Early Reactions to This Years Bracket

Summary

Podcast Summary: PTI – “Early Reactions to This Year’s Bracket” (March 16, 2026)
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon, ESPN

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Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon react to the just-released NCAA tournament brackets, dissecting the most controversial decisions, sharing bold predictions, and turning their expert gaze on both the men's and women's fields. The duo brings their usual blend of sharp insight and banter as they touch on college basketball, the World Baseball Classic, PGA golf, key NBA moments, and major NFL roster moves. Along the way, they spotlight the injustices, surprises, and historical feats shaping today’s sports landscape.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NCAA Men's Bracket: Hits & Misses

(Segment starts 01:03)

• The top four seeds this year: Duke, Arizona, Michigan, Florida.
• Miami of Ohio lands in the play-in game as an 11 seed against SMU, with the winner set to face Tennessee.
• The SEC fields the most teams (10), followed by the Big Ten (9).

Wilbon’s Take:

• "I didn't really see anything wrong with the bracket." (01:45)
• Argues St. John’s could have been seeded slightly higher, ideally a 4 instead of a 5. He forecasts St. John’s upsetting Duke.

Kornheiser’s Perspective:

• Believes the number one seeds are correct but questions the toughness of Duke’s draw: “They give you the number one seed even though two of your starters have not played...and then they put you in this draw. Here's who they're with: UConn, Michigan State, Kansas and St. John's. All of those schools are coached by people who have won the national championship...” (02:56)
• Asserts St. John’s is undervalued: “St. John's won the Big east regular season. They won the Big east tournament. They beat UConn by 20...and they're a 5.” (02:56)

Conference Strength Debates:

• Kornheiser: “I thought the Big 12 was the best conference all year.” (04:12)
• Notes the SEC’s advantageous number of bids despite the Big 12’s overall superiority.

2. NCAA Women’s Bracket: Is UConn Unstoppable?

(Segment starts 05:17)

• Defending champion UConn is undefeated (34-0), awarded the overall No. 1 seed.
• UCLA, riding a 25-game streak and considered by the committee for the top seed, is highlighted as a primary challenger.

Kornheiser:

• “They are decisively the number one team...Their average margin of victory is 38.4 points.” (05:53)
• Cites Gino Auriemma’s legendary record and UConn’s resilience without Paige Bueckers.

Wilbon:

• Emphasizes UConn’s “lifetime achievement” credibility: “If there is any team in any sport currently that has a lifetime achievement benefit of the doubt, it is UConn women's basketball.” (07:32)
• Discusses quality out-of-conference wins as a counter to critics of their schedule.

Notable Stat:

• Tennessee continues its tournament streak: “44 [years] in a row.” (08:02)

3. World Baseball Classic: USA Edges DR After Controversial Call

(Segment starts 08:07)

• USA wins 2-1 over the Dominican Republic. The last pitch is a low called strike three with the tying run on third.

Wilbon:

• “It's just awful. It's a bad call. The pitch is...said to be...four to five inches low. That's two baseballs, right? So what are we talking about here?” (08:38)

Kornheiser:

• “It bolsters the argument for automatic umpiring. But...this is the baseball you and I grew up with.” (09:27)

Both:

• Note that umpire error is part of the game but anticipate inevitable adoption of robo-umps for high-stakes tournaments.

4. The Players Championship: Cam Young Seizes the Moment

(Segment starts 13:14)

• Cam Young wins the Players Championship, overtaking favorites with bold play on the final holes.

Wilbon:

• Despite rooting for Matt Fitzpatrick, concedes: “I can't be in a bad mood because the guy took the thing by the horns on 16, 17, 18, the toughest finishing stretch maybe in all of professional golf. And he won it.” (14:07)

Kornheiser:

• Credits Cam Young's decisive birdie: “He won it with a birdie on 17. That's the shot.” (14:49)

5. NBA: Austin Reaves’ Heads-Up Play, and the Surging Lakers

(Segment starts 15:40)

• Lakers’ Austin Reaves makes an intentional miss at the free throw line, retrieves the rebound, and sends the game vs Denver to OT.

