Cavs Dominate Detroit, Thunder–Spurs Showdown, Rai’s Big Moment

Summary

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PTI Podcast Summary – May 18, 2026

Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Episode Theme: Playoff drama across NBA and NHL, a surprise PGA Champion, and fiery sports banter

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Episode Overview

This episode of PTI is a rapid-fire rundown of Sunday’s biggest sporting events, with Tony and Michael tackling the dominance of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the highly anticipated Thunder–Spurs NBA matchup, Aaron Rai’s unexpected PGA Championship victory, and key storylines across MLB and NHL playoffs. The hosts’ trademark banter, bold predictions, and sharp analysis make this an energetic and insightful listen.

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NBA Playoff Showdowns

Thunder vs Spurs: Western Conference Finals Preview

[00:56–04:45]

• Tony and Michael kick off with deep anticipation for the Thunder–Spurs series, highlighting the youth, talent, and regular season dynamics between the two teams.
  • Tony: “San Antonio owned them, Mike. They own them this year. Maybe that’s a harbinger of something to come.” [03:51]
  • Wilbon: “I give ‘em a big chance...Wembanyama’s that good, and the team is that good.” [02:01]

Key Discussion Points

• Historical Playoff Patterns:

  • Wilbon asserts that teams usually need to experience “heartache” before greatness: “...before anyone ascends fully, they have to have heartache. That’s right. They have to have despair.” [02:11]
  • Tony challenges the notion, citing Oklahoma City’s youth compared to San Antonio and questioning if despair is truly necessary: “I don’t necessarily believe that...San Antonio is older.” [03:13]

• Star Matchups & X-Factors:

  • Wembanyama’s impact and hype versus Chet Holmgren.
  • Emerging stars like Harper and Castle (“Cassel, to me, is going to be the new SGA at some point.” – Wilbon [02:21])

Predictions

• Wilbon narrowly picks OKC but gives San Antonio “a big chance.”
• Tony boldly picks the Spurs to win the series, referencing their 4-1 regular season edge.

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Cavs Rout the Pistons: “Futuristic” Playoff Blowouts

[04:46–08:19]

• Cleveland advances to the Eastern Conference Finals after trouncing Detroit by 31, sparking a conversation about blowouts and modern playoff basketball.

Key Discussion Points

• Trends Toward Blowouts:

  • Wilbon’s Word: “Futuristic” – tying massive margins to the proliferation of three-point shooting:
    “A three-point shot...sends the other team into desperation...makes an 11 point lead 19 and makes it 24 and there’s no recovery.” [05:10]
  • Kornheiser laments the lack of drama: “I am very disappointed in the playoffs. It’s like 75% of the games are routs.” [06:38]

• Cleveland’s Strengths and Weaknesses:

  • Wilbon questions why the Cavs aren’t ‘better’ given their roster.
  • Praise for big men Allen & Mobley stepping up.
  • Road teams won three straight in this series—a sign of unpredictable postseason dynamics.

• Fan Perspective:

  • Tony: “You want drama in the playoffs, so it’s not working for me.” [07:51]
  • Wilbon: “It’s fascinating, even if it’s not dramatic. It’s an interesting study.” [07:45]

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Golf: Aaron Rai’s “Forever” PGA Moment

[08:45–11:55]

• Aaron Rai shoots a closing 65 to win his first PGA Championship, highlighted by an incredible 68-foot birdie on 17.

Insights & Reactions

• Wilbon: “You won’t find one person on the property who’s not happy for him.” [09:11; quoting Rory McIlroy]
• Tony: “Some golf tournaments are won, and some golf tournaments are lost. Nobody lost the PGA. Aaron Rai won the PGA.” [09:17]
• Rai’s victory earns comparisons to other one-major wonders: “Maybe this is Rye...because Rye doesn’t hit the ball long off the tee and nobody thought he was a good putter until the last three or four days.” [11:13]
• Conversation on whether he can repeat success; either way, this moment “is a forever.” [11:06]

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NHL Playoff Drama: Canadiens vs. Sabres, the Rise of Road Warriors

[13:44–15:52]

• Preview of Game 7 between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres.
• Wilbon: “Home ice does not mean all that much...The goaltending has been iffy...I think Buffalo seems to have some magic dust surrounding them.” [13:58]
• Tony: “In the history of game sevens in NHL play, it’s 118 to 84 where the home team wins. But...Montreal...go 5 and 2 on the road...they’ve already won a Game 7 in Tampa...So everything I’m saying sounds foolish as it gets out of my mouth.” [14:52]
• Both acknowledge the unpredictability due to recent trends of road teams dominating crucial games.

