Tony Kornheiser (3:11)

I love the wording of the question. The wording of the question is how should the Knicks feel if they end up with Mike Brown? Like he's a consolation prize. Like you don't get the all expenses paid trip to Europe. But let's give you a gift card. Mike Brown's record in regular season games in the NBA is 454 and 304. He wins at a percentage of 59.9%. His record in the playoffs is 50, 40. You know, he wins more than he loses. He took Lebron James to the finals in Cleveland and he took Sacramento to the playoffs when they hadn't been there in 17 years. Now, yeah, he gets fired because everybody gets fired. You know, first prize is the Cadillac and second prize is a steak knives and third prize is you're fired. But he's a professional coach and he's being hired if it happens by a management that is amateurish. Every single thing the Knicks have done, including firing Tom Thibodeau has made them look worse day by day worse. So he is Mike and I'll get out of here on this. Mike Brown is on some level better than the Knicks deserve right now.

Mike Wilbon (4:18)

I'm done Coming from a longtime Knicks fan observer, Tony, that you should get the last word on that and you will because we're going to move now to the two time defending Stanley cup champs Florida Panthers who are somehow keeping the band together. In the last few days the Panthers have agreed to extensions with Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Aaron Eckblad defying a history that seen top teams have to part with stars due to cap constraints. Tony, how realistic is it to you right now that the Panthers will win a third straight Cup?

Tony Kornheiser (4:55)

So you are telling me that they kept all their important free agents and I assume they still Have Tkachuk, and I assume they still have Bobrovsky, and they have now been to the Stanley cup final three years in a row and two years in a row, they wanted. And it was easier this year than last year because this year took them six games and last year took them seven games against the same opponent. And now you're asking me, does this upgrade their chances of winning again? And I would say sure. Because unless. Unless Gretzky and Lemieux and. Or Messiho walking through that door, I'm going to take. I'm going to take Florida and then Mike, and then if they win again, that's a long way from winning. But if they win again, then we use the word dynasty, because three in a row was a big deal. Gretzky's Oilers did not win three in a row. The Penguins, with Lemieux and Jagger and later Crosby, they did not win three in a row. The Canadiens won five in a row. I believe in the late 50s, they won four in a row in the late 70s, the Islanders won four in a row in the early 80s. But if they come back, if Florida comes back and they make it again for four in a row and win it again for three in a row, that's a big deal.

Mike Wilbon (6:03)

It is, Tony, but I'll take the field, and I want to get to the history of what they've done. And you can do this in Florida because there's some incentive in places that I'm going to name in a second, like California and Illinois and Pennsylvania, there's something called state taxes. And you might not feel as enriched when you sign that deal in those states as you feel in Florida. But I'm going to mention some teams now, the Blackhawks, Penguins, Kings. Well, and Tampa does have that in Florida. But those first three, they won a couple, Tony. The Blackhawks won three. And then I would look up on opening night when they're raising the flag to the roof of the United center, and I would say, wait a minute, where's half of our damn team? They're gone. Because the really difficult rules of the NHL made you, forced you to get rid of those guys. And so the Blackhawks won three in five years, but they couldn't go after three in a row. Really. They had a chance once, and those other teams did, too. I mean, the Kings had that chance. The Penguins had chances, the Lightning and so the NHL. I'm upset that my franchise didn't get the benefit of this, but if you're a fan of the Panthers and now you're right. They're going to have a shot at building a dynasty when other capable teams with capable management.

Tony Kornheiser (7:21)

Did not.

Mike Wilbon (7:22)

Did not.

Tony Kornheiser (7:23)

It's tax codes. You can sign for less money because you get to keep more money in a state like Florida, which is why 30,000 people that, you know try to live there half the year for tax purposes. Let's move to baseball.

Mike Wilbon (7:34)

Only 30,000.

Tony Kornheiser (7:35)

Last night saw three stellar pitching performances. Paul Skeens, five innings for the Pirates, allowing no runs, getting no decision in a game Pittsburgh eventually won. Yoshinobu Yamamoto went seven innings for the Dodgers, allowed one run in an easy win for the Dodgers over the White Sox. Jacob deGrom, six innings for the Rangers, allowing two runs as Texas routed Baltimore. Wilbon. Which one would you most want the rest of the way this season?