Kornheiser:

• “He threw this ball at the rim at about 80 miles an hour. Front rim. Gathered the ball up and made the tying basket.” (15:47)

• Highlights Denver’s defensive lapse: “They could have put another guy on the line to block out Reaves...” (16:00)

• Lakers are now third in the conference, “They have won five in a row, eight out of ten. You like apples? How about them apples?” (16:38)

6. NFL: Justin Fields Traded to Chiefs

(Segment starts 21:39)

• Justin Fields joins his fourth team in four years, headed to Kansas City as Mahomes recovers from injury.

Wilbon:

• Sees upside: “I couldn't feel better because he's going to be coached...He needs coaching...So I'm thrilled for Justin Fields.” (22:11)

Kornheiser:

• Notes schematic fit: “His skill set approximates Patrick Mahomes skill set. So you don't have to change the offense around.” (22:25)

7. Quick Hits & Historical Notes

Ozzie Newsome’s 70th birthday:

• “As accomplished a player as Newsom was, his work as an executive may outrank his reputation on the field.” (19:40)

Herb Washington flashback:

• “Washington went on to appear in 105 games for Oakland...never truly played baseball in Oakland.” (21:07)

Auston Matthews Injury:

• After a dirty hit from Radko Gudis. Wilbon calls for a longer suspension for Gudis. (22:49)

Expansion Rumor:

• NBA may vote on adding Las Vegas & Seattle teams: “There never should have been a day with a team out of Seattle...Come on, NBA.” – Wilbon (23:51)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “They [St. John's] beat UConn by 20...and they're a 5. So what that tells you is the Big east has no particular currency anymore.” – Tony Kornheiser (02:56)
• “If there is any team in any sport currently that has a lifetime achievement benefit of the doubt, it is UConn women's basketball.” – Mike Wilbon (07:32)
• “The umpires get 99% of the calls. Right. And when they miss one badly, that is the one that you remember.” – Tony Kornheiser (09:27)
• “When you hit the greatest drive ever on that hole, on that hole ever...” – Mike Wilbon, on Cam Young’s heroic golf shot (15:23)
• “He threw this ball at the rim at about 80 miles an hour. Front rim. Gathered the ball up and made the tying basket.” – Tony Kornheiser on Austin Reaves’ intentional miss (15:47)
• “I couldn't feel better because he's [Fields] going to be coached and that's what is...So I'm thrilled for Justin Fields.” – Mike Wilbon (22:11)
• “There never should have been a day with a team out of Seattle...Come on, NBA.” – Mike Wilbon (23:51)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:03 NCAA Men’s Bracket discussion starts
• 02:56 Kornheiser on Duke’s brutal draw and undervaluing St. John’s
• 05:17 Women’s bracket and UConn analysis
• 08:07 World Baseball Classic controversial ending
• 13:14 Players Championship breakdown – Cam Young’s win
• 15:40 NBA – Austin Reaves and Lakers’ hot streak
• 21:39 NFL – Justin Fields traded to Chiefs
• 22:49 NHL – Auston Matthews' season-ending injury
• 23:51 NBA expansion: Las Vegas and Seattle?

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Final Thoughts

This episode is a rapid-fire mix of tournament reactions, sports history, and headline commentary, delivered in the classic PTI style. Wilbon and Kornheiser blend humor, nostalgia, and insider expertise, offering listeners a comprehensive and highly entertaining wrap-up of March’s biggest moments across the sports world.

Transcript

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[Mike Wilbon]

Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. The Academy Awards were last night. Tony Michael B. Jordan won best actor.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm Tony Kornheiser. Weren't we technically his co stars in Creed? Technically we were.

[Mike Wilbon]

We might not have got credit, but our faces were on the screen.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, no, no. Not only do we get credit, I continue to get residuals from Creed and Creed.

[Mike Wilbon]

There we go, Vinnies.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So I mean, Michael B. Jordan should thank us. You know. What, do you know him? Yeah, love him. They should thank. Love him.

[Mike Wilbon]

You know, he thanked me because I was sitting with him in la.

[Tony Kornheiser]

In la. In the restaurant. But he's not Michael J. Jordan. Michael B. Jordan. Welcome to pti, boys and girls. In today's episode, Team USA advances on a close call. Justin Fields has another new team and Austin Reaves makes an intentional miss work for the Lakers. But we begin today with the NCAA bracket. The number one seeds are in order. Duke, Arizona, Michigan, Florida, Miami of Ohio ended up in the play in on Wednesday as an 11 seed against SMU. And the winner will play Tennessee. The SEC has the most teams with 10. The Big Ten is next with nine. Wilbon, what is right and what is wrong with this bracket?