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MLB: Phillies’ Hot Streak & Wilbon’s Philly Bias

[16:07–18:22]

• Phillies turnaround under Don Mattingly (15–4 streak) after a slow start, but Wilbon cannot bring himself to root for Philly teams.
  • Tony: “You gotta love Mattingly.” [18:06]
  • Wilbon: “I want the Phillies to lose every damn game. So, no, they’ve convinced me of nothing.” [18:08]
• Fun banter about Philly fans and the legendary tough New York Knicks fans “gangstering” the Philly crowd.
• Both admire Kyle Schwarber (“He is on a pace to hit seven. I love Schwaber.” – Wilbon [18:01]) despite Wilbon’s anti-Philadelphia feelings.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On NBA youth and heartbreak:
  “You base everything on Michael Jordan’s career.” – Tony [04:28]
  “Michael had to have despair...Shaq and Kobe had despair. The only three people who had no despair, Magic, Johnson, Magic, Duncan.” – Wilbon [04:35]

• On Modern Basketball:
  “I am very disappointed in the playoffs. It’s like 75% of the games are routs.” – Tony [06:38]
  “A three-point shot...makes an 11 point lead 19 and makes it 24 and there’s no recovery.” – Wilbon [05:13]

• On golf’s everyman champions:
  “Who knows whether Rye is going to even show for the next two majors...It doesn’t matter.” – Tony [11:04]

• Philly fandom banter:
  “You gotta stop that. No, no, don’t hate the University of Pennsylvania.” – Tony [17:26]
  “Just because they...they sold their seats to the New Yorkers who went in there and gangstered them.” – Wilbon [17:32]

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Other Segments & Timely Hot Takes

• [21:23–21:36] Reggie Jackson birthday tribute: Tony recalls driving across Florida with Reggie in his Rolls Royce, “you sit in the front with me.”
• [21:42–22:50] Flashback to 1979’s 22–22 Phillies–Cubs slugfest; Wilbon reminisces about watching as a young baseball reporter.
• [23:11–23:32] Preakness review: Call to change the Triple Crown format as favorites keep skipping races.

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Lightning Round (“The Big Finish”)

[23:37–24:35]

• NFL season kicks off with a Patriots–Seahawks Super Bowl rematch – hosts unimpressed.
• Aaron Rodgers to the Steelers – “Does he matter anymore?”
• Mourinho returns to Real Madrid; Mbappé uncertainty.
• Pelicans hire Jamal Mosley (“Orlando may regret getting rid of him.” – Tony [24:17])
• Cubs vs. Brewers; Wilbon pessimistic after painful White Sox loss.

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Episode Vibe & Closing Remarks

• Plenty of respectful roasting and classic PTI chemistry.
• Focus on the unpredictability of this year’s playoffs in both basketball and hockey.
• Appreciation, skepticism, and nostalgia rolled into one, with trademark jabs at cities, stars, and traditions.
• The hosts promise, “We will try to do better the next time.” [24:35]

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Notable Timestamps

• NBA Playoff Discussion: [00:56–08:19]
• Golf (Aaron Rai’s PGA Win): [08:45–11:55]
• NHL Game 7 Preview: [13:44–15:52]
• Phillies MLB Segment: [16:07–18:22]
• Reggie Jackson Birthday Tribute: [21:23–21:36]
• Lightning Round (NFL, Soccer, MLB): [23:37–24:35]

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Best Quote of the Episode (NBA Paradox Edition):
“San Antonio owned them, Mike. They own them this year. Maybe that’s a harbinger of something to come.” – Tony Kornheiser [03:51]
Runner-Up:
“A three-point shot...makes an 11 point lead 19 and makes it 24 and there’s no recovery.” – Mike Wilbon [05:13]

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Transcript

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[Mike Wilbon]

Pardon the interruption. What? I'm Mike Loebleine. It's International Museum Daytone. What's your favorite museum?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm Tony Kornheiser. It used to be the Louvre, but I haven't been back since we helped ourselves to those crown jewels up top.

