a Knick fan my whole life. I'd love to see them win. I do think they're gonna win. But the other team, San Antonio, was the best team in the NBA over the last two months of the regular season.
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24, 2.
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And then they got to this point by eliminating the defending champion on the defending champion's home court in a Game seven. So I don't know. The purpose of this question is to say if they win Game five, then what are we looking at? So if they win game five, I think that their confidence takes off like a rocket ship. I don't think they have great confidence now, but I think if they win
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game five, I think their confidence could take off. You know what? Their confidence can't be higher than. It can't be higher than when they were up 29 two nights ago and they couldn't get that. Here's my problem now. I don't trust the Spurs. I'll trust them next year and the next year and probably for the next 10 years we'll trust the spurs.
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But not now.
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Not now.
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Let's revisit Texas Tech and their quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who got a court order earlier this week that will allow him to play for Texas Tech starting in Game 3 when the conference games start. Scoresby had been declared eligible ineligible by the ncaa, which is clearly a toothless dragon. Last night, Texas Tech rolled out a 21 minute video with their ad and head football coach and university president, among others, defending their reasoning for letting Sorsby play despite the $90,000 Scoresby has bet on football. They said being part of the team and playing for this team this year will help in Sorsby rehabilitation. Wilbon, are you buying that?
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Not really. Not really. It doesn't have to do anything to do with sort of doubting them. I don't know what's important to this kid. Yeah, we don't know this kid. We don't know Sorsby. No, he's not like. It's not like this is the 1990s and he's Christian Laettner in Grant Hill and you see him every day for four years and you get what you think is a sense of, no, no, that's not college sports anymore. That's part of this. The other thing is I'm not dwelling on the swordsby question because I'm past it. All I really care about is how many kids are in this position or similar. How many kids need this kind of help, if not intervention?
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I suspect more than Sorsby. Yes.
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Sorsby's not. Oh, you mean Sorsby's the one. So I am way down the road on this and I'm just thinking we're training all of our attention on Mr. Sorsby when there's what, dozens, scores of. Of other young people who may have this issue.
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Yeah. So I mean, I look at this as another example of a group of old men getting on the moral high ground. High horse and weighing down the high horse Me personally, I think he should be disqualified for the amount of money that he bet on football games. You know, I am surprised that he's being allowed to play. But he has gone through rehabilitation and he did find a judge who was friendly to his petition. Right. And now Texas Tech. That's why I write these things down. Texas Tech has talked about the integrity of the game and Scoresby's ability to pursue a career. You can pursue a career in the NFL if they declare that you're eligible. In terms of the integrity of the game. That's what people question when he gets out there. I just, I find it hard to believe that Texas Tech also talked about this as an issue of character development. No, this is an issue about football games.
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Making money, quarterback development.
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They paid him $6 million and they want a return on the investment. I get it that he's going to rehab. I also know there's another reword. It's relapse. It happens to some people. I wish him all the luck in the world. This is serious thing he's going through. But it seems to me that Texas Tech has taken the opportunity of convenience here. Cuz Mike, if Texas, if this kid was playing for TCU or Baylor, Texas Tech would be screaming bloody murder.
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They would. Tony, I don't mind that part of it that they project that they're rallying around this student. I don't mind.
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Isn't there a way to be on the team without playing on the team?
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Probably, probably. But I don't mind that part. Again, what I'm worried about is that this is just this. Oh, this is everybody's in bed with gamblers.
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Look at all the players in all the sports that have been disqualified on a regular basis. Let's take a break. Coming up, should the United States beat Paraguay in tonight's World cup opener, we're going to ask Taylor Twellman.
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We'll also ask him which team he considers to be the fave for the whole tournament.
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Gambling seems to be a rogue wave that knocks ships over. Seems to be.
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But we've identified this kid. He's the one.
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He's not voting.
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Being completely sarcastic.