[Mike Wilbon]

I didn't really see anything wrong with the bracket.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Good. More room for me.

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, there's a lot of screaming and whining. What a shock coming out of New York with, you know, my colleagues included, Stephen A. Smith, who are going on and on and on for 20 minutes

[Tony Kornheiser]

about St. John's I'm gonna do the same thing. So you go ahead.

[Mike Wilbon]

You know, I root for St. John's you know that. All right. Actively for St. John's before it got popular the second time around. They could have been seated higher than fifth. I would have seated them fourth, but I don't know that I'd have gone as high as third, but I'd have gone a number higher and it might have gotten them in a bracket That's a little more easy to navigate, by the way. I have St. John's beating Duke, but that's for another day. We'll get to that later. So I got. But that's. I don't see anything wrong with it. The Miami of Ohio piece.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Would.

[Mike Wilbon]

I like to maybe have seen them be 12, maybe. But they're going to play in Dayton, which is essentially at home. A home game to get warmed up, maybe get their mojo back before they go, and then play Tennessee. So I'm okay with that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let me start with what's right. The first four seeds, they're right.

[Mike Wilbon]

No argument.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Now, Duke is the number one seed in the whole thing. Yeah. They are in, by far the toughest draw. Not even close. And they are the number one seed. They give you the number one seed even though two of your starters have not played for a couple of games and may not play. And then they put you in this draw. Here's who they're with. UConn, Michigan State, Kansas and St. John's all of those schools are coached by people who have won the national championship, most of them more than one time. And they put Duke in that. And I think that. I'm not saying it's unfair. I'm saying it's tough. But it leads me to St. John's I don't know how St. John's can be a five. St. John's won the Big east regular season. They won the Big east tournament. They beat UConn by 20. UConn is a 2. They beat UConn by 20. They also lost two weeks ago, 34 points. They missed their last or 32 points, too. They missed their last 20, 24 shots in a row, then turned around and beat them by 20. And there are five. So what that tells you is the Big east has no particular currency anymore. They only have three teams.

[Mike Wilbon]

So that's how St. John's gets seated fifth.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'll tell you what else I like. I like the twos. And I want to read all the twos. UConn, Houston, Purdue, Iowa State. I like them. But it brings me to this, and I think you will agree with this. I thought the Big 12 was the best conference all year.

[Mike Wilbon]

It was.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They have three of the top eight seeds, yet the SEC has two more teams in the tournament, even with only one of the top eight seeds, Florida. And their next ones are fours. And if Florida plays against Houston to go to the final, it could. Do you know where that game is? Hello? It's in Houston. Like, thanks very much. For being the defending champion. Now you have to beat Houston in Houston. You know what?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah. They are defending champions. Houston's been good consistently for a while.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. For years.

[Mike Wilbon]

Colin Sampson has had them up near the top. And I would argue that Houston had a better overall season in Florida, which came on late. Houston was there from day one and they maintained it. In what you just said, missed a couple of.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Lost a couple of high profile games.

[Mike Wilbon]

Right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

In a row.

[Mike Wilbon]

Two terrific teams, one of whom lost a couple, both of whom are seated higher y Iowa State and Arizona.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So Iowa State is seated in the same spot. Same spot, same thing. Okay.

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, it's not like they embarrass themselves now. So in other words, nothing's wrong. You can give me that. For the most part, nothing really is wrong. Right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I just think St. John's is undervalued.

[Mike Wilbon]

You and Stephen A. And you know, Greeny. Greeny wasn't on this morning. You and Stephen A. Now let's move to the women's bracket. Defending champ UConn is unbeaten and was awarded the overall number one seed, but the committee debated giving it to UCLA. The Bruins have won 25 straight against a stronger schedule, and their only loss came on a neutral court to Texas, who took the third number one seed. Rounding out the number ones is South Carolina, of course, which has won two of the last four titles. Tone, do you consider UConn the clear favorite on the women's side?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm not going to say they're the clear favorite. I'm going to say this. They are decisively the number one team. They deserve to be the number one team. They are undefeated. They are 34. 0. Their average margin of victory is 38.4 points. They only had one game where they didn't win by double figures, and that was a three point game with Michigan. If they win this this year, it will be their seventh undefeated season. It will be Gino Oriemma's. Hello. 13th National Championship, and they're coming back. Last year they won the title and lost the best player in college basketball, the player of the year, Paige Becker's. And they're back and they may even be better. So, yes, they are decisively the number one seed. Does that mean. I think it's going to be a waltz? No, because UCLA's won 25 in a row.