[Mike Wilbon]

Have those been fenced fully?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Not fully.

[Mike Wilbon]

Not fully.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. Not fully.

[Mike Wilbon]

Some stash held back. Okay. It is the Louvre. It's the Louvre for me.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Is it for you?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Did you see the Mona Lisa when you were there? The stand on line. It's this big.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's this big.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's this big postage stand, people. It's one of the big surprises of my life, how small it is. Welcome to pti, boys and Girl. On today's episode, the Cavs trounce the Pistons. The Canadiens and Sabres go to game seven and Aaron Ride wins the PGA Championship. But we begin today with the San Antonio spurs taking on the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals beginning in about three hours in Oklahoma City. Over the weekend, the spurs crushed the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minnesota by 30 points to get to this series. Oklahoma City has been resting for the last full week after sweeping the Lakers. Wilbon, do you give the Spurs a big chance, a little chance or no chance to win this series?

[Mike Wilbon]

I give him a big chance. I can't wait for this series to start. I, I, I give him a big chance. Not as big a chance as you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right.

[Mike Wilbon]

Let me give you some credit. First thing to start out Monday, you said at the beginning of the playoffs, Cavaliers, Spurs. That's right. You're still alive.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm still alive. I'm still alive.

[Mike Wilbon]

You may be the only person that has that combination.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Still alive.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah, but you're alive.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Good, Good.

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, good. It's a big. They got a big chance. Wembanyama's that good, and the team is that good. And you know, my reservation is that before anyone ascends fully, they have to have heartache. That's right. They have to have despair.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'll get to that.

[Mike Wilbon]

But when Banyama and Harper is coming along and Castle's already along, Cassel, to me, is going to be the new SGA at some point. I really mean that. And while I'm picking Oklahoma City, and I think Oklahoma City is great and may be included with the great teams of ForeverVantage, I'm going to go with Oklahoma City, but narrowly so.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I am going to pick San Antonio. I know.

[Mike Wilbon]

I can't even say.

[Tony Kornheiser]

As you know, for the last three months or so, I've told you, I think that they are going to win the NBA Championship. Oklahoma City. I think they're right there with Oklahoma City. The decisive point for me is that they beat Oklahoma City four out of five times in the regular season. Let me consult my notes here. I know that you like to say that heartache is necessary before one ascends despair. And my reaction to that is, why is that true for a young team? Did you know that Oklahoma City is the third youngest team even now in the league, younger than San Antonio.

[Mike Wilbon]

But they had that moment of despair which helped propel.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm just going to say to you that I don't necessarily believe that because in this point, San Antonio is older than they are and they don't have to lose to a younger team. San Antonio, those four games. Let me give you the numbers on those four games. 111, 130, 117 and 116. In those four wins, that's an average of 119 points. Oklahoma City, including those games, only gave up 108 points per game, second in the league. San Antonio owned them, Mike. They own them this year. Maybe that's a harbinger of something to come. Now.

[Mike Wilbon]

I, I, I just think it's to come, like next year.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, maybe. But Wembanyama makes a difference. As you've said, when Benyama makes a difference, he's going to go up against a guy not as tall as he is, a young guy drafted the year before. And I think everybody wants to see Holmgren in Wembanyama.

[Mike Wilbon]

I don't like each other.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think they want to see that. I do. I do.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm just going to remind you of something. You, you, you've covered the league longer, longer than me. You sat in those locker rooms and watched despair in many of those cases I described.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But I don't think it's an automatic.

[Mike Wilbon]

Guys are gonna skip the step.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I just, I don't think it's an automatic. You know, I don't. You base everything on Michael Jordan's career.

[Mike Wilbon]

No, Michael Jordan gotta had despair. Okay? Shaq and Kobe had despair. The only three people who had no despair, Magic Johnson, Magic Duncan.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, no despair.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So everybody else, that's the exception to your rule. But three exceptions is a lot. Let's stay with the NBA. Let's move to Cleveland, routing Detroit last night in Detroit by 31 points to win that series and get to face the Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. The road teams won the last three games of this series. The Pistons had won four straight elimination games over Orlando and Cleveland, but they didn't win this one. Wilbon, what was the word for this game?