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The United States men's national soccer team opens World cup play tonight against Paraguay. Here to help help break it down for us is our great friend, the lead analyst for MLS on Apple TV, Mr. Taylor Twelveman. It's a short question, but it probably says everything about, you know, the whole first group stage. Is this a game tonight that the
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United States should win and must win? Absolutely. 100%. Not even debated. Debatable, really, when you think about it, Tony and Michael, and the biggest reason why is you see what Mexico did, You see what Canada did. Home field advantage is a real thing. And for the United States, we have all talked about this. 32 years ago, the 94 World cup was in our backyard, but now we've labeled this your golden generation. You're the generation to deliver. You're the generation to take us to the next level. You have to deliver. Against a Paraguay team that is struggling for full fitness, I would be shocked if the United States do not win
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tonight or you mentioned Paraguay, which leads me perfectly into the next question about in which order you would rank the USA's three group stage opponents. Paraguay, Australia and Turkey, which seems to be getting a little bit of hype.
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That's a great question, Michael, because naturally you would think with how I just answered that question, Paraguay would be the easiest game. I actually think it's Australia. I really do. But I think because of the game against Paraguay. So I would rank it real simple based on talent. Australia is the easiest, Paraguay is the second. And Turkey is the hardest game in this group. And the biggest reason why is there's a little bit of gristle to them. There's a little bit of unknown. They can kind of deal with a lot. They're structured to Australia. Paraguay is still a little more structured than Turkey. I think Turkey is the toughest opponent. And the fact that it's your final opponent in the group stage, I think that makes it the trickiest. But I would rank them Australia, Paraguay, Turkey, based on easy to hardest.
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All right, let's go Back to us. What do you see as the ceiling for the US Team? And on the other hand, what would constitute disaster?
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Disaster is getting grouped. There's no debating that if you cannot get out of this group, especially in a World cup where there's 48 teams, eight third place teams go through the. The floor is getting grouped. Absolutely. But that is a little tricky when you think about the United States men were the first team to ever as a host nation get grouped in Copa America and they did that in 2024. I don't think they get grouped. The ceiling's an interesting one for me because I believe, and I've said it to you guys numerous amount of times now, I believe that the way this tournament's laid out with 48 teams, it goes to chalk, there isn't going to be any real big surprises in the group stage. That means the United States controls their own fate. And if they win the group, they don't play a top eight ranked team in FIFA until the quarterfinals. I think the ceiling is the quarterfinals because this group, the United States men, as a program, They've only won one knockout stage game since the 1990 World Cup. I would be stunned if they went from that number to all of a sudden winning four in this tournament.
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I heard some discussion sometime in the last couple days about Christian Pulisic being the best ever American player. And I don't want to debate that. I'm just wondering, is he built for that kind of pressure in this tournament?
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We've never had a player like Christian Pulisic from the moment he became a pro. That was in the real doldrums of pressure in Europe. So Michael, I'm going to answer the first question. Absolutely. He's capable of doing it. From the moment he became a pro is at Borussia Dortmund, then he was at Chelsea, now he's at Milan. You can't get a harder stretch of teams for an American player. We've never had that. So one, he's capable of it, but will he do it? That's a bigger question. Because some players are capable of the moment. Some players are not. Look at Tom Brady versus Peyton Manning in the biggest moment. Some are just different when the moment comes. But he knows better than anyone else that his legacy will be determined by this World Cup. It's not the next one when he's 30 years old. It is this one in his backyard. If he delivers, then absolutely I think he's in the conversation. If not the answer to the greatest American men player ever, we will get
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you out of here on this. I just want to say I'm so grateful to have learned a new phrase today. To get grouped.
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Grouped.
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To get grouped. I really like that. Yeah. Looking at the whole thing, looking at all 48 teams, is there one team that you like the most right now that would be your favorite to win?
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I'd be shocked if I don't answer that question right away with France. But I am going to say Spain. There's something about this Spanish team. Lamina Mall looks like he's got that extra bedded sauce. It looks like he's the next great one in the capable of the Messi and Ronaldo's and the Wayne Rooneys and all those great players. To answer that question, Tony, I'm going to say Spain.
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Taylor, thank you so much as always. We hope to have you back. Thanks Taylor.
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Don't get groomed, Tony. Don't get groomed.
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I'm touching that. I'm not touching that. Let's take one last break. Still to come, Shohei leaves last night's game with an injury and an unusual
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walk off in minor league baseball.
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So he said he'd be shocked if we didn't beat Paraguay. I thought Paraguay was. Tonight's a big.
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Tonight's a big deal.
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Yeah, that's what I would deal. You're gonna stay up and watch, aren't you? Yeah.
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Cause I don't want to see us get grouped. I wanted to get. We have two more 70s, 19, 77, 78.
