Is Indiana's Mendoza a lock to win the Heisman?

Summary

PTI Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: Pardon the Interruption (PTI)
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Date: December 13, 2025
Title/Focus: Is Indiana's Mendoza a lock to win the Heisman?

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon break down the hottest stories in sports leading into the weekend. The discussion centers around Fernando Mendoza’s odds to win the Heisman Trophy, significant NFL matchups with playoff implications, Lane Kiffin’s high-drama SEC return, Lindsey Vonn’s astonishing downhill skiing comeback, and the struggles of the aging LA Clippers. The show’s trademark banter, strong opinions, and deep institutional sports knowledge are front and center.

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Main Discussion Topics & Insights

1. NFL Recap & Todd Bowles' Postgame Comments

• [01:07-04:20]
  • Kornheiser details Atlanta’s comeback win over Tampa Bay, highlighting the Falcons scoring 15 points in the last 9:37, knocking Tampa from first place.
  • Tony plays Todd Bowles’ scathing postgame speech calling player effort “inexcusable.”
  • Wilbon’s reaction: Coaches have three possible outcomes calling out players: the team responds, the coach loses the locker room, or the coach gets fired. “Two out of the three aren’t good.” (02:54, Mike Wilbon)
  • Kornheiser doesn’t see Bowles lasting if results don’t improve but acknowledges Tampa can still win their division by beating Carolina twice. The team's frequent collapses are labeled "bad losses."

2. NFL Week Preview—Most Intriguing Matchups

• [04:42-08:05]
  • Kornheiser is most interested in Seattle vs. the Colts for the possible return of 44-year-old Philip Rivers: “If he plays… I’m going to watch like you’d watch a horror movie.” (05:26, Tony Kornheiser)
  • Most consequential games: Bills at Patriots (can Buffalo finally reach the Super Bowl?) and Rams vs. Lions (“The whole of that team is not as good as the sum of the parts.” – 06:28, Tony Kornheiser).
  • Wilbon highlights Bears vs. Browns (focus on Miles Garrett’s sack record) and Packers (“Cheeseheads”) at Denver, noting Denver’s extraordinary home streak and the importance for playoff seeding.
  • Both agree: Kansas City Chiefs are effectively out; “Can you imagine the playoffs without Patrick Mahomes?” (08:00, Tony Kornheiser)

3. Heisman Trophy—Is Mendoza a Lock?

• [08:05-11:18]
  • Finalists: Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), Jeremiah Love (Notre Dame), Julian Saan (Ohio State).
  • Wilbon: “It just seems to me…Mendoza, he’s the guy who’s the quarterback of the only undefeated team.” (08:28, Mike Wilbon)
  • Recalls classic Heisman years with Elway, Herschel Walker, Dickerson, Marcus Allen, McMahon, Marino, arguing this year isn’t quite at that level.
  • Tony’s take: Mendoza’s “Heisman moment” was the comebacker at Penn State. Indiana’s historic undefeated season, Big Ten title, and first Rose Bowl since 1968 make Mendoza his clear pick (“You reward Signetti [coach], you reward Mendoza by giving him the Heisman.” – 10:30, Tony Kornheiser).
  • Both acknowledge strong cases for other finalists, especially Pavia’s individual numbers and Love’s touchdowns; neither enthusiastic about Julian Saan, OSU’s candidate.

4. College Football—Lane Kiffin Returns to Ole Miss

• [12:44-14:53]
  • Kornheiser: “It is spectacular. It almost feels like the SEC arranged this. Because they did.” (12:53, Tony Kornheiser)
  • The storyline of Kiffin (now at LSU) returning to face Ole Miss in the SEC opener is declared the “most emotional game in modern Ole Miss history” (14:15, Mike Wilbon).
  • Both applaud SEC scheduling for maximizing drama and narrative, poking fun at easy non-conference games (“They’re not playing the Citadel in this one, they’re playing each other.” – 14:34, Tony Kornheiser)

