Mike Wilbon (1:38)

Well, Tony, I guess the only reason I'm not truly shocked is because so many prognosticators have talked about it now for about two weeks. You know, if Kyler Murray gets cut, if he gets waived. So he has been. So now you put a quarterback on the market and there always is a need somewhere for quarterback play where, whether it's marginal starters, jets is one Miami always need. I mean Minnesota, they want to get rid of this kid already, you know. You know, it's year three, he going into. Yeah, Cleveland as always. So there's always some spots, you know, but I, I just think with Kyler Murray, where does he fit? Where does he fit potentially? And is there a coach in and a staff in place that can get out of him? What a staff got out of Sam Darnold Reclamation Project, Baker Mayfield after moving around multiple places, Does Kyler Murray have that kind of talent in him as, let's face it, I have to say it, an undersized quarterback, 510. But Kyler Murray's had some good seasons. He's had some seasons where he threw three times as many touchdown passes, interceptions, has run for more than 500 yards multiple times. There's some talent in there at under 30 years old who's willing to take a chance.

Tony Kornheiser (2:57)

I'm surprised by this. I'm not surprised by it today. I'm surprised by the arc of Kyler Murray's career because Kyler Murray in his first three years, in his second year, he had. He ran for 11 touchdowns and threw for 26. In his third year, he threw for 24 against 10 interceptions. You know, in my mind, Kyler Murray was sort of like the Lamar Jackson west of the Mississippi. So I did not expect to see this kind of decline. I agree with you. I mean, in the spirit of Sam Darnold, in the spirit of Daniel Jones, that somebody should want him. I remember saying on this show last month, they should trade him even up for tua and maybe the Dolphins and the Cardinals with a quarterback switcheroo, maybe they would both be a little bit better. But I am surprised at this and I wonder about this. One other thing, Mike. He was drafted number nine overall in the baseball draft. By then, Oakland A's some years back, he's going to be 29. Maybe it's too late. I sort of wonder, would he consider going and having a baseball career because he's certainly got enough money, doesn't have to worry about it. Let's move on now to college basketball. Last night, number one, Duke, went to NC State, pounded the Wolf Pack 93 to 64. Number two, Arizona at home beat down number six, Iowa State, 73, 57. Both Duke and Arizona have now clinched their conference regular season championships. Wilbon, which team impresses you more right now?

Mike Wilbon (4:24)

Tony? Right now this is a narrow margin. It's Duke because Duke has just gone nuclear on people since losing that game in Chapel Hill. Since then, I mean, they are just pounding people as if they are on some vengeance tour. And you're like, oh my God, who did something to the Duke team that they are coming out and they're just up 20 or more on everybody Now, I said narrowly because I love Arizona. They may not have a player as quite as good as Young Boozer who would go equally at the top of a draft if it was held today. But Arizona's got an ensemble and they got some big strong kids and versatile players. And Buries who is just the kind of guard they got the backcourt alone for. Arizona should scare people. It reminds me of like the UNLV backcourt that had Greg Anthony, remember, and Anderson Hunt and they were just steady. I know, you know, not everybody sticks around as long buries as a freshman, but they are so good and so calm. Arizona is tony and they play in a tougher conference.

Tony Kornheiser (5:36)

And.

Mike Wilbon (5:36)

And they've been tested. They got 10 wins against top 25 teams. So it's narrowly Duke ahead of Arizona.

Tony Kornheiser (5:44)

I am with you. I am with you on the narrow, narrow margin. If they had not beaten Michigan at a neutral site when Michigan was number one, I think I would be saying Arizona. But they did that. They were the better team. And speaking to the numbers since then, they've played three conference games. They were at Notre Dame, they had then number 11 Virginia at Duke, and then last night, NC State is a 19 and 10 team team with a 106 record in the conference. Their margin of victory aggregate is 99 in three games. 99. That is domination. Holmes. Now speaking to your point about Arizona, here's who they have beaten this year. Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Texas Tech, Florida, UConn, Alabama, BYU when they were ranked, UCLA when they were ranked. It's a very impressive list which leads me to this.