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We have $90 opportunities you don't get.
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Yeah, but Turkey's actually pretty good. There are people who think that Turkey could be a dark horse team.
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Who are these people?
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Happy time people. Happy 85th. Happy birthday, Marv Albert as the Knicks stand on the precipice of winning their first NBA championship in 53 years, people should know that Marv Albert was on the radio call of those games. If you grew up in New York as I did, Marv Albert was a sports soundtrack of your life. He did the Knicks and the Rangers. Locally. His signature call after a made basket was yes. He went on the national stage, did NBA games for tnt. He did Monday Night Football and Super Bowls for Westwood One radio. He did baseball and boxing and horse racing and even tennis. There is simply nothing in sports he did not broadcast well. And yes, Marv, we know you're watching.
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It's great to in the Garden in the last couple years and I have had the chance to run into Marv and Marv's call for me, not growing up in New York is still Michael Jordan.
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A spectacular move.
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That's 35 years ago last week, that game.
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Happy anniversary Steve Young. On this day 26 years ago, young announced his retirement from football. He had been in the league for 15 seasons, mostly with the 49ers, where he was on three Super bowl champions. Young started in the old USFL with the Los Angeles Express, then came to the NFL with Tampa Bay, played two years there, then went to the 49ers. Young threw 232 touchdown passes and rushed for 43 more touchdowns. He threw for 33,124 yards and ran for 4,4239. His career was the definition of a mobile quarterback. He's in the hall of Fame. And one more thing. Steve Young is the greatest guest ever on the PTI program.
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Amen. Best athletes to Ever play? Play the position of quarterback. John Elway, Steve Young, Michael Vick, Randall Cunningham. Those are my top four. There are others, but that. You're not going to argue?
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I'm not throwing anybody off the list. I'm not doing that. Happy trails to last night's game for the Fort Wayne Tin Caps. The Tin Caps were one strike away from extra innings with the Dayton Dragons. When Dragons manager Julio Murillo sent kien volume from third. Vu beat the throw and tag to win the game on a walk off steal of home. The favorable conditions included a lefty pitcher on the mound, a lefty batter at the plate and a third baseman who was playing off the bag. But said manager Murillo after the game quote, even if you suggest something, the players have to be willing to do it, unquote. It was Vu's first successful steal of home.
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It seems amazing you could actually send somebody home. They gotta do it on their own, right? That's what you think. Jackie Robinson didn't get weight, didn't wait for the third base coach to send him home when he stole home, what, like nine?
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I thought about this yesterday when we were doing the Sports center segment and the question was, what is the greatest moment in New York sports? Is it the Knicks winning a game 4? And one of the things I thought about is Robinson's steel of home.
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Yeah.
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When he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
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Yo. Because Bera is there catching the ball. The ceiling is sliding into Barra.
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He.
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Yes, I had that picture in my man cave.
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It's not winning game four and not a championship nine times.
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Research will correct me at some point. Someday, I think. Nine times.
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Let's go to the big finish if we could. Nikita future off of the lightning edged Conor McDavid for the hard trophy as the NHL MVP. Is that deserved?
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Probably, but I'm a McDavid guy. He sort of like him a little bit. Sh left last night's win over the Pirates with with left knee inflammation. You're concerned.
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Okay. This is Shohei time. So anytime he leaves with anything, including a hangnail, you're concerned he's not in the lineup today. I mean, I don't know how serious it is, but concern. Absolutely. Caitlin Clark and Aaliyah Boston became the first teammates in WNBA history to have 30 point double doubles in the same game. Is that significant? No.
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They beat this guy in overtime. Not happy.
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Really.
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UFL's United Bowlers tomorrow. You got a seat, you go and it's in town.
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I first of all, I didn't know it was in town. Second of all, I can't name four teams in the ufl. Even though in the old days I could name WFL teams, I can only name one.
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The defenders.
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I will root for the DC Defenders because they're the DC Defenders. Last one, the Miz. Your boy. Yeah. Is on the mound from Milwaukee tonight against the Phillies. What are the expectations?
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He's 7 and 2, 150 and leaves the majors with 116 strikeouts. I expect swing and a miss a lot. Yeah, that's what I expect.
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How many times? Going over 100. Like, almost all. Almost all. We are out of time. Try to do better the next time. I'm Tony Kornheiser.