5. Lindsey Vonn’s Downhill Comeback at Age 41

• [14:55-16:50]
  • Kornheiser compares Vonn’s feat to “Rivers-like” comeback: “41 in skiing may be older than 44 in football.” (14:59, Tony Kornheiser)
  • Wilbon calls her “bionic” due to her titanium knees, marvels at advances in sports medicine enabling comebacks.
  • Both marvel at the courage and daredevil nature of downhill skiers (“They appear to be going 400 miles an hour on a solid sheet of ice… every once in a while, they fall off the mountain.” – 16:23, Tony Kornheiser)

6. NBA—Clippers’ Inbound Blunder and Aging Teams

• [22:03-23:00]
  • Recap of Clippers’ late-game botch (stepping over the line on inbound), season’s collapse (“have lost 8 out of 9”).
  • Kornheiser: “There is something when a team has aged, not when it is aging...this group is not coming back to win.” (22:49, Tony Kornheiser)
  • Wilbon calls for blowing up and starting over.

7. Quick Hits / “The Big Finish”

• TJ Watt’s Recovery – Hopes he doesn’t attempt to play after a collapsed lung (23:10).
• Belichick Coaching Moves – Firing OCs seen as a sign he’ll return (23:34).
• Curry vs. Wembanyama Returns – Both important; Warriors need Curry badly (23:49).
• Oilers-Penguins Goalie Trade – Fresh scenery praised (24:07).
• Army-Navy Game – Both predict a Navy win (24:15).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Todd Bowles postgame speech:

  "Two out of the three aren’t good."
  — Mike Wilbon (02:54)

• On Philip Rivers potentially starting:

  "If he plays that game, I’m gonna watch… like you’re watching a horror movie."
  — Tony Kornheiser (05:26)

• On the Heisman race:

  “He’s the guy who’s the quarterback of the only undefeated team.”
  — Mike Wilbon (08:28)

• On Indiana’s football season:

  “They won the Big Ten outright for the first time since 1945. They have a playoff game in the Rose Bowl… first time since 1968.”
  — Tony Kornheiser (10:14)

• On SEC drama:

  "It almost feels like the SEC arranged this. Because they did."
  — Tony Kornheiser (12:53)

• On Lindsey Vonn’s comeback:

  “She’s got like titanium knees...the nerve, the guts that it takes, actual courage is amazing.”
  — Mike Wilbon (15:48)

• On Clippers aging:

  “There is something when a team has aged, not when it is aging… this group is not coming back to win.”
  — Tony Kornheiser (22:49)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:07 – NFL Thursday recap, Todd Bowles' rant
• 04:42 – NFL weekend preview: key matchups
• 08:05 – Heisman Trophy preview and predictions
• 12:44 – Lane Kiffin SEC return drama
• 14:55 – Lindsey Vonn’s victory at 41
• 22:03 – Clippers' inbound mess and team aging
• 23:10-24:25 – “The Big Finish” (quick sports news hits)

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Tone & Language

• Lively, irreverent, opinionated banter—trademark PTI.
• Frequent good-natured ribbing and references to decades of sports reporting.
• Mix of nostalgia and sharp, up-to-the-minute takes.

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Conclusion

This PTI episode is a quintessential mix of informed hot takes, historic context, and playful debate. Tony and Mike make a strong case for Fernando Mendoza as a deserving Heisman favorite, analyze pivotal NFL matchups, and bring humor and depth to stories from pro basketball to international skiing. The episode is a must-listen for anyone wanting insight that combines today’s headlines with the depth of decades-long sports perspective.

Transcript

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[Mike Wilbon]

Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. Tony. I'm told a truck accident in Missouri led to the escape of 13 cattle.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Tony Kornheiser. I saw that. It's a lead story on Mootu. I sort of like that Mootoo. Yeah, I don't think that's funny. I think that's funny.