Mike Wilbon (8:01)

I love Yamamoto, but it's the White Sox. It's like going against a college. No, no. White Sox. No. And the Orioles. I know they're coming on a little bit, but. No, no, no, no, no. Paul Skeens went against the St. Louis Cardinals, okay? They and Paul Skeens until recently. I know the, the Pirates have won that preposterous four games by seven runs or more, whatever that ridiculous stat is, but that they've had like the worst offense in baseball for most of the season. He gets no run support and Skeens goes out there and I know it was 88 pitches. It wasn't like, you know, Bob Gibson or Fergie Jenkins going 130 and nine plus innings, but he went out there and he blanked the Cardinals. I will take Paul Skeens anywhere, anytime, and walk into a dark alley and go against anybody. I want Skeens.

Tony Kornheiser (8:54)

Yeah. Yeah. It's interesting. You're preaching to the choir here. Cuz I love Skeens and I'll get to it in a second. But last week you talked about the Miz and how the Miz beat Paul Skeens. And you indicated to me on the show that Paul Skeens wasn't all that. Okay, so just. Did we have that on the line?

Mike Wilbon (9:09)

I just said I'll take this.

Tony Kornheiser (9:10)

Yes, you did. No, you did. Yes, you did. You've been, you've been junking Paul Skeens for two years now, especially when he started the All Star Game and you said he didn't deserve to do that. I remember. We could look up the tape. Look, all of these pitchers are great, right? They're all great at the moment. DeGrom is what, he's 9 and 2 in a 213 ERA. When? Six innings, at least. In his last six starts, Yamamoto, 8 and 6, 250 ERA. Retired the last 10 in a row yesterday. Last 10, right. In a row, Skeens only has four wins. He's 4 and 7, 200 and 3 ERA like you give me. Skenes, give them to me this year. Give them to me for the next 10 years. Because in his last 12 starts. You want to talk about getting no support? In his last 12 starts, he has one win. He's one in five, and his ERA is 18 4. And he has 76 strikeouts in 73 innings. He is a great pitcher at the moment. On a bad team. A team that's won five in a row, but a bad team. And we've seen this before. We saw it with Garrett Cole. Like, the guy gives up nothing and doesn't even get the decision. He's pitching in hard luck right now. Let's take a break real quickly.

Mike Wilbon (10:18)

For the record, I don't like Skeens because he's in my division. He's a great pitcher. What I said is, I will take Skeens and Miz every day while I root against them with every fiber of my being. Don't ever say I junk Skeens that because I'll take.

Tony Kornheiser (10:35)

You did.

Mike Wilbon (10:36)

I'll come out with money. You've been doing it for two years. To pay skins to put him in a Cub uniform. Are you crazy?

Tony Kornheiser (10:43)

Fantastic. Nil money for Skeens as well. Let's take a break. Coming up, what's in stake for the U.S. men's soccer team tonight against Guatemala? We're going to ask Taylor Twelman.

Mike Wilbon (10:55)

There's somebody in skeens life who knows a little bit about Nil money, too. We'll also ask him about Zlatan, your boy. Calling Messi's teammates statues who run as if they're carrying bags of cement. Come on now.

Tony Kornheiser (11:07)

This is Lok Tan.

Mike Wilbon (11:08)

I take schemes.

Tony Kornheiser (11:09)

Lot time is the best. Yeah.

Mike Wilbon (11:11)

Lots. On.

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Tony Kornheiser (12:28)

The U.S. men's Soccer Team takes on Guatemala tonight in a Gold cup semifinal, which makes it a perfect time to bring back the lead analyst for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, our friend, Mr. Taylor Twelman. And let us start with this. What has impressed you so far in their run in the Gold Cup? What has impressed you about the U.S. men's team? And what still needs work, do you think?

Taylor Twelman (12:51)

Tony One thing that's impressed me is that there's actually a pulse within this group. And for the first time in a long time, we saw the real grittiness of the red, white and blue come out. And I've been highly critical of the personality of this team. We've talked about the individual quality that this team has and whether they're with the Gold cup team or not. But we're talking about can you roll up your sleeves and be gritty? And when they miss the penalty in the quarterfinal against Costa Rica and then got into a scuffle, guys, I know this sounds very simple, but you saw the group come together. You saw the group look at the Costa Rica side and look at the players that were in their face and say, we're done with this, we're done with this and we're going to take care of business. That is something we have always had. The fact that we've even had to question that, that's a bigger concern. So I love the fact that within this group of players I've seen a pulse. What I need to see more of is quality. I've got to see quality. And especially in the semifinal tonight against Guatemala. On paper, they should win this game 4 or 5 nil. So should Canada, and Canada lost. So you cannot not use the home field advantage. That's going to be in St. Louis. It's going to be a heavily American crowd. Can you punch Guatemala in the face and show the quality that is within the group? I still haven't seen enough quality on the field from the group. I however, I Believe that there's a pulse which has given me positive light.