[Mike Wilbon]

25 in a row.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Because South Carolina has won three of these things with Dawn Staley and because Texas beat UCLA and beat South Carolina twice. But my position would be this. We have seen UConn in this position,

[Mike Wilbon]

how they navigate this, they do this. And by the way, while their non conference schedule, their out of conference schedule wasn't as impressive as UCLA's or South

[Tony Kornheiser]

Carolina, they don't duck anybody.

[Mike Wilbon]

You can play them. And they beat number 20, Louisville.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It was early.

[Mike Wilbon]

They beat Michigan when they were number six. They beat Iowa when they were number 11. They beat Tennessee at number 15, Tennessee. Last I checked this out of conference. So I'm not going to quibble with UConn's schedule as much as other people might be. And again, if there is any team in any sport currently that has a lifetime achievement benefit of the doubt.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Benefit of the doubt.

[Mike Wilbon]

It is UConn women's basketball.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes, it is.

[Mike Wilbon]

It just is. Now UConn, I mean, the Big east again week is just UConn and Villanova. But, but, but again, I'm not going to quibble. I'm not about to go against.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So thank you for mentioning Tennessee. Tennessee is a 10 seed with a record of 16 and 13. Not much of a record for a 10 seed. And their coach had said of the team, they have a lot of quit in them. Said that.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But do you know how many years in a row they are now in this tournament? Do you want to take a shot at this?

[Mike Wilbon]

You know, I don't know the answer to this.

[Tony Kornheiser]

44.

[Mike Wilbon]

Wow.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That is a wow.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes, sir.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That is a wow. 44 in a row.

[Mike Wilbon]

Double lifetime.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's move to the World Baseball Classic. In a thrilling game last night, I watched this United States beat the Dominican Republic two to one. Solo home runs accounted for. All three runs. Aaron Judge, another great throw from right field. Julio Rodriguez, he went over the wall to bring back a Judge home run. But the play of the game was the last play. The last pitch, which looked low but was nonetheless called strike three with a tying run on third base in the ninth. Wilbon, how does the clinching pitch in the US Win sit with you? Awful. Awful.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's just, it's just awful. It's a backhaul. I don't want to hear people on any network, including this one, saying seemingly might have been. It might have been. Jack. It's a bad call. The pitch is said to be. And I heard Jeff Passon say this, four to five inches low. That's the, that's two baseballs, right? So what are we talking about here? It's low, it's low, it's bad. I don't want to see a game that great end on that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay?

[Mike Wilbon]

Is there anything you can Do. No, it's baseball. You can't blame the umpire. You can't say they brought this dude in from outer Mars.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, no.

[Mike Wilbon]

He's been a Major League baseball umpire. Was.

[Tony Kornheiser]

For 12 years. Yep.

[Mike Wilbon]

No, it's just, it's awful. By the way, it wasn't the only bad call. There were a couple. Both of them went against the Dominican.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So it's a bad call. It's a low pitch. Okay. There's no question about that. Juan Soto had the same call against him earlier in the game. It bolsters the argument for automatic umpiring. But, and here's the big but, and I know you will agree with this, this is the baseball you and I grew up with. This is how it works. The umpires get 99% of the calls. Right. And when they miss one badly, that is the one that you remember. I was gratified that Albert Pujols in the post game did not dwell on it.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's great.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He was philosophical about baseball. Like you and I. This is baseball. This is the last time it's going to happen. The next time they play this, they'll

[Mike Wilbon]

all be doing this.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They'll all be. Next time they play this thing. That's right. They're going to have robotic umpires and Major League Baseball is going to have them. And what would happen is the doctor would say, no, we challenged, they would win and they'd have first and third with Tatis coming up, which is changes.