[Mike Wilbon]

Speaking of escape, you see these videos where people are so dumb, they stand in front of, like, moose and they're taking selfies and the just plows and bam. And doesn't try to go after him anymore. It's a lesson. It's a rushback, bitch. You know why?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Because that's what blues do. That's what they good. Welcome to pti, boys and girls. In today's episode, the Heisman gets handed out on Saturday. The NFL has some big matchups on Sunday, and Lane Kiffin has his return date to Ole Miss. But we begin today with last night's Thursday game in which the Atlanta Falcons scored 15 points in the last 9:37 of the game and beat Tampa Bay 29:28, knocking Tampa Bay out of first place in that division and making Todd Bowles very angry. Let's watch and listen.

[Todd Bowles]

It's inexcusable. Don't make excuses. You gotta care enough now where the hurts. You gotta care enough where it hurts. You gotta mean something to you. It's more than a job. It's your livelihood. How well do you know your job? How well can you do your job? Well, you can't sugarcoat that. It was in the excusable and there's no answer for it. There's no excuse for it. It's what you gentlemen like in the mirror.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you kids all get that? Bowles went on to say the coaches have done all they can and the players need to hold each other accountable. Wilbon, are you okay with Bowles blaming his players for last night's loss?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah, sure. I mean, it may be true, first of all, and then, you know. But there are three. My entire reaction to this is Built around like you and I, decades in locker rooms and decades with coaches. Not only in that moment, but then we got to listen to them later when they calmed down a little bit. And you knew there were three possible results. One, you get to them and they immediately flip their behavior 180 and they bring it. Two, they hate you and you lose the locker room entirely. Three, management fires you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So as long two out of the three aren't good. No, two out of the three.

[Mike Wilbon]

Am I wrong on this?

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, you're not wrong.

[Mike Wilbon]

And you gotta accept the consequences. And he does so.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. I have been around Todd Bowles a lot going back to when he played here. We covered him D.C. i never saw anything like that. He wasn't screaming or anything. He was hating his players. Hating his players. That was the kind of moment that if you had asked Todd Bowles, as they once asked another Tampa bay coach, John McKay, how do you feel about your players execution, he would have answered in the affirmative. Yes, look, this was a really bad loss. Tampa Bay has had a bunch of really bad losses this year. They were up 14 in the fourth quarter at home. They didn't give up two scores, they gave up three scores.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's a team that has been maybe the most disappointing team in the league this year.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. The defense of Tampa bay allowed a fourth and 14. Atlanta somehow converted a third and 28 into a first down. And Kirk Cousins looked like he did 10 and 12 years ago. So that's. I mean, do you understand that Atlanta had 19 penalties and still won the game? That's a bad loss.

[Mike Wilbon]

Turnovers that weren't turnovers.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's a bad loss.

[Mike Wilbon]

They should have been recovered by Tampa. Loose balls where like six players were around and they didn't.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They can win the division by beating Carolina twice. You beat Carolina twice now. I wouldn't bet on them today. No, but if you beat Carolina twice, you win the division.

[Mike Wilbon]

Todd Bowles is somebody we like and as you said, I've known for a long time, I root for him. Do we think this is gonna work or do we think he's gonna wind up wearing not the Creamsicle, but something else next year?

[Tony Kornheiser]

So let me ask you, let me show you this. That says at the bottom, question, you think Todd Bowles will coach this team next year? I don't know.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's gotta work, right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. I don't know.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's gotta work, man. Let's move to this weekend's eye catching NFL games. The AFC east leading Patriots host Josh Allen and the division leading or division rival Bills. One headed quarterback Justin Herbert leads his Chargers into Kansas City where the Chiefs are in desperation mode. The NFC Central leading Cheeseheads are at the AFC west leading Broncos and the 10.3Rams host the 8 and 5 Lions. Tony, which game intrigues you the most this weekend?

[Tony Kornheiser]

If I'm going to be honest here, I'm gonna tell you that the game that intrigues me the most is Seattle and the Colts. Because I don't believe that a 44 year old quarterback, Philip Rivers is actually.

[Mike Wilbon]

Gonna play that game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

If he plays that game, I'm gonna watch. You know how I'm gonna watch, Mike? Like you're watching a horror movie.