[Mike Wilbon]

Futuristic. There's a trend. I'm thinking about the margin more than the result. The margin, which is. You and I talked about this in your podcast this morning. I'm going to talk about this game. Yeah, but the three games at the end and other series having these kinds of games and Tony, I think it's mostly because of the three point shot. Maybe not entirely. This is why Steve Kerr has to be listened to. Steve Kerr's smartest man in basketball. Because a three point shot, you go on a four basket run and, and it used to not kill you. What it does now is it sends the other team into desperation and it sends them into some frenzy that then makes an 11 point lead 19 and makes it 24 and there's no recovery. So it's weird. But, but, but, but Cleveland. And again, giving you credit, Cleveland's a better team. What I wonder about Cleveland is why aren't you people better? Not to be that good as last night, but you got stars, you got vets, you got.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You said that side, Mobley, Allen, you said about Orlando. Why aren't you people better?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes, because some.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is when it pays off. The playoffs is when it pays off.

[Mike Wilbon]

Okay, but they should be better in the play. I don't even think they should be in these sevens. Allen, by the way, has played really well. Allen and Mobley, they're big guys.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They're big guys.

[Mike Wilbon]

But you know what? As much as we talk about the spectacular guards and they are, they are. They can put up 50 on you. Yeah, that's right. Those two guys, when they play with force like they did against Detroit when necessary, they, they can give the Knicks some problems and they got to deal

[Tony Kornheiser]

with Kat, I'm going to come off your point here. I am very disappointed in the playoffs. It's like 75% of the games are routes. I have some numbers here. This series was weird because the road team won the Last three games. Yeah. Here is Cleveland haven't won a road game in the entire playoffs. Lost three in Toronto, lost two in Detroit. They win game five, they come home to clinch, they get five. Yeah. And then they go back out on the road and they win by 31 points. Right. That was crazy. You could turn off the TV in the fourth quarter. In both of those games, Cleveland was up by 26 points going into the fourth quarter. Let me get to these things. I'm struggling to remember two games in a row that were close, that had drama. The Knicks were plus 152 in eight wins. Oklahoma City plus 105 in eight wins. Just recently, San Antonio plus 104 in four wins. Okay, four.

[Mike Wilbon]

Don't you having covered decades of this?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think it's the three. Yeah, I do.

[Mike Wilbon]

I think it's fascinating, even if it's not dramatic. It's an interesting study.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You want drama in the playoffs, so it's not working for me. These routes. Am I awed sometimes by the runs they go on. But when you get to the fourth quarter and you can switch to another sport, that's not the way it's supposed to happen. Just not.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'll give you one more chance here.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, please. I wanted to give you my word. Can I just give you my word?

[Mike Wilbon]

What's your word?

[Tony Kornheiser]

My word on a personal level is gratifying because I had them the whole way. And on a viewership level, my word is disappointing for the reasons that I've stated.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah. Tonight, close game one.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No.

[Mike Wilbon]

In Oklahoma City.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. This is the one game. Oklahoma City better win this game. Better win this one because the other team's capable of knocking them out.

[Mike Wilbon]

I can't wait for this series. I can't.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And I also don't believe in that rust resting. I think both the Knicks and the Thunder are rested.

[Mike Wilbon]

They're ready to go.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They're championship type teams. They're ready to go.

[Mike Wilbon]

Okay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right.

[Mike Wilbon]

And now to golf and Aaron rye winning the PGA Championship at Eironomic. Rye shot a five under 65 on Sunday, including a title ceiling 68 foot birdie putt on 17. Bomb.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yep.

[Mike Wilbon]

To finish three strokes ahead of Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley. Rye is not one of the bigger names on Tour, of course, but Rory McIlroy said, and I quote, you won't find one person on the property who's not happy for him. Close quote. Tone, what do you make of who won it and who did not?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Some golf tournaments are Won. And some golf tournaments are lost. Nobody lost the PGA. Aaron Rai won the PGA. Agree. Totally agree. Aaron Rai was four under on the back nine yesterday. The harder nine of the two. At nine, he had an eagle. So he was minus six in the last 10 holes on a major on a Sunday. He won that tournament. Scottie Scheffler could not putt on the weekend. Jon Rahm could not putt yesterday. Rory McIlroy kept hitting drivers off the fairway. Into the spinach. Into the spinach. He was even on the par 5.