Mike Wilbon (6:35)

Mike.

Tony Kornheiser (6:35)

What is their coach, Tommy Lloyd, I'll be brief. What is he talking about when he says people are saying we're soft because we're a West coast team? Maybe some people think that, but have you looked at that team because they play big boy basketball?

Mike Wilbon (6:49)

They do, man.

Tony Kornheiser (6:49)

They score on the inside.

Mike Wilbon (6:51)

That's what they score.

Tony Kornheiser (6:52)

So this is a narrative that Tommy White has created so that he can manipulate it to his own benefit.

Mike Wilbon (6:58)

That's what that's about. That is no doubt, like, dude, nobody's talking about the Arizona teams from, you know, 1994. What are you. Shut up. Just enjoy your team because we're all enjoying it. I love watching Arizona. I really do. Let's move to the World Baseball Classic. Tone. The United States team took the field this afternoon for its exhibition opener against the Giants. Paul Skeens got the start. He's one of many A list pitchers on staff. Giants president Buster Posey, hall of Fame catcher, said, quote, it's a great event, but we've also seen over the years that it can derail some pitchers just because there's no way to replicate getting yourself ready for what's essentially playoff baseball atmosphere in early March. Close quote. Tone. If you were a GM with a pitcher on this staff, how would you feel about this?

Tony Kornheiser (7:50)

I would be nervous. I would be anxious. I would hope that the day my kid was gonna start, there was a rain out and somebody else's kid had to start the next day. If I were AJ Hinch and I know Tarek Skubal is out there pitching and he's my best pitcher on the Tigers and he's won two sides in a row, I believe, and he's maybe going to become a free agent at the end of this season. I don't know that I would be able to sleep at night because this is. Look, this is. This is a very emotional thing. The World Baseball Classic. It's different when you wear your country's name across your chest. We saw this with the hockey players in the Olympics. School ball wants to pitch. I my understanding is he's going to pitch one game, it's going to be against Great Britain and he's only going to go two or three innings. And then that's a really good draw for him because they probably use cricket bats and not regular bats. But yes, I would be very nervous about this. And you know why, Mike? Because under the best of circumstances, a pitcher can get hurt. You know, I would be nervous. I would.

Mike Wilbon (8:51)

Of course you'd have to be nervous, Tony. And if you're the Tigers, you. You're hoping that that satisfies scubal going three innings in one appearance. Cause Skeens did that in the exhibition. You know, three innings. That's enough, right? I mean, that's enough. But it is. It's going to be emotional, Tony. It's interesting coming this year just, you know, a little more than a month after the Olympics and you got hockey, you have this comparison, right? And so I'm anxious to see. Just seems that you'd be able to moderate. Now, I know you can't moderate the emotion. Like you said when you got the USA on your chest and you're in that uniform and we've seen some other countries with back flips and antics and stuff is going to bring that out of you. And you can't be out there trying to just snap off every pitch. If you're a starter and you've got a season upcoming and spring training ain't the same.

Tony Kornheiser (9:45)

I would point this out. Yeah, I would point this out. Sidney Crosby, who had the golden goal in Vancouver, right? He got hurt in the Olympics. You can get hurt. Not your everyday player is not going to get hurt in the baseball position, but your pitchers can get hurt in baseball. So I was I read that the Giants asked Logan Webb not to do it, not, not to pitch. And he said he wanted to pitch. And you know why they want to pitch, Mike? Because of the way that ended last time when Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout. And every athlete, every athlete wants a gold medal opportunity. And this is what you get in baseball. Let's take a break. Coming up, would Jayson Tatum's return to the Celtics be seamless? We're gonna ask Kendrick Perkins.

Mike Wilbon (10:23)

We'll also ask him about a Cavalier saying the Pistons ain't in Cleveland's class.