Mike Wilbon (14:19)

Well, a lot of that. Of course, we're going to trace to Mauricio Pochettino at some point, maybe now. So if he's not on a hot seat, Taylor, he's certainly in a bright spot. Light. Has your assessment of him moved much at all in recent weeks?

Taylor Twelman (14:35)

No, but how remarkable is that you guys are now talking to me after about 72 hours ago that there was a rumor floating around before the quarterfinal against Costa Rica that Mauricio Pochettino spoke with Brentford about their vacant job. Now, he has unequivocally denied that, but you guys know this, you've been in sports longer than I have. There could have been a conversation or two. However, I haven't seen anything tactically that's changed. I haven't seen anything within the personnel that has changed. But I saw emotion because when that camera panned to him after winning the penalty kick shootout against Costa Rica, I saw the real passion. And he's looking into the camera, screaming and showing that he is 100% in this job in this moment. But those rumors were strong. False.

Mike Wilbon (15:27)

True.

Taylor Twelman (15:27)

It doesn't matter to me that the Premier League will always be knocking down the door for Mauricio Pochettino, but when he won the Pelly kick shootout, he, he may have won my attention because you cannot fake that emotion that he showed in the camera. And I think he may have won the group of players for the moment.

Mike Wilbon (15:46)

Well, of course, that sets up tonight. Let's go back to Guatemala. We mentioned it already. Taylor. What, what actually is at stake here? What if we, if we shred all the stuff about what could be and what might be what, what is actually at stake?

Taylor Twelman (16:03)

Well, first off, you're going to play for, you can play for a final if you win the game, Michael. So first and foremost you got to hold serve. You're at home. It's going to be a pro United states crowd in St. Louis. So that's the first and that's the macro level, but the micro level is this. Individually, you're playing for your chance to play in the World cup, in the biggest World cup at home for the Red, White and Blue, less than a year from now. So the Tillmans, the Freezes, the Lunas of the world that have shown real well in this tournament, you've got to continue that. Can you be the positive player that you've been throughout the tournament and cement yourself in the final 26 man roster less than a year from now? But more so you need collectively, as a group, validation. Us three were talking about this tournament before the tournament started. And there's the conversation about, Pulisic's not here, McKinney's not here. We is not here, Robinson's not here. So right away, the collective on the outside says, well, this is the B or the C team. Internally, that doesn't matter. Collectively, you've got to validate that you're still good enough even as a BRC team to win a continental tournament. I said it. When the tournament started, it was Canada's to lose. They lost. Now it's the United States that are favored to win this tournament. You have to get the job done to give you some positivity going into your club season and more importantly, going into the World cup less than a year from now.

Tony Kornheiser (17:26)

We will get you out of here on this. We're going to leave the Gold cup behind and get to something that Wilbourne cares about a lot more, and that is after watching Inter Miami and you're tight with Messi. After watching into Miami get crushed by PSG in the Club World cup, the great Zlatan called Messi's teammates. Here's a quote. Statues who run as if they're carrying bags of cement, unquote. Your reaction. Hold on.

Taylor Twelman (17:52)

I got to ask Messi permission if I can answer this. Messi, can I answer? Okay, cool. I can. Zlatan's the best quote in all sports. He was once asked, what did he get his wife for his birthday? And he said to the reporter in Italy, nothing. She's already got Zlatan. He's as good as it comes when it comes to a quote, guys. I will say this, though, if you notice what Zlatan said, he didn't name the three old Barcelona Messi friends because those are as qualified of players as there is Suarez, Busquets and Alba. Is he wrong? No. Those guys are at the end of their cycle. They're at the end of the career. But this is also the team that Messi picks. So it is what it is. But slot on. Call me at the end of the year because I have a sneaky suspicion Messi Miami may have something to say in the regular season of mls.

Tony Kornheiser (18:40)

This is fabulous. Thank you so much for being on.

Mike Wilbon (18:43)

Thank you so much, man. Appreciate you.

Taylor Twelman (18:46)

Good seeing you, boys.

Tony Kornheiser (18:48)

I will bond. Taylor has top 10 odds of winning that celebrity golf tournament in next week in Lake Tahoe that you've been in. Wish him luck now. Wish him luck.

Mike Wilbon (18:57)

Good luck. He doesn't need it.

Taylor Twelman (18:59)

He's Good long money for me, boys. Long money.

Tony Kornheiser (19:04)

Let's take one last break. Still to come, Shohei Ohtani does something only one Dodger has done before.

Mike Wilbon (19:12)

And the Indiana Fever win the mid season tournament without Caitlin Clark. You know how I feel about these mid season tournaments. In basketball, they're trying to copy soccer. They can't get their own identity. Let's steal something.