[Mike Wilbon]

He goes for 12 on fairways. Attempted yesterday with the driver. I think he was.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It would not surprise me. He goes over 12 when you hit it as long as he does and you're not under par on the par fives. That's how you lose a tournament. And then Smalley and McNeely and Schmidt, they didn't put any pressure on Ryan Aaron. Rye won the tournament.

[Mike Wilbon]

He did, Tony. And the reason why I like this, we talked about this Friday. Why I don't anticipate storylines. The event will tell me what the storylines are. And Rye, who's a guy. You and I talked about this on the phone yesterday during live time. Tied for 19 a couple of times. He's around. We knew who he was 290 to 1. But he wasn't like some threat.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No.

[Mike Wilbon]

You didn't think he was gonna be 290 to 1. I know. But I like the fact in the PGA, which has produced 10 famous champions in the last 10.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Used to have.

[Mike Wilbon]

Used to have.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right.

[Mike Wilbon]

Events like this where somebody that you sort of knew and you before Google and you had to do some research and find out who it was would win the PGA Championship. I don't. Who knows whether Rye is going to even show for the next two majors, the two remaining or next year.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's get to that.

[Mike Wilbon]

It doesn't matter.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That putt on 17, that long 60 foot putt, that's a forever. That was reminiscent of J.J. spawn last year at the U.S. open in Oakmont. And I bring up Spawn because we don't know if Spawn's ever going to win another major. There are a lot of guys who don't. I'll just give you a partial list here of people you will know. Danny Willett, Sean McKeel, Rich Beam, Michael Campbell. They got that one win. Maybe this is ry because Rye doesn't hit the ball long off the tee and nobody thought he was a good putter until the last three or four days. Right. So this could be him too. But the important thing is he won this thing. Nobody dropped it off in the swap.

[Mike Wilbon]

It was a joke. A thon. And the fact that Rory and Rahm were guys he finished ahead.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And Scheffler and Scheffler, number one in the world.

[Mike Wilbon]

Time highlight. If he doesn't do anything else, he's got this one.

[Harry Douglas]

Yeah.

[Mike Wilbon]

There are people who don't have one.

[Tony Kornheiser]

There are pictures of him holding the cup. Okay, let's take a break. Coming up, the Canadiens or the Sabres have the edge in tonight's game seven.

[Mike Wilbon]

And the Phillies are 15:4 under Don Mattingly. But are we? We were. The Phillies are good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We didn't mention the fact that Shea Gilgis Alexander won the MVP and you voted for him.

[Mike Wilbon]

You have him. I do.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I would have had Jalen Brown if I had.

[Mike Wilbon]

I had him third, you know, I mean the top five of the top five.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Is there any boredom with him being elected again in this way? Boredom.

[Mike Wilbon]

Put it this way. Whether or not it is, it's. He's done.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

It is time for the missives from the masses. And I'm going to get the first one here. Take it out of the mailbox. Put on my glasses. Do you give the Canadiens or the Sabres the edge in tonight's game seven?

[Mike Wilbon]

You know what? You know what, Tony Home Ice does Not mean all that much. We've seen so many teams lose, you know, a game five and a game seven. It's like the NBA. It used to be 90 plus percent, and now both those sports, it's falling off in the last 10 to 12 years. And I don't. I don't know what to think about the goaltending. The goaltending has been iffy. What we're used to is some team emerging and having even a relatively unknown goaltender go nuts and just dominate the post season. We're not seeing that either. We're seeing teams. We're seeing coaches go to goaltender changes in the middle of a series, like, to me, is relatively unprecedented. I think. I think Buffalo seems to have been the story this year. They seem to have some magic dust surrounding them. I'm not rooting against him. I'm just rooting for Montreal. But I'd say Buffalo.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I'm going to say Buffalo because of the home ice. And I'm going to be very specific as to why I'm wrong when I say that on an overall standpoint, I'm right. Because in the history of game sevens in NHL play, it's 118 to 84, 118 to 84, where the home team wins. But. And here's the big but that you are alluding to. We have already seen the Canadiens this year go five and two on the road. Yeah, we've already seen them on the road win a Game 7 in Tampa and Buffalo's 2 and 4 at home. So everything I'm saying sounds foolish as it gets out of my mouth. But, Mike, I cannot root against a team from upstate New York. When I went to Binghamton in upstate New York. I can't do it.

