PTI Episode Summary: "Is Mizorowski the NEXT Clayton Kershaw?"

Release Date: July 9, 2025 | Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon

1. Wimbledon Highlights

The episode kicks off with a comprehensive overview of the recent Wimbledon championships. Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon delve into the performances of both men's and women's contenders.

• Men's Singles: Top seed Jannik Sinner demonstrated prowess by defeating American Ben Shelton in straight sets, showcasing his dominance on the grass courts. Novak Djokovic, enduring a grueling three-hour match, managed to overcome Flavio Cobolli after dropping the first set in a tiebreak. Tony highlights a pivotal moment in Djokovic's match:

  “There’s a moment around [03:13] when Djokovic falls by the baseline and does this very awkward split as the ball goes by him. He loses the second of two match points in that moment. He's laying there in pain... and then he calls for the tennis balls and goes back to win the match.” – Tony Kornheiser

• Women's Singles: Igor Witek continued his strong performance by winning in straight sets, advancing to the semifinals to face Belinda Bencic. Mike emphasizes Bencic's remarkable comeback:

  “Belinda Bencic had a baby 15 months ago and comes back winning deep into the most prestigious tournament in the world. That's incredible.” – Mike Wilbon ([01:52])

2. Evaluating Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic

The hosts analyze whether Jannik Sinner has the potential to rival Novak Djokovic on grass courts.

• Tony questions Sinner's readiness to challenge Djokovic:

  “Can he beat Djokovic on grass? Djokovic is great at Wimbledon... I sort of find myself rooting for Witek for this reason.” – Tony Kornheiser ([04:19])

• Mike counters by acknowledging Djokovic's experience and Sinner's potential growth, suggesting that while Sinner shows promise, he isn't yet at Djokovic’s level on bigger points.

3. The Mizorowski vs. Clayton Kershaw Debate

Central to this episode is the discussion on Jacob Mizorowski’s stellar performance against the Dodgers, leading to the question: Is Mizorowski the next Clayton Kershaw?

• Performance Breakdown: Mizorowski struck out 12 Dodgers over six innings, effectively outpacing the legendary Clayton Kershaw. Tony expresses initial skepticism but acknowledges Mizorowski's impressive outing:

  “I was skeptical about this whole thing... But Mizorowski outpitched Kershaw last night. If Kershaw didn’t know who he was coming into the game, he knows.” – Tony Kornheiser ([06:03])

• Hosts’ Perspectives:

  • Tony suggests that while Mizorowski's performance is noteworthy, equating him to Kershaw might be premature. He emphasizes Kershaw's Hall of Fame credentials and extensive strikeout record.

  • Mike agrees that while Mizorowski isn't on par with Kershaw yet, his current trajectory merits attention:

    “I'm taking the advice of a young Anthony Kornheiser who said, pay attention. So the Miz, though he is a cheesehead and I am by birthright required to hate him, I watch this kid... There's enough of a pitcher in there to pay attention.” – Mike Wilbon ([07:01])

4. NCAA Tournament Expansion Debate

Shifting from individual performances to institutional changes, Tony and Mike discuss the potential expansion of the NCAA tournament.

• Tony’s Stance: He firmly opposes the expansion, arguing it’s solely motivated by financial gains:

  “There is only one reason for expansion. Just one. It is money... They cannot win this tournament. They are in there to gin up television revenue and gin up gate revenue.” – Tony Kornheiser ([08:26])

• Mike’s Counterpoint: While agreeing with Tony’s skepticism towards the NCAA, Mike expresses a commitment to continue watching the tournament regardless of the changes:

  “I don't want to hear it. I'm not going to listen to it. I'm not going to boycott the tournament. I'm going to watch the tournament no matter what it does.” – Mike Wilbon ([08:26])

The hosts discuss the implications of expanding from 68 to potentially 76 teams, highlighting issues of fairness and the dilution of competition quality.

5. Notable Inside-the-Park Home Runs

The segment titled "Toss Up" covers remarkable inside-the-park home runs from recent MLB games.

• Lawrence Butler (A's): Hit an inside-the-park homer off the first pitch, resulting in a crucial one-run lead.

• Patrick Bailey (Giants): Secured a walk-off inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the ninth, turning a 3-1 deficit into a win.

Tony remarks on the rarity and significance of catchers achieving inside-the-park homers:

“How many catchers hit inside-the-park home runs? I mean, really, what are we talking about here, Tony?” – Mike Wilbon ([14:33])

6. MLB Home Run Records: Cal Raleigh vs. Ken Griffey Jr.

The debate intensifies around Cal Raleigh breaking Ken Griffey Jr.'s record for most home runs by a Seattle Mariners player before the All-Star break.

• Tony’s View: Acknowledges Raleigh's achievement but questions the validity due to differing game counts across seasons:

  “The notion that it's a record is completely and utterly bogus... But he's got the most home runs in all of baseball right now. That's a big deal.” – Tony Kornheiser ([17:32])

• Mike’s Perspective: Criticizes the record's legitimacy, pointing out the variability in the number of games played:

  “It varies. Somewhere in the ‘80s, it’s not the same number of games. The notion that it's a record is completely and utterly bogus.” – Mike Wilbon ([17:12])

The hosts agree that while Raleigh is having a standout season, declaring it a record disregards the context of game schedules.

7. Other Sports Highlights

• Tom Hanks' 69th Birthday: Tony celebrates the actor’s contributions to sports culture, notably his role in "A League of Their Own."

• Joe Sakic Anniversary: Commemorates Sakic’s retirement and his achievements with the Colorado Avalanche, including his induction into the Triple Gold Club.

• NFL Update: Discussion on Tristan Wirfs' injury and its impact on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Mike expressing optimism about Wirfs' potential return.

• Basketball Transfers: Brief mention of the Thunder signing Chet Holmgren, while noting Nikola Jokić’s potential non-extension and its implications.

• Soccer: Coverage of Paris Saint-Germain’s victory over Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semifinals and upcoming matches against Chelsea.

8. Closing Remarks

Tony and Mike wrap up the episode with light-hearted banter, reiterating their playful rivalry and teasing future discussions.

“I'm Tony Kornheiser.” – Tony Kornheiser ([24:35])

“I'm Mike Wilbon.” – Mike Wilbon ([24:38])

The episode concludes with a humorous reference to Ken Griffey Jr. and Cal Raleigh, emphasizing their distinct achievements in MLB.

Notable Quotes:

• Mike Wilbon on Belinda Bencic: “[01:52] 'Belinda Bencic had a baby 15 months ago and comes back winning deep into the most prestigious tournament in the world. That's incredible.'”

• Tony Kornheiser on Djokovic's Resilience: “[03:13] 'He was laying there in pain... and then he calls for the tennis balls and goes back to win the match.'”

• Tony Kornheiser on Mizorowski vs. Kershaw: “[06:03] 'If Kershaw didn’t know who he was coming into the game, he knows.'”

• Mike Wilbon on NCAA Tournament: “[08:26] 'I’m going to watch the tournament no matter what it does.'”

This episode of PTI offers an engaging mix of in-depth sports analysis, lively banter, and critical insights into current events across tennis, baseball, basketball, hockey, and more. Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon provide their distinctive perspectives, making it a must-listen for sports enthusiasts seeking a comprehensive roundup of recent developments.