PTI (Pardon the Interruption) — February 17, 2026

College Hoops Round Up and Cap Issues with the Dolphins and Seahawks?
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser, Michael Wilbon
Guest: Jeff Passan (ESPN Senior MLB Insider)

Main Theme & Purpose

In this lively episode, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon cover a fast-paced round-up of the biggest stories in sports: the shake-up at the top of college basketball, major NFL salary cap drama involving the Dolphins and Seahawks, NBA prospects for the Pistons and Spurs, and the ramifications of Tony Clark’s sudden resignation as head of baseball’s players union. The tone is classic PTI—opinionated, rapid-fire, and rich in banter, with expert insight from guest Jeff Passan.

1. College Hoops Round-Up

Segment Start: [00:50]

Key Points

• Wilbon is most intrigued by the Michigan vs. Purdue matchup, noting the recent turbulence in the Big 12, especially Arizona’s fall from the undefeated ranks, and significant injuries at BYU.
  • "So, Tom, I'm going to go with them. I know that seems chalky and predictable of me, but I just think that Michigan is a team that a lot of people have picked [for] the last four to six weeks to go the whole distance anyway." — Mike Wilbon [02:29]
• Kornheiser insists the Big 12 deserves more respect, citing its four top-eight teams:
  • "I'll be honest, I never thought of the Big 12 as a basketball conference... But now it looks like the path to the Final Four is going to go through the Big 12." — Tony Kornheiser [02:48]
• Nostalgia for the Duke-Syracuse rivalry:
  • Tony laments the decline at Syracuse, recalling how strong the programs once were when Krzyzewski and Boeheim coached.
  • "There's something really wrong in Syracuse. They got to go to a reset... It's just not working." — Tony Kornheiser [03:22]
• Wilbon references a memorable Syracuse-Duke clash when Boeheim's jacket was auctioned off [04:05].

Memorable Moment:
Kornheiser’s nostalgia for the “old ACC” and disappointment at watching Syracuse fall apart stands out as classic PTI heart-and-humor.

2. NFL Salary Cap Conundrums: Seahawks & Dolphins

Segment Start: [04:31]

Key Points

• The Seahawks may let Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker go due to the jump in salary needed for a franchise/transition tag. Dolphins have released Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb, and others; Tua Tagovailoa could be next.

• Tony on Dolphins:

  • "They're dumping salary at the moment... It looks like they're surrendering next season already." [05:15]
  • Suggests a Tua-for-Kyler Murray trade.

• Tony on Seahawks:

  • “They just won the super bowl and now they've got a juggle... when you win and everybody wants more money.” [05:50]
  • Asks if Zach Charbonnet can step into Walker's shoes; insists they have to pay Player-of-the-Year Jackson Smith-Njigba and possibly Rashid Shahid.

• Wilbon Doubles Down:

  • "The Dolphins are irrelevant... They're tanking already before the season begins, you know, and I'm offended by that." [06:40]
  • Says Seahawks letting Walker go is a "huge gamble" but expresses deep doubt they’ll actually do it: "Let's see them actually let Kenneth Walker walk. I ain't buying it." [07:19]

Memorable Quote:

• “The Dolphins are irrelevant... I don't want to hear that garbage.” — Mike Wilbon [06:40]

3. NBA — Pistons or Spurs: Who’s Closer to Contender Status?

Segment Start: [07:39]

Key Points

• Wilbon shocks Tony by picking the Pistons over the Spurs for the rest of the season, citing their experience, depth, and playoff résumé.

  • "The NBA is not a young guys league... The Pistons do [have playoff experience]... Cade Cunningham, who could be the mvp, he could... I like Detroit right now in the East." — Mike Wilbon [08:06]

• Tony agrees, emphasizing Detroit’s lead in the East:

  • "They're in the easier conference. They don't have to go through Denver and... OKC in the playoffs... I just think... they're further down the road [than the Spurs]." — Tony Kornheiser [09:42]

• Context: Pistons are 40–13, first in the East; Spurs 38–16, second in the West behind OKC.