[Mike Wilbon]

I can't do it. You know, that's why I said they seem to have some magic dust, like it's their year. But Montreal, you point to the 52 record. 52 on the road. On the road. I mean, that's a big deal. And having already won a game 7, all bets are off.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I am very scared, specifically of what you alluded to. The Cleveland Detroit series, where the last three games, road teams won. In this series, the last three games, road teams have won the last predictable letter. So I'm an idiot. And that's not new.

[Mike Wilbon]

Game seven and a game one tonight, appealing. Both of them compelling. Phillies. Have the Phillies sold you on their turnaround?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, so let's understand. There is recent history here, right, with this Phillies team. Four years ago, your Northwestern boy, Joe Girardi. Was canned when he opened up 22, 29. They went to Rob Thompson, who then started 14 2. And that team made the World Series. Now Rob Thompson opens up 9. 19. And they go to Don Mattingly. And Don Mattingly is 15 and four at the moment. They just put five runs on Paul Skeens. That's the most runs he's ever given up, tied for the most ever. Now, let me be realistic here. They are not going to catch Atlanta in the division.

[Mike Wilbon]

What are they, nine games behind Atlanta right now?

[Tony Kornheiser]

They're a lot right now. They also, the teams they've beaten lately are under 500. Collectively, I think it's 4:46. Yeah. And they have next month. It's a much harder schedule. But, Mike, they're only three and a half out of the wild card with 115 left to play. And your boy who lived in your apartment swore, that guy's got 8,000 home runs already.

[Mike Wilbon]

This is tough for me because, you know, I hate. I've now come to hate all Philly teams.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You gotta stop that. No, no, don't hate the University of Pennsylvania.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm not gonna hate them.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Thank you.

[Mike Wilbon]

Just because they, you know, they sold their seats to the New Yorkers who went in there and gangstered them.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right.

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, the Knicks people went in there and said, philly, you think you're tough. You know, you and Rocky have some of this, right? And the Knicks just gangstered them, and they did nothing about it. And the Philly people rolled over like dogs. And so now I love Schwarber. He may be outside of anybody on the Cubs roster right now. My favorite player in all of Major League Baseball, and he looks Ruthiean. He is on a pace to hit seven. I love Schwaber.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You gotta love Mattingly. You gotta love Mattingly. You gotta love maddening.

[Mike Wilbon]

But you know what? I want the Phillies to lose every damn game. So, no, they've convinced me of nothing.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So I've come to be in the studio with you in your heart of anger today about Philadelphia, which you rail against all the time.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah, I do.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We're gonna have to go for cheesesteaks. That's enough email. Let's take one last break. Still to come, Napoleon Solo takes the Preakness. Could that set up a big finale at the Belmont?

[Mike Wilbon]

And is the NFL smart to start the season with a rematch of the Super Bowl? So if I want to stay in the Rittenhouse and have cheesesteaks, they'll let me.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, yeah. Well, I'll go in with you. I'll go in with you.

[Mike Wilbon]

You know, it's the fans, not the city. But that's who they are.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's who they are, but you're yelling at the city.

[Mike Wilbon]

Good. Well, okay.

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[Harry Douglas]

Harry Douglas here Game day brings the excitement. Your stage should feel just as memorable. With Marriott Bonvoy, official hotel partner of the NCAA and U.S. soccer, you're connected to a portfolio of brands designed for how you travel. Some offer complimentary breakfast, others give you room to spread out space to stay productive or extended stay comforts. So whether you're a traveling fan or part of the team, Marriott Bonvoy celebrates the moments that live on before and after the game. Marriott Bonvoy, where game day checks in.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Pardon the interruption is brought to you

[ESPN Announcer]

by Mirifast for faster constipation relief.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy time people. Happy 80th birthday Reggie Jack Wow, there's only one Mr. October Kids. Reggie once hit three home runs off three different Dodger pitchers in a World Series game at Yankee stadium. Reggie won five World Series with the Oakland A's and the Yankees. He was Series MVP twice, American MVP, American League MVP once and a 14 time All Star. I did not like Billy Martin and I love Reggie Jackson. When I was a sports writer, Reggie was the best locker room interview in baseball. One time Reggie and I drove across Florida in his Rolls Royce for a story I was doing for the New York Times. I asked if I could sit in the back seat so it would look like he was my chauffeur, and he said, you sit in the front with me. Jim Palmer, a smart guy, once called Reggie a character out of Dostoyevsky.