[Mike Wilbon]

A horror movie?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. I'm gonna put my hand in front of my face, but I'm gonna watch. The two games to me that seem the most important to me are the Bills at New England and the Rams and the Lions the Bills. To me, if Buffalo beats New England in New England, it conjures up two images to me. One is that the Bills could actually finally go to the super bowl because Baltimore and Kansas City don't seem to be on that road. Don't seem to be on that road. And the second thing it would say to me is that the Patriots really have had an easy schedule. They're 11 and two. They have only beaten three teams that right now have a winning record. So I mean, to me that would be consequential. The Bills may not win the division, but you would think they were better. The other game can be really critical. If the Lions lose that game, they are likely out of the playoffs. That would surprise me, Mike, because I think that they are a possible juggernaut. But what is true is that the whole of that team is not as good as the sum of the parts. It's not. It doesn't exceed the sum of the.

[Mike Wilbon]

Their window's gonna close, shut down.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And if the Rams lose, they might fall out of the number one NFC seed. They might have to go on the road in the playoffs. I don't think they want to go to Seattle or Lambeau. I don't think they do. So. So I am thinking that that game, actually there's more at stake in that game than in the Bills game.

[Mike Wilbon]

I got one game that you didn't mention. Well, first of all, the game I'm most intrigued with is my own game, is the Bears hosting the Browns. And Miles Garrett, is he going to get like four sacks? I hope not. Break the record. He could break the record this weekend with a Balo performance and he, he can because he's Miles Garrett. But the game other than that is the Cheese Heads in Denver. I mean, Denver is one like something like 14 straight games at home.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Is that right?

[Mike Wilbon]

The Cheese Heads go in there talking about love being an MVP candidate. They go in riding high, sort of after beating the Bears, but at home last week. And if they win this game, if they beat the team that is right there challenging for the one seed in the AFC with a couple of weeks to go, the packers have every reason to be chesty. So I'm certainly rooting against them because the Bears could be back in the number one seed if Detroit and Denver win their games and the Bears win theirs. So there's a lot going on with that division. My eyes are on that division. And I understand first and foremost.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And neither of us have mentioned Kansas City because they're done. That's it. If they lose, I believe they are mathematically eliminated.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah, but they're done anyway.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Can you imagine the playoffs without Patrick Mahomes? Given what we've seen the last five, eight years.

[Mike Wilbon]

You're eight, nine, Right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Really? Let's get into the Heisman Trophy. As we know, the four finalists who will be in New York tomorrow night for the presentation are Fernando Mendoza of Indiana, Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt, Jeremiah Love of Notre Dame and Julian Saan of Ohio State. That's three quarterbacks and a running back. Wilbon Mendoza is the odds on favorite to win. In your mind, is he a lock close to it?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah. Yeah. It's easy for me to root for a kid from Vanderbilt because I root for Vanderbilt anyway and it would be great. But I know that these straw polls have appeared to think that this suggests that it's gonna be close. I don't know that it's gonna be all that close. It just seems to me. And I used to vote. I voted for high school. Yeah, you did vote for 20 years. I helped select the voters for a few years. I just think Mendoza, Tony, he's the guy who's the quarterback of the only undefeated team. So I got no problem with. I got no problem with any of them. I'm just going to say this, and I don't have my glasses, but I think I can read this. This is not like in 1982 when Elway, Herschel Walker and Eric Dickerson were three finalists. And in 81 the previous year, just one year earlier, when Marcus Allen. Who else was in this? McMahon, Herschel.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And Dan Marino, who you've called just a passer.

[Mike Wilbon]

No, the greatest passer. Not the greatest quarterback. Not even in this discussion to passing a quarterback are different things. Those years stand alone. This is not that. It is right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I would say that most people in America had not heard of all four of these people going into this until like week six. Yeah. But I would vote for Mendoza. I'm gonna go back to a few weeks back when Indiana made that great comeback at Penn State when that kid made the most spectacular catch at the back of the end zone and then.