4. MLB — Fallout from Tony Clark’s Resignation (with Jeff Passan)

Segment Start: [12:25]

Clark’s Downfall & Its Consequences

• Tony Clark resigned as head of the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) after investigation uncovered an inappropriate relationship amid ongoing federal scrutiny.
  • “There was an internal investigation... in response to an Eastern District of New York investigation into the union about questions of financial improprieties and other such things.” — Jeff Passan [12:47]
  • Adds fallout was triggered by a whistleblower complaint in November 2024.

What Now for the MLBPA?

• Most likely successor: Bruce Meyer, current deputy director and experienced lead negotiator.
  • “Owners want a salary cap and the players association is going to resist it tooth and nail. Players have... nailed into their head that we are the only sport without a salary cap.” — Jeff Passan [14:13]
• Timing: Change before CBA expiration (Dec 1) could help MLBPA “get their ducks in a row.”

Salary Cap: Is Any Form Negotiable?

• “No. And it’s hard to blame the players, Mike... When they look at the system right now like it works... But is there a compromise? Is there a solution to be found without a cap?... I believe that there is. The question... is are [the parties] willing to go and find that?” — Jeff Passan [15:28]

Work Stoppage Risk

• “When the collective bargaining agreement expires December 1st? Tony? I anticipate Major League Baseball will lock the players out. But a work stoppage is different from a work stoppage with games missed... Do I anticipate that at the end of the day the games will be missed? ...I anticipate it happening again in 2027.” — Jeff Passan [16:55]

Memorable Moment:

• Wilbon personalizes the salary cap debate, and Passan’s directness about a lockout delivers the gravity: “I anticipate Major League Baseball will lock the players out.” [16:55]

5. Notable Quick Hits & Happy Time

Segment Start: [20:23]

Birthdays & Anniversaries

• Buster Olney’s 62nd birthday is celebrated with fun agricultural trivia [20:23]
• 25th anniversary of Baron Davis’s historic 89-ft NBA shot [21:21]
• Remembrances:
  • Doug Moe, renowned coach and ABA star [22:25]
  • Reverend Jesse Jackson (with Wilbon’s personal story about Jackson saving his father’s job) [23:29]

The Big Finish

• UNC’s Caleb Wilson could return from hand injury sooner than expected [24:39]
• Tiger Woods and the Masters—Tony is skeptical
• LeBron’s future: Wilbon wants him in the NBA “as long as possible”
• Mark Cuban says ticket affordability trumps tanking as a league concern

Memorable Quotes:

• "That money put some guys named Mike and Don, who you know, Tony, through St. Ignatius and Northwestern University, among other places." — Mike Wilbon, on Jesse Jackson helping his family [24:36]
• “We are baseball fans, you and I. We don't want to see a work stop.” — Tony Kornheiser [17:55]

6. Memorable Quotes: Quick Reference

• “There's something really wrong in Syracuse. They got to go to a reset... It's just not working.” — Tony Kornheiser [03:22]
• “The Dolphins are irrelevant... They're tanking already before the season begins, you know, and I'm offended by that.” — Mike Wilbon [06:40]
• “The NBA is not a young guys league.” — Mike Wilbon [08:12]
• "Let’s see them actually let Kenneth Walker walk. I ain’t buying it." — Mike Wilbon [07:19]
• “Owners want a salary cap and the players association is going to resist it tooth and nail.” — Jeff Passan [14:13]
• “I anticipate Major League Baseball will lock the players out.” — Jeff Passan [16:55]

7. Important Timestamps by Segment

• [00:50] — Start of sports discussion, college hoops
• [04:31] — NFL salary cap: Seahawks & Dolphins decisions
• [07:39] — NBA: Pistons or Spurs for the second half?
• [12:25] — MLB: Tony Clark fallout & CBA negotiations (Jeff Passan)
• [20:23] — Happy Time, birthdays, and tributes
• [24:39] — The Big Finish: NCAA, NBA, Tiger Woods, LeBron, Mark Cuban

8. Tone & Style

• Friendly, rapid-fire, and opinionated debate, peppered with classic PTI humor, relentless banter, and personal anecdotes.
• Strong, candid takes—no holding back (especially on “tanking” and labor disputes).
• Deep sports knowledge and context, with Jeff Passan delivering clear, accessible analysis on complex labor negotiations.

This episode is a prime example of PTI’s blend: fast, smart, funny, and never short on opinion—perfect for the sports fan who wants both the headlines and the stories behind them.