Tony Kornheiser (10:29)

Tony, I've got to assume that schemes. I know, but I've got to assume that schemes and scubal have been ramping up for this for a couple of months. You know, that they're not, you know, they're ready to go. It's not gonna be like spring training. They're ready on emotion, on an emotional level.

Mike Wilbon (10:46)

I'm thinking I would have taken my time off otherwise. You don't get time. Recuperate. I don't know.

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Tony Kornheiser (12:14)

We've got some basketball questions for our great friend, ESPN NBC NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins. Let's start with this perk. The Celtics are rolling and you and I feel the same way. You do you have had Jaylen Brown as your MVP Now? Jayson Tatum is reportedly close to returning and he recently said he's not coming back as a role player. So how optimistic are you that this whole return to the Celtics will go smoothly?

Kendrick Perkins (12:41)

Why would it go any other direction? Tony, don't they have the same coach and Joe Missoula with the same system? It's just different, a different supporting cast. Last night they still shot 50 plus three point shots. They still play five out at times where guys are just spaced out on the perimeter and you go isolation ball. That's what Jason Tatum loves to do and him and Jaylen Brown are proven that they could work together and go and deliver a championship. Let me explain this. The Celtics are the most dangerous team in the NBA because they have zero expectations, they have zero pressure. No one expected them to be here. At this moment they're playing with house money and we're talking about a team that's that's led with by a championship coach, the best two way player in the game because Jaylen Brown is the only player in the league that's top five in scoring and top five defensively when it comes to opponent field goal percentage. And now you look at the championship experience. Peyton Pritchard, Hauser, Derrick White. That is the most experienced in the Eastern Conference. They are playing with house money and they're the most dangerous team because they're legit title contenders.

Mike Wilbon (13:55)

Perk. Let's go to the team surrounding them, two of them, Pistons and Cavs who of course play tonight. The Pistons narrowly got by the Cavaliers without Mitchell and Harden Friday and OT but 1 Cavalry told the Plain Dealer that the Pistons are not in the Cavaliers class. Seemed a little dramatic to me. But do you agree?

Kendrick Perkins (14:18)

Hell no. Is this the same Cleveland Cavaliers that was the biggest disappointment last season? Is this the same Cleveland Cavaliers that's led by Donovan Mitchell? And we all know that a Donovan Mitchell led team has never been to a conference finals. Is this the same Cavs team that is has two soft bigs and Jared Allen and Evan Mobley who folded last year like clean sheets in the postseason. When you look at the Detroit Pistons, the one thing that we don't question is their identity. Their identity is they're going to be physical every single night. They take on the identity of their head coach at J.B. bickerstaff, a young superstar in K C now and then you have those two bulls in the middle and Jalen Duran and Isaiah Stewart when he he returns. Who by the way Isaiah Stewart is the Best rim protector in the NBA. So if you asking me who I'm picking when it comes to the Cavs or who do I trust more out of the two, I'm rolling with the Pistons all day long.

Mike Wilbon (15:21)

All right. Tony would like all this conversation to stay in the east. I'm swinging it out west because we got to get some Laker talk in here. He's rolling his eyes right now.

Tony Kornheiser (15:31)

Perk.

Kendrick Perkins (15:32)

Luka.

Mike Wilbon (15:32)

LeBron, how do you think it's going? Is it what you thought it would be? Is it less than legend?

Kendrick Perkins (15:40)

Let me tell you this. LeBron James right now has one foot in the grave, the other on the banana peel. He just waiting on his season to be over so he can leave the Lakers. Here's the bigger question, right, for the Los Angeles Lakers. Can Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves be your franchise guy to deliver a championship in the near future? And the answer is hell no. Because neither one of those guys slide their feet defensively or willing to play defense in their defensive liabilities. You got Luka, he gets scored on 49% of the time. Austin Reaves is getting scored on 48% of the time. And the way that the, the way that the league is going to Cade Cudd now, Jaylen Brown, Anthony Edwards, sga, all of those guys are two way players. You have to be led by two way players in order to succeed in the NBA. For us reaching the NBA championship.