[Mike Wilbon]

I was covering baseball. A youngster covering baseball. The end of Reggie's career at the California Angels. And he was so charismatic, intimidating, yet charming. Who's like Reggie Jackson now?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Seriously, I don't know.

[Mike Wilbon]

We're going old man again. But, Reggie, come on now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We are old man. Happy anniversary, Phillies. Around this day, 47 years ago, the Phillies beat the Cubs in Wrigley 2022 in extra innings, no less, in the highest scoring game in modern Major League Baseball history. The Phillies got seven runs in the top of the first. The Cubs came right back with six. The starting pitchers, Dennis Lamb for the Cubs and Randy Lurch for Philadelphia, lasted only one third of an inning each. By the fourth, the Phillies were up 17 6. But the Cubs scored 13 runs in the next three innings. By the bottom of the eighth, it was 22 22. Mike Schmidt then hit his second homer of the game, this one off Bruce Souter, to win it in the 10th hole. Of course, famers. There were 50 hits and 11 home runs. Dave Kingman had three. Bill Buckner had seven RBI. And only 14,952 people watched it. Did you?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah, I watched it on television. This was a time before Harry Cary and.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And.

[Mike Wilbon]

And the Cubs became this monster that they are now. Wgn. That winter put on an alternate ending to that game in broadcast.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Really?

[Mike Wilbon]

And you know how. You know what happened in the alternate? Alternate. Ernie Banks is 500th home run wins the game. We needed some fantasy for the Cubs back.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy Trails to the rest of the field at the Preakness Stakes for Napoleon Solo. The colt won the second leg of the Triple Crown on Saturday over 13 other horses, only three of whom ran the Kentucky Derby. Derby winner Golden Tempo skipped the race. I wonder if horse racing could salvage this year's series by setting up what appears to be a match race between Napoleon Solo and Golden Tempo at the Belmont.

[Mike Wilbon]

This is load, Manager. This is awful.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, but it happens two years in a row and five out of eight. So last year, Sovereignty won the Derby and did not. They elected not to run them in the Belmont. Journalism. Not in the Belmont. In the Preakness. Journalism won the Preakness. In the Preakness. They ran off against each other. They were both in the field and Sovereignty won in the Belmont. It was satisfying at that point.

[Mike Wilbon]

Doesn't matter anymore to any of them.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's got to. They've got to change it. They've got to change the calendar. Let's go to the big finish.

[Mike Wilbon]

Let's do it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The Patriots and Seahawks will open the NFL season in a Super bowl rematch. You like it?

[Bucked Up Energy Advertiser]

No.

[Mike Wilbon]

I don't want to open the season with some AFC team. No great match, no old fashioned NFL teams. Aaron Rodgers. Your boy agreed to join the Steelers on a one year deal worth up to 25 mil. As a quarterback. Does he matter anymore?

[Tony Kornheiser]

It feels like it slipped away a little bit. It does. Jose Mourinho returning to coach Real Madrid. Is that a big deal?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah. I mean, it's years and years after his first stint. But Mbappe and his infighting and nobody knows what's going to happen with them. The Pelicans hired Jamal Mosley. I love Jamal Mosley. As their new head coach. Does that make sense?

[Tony Kornheiser]

It is very possible Orlando will regret getting rid of him.

[Mike Wilbon]

I think so.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But New Orleans stinks. They stink. Last one. Your Cubs host the brewers for three, starting tonight. Feel confident?

[Mike Wilbon]

Not really. We've lost four. We lost this game nine. Eight to the White Sox yesterday. One of the worst losses in 20 years.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But a great game, right? Great game.

[Mike Wilbon]

A great game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We're out of time. We will try to do better the next time. Rest in peace, Jigsy. Tomatoes in the sky.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm Mike Wilbond. Same time tomorrow. Knucklehead's heads. Here's Sports Center.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You know what?

[Mike Wilbon]

The White Sox are exciting. I hate to admit this. Hate to admit it. Good for you.