[Mike Wilbon]

Put it on him.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The next time we were on this show I sat here and I said to you that looked like a Heisman moment for Mendoza. Like let's look at Indiana's had a life changing season. As you say. They're the only unbeaten team. They beat Ohio State for the first time since 1988. I want to get these dates right. They won the Big Ten outright for the first time since 1945. No. 1945. And they have a playoff game in the Rose Bowl. I believe it will be their first time in the rose bowl since 1968. So to me you reward Signetti, you make him coach of the year and you reward Mendoza by giving him the highest one pavia. The case I would make. He's got more passing yards than Mendoza in one fewer game. And Vanderbilt's not a football factory.

[Mike Wilbon]

Had a historic season just like.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Just like Indiana.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And I could make a case for Jeremiah Love because he's got 21 touchdowns and 12 J. Love had. I know you hate Notre Dame.

[Mike Wilbon]

I don't hate.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But he may be better at his position than the quarterbacks.

[Mike Wilbon]

He had a great season.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I can't make a case for the Ohio State at this point.

[Mike Wilbon]

I can't.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But those three, I certainly could. They lost one game.

[Mike Wilbon]

Ohio State was in there.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They lost Indiana. I mean I think. I think that affects voting. Let's take a break. When we return, Lane Kiffin and LSU open SEC play with a trip to Ole Miss next season. What's the word for that?

[Mike Wilbon]

What's the best way to describe 41 year old Lindsey Vonn's win in the downhill today?

[Tony Kornheiser]

You know the easy line on the Ohio State quarterback is. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. But I wouldn't use that.

[Mike Wilbon]

There's somebody named him Justin.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Welcome back to Pardon the Interruption, presented.

[Commercial Narrator]

By Grey Goose, part of happy hour.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's time to have words with Wil Bon. What's first?

[Mike Wilbon]

It's blank that LSU will travel to Ole Miss to open conference play next season.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It is spectacular. It almost feels like the SEC arranged this. Because they did. Yeah, because they did. The date will be September 19th. It's going to get the highest rating that any Mississippi game has ever had. Unless. Unless in the next two weeks, Lane Kiffin leaves LSU and goes to Alabama. Right. That's the only thing that would make it bad. Look, these two teams play every single year. They are permanent opponents.

[Mike Wilbon]

Right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

The SEC could have done this in October, could have done it in November, but then the drama of it is dissipated by then. This way you get the narrative straight out. And it's all about Lane Kiffin. Kiffin, Kiffin, Kiffin. And if you think you have heard boos before, get a ticket to this game. Because the noise in Oxford will be so loud that it could waken William Faulkner. If that's where he's buried, I think he's buried there.

[Mike Wilbon]

Right. And because of all those things you said. It's perfect.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It is. That's my word.

[Mike Wilbon]

It can't get any better. This is the way you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You.

[Mike Wilbon]

You need or you want a game of some significance. We can't know what the standings will be. They won't have started. The CFP ratings won't. Rankings won't be out yet. So you put Lane Kiffin. You know what, Tony? That will be the most emotional game in the modern history, I guess. Of Ole Miss.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Of Ole Miss. Of Ole Miss, I would think.

[Mike Wilbon]

I mean, Archie's been.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. No, I don't think so.

[Mike Wilbon]

So this has got.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Eli went there, but it's not.

[Mike Wilbon]

I don't even remember any games that Eli was there.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's not this.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's Kiffin, this is so good. So let's give the SEC credit. Yeah, I take a shot at conferences when they do the wrong thing.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They're not playing the Citadel in this one, they're playing each other.

[Mike Wilbon]

No, this is what should happen. And by the way, they're going to play each other in a string of times, apparently. So we'll see them. Yeah, but you have to group them so they play X number of years. Because there's so many teams in these conferences now. They're all super conferences. You can't just play the same team every.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, I agree, I agree. But this is good for the sec.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes, it is great for the sec.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What's next?

[Mike Wilbon]

Lindsey Vonn's win in the downhill today was blank.