Tony Kornheiser (16:41)

You made me laugh three times already. I really like that. All right, let's get you out of here on this. This is a play play from last night. You made your living in the paint because you're not 6:1. In case anybody doesn't know that. What did you make of The Jazz Guard, 6 foot 4 inch. Keonti George, boxing out Jokic last night. And what did you think of the way Jokic responded? Where it seemed to me he fell on the kid. So.

Kendrick Perkins (17:08)

Well, look, shout out to Keonte George and it just goes to show me what he's squatting in the weight room, right? Like in order for, to be able to handle that type of weight. But, but, but again, this has been the new norm, right? Guys has been. Guys has been coming at Yokage a little bit and testing them. He got into a little altercation a few days, a few games ago. So I like, overall, I love where the NBA is going. I don't want to see any more jersey swaps. I would love to see more interactions like this, more altercations. I want the league to get back to being rivals and being enemies and being ops on the on the floor. And that's what we're seeing.

Tony Kornheiser (17:50)

Tony Perk, it's a great pleasure to have you back. Come back again.

Mike Wilbon (17:54)

Appreciate it.

Kendrick Perkins (17:55)

I miss y'.

Podcast Narrator (e.g., Juju Chang) (17:56)

All.

Mike Wilbon (17:56)

Absolutely.

Kendrick Perkins (17:56)

I miss y'.

Tony Kornheiser (17:57)

All.

Kendrick Perkins (17:57)

I'm happy to be back.

Mike Wilbon (17:58)

Good.

Tony Kornheiser (17:59)

Let's take one last break. Still to come, Braves DH Jur could be suspended for the entire season.

Mike Wilbon (18:06)

That's a long time. And the Seahawks appear ready to move on without their super bowl mvp.

Tony Kornheiser (18:12)

What the hell is that?

Mike Wilbon (18:14)

What is that?

Tony Kornheiser (18:15)

That's sort of odd. Well, again, I mean, he won the mvp, but the defense should have been your mvp.

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Tony Kornheiser (19:25)

911 where is the emergency?

Podcast Narrator (e.g., Juju Chang) (19:27)

It's the middle of the night in a small town on the Jersey Shore. Someone reports an abandoned car on a bridge. A search gets underway for the missing driver, 19 year old Sarah Stern.

Tony Kornheiser (19:39)

Is it a missing person?

Mike Wilbon (19:40)

Is it a suicide? At this point, nobody knows.

Podcast Narrator (e.g., Juju Chang) (19:44)

Old friendships, buried cash, and a sinister plot that was once pitched as a movie plays out in real life. I'm juju chang from 2020 and abc audio. Listen to bridge of lies coming March 10th wherever you listen to podcasts.

Tony Kornheiser (20:11)

Happy time people. Happy 28th birthday. Jayson Tatum the most anticipated return to the basketball court this season will be Tatum's when and if he returns for the regular season or the playoffs. Tatum suffered an Achilles tear in Game 4 of last season's Eastern Conference semifinal against the Knicks. Prior to that, Tatum had been the best player on the Celtics NBA championship team from 2024. Tatum was the third overall pick by the Celtics in 2017 after one year at Duke. The two players drafted ahead of Tatum were Markell Fultz and Lonzo Ball. Either of them have rings? Just asking. Tatum has been all NBA five times. He averages 23.6 points for his career.

Mike Wilbon (20:53)

I'm sure Tat Tatum has put in all the requisite fanatical, obsessive work to get back after that injury spring leading to summer. But Tony, how different is the world in terms of medicine and technology and care that he could come back now that seems insane. So good luck to Jason Tatum. It's amazing that he's back. When he's back.