Tony Kornheiser (19:25)

Get in the zone.

Mike Wilbon (19:26)

AutoZone.

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Taylor Twelman (19:34)

Right now we're celebrating free with a.

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Tony Kornheiser (19:51)

Get in the zone.

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Taylor Twelman (19:57)

In 1979, the first words spoken on.

Tony Kornheiser (20:00)

ESPN weren't just an announcement.

Mike Wilbon (20:02)

If you're a fan, they were a sports prophecy.

Tony Kornheiser (20:06)

What you'll see in the next minutes.

Mike Wilbon (20:08)

Hours and days to follow. Glad you're with us tonight.

Tony Kornheiser (20:11)

May convince you you've gone to sports heaven. And right now, you're standing on the edge of tomorrow.

Taylor Twelman (20:20)

This fall, the next era of ESPN begins.

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Sports forever.

Tony Kornheiser (20:30)

Happy time, people. Happy 30th birthday. Ryan Murphy. Murphy holds the Olympic record in the 100 meter backstroke, which he set in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. Murphy has a total of nine Olympic swimming medals, including five gold medals, 100 meter backstroke, 200 meter backstroke, 4x100 mixed medley relay, and a couple in the 4x100 men's medley relay. The backstroke's a specialized event. There aren't that many medals available to backstrokers. The problem with being an American male swimmer is Michael Phelps. Phelps is bigger than Everybody. Phelps has 23 Olympic gold medals.

Mike Wilbon (21:08)

His shadow looms large. He could be right behind me right now on the golf course because Phelps is out here in the desert playing golf more often than swimming. Now, though maybe not right now, where it was 116 like two days ago.

Tony Kornheiser (21:22)

Happy anniversary, Joe DiMaggio. This is obviously posthumous, but on this day 84 years ago, the Yankee Clipper hit a home run to left field in Yankee Stadium over the head of his hitting rival, Ted Williams. That hit gave DiMaggio Major League Baseball's longest single season hitting streak at 45 games, surpassing the record we will E. Keeler set in 1897. Ultimately, DiMaggio hit in 56 straight games, a record that hasn't been challenged since Pete Rose got to 44 in 1978, the closest since Rose Was Philadelphia's Jimmy rollins getting to 38 over 2005 and 2006.

Mike Wilbon (22:00)

I know some records have fallen in baseball where records are more important than any other team sport in North America, but, Tony, we're not seeing 56, are we? It's not going to happen.

Tony Kornheiser (22:10)

No, no, no. We're not seeing 512 wins and we're not seeing 57.

Mike Wilbon (22:16)

We're not seeing that.

Tony Kornheiser (22:18)

Happy trails, friends. Francisco Comisana, the Argentine singles player fell in Wimbledon's second round to Frenchman Corentin Moutet. This result is in the show for just one highlight in which Moutet fakes a smash and instead executes a between the legs drop shot. Tennis players can hit shots behind their backs and through their legs. They're fabulous. Every once in a while it's a show off move. He'd done something similar against Novak Djokovic in the French Open. Does this feel a little show offy to you? When?

Mike Wilbon (22:48)

I mean, maybe, but not in the context his opponent went between the legs on the previous shot. I mean, how much showing off can you do if you're greeted with that before you hit your shot?

Tony Kornheiser (23:01)

All right, let's go to the big finish. The Teaver beat the links for the WNBA Commissioners Cup. I know your thoughts.

Mike Wilbon (23:09)

Yeah. I'm not 24 years old and I don't do cups in the middle of the season. Wake me when the playoffs start. The Astros shut down Yordon Alvarez after the slugger suffered a setback with his fractured right hand. Big loss.

Tony Kornheiser (23:23)

Yeah. He's a great hitter. He's only played in 29 games this year. He's a great hitter. They're a good team. He's a great hitter. The Pistons landed former Heat shooter Duncan Robinson. Is that a big deal?

Mike Wilbon (23:33)

Yeah. Duncan Robinson is a 40% shooter from three career. And we don't know what's up with Malik Beasley. So, yes, it's a big deal. Shohei hit his 30th last night. That's significant, isn't it?

Tony Kornheiser (23:46)

He's a great player. We can talk about him and Aaron Judge every single day. Last one. The Marlins have won eight in a row. Do I hear nine from you? Do I hear nine?

Mike Wilbon (23:57)

No. They're ten and a half still behind Philly. I'm not going to get excited about that streak yet.

Tony Kornheiser (24:03)

We're head of the mats, though. We're out of time. Try and do better the next time. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

Mike Wilbon (24:09)

I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, Knuckleheads.