[Mike Wilbon]

But they already left two men on base. They left two men on base. They had two men on base and nobody out in the previous inning. And they couldn't push anybody in their runners in scoring position. They left. I I. Yes. It's a great tournament. Is it?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. Oh, it's a great tournament.

[Mike Wilbon]

It is. By the way, Japan going out. I watched that game live and to see SH not come through. You know what?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Even though he hit a previous home run.

[Mike Wilbon]

Previous home run?

[Tony Kornheiser]

How many supposed to hit?

[Mike Wilbon]

But you know what?

[Tony Kornheiser]

You know what?

[Mike Wilbon]

It's almost like, I can't believe I'm going to say this. It's almost like watching 23 in red miss the last shot, which I know he famously says, honestly, I missed more of him than I made. Even though we don't believe that because he hit so many. You think Shohei is going to go deep now? I know there's a multiple run lead. He's not going to tie it. It's not going to change the game necessarily. But to see Shohei weekly pop out to the second baseman or shortstop. That was a stunner.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They paid the pitchers, too.

[Mike Wilbon]

I know.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, let me just say I want to give DeRosa credit for one thing, because he got slam all week for not knowing that we were not technically in the quarterfinals. He made a lineup change last night that really worked. He saw in the analytics that Gunnar Henderson has a great night against most of the time against Luis Severino.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He put him in at third base. And in the top of the third or top of fourth one of those innings, boom, Henderson took him out. It was 1:1, so give him credit for that. Let's take a break. Coming up, did Cam Young win the Players or did someone else lose it?

[Mike Wilbon]

We got us through that story.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We got him.

[Mike Wilbon]

Austin Reaves misses a free throw, intentionally got the Lakers to ot.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Got to do that story. I watched that whole golf, didn't you?

[Mike Wilbon]

You know I did.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's your boy.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes, he is.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Northwest. One year. Yes, one year at Northwest. Not like Lou Donald.

[Mike Wilbon]

One and done.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Luke Donald.

[Mike Wilbon]

Donald won a NCAA championship. So there you go.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He did. And a couple of Ryder Cups.

[Mike Wilbon]

And still the Ryder cup win streak right now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

It is time to check in with the checkered masses. I put on my glasses to see what's first. Here we go. Did Cam Young win the Players, or did Matt Fitzpatrick lose it?

[Mike Wilbon]

Cam, one one the players. Now, you know this story upsets me. The result upset me. Matty Fitz is a Northwestern alum. I root Hard for him as a person and a player. And he had a three putt and he couldn't hit the fairway on 18. And Cam jumped right in there. I mean, first of all, when he hits the tee shot on 17 and it rolls right down there to 10ft and it's a makeable birdie putt and he drains it, I'm thinking this is not a good result. I had to listen to this on PGA radio because I was in the car.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Really.

[Mike Wilbon]

And I. I was.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Shout out PGA radio Golf on radio.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's quite good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Good for you.

[Mike Wilbon]

I. I can't. I'm in a bad mood because of it now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right.

[Mike Wilbon]

Because I wanted to see Matty win. But I can't be in a bad mood because the guy took the thing by the horns on 16, 17, 18, the toughest finishing stretch maybe in all of professional golf. And he won it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. I'm not going to disagree with who won it. Let me tell you who lost it. Ludwig Oberg lost it. Okay. He went in the water twice. Quicker than you can say Shane Lowry. So he lost it. Matty Fitzpatrick had an unfortunate ending of his tee shot on 18. He ends up in the straw. He climbs back to where he has an eight foot putt to keep the thing going over time and he just missed it. So he had a real chance there.

[Mike Wilbon]

He did.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But Cam Young won it.

[Mike Wilbon]

He won.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He won it with a birdie on 17.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's the shot.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He won it. Yes. That ties Matt Fitzpatrick. Eighteen is the toughest hole so many people bogeyed. Eighteen. So Cam Young on a 460 yard hole has a sand wedge in. Cause he goes 375. So he's got a very easy, no sweat par. He won the tournament on 17 and 18.

[Mike Wilbon]

17.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Matt Fitzpatrick contributed to his loss, but Cam Young won the tournament.

[Mike Wilbon]

He did, Tony. 375. Look, when you hit the greatest drive ever on that hole, on that hole ever.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You.