Tony Kornheiser (21:17)

It's like Adrian Peterson, but that's a different guy and a different spot. Sport Happy Anniversary LeBron James on this day 12 years ago, while playing for the Miami Heat and while wearing a face mask to protect his broken nose, LeBron scored 61 points against Charlotte, making 22 of his 23 shots. That 61 is the most LeBron has ever scored. Unlike his teammate Luka Doncic, LeBron has never gone over 70, never touched 65, though he has 15 games of 50 or more. The most shots LeBron has ever taken in a game is 38 in an overtime playoff loss to golden state. He averages 19 and a half shots per game. LeBron passes the ball a lot. He ranks fourth all time in assists, trailing point guards John Stockton, Chris Paul and Jason Kidd.

Mike Wilbon (22:04)

Tony here's where LeBron's true greatness lies to me. He always, always, always has made the right play.

Tony Kornheiser (22:14)

Always.

Mike Wilbon (22:15)

He never makes the wrong play. Maybe he doesn't win every game, every season, but when it comes time to just what LeBron James can control, controls it.

Tony Kornheiser (22:27)

Happy trails, Trae Young Young has yet to play a game with the Wizards, but he's already been kicked out of one. The four time All Star earned an ejection last night when he walked onto the court in street clothes to complain to an official during a confrontation between teammates Jameer Watkins and Houston's Tari Eason. Young has been sidelined with right leg injuries since being traded to Washington or Atlanta. He plans to make his Wizards debut in uniform on Thursday night at home against the Jazz. Oh, and the Wizards led this game for a while, as they always do, and then lost, as they always do.

Mike Wilbon (23:01)

You were a Trae Young guy when he was in college at Oklahoma State. You not feeling Trae Young now? I thought he was engaged. I thought that was good. Last night he showed his teammates. He may be in street clothes, but he's not just sitting around reading a book.

Tony Kornheiser (23:17)

Speaking of street clothes, Anthony Davis is also on the Wizards now. And Trae Young went to Oklahoma and you hated him.

Mike Wilbon (23:25)

You thought he was gonna be great. I did not.

Tony Kornheiser (23:29)

And he leads the league in assists and he almost leads the league in points. And he's been a very, very good pro. He has. But now he's not in a place where he can be a very good pro. Yeah, no good. Let's go to big finish, if we could. This is for you, Wilbon. Bears Pro bowl center Drew Dahlman has reportedly decided to retire at the age of 27. Your thoughts?

Mike Wilbon (23:49)

He played every single snap last season. He was great. He was the best in the league. This is very depressing. Coming off the party. The Bears season just was to have this news. The Seahawks not expected to franchise tag Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker. Not expected to. And he's now set to become an unrestricted free agent. Does that make sense to you?

Tony Kornheiser (24:13)

Well, they got Zach Charbonnet at running back, but he's coming back from injury. They can always sign Walker. And the strength of their team is defense. Let's not go overboard on this. The strength of that team is defense. Braves DH Jurrickson Crowfar is looking at a 162 game score suspension for PEDs. That's a big deal.

Mike Wilbon (24:29)

Yes. He ain't Kyle Schwarber, but he's one of the six, seven handful of best dhs in baseball. This is a big deal. TGL tonight. Oh, my God, help me. The Bay meets Jupiter Lynx in a playoff berth. On the line. Who you got?

Tony Kornheiser (24:46)

I'm going to go sentimentally for Jupiter. That's Tiger's team. I expect he'll be there helping.

Mike Wilbon (24:51)

I watch.

Tony Kornheiser (24:51)

I know. You know? Last one. Lightning and wild tonight. Who you got?

Mike Wilbon (24:55)

Two teams with 80 points, man. I mean, PK told us to look out for the wild, so I'm looking out for the wild.

Tony Kornheiser (25:02)

Yep. It's always wise to look out for the Wild.

Mike Wilbon (25:06)

We're out of time.

Tony Kornheiser (25:07)

Try to do better the next time. I'm Tony Cornhot.

Mike Wilbon (25:09)

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

Podcast Narrator (e.g., Juju Chang) (25:12)

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