[Tony Kornheiser]

My word is, Rivers, like Lindsey Vonn, is 41 years old. She has been out of skiing for five years. That is not dissimilar to Philip Rivers. In fact, Mike, 41 in skiing may be older than 44 in football. I'm not sure one way or another.

[Mike Wilbon]

He started at 17.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Here's what rivers can do. Rivers can throw the ball away. Rivers can take a knee. Rivers can hand the ball off. Here's what Lindsey Vonn can do. She can go straight down the mountain. Cuz that's how you get home. That's why it is called the downhill. At this point, she's trying out for the Olympics in Cortina on a course that I believe she has 12 wins on. And this win she had today, her first win since 2018. Let's see Rivers do that.

[Mike Wilbon]

Tony, look, I agree. And to do it, my word is bionic.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Mike Wilbon]

She's got like titanium knees.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Titanium knees and stuff. Got a titanium knees.

[Mike Wilbon]

I mean, she's got. Look, Lindsey Vonn, the nerve, the guts that it takes to actual courage is amazing. But she wouldn't have been able to do this stuff 20 years ago because science and technology wouldn't have allowed it. But it does now. And so she can.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They're the craziest people in the world. World down the races.

[Mike Wilbon]

Just inside baseball. You and I have gone to these places that they're named. And we have watched and stood at the bottom of the hill, top and bottom. What frightens you more than watching down?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Nothing. They appear to be going 400 miles an hour on a solid sheet of ice. And then every once in a while, they fall off the mountain.

[Mike Wilbon]

Completely off.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They're into space. Yeah, they're launched.

[Mike Wilbon]

And they tend to just get up and walk off and you can't believe it. So we have done this. Television does not contain.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, we haven't done it. We've watched.

[Mike Wilbon]

We haven't done it. You're doing this.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, doing this.

[Mike Wilbon]

But it's not like golf. You can't go to your favorite course and go down like they do.

[Todd Bowles]

No, no, no.

[Mike Wilbon]

Good for Lindsay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

These people are crazy.

[Mike Wilbon]

Bionic.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's the final word. Let's take one last break. Still to come, the Clippers forget how to inbound the ball at a critical juncture.

[Mike Wilbon]

He's standing right there. And whose weekend return from injury would be bigger? Steph's or Wemby's?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, Wemby's would be taller. We're certain of that. I don't know which would be bigger necessarily.

[Mike Wilbon]

I tell you what. San Antonio, pretty good without them.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What are you saying?

[Mike Wilbon]

Nothing. No, they're gonna be great with them. No, but they're pretty good with it. Like 16 and 7 or something like that.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Pardon the Interruption is presented by Great Goose Make Time Wait.

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Please enjoy responsibly.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Part of Happy Hour Happy time people. Happy 29th Birthday Christopher Sanchez the Phillies lefty was 135 with a 250-era-32 starts this past season. He struck out 212 batters in 202 innings. As a result, he finished second in NL Cy Young voting to unanimous winner Paul Skeens. Sanchez was an All Star in 2024, but not this season, which was controversial at the time and the Phillies gave Sanchez his All Star bonus anyway. Sanchez has been with the Phillies all five of his major league seasons after being traded there by Tampa Bay. Overall, Sanchez is 30 and 21 with a 324 ERA. He led the majors in wins above replacement WAR for pitchers this season. Season is 8. Zero edging schemes is 7.7.

[Mike Wilbon]

There are a lot of throwers out there when I watch Sanchez. It's a pitcher, pitcher, stylish pitcher. And good for the Phillies for giving him his bonus anyway because he should have been an All Star.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, he had a great he had great numbers going into the All Star. Happy Anniversary. Gale Sayers this is posthumous but on this day 60 years ago as a rookie out of Kansas, the Bears running back scored six touchdowns as the Bears throttled the 49ers 61 20. On a rainy, muddy track in Wrigley field, Sayers scored four touchdowns rushing, one receiving and one on an 85 yard punt return. Chicago scored three non Sayers touchdowns, the best of which was a fancy one handed 29 yard catch by tight end Mike Ditka. Coach Ditka 6 remains the NFL records for touchdowns in one game. The first person to do it was Dub Jones of the Browns in 1940 51, then Sayers, then Alvin Kamara. Did I say that right? Of the Saints on a Christmas Day beatdown. Of the Vikings in 2020. Wilbon, I'm told you're from Chicago. Have you ever heard of Sayers and.