[Mike Wilbon]

You've played there, right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Mike Wilbon]

Is it the hardest, scariest hole you've ever played?

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's a very tough hole.

[Mike Wilbon]

Very tough. Still in a bag.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'd be happy with an angel.

[Mike Wilbon]

My guy. Matty Fitz. I understand how impressed were you with Austin Reeves intentionally missing that free throw?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, that was great. On Austin Reaves part. He threw this ball at the rim at about 80 miles an hour. Front rim.

[Mike Wilbon]

Not back rim.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Front rim. Gathered the ball up and made the tying basket.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right now Denver needs to be blamed for this. They did not see this coming in the correct way. They did not orchestrate this correctly. They could have put another guy on the line to block out Reeves, and they didn't do that. Now, I'm gonna go further afield here, okay? You sit on the show and you constantly say, I don't want to talk about the Lakers. The Lakers stink. And you constantly say, luka Doncic stinks. He doesn't play any defense.

[Mike Wilbon]

I don't want. He plays once. I don't want to talk about the basketball.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't want to talk about.

[Mike Wilbon]

You want to talk Lakers now?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Here, let me just say this. You say you want to talk Thunder. You want to talk T. Wolves. You want to talk Rockets. You want to talk Nuggets. You want to talk spurs every day. Not today. Spurs. Every day.

[Mike Wilbon]

Lakers.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay? The Lakers right now are third in the conference. They have won five in a row, eight out of ten. You like apples? How about them apples?

[Mike Wilbon]

Listen, listen. They have done a hell of a job.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I got a number lately.

[Mike Wilbon]

They've done a hell of a job. Whether it's sustainable or not isn't even important today. Now, you've drawn yourself. You know how when the defense opens up the door, now you're gonna talk Lakers every day.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, I'm not.

[Mike Wilbon]

No, you open the door, we're gonna talk every day. No, what I say is, Luka Doncic will not appear in the top three on my MVP list until he actually plays some defense.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Admit that you don't want to talk about the Lakers.

[Mike Wilbon]

Admit it now. I do.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You open, counselor.

[Mike Wilbon]

So, okay, now you did. Hamilton Burger.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I was going to say, am I Hamilton Berg or you, Raymond Burg?

[Mike Wilbon]

Here's the deal. On the free throw we've been doing. We all been doing this since the playground. And it was great that Austin Reeves admitted it. We usually try to hit the back rim.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Austin Reeves, front rim, bang, was a right side. The left hand side. So we can go back up.

[Mike Wilbon]

Front rim. So you got a chance. And by the way, how about the fact they let Joker run himself under the basket? The ball bounces.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Real mistake, strategically, by Denver.

[Mike Wilbon]

Luca does what Luka does. He hits the shot. Don't ask him to prevent anybody else's shot, but he'll hit the shot.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's enough. Email. People who watch this show know how you feel.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's take one last break. Still to come, Justin Fields, your former boy, joins his fourth team in four years.

[Mike Wilbon]

Still love him. More bad news for Auston Matthews and the Leafs. What could be worse than that? Austin Reeves. I mean, Austin Auston Matthews writhing on the ground?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Did his teammates come to help? Did they beat up the guy who knocked him out?

[Mike Wilbon]

I think was it late in the game and they couldn't do it 1970s style?

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[Tony Kornheiser]