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19 steals of home from Mr. Jackie Robinson. I'm Mike Wilbon. Have a great weekend, knuckleheads. And now, 19 steals of home.
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Here's come on, stretch. Stretch.
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PTI
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Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Guest: Taylor Twellman
Date: June 12, 2026
This episode dives into the New York Knicks’ quest for their first NBA title in over five decades, discusses the pivotal moments in the Stanley Cup Final, weighs in on NCAA football betting controversies, and hosts a lively World Cup preview with soccer analyst Taylor Twellman. Kornheiser and Wilbon blend sharp analysis, humor, and classic banter, delivering insights into the day’s hottest topics across basketball, hockey, football, and soccer.
“Carolina's too good for me to be confident that somebody’s going to knock them off when they have that...on their home surface.” — Wilbon (01:32)
“Since they put him in...Carolina has outscored Las Vegas 13 to 6. So he may also be a good luck charm.” — Kornheiser (02:39)
Notable Quote:
“I'm gonna keep my clothes there. Good for him...” — Kornheiser quoting Tortorella on his bravado (02:51)
“If they win this, I will give them...the smallest line under a big chance...their confidence takes off like a rocket ship.” — Kornheiser (04:31, 06:41)
"These Knicks are connected in a way that championship teams only are... They have a clearly defined leader in Jalen Brunson..." — Wilbon (05:49)
“I don't know what's important to this kid...All I really care about is how many kids are in this position or similar.” — Wilbon (08:05)
“I think he should be disqualified for the amount of money...Texas Tech has taken the opportunity of convenience here...” — Kornheiser (09:07, 10:02)
Should the USMNT beat Paraguay in World Cup opener?
“Absolutely. 100%. Not even debatable…You have to deliver against a Paraguay team that is struggling for full fitness. I would be shocked if the United States do not win tonight.” — Twellman (12:57)
Ranking the Group Stage Opponents
“Turkey is the toughest opponent…there’s a little bit of gristle to them…The fact it’s your final opponent…makes it the trickiest.” — Twellman (13:55)
US National Team’s Ceiling and Disaster Scenario
“The floor is getting grouped. Absolutely…the ceiling is the quarterfinals…If they win the group, they don’t play a top eight-ranked team in FIFA until the quarterfinals. I would be stunned if they went...from one knockout stage win since 1990 to winning four in this tournament.” — Twellman (14:54)
Christian Pulisic’s Legacy Question
“We’ve never had a player like Christian Pulisic…He’s capable of it, but will he do it? …his legacy will be determined by this World Cup.” — Twellman (16:13)
Favorite to Win the World Cup?
“There's something about this Spanish team. Lamina Mall looks like he's got that extra bedded sauce... To answer that question, Tony, I'm going to say Spain.” — Twellman (17:30)
Fun Moment:
85th birthday tribute to Marv Albert
Kornheiser shares nostalgic memories, emphasizing Albert’s significance as “the soundtrack of your life” for NY sports. (20:25)
Steve Young’s Hall of Fame Career Retrospective
Wilbon cites his favorite “mobile quarterbacks.” (22:08)
Minor League Baseball Steal of Home
Kornheiser and Wilbon discuss a game-winning, walk-off steal of home by Dayton’s Kien Vu. They reflect on Jackie Robinson’s legendary steals. (22:21)
On the Knicks’ opportunity:
“As the Knicks stand on the precipice of winning their first NBA championship in 53 years…” — Kornheiser (20:25)
Taylor Twellman, on pressure for Pulisic:
“He knows better than anyone else that his legacy will be determined by this World Cup...If he delivers, then absolutely I think he's in the conversation, if not the answer, to the greatest American men player ever.” (16:13)
Kornheiser, learning new soccer lingo:
“I'm so grateful to have learned a new phrase today. To get grouped.” (17:11)
Wilbon, questioning Spurs’ reliability:
“Here's my problem now. I don't trust the Spurs. I'll trust them next year...But not now.” (07:02)
The episode blends classic PTI rapid-fire analysis, playful ribbing, and thoughtful debate. The tone is lively, breezy and sharp, whether discussing the psychological makeup of the Knicks, the drama of the Stanley Cup, or the culture-war issues surrounding gambling in college football. Guest Taylor Twellman adds brisk, authoritative soccer talk and easy chemistry with the hosts.