[Mike Wilbon]

Ditka, I thank you for being in a golf tournament and telling Mr. Sayers that he's my hero. Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And after that, you have a lot of heroes.

[Mike Wilbon]

I got to meet him, be around him. It was spectacular. I was in awe. And by the way, the coolest thing about walking into Wrigley Field, not only do you walk into a place where Ruth played and Banks and Williams and all these, but you also walk in there. Sayers and Butkus and Ditka and Red Grange played there as well. No. No building like it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But it's bothersome that Sayers and. And. And Butkus didn't play playoffs.

[Mike Wilbon]

Never play a playoff game. No.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy trails to last night's game for the Clippers. Louisiana lost again last night, this time to the Rockets. The Clippers had the ball and a chance to tie with fewer than nine seconds left when they temporarily forgot to inbound the ball. Nicholas Patoum finally tried, but stepped over the line, turning the ball back over to the Rockets. You know who would have come back for that ball? Chris Paul. Can't blame him for this one. No, the Clippers, who stink, have lost 8 out of 9 and are now 6 19.

[Mike Wilbon]

This is sort of shocking. I know, I know they're all old, and I know, you know, you sort of walk in a real fine line here, but it seems like they had everything. If they could get out on the court, even when they're out there, they're bad. They're gonna have to forget about this. Blow it up, start over.

[Tony Kornheiser]

There is something when a team has aged, not when it is aging. Yeah, it has gone when it has aged. And you say to yourself, you know, no, this group is not coming back to win.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's a wasted time.

[Tony Kornheiser]

A lot was written in this city about the Washington defense this year that they had aged. And if you look at the numbers, they're ineffective. They're ineffective.

[Mike Wilbon]

They can't win either.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's go to the big finish, if we could. TJ Watt, released from the hospital after successful surgery on a partially collapsed lung. Your thoughts?

[Mike Wilbon]

I hope he's okay. And apparently Mike Tomlin has said, don't even think about playing on Sunday. You know, football players will walk out of a hospital and try to play.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Can't play. Can't play.

[Mike Wilbon]

Bill Belichick fired his offensive coordinator and his special teams coach. Does that make sense?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let me tell you what it says to me. It says to me that Bill Belichick is going to come back.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah, he.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Of course. But that's what I'M saying. I mean, he said, no, this is not going to work. Steph Curry returns tonight for the Warriors. Victor Wembanyama expected to do the same for the spurs tomorrow, which is a bigger deal.

[Mike Wilbon]

They're both a big deal, but wembanyama's spurs are 17 and 7. When he comes back, they're going to be great. Steph Curry. The warriors are only 13 and 12. They gotta have him. They need Steph now. Bigger deal. The Oilers traded goalie Stewart Skinner to the Penguins for goalie Tristan Jari. Break it down.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I really like the idea of a goalie for goalie trade. I really like the notion that just the new scenery will make them.

[Mike Wilbon]

Blaming Skinner and Edmonton sounds right. It feels like it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Last one Army Navy game tomorrow. Who you got?

[Mike Wilbon]

Navy's 9 and 292 season.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We got this, right?

[Mike Wilbon]

Shipman one last.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's the helmet.

[Mike Wilbon]

I got to think the midshipme are going to win again.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We are out of time. We'll try to do better the next time. Kevin Callahan, Monmouth Football Shout out.

[Mike Wilbon]

And I'm Mike Wilbon. Have a great weekend, knuckleheads. And now, here's SportsCenter.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Army Navy. When they walk in is great. When they walk just so great.

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