take the guesswork out of your check engine, ABS or maintenance light with O'Reilly Veriscan. The the service is free and provides a report with solutions verified by ASE certified master technicians. O'Reilly Veriscan can identify the most likely problem with just one scan. If you need help, O'Reilly Auto Parts can recommend a shop for you. Don't ignore a check engine, ABS or maintenance light. Ask for O'Reilly Veriscan Today, a free service exclusively at O'Reilly Auto Parts. Happy time people. Happy 70th birthday. Ozzie Newsome, a man the hall of Fame tight end was the 23rd overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in 1978 out of Alabama. He was first or second team all pro five different seasons. But as accomplished a player as Newsom was, his work as an executive may outrank his reputation on the field. As general manager of the Baltimore Ravens, Newsom drafted two hall of Fame players, Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis, in the same first round in 1996. In 2018, Newsom's last draft as general manager, he traded up to draft Lamar Jackson. How'd that work out? It's reasonable to wonder if the Ravens would have pulled the plug on the Max Crosby trade in such a clumsy manner had Newsom orchestrated.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm not blaming the Ravens, but Ozzy Newsom, such a historic figure. He's aces in everything. As you indicate, Ozzie Newsom started when his career really started. The public part of it, you know, it started with Bear Bryant when he went to Alabama to play for Bear at a time where no black players, a handful had gone before him. And Ozzie Newsome had an incredible career there and a relationship with Alabama.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Favorite son of Happy anniversary, Herb Washington. On this day 52 years ago, Charlie Finley signed the former Michigan State Sprint star to a one year contract as the Oakland A's designated runner. Washington went on to appear in 105 games for for Oakland over two seasons, stealing 31 bases, getting caught stealing 17 times. Washington, who had not played baseball since high school, never truly played baseball in Oakland. He never made a plate appearance 105 games without picking up a bat or a glove. His baseball card listed Washington's position as pinch runner in Game 2 of the 1974 World Series. Washington went into the game as the tying runner in 1984 for Joe Rudy and promptly got picked off. It was the only game of the series the A's lost.

[Mike Wilbon]

How did your boy Reggie Jackson feel about her? Washington? He was a bright, engaging guy, was fun to talk to. But how did Reggie.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think most of them sort of felt like what are we doing here? He's a swell guy but can he help the ball club? If we need a guy in the

[Mike Wilbon]

game, he doesn't go in game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He doesn't go in the game. Happy trails. Justin Fields. The jets are reportedly trading the former first rounder to the Chiefs for a sixth round pick in next year's draft. Fields is expected to get the bulk of snaps for Kansas City until Patrick Mahomes recovers from the ACL injury he suffered in December. Fields went 27 as a Jets starter last season and was benched about a month after jets owner Woody Johnson publicly blamed him for New York's 07 start. Newly acquired Geno Smith takes over in New York as Fields tries his fourth team in four years. Wilbon, you feel good about this?

[Mike Wilbon]

I couldn't feel better. I couldn't feel better because he's going to be coached and that's what is. We've seen Sam Darnold. Yes, I'm drawing the analogy he needs coaching because Nagy and Eber Fluss, among others, he didn't get that. So I'm thrilled for Justin Fields.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I will say this. The reason it seems like a good fit to me is his skill set approximates Patrick Mahomes skill set. So you don't have to change the offense around.

[Mike Wilbon]

You can sort of call more quarterback draws.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You can call more of that. Well, he's going to run now. I don't love him like you love him. I think he's failed. I think he's failed. Oh, the jets stink. They kill quarterbacks.

[Mike Wilbon]

His tutoring is just awful.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, let's go to the big finish if we could.

[Mike Wilbon]

All right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Auston Matthews of the Maple Leafs will miss the rest of the season after getting his MCL torn. An ugly hit From Radko Gudis of the Ducks. Your thoughts?

[Mike Wilbon]

Gutas got suspended five games. He needs to be suspended for the rest of the regular season. Neither knee. Unless you just tied his head. It wasn't intentional. Then maybe not. The Oilers have named Connor Ingram their starting goaltender for the stretch run. Are you surprised?

[Tony Kornheiser]

No. They didn't like Tristan Chad. He lost a lot of games. They probably. Probably said, anybody's better than him. And this guy's 10 and 6, so they're more comfortable with that. Butler. Stan Mater retiring from coaching after 502 wins. Your thoughts?

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm going to remember him, not Butler. Remember the two Final Fours with Ohio State?

[Tony Kornheiser]

State?

[Mike Wilbon]

The Ohio State University, yeah. Your wizards have lost 11 in a row, pacers 13. Who wins the race to the bottom?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, nobody wins. This is the point. They're both trying ping pong balls. No, they should get no ping pong balls. They're going to like no soup for you. No ping pong balls for you. Last 1. The NBA could vote on adding Las Vegas and Seattle as soon as next week. Good timing.

[Mike Wilbon]

They're going to add Vegas and Seattle. It's fine timing. There never should have been a day with a team out of Seattle. You can't have teams in Memphis and New Orleans and not have a team in Seattle. Come on, NBA.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We're out of time. We'll try and do better the next time. Milton Girls hockey State champs, shout out.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm Mike Bon. Same time tomorrow, Knucklehead.

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