New NBA All-Star Format

Summary

PTI Podcast Summary – "New NBA All-Star Format"

Original Air Date: November 13, 2025
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Special Guest: Steve Young

---

Episode Overview

This episode of PTI dives into the NBA’s newly announced All-Star Game format, with Tony and Wilbon dissecting whether it finally addresses long-standing criticisms. The show then covers hot-button topics including the latest College Football Playoff rankings, NFL coaching job security (focusing on Matt LaFleur), and wide-ranging football insights with Hall of Famer Steve Young. The tone is feisty, insightful, and peppered with both exasperation and humor.

---

1. NBA All-Star Game: Is the New Format Right?

[01:04–04:25]

The Format

• The NBA All-Star Game will feature three teams:
  • Two composed of American players
  • One composed of international (foreign) players
• Players selected via fan, media, player, and coach votes — regardless of position
• Teams play a round robin: each team plays two quarters, then a 12-minute final between the two winners

Hosts’ Reactions & Key Arguments

• Wilbon's Take:

  • "Hell no. It's weak and it's scared." [01:48]
  • Wilbon slams the NBA for not running with a bold USA vs. World format.
  • He argues the league is “scared” the U.S. team might lose:
    • "Why? Cuz they're scared the US won't win. Is that it?" [03:09]
  • Points out that virtually all current first-team All-NBA players (Luka, Jokic, SGA, Giannis, Wemby) are born outside the U.S., with plenty of depth for an international squad.

• Tony's Take:

  • Sees the new format as “hocus pocus.”
  • "Now that I see the majority of great players… are born in foreign countries and the United States would actually be the underdog — now, I want to see it." [03:35]
  • Advocates for a full 48-minute, 10-on-10, U.S. vs. World battle, not arbitrary short quarters.

• Concerns Raised:

  • Complexity—hard for fans to track who's playing when
  • The league’s reluctance to fuel "competitive juices" among stars
  • Echoes that hockey players want similar formats (Winter Olympics as an example)

---

2. College Football Playoff Rankings Breakdown

[04:25–06:59]

• Top five teams unchanged: Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia
• Discussion centers on Indiana vs. Texas A&M, with Wilbon referencing anticipation of the rankings and whether close wins should ding a team’s placement:
  • Wilbon: "Even if Indiana wins this game narrowly, and they did… I would bump Texas A&M ahead of Indiana. So the committee did." [06:29]
• Tony: "I'm gratified that they continued to have complete disrespect for the ACC." [06:40]
• On Miami being ranked 15th — "not even a lock" to play for the conference title.

Tone: Analytical, with gentle ribbing over differing opinions on ranking significance.

---

3. NFL – Matt LaFleur and Packers’ Coaching Climate

[06:59–10:14]

• LaFleur questioned about job security after recent losses; downplays panic:
  • "You're always coaching for everything in the league. You can't ever exhale." [07:14, LaFleur’s quoted response]
• Wilbon:
  • Asserts Green Bay is patient and traditional, unlike quick-trigger NCAA programs.
  • "No. This isn't LSU. It's the Green Bay Packers. It's not what they do." [07:30]
  • Praises LaFleur's composure in answering difficult questions, noting the situational awareness of reporters.
• Tony:
  • Recites LaFleur’s impressive coaching record (72-36-1), better than many "genius" contemporaries.
  • "Who wouldn't want that? ... LaFleur’s record in the pros is actually better than McVay's and Shanahan's." [08:38]
• Both:
  • See the current trend of coach firings as a "coach epidemic" and overreaction, especially when offensive struggles relate more to quarterback execution than outright coaching failings.

---

4. Five Good Minutes with Steve Young

[12:18–18:19]

Blitz-Read Quarterbacks

• Q: How does Sam Darnold thrive vs. the blitz?
  • Steve Young:
    • Stresses "owning the data" — rigorous preparation and film study.
    • Real-game example: "If Darren Woodson was looking at me, he wasn't blitzing…" [12:38]
    • Key: Receivers need to get open immediately on blitzes.
    • Success depends not just on QB prep, but the whole offense being dialed in.

Quarterback Hot Streaks: Luck vs. Skill

• Q: Is Stafford’s INT-free streak luck or skill?
  • Steve Young:
    • "...that's a miracle of preparation. That's not a miracle of luck... You're not going to get a streak in luck. Never." [14:56]
    • Everyone playing clean football, avoiding tip balls and mental mistakes, is key.

QBs & Playcalling

• Q: When a coach takes over play calling, how do players react?
  • Steve Young:
    • Players can sniff out bad coaching immediately, but can't directly intervene.
    • Amusing anecdote: George Seifert handed offensive plays to Mike Holmgren and Steve Young —
      "We'd look at the play and we're like, I don't know how to do that... Even people in the middle of it don't understand." [15:20–16:48]
    • Quarterbacks often must "be accountable for a crappy offensive coordinator."

Avoiding Hand Injuries

• Q: How do QBs avoid breaking hands on helmets?
  • Steve Young:
    • Sarcastically: "Pitch, you know, like, get out of... get golf, right?" [17:03]
    • Recalls breaking his thumb in pre-season, initially thinking the ball was flat.
    • "You look at old quarterbacks' hands, they're all beat up… I should have played golf. I should have pitched." [17:03–18:06]

---

5. Lightning Round & Notable Endings

[21:14–25:54]

• Charlie Morton’s Birthday:
  • "He squeezed every drop. No regrets." — Wilbon [22:14]
• Kevin Love's 31/31 Game Anniversary:
  • Historical context: Only Wilt Chamberlain has more 30/30 games.
  • Wilbon: "I hope he gets traded to a team that matters... [and] does television." [23:02]
• Russell Wilson Demoted:
  • "This is the end of Russell Wilson. This is the end. Let Russ Cook... It's bad. It's over." — Tony [24:22]
• Bradley Beal Injury:
  • Wilbon: "He hasn't played, though, in a meaningful game in, like, nine seasons..." [24:47]
  • Tony marvels at Beal’s ongoing contract.

---

6. Notable Quotes & Moments

• Wilbon, on format fears:
  • "It's weak and it's scared. ... Why? Cuz they're scared the US won't win. Is that it?" [01:48, 03:09]
• Tony, on international talent:
  • "The United States would actually be the underdog. Now, I want to see it." [03:35]
• Steve Young, on preparation vs. luck for QBs:
  • "That's a miracle of preparation. That's not a miracle of luck... You're not going to get a streak in luck. Never." [14:56]
• Steve Young, on play-calling confusion:
  • "...People who are in the middle of it don't understand the intricacy ... I don't know what you're talking about, bro." [16:22]
• Tony, on the "coach epidemic":
  • "Why are the coach epidemic at the moment? ... It's insane." [09:48]
• Wilbon, on coaching stability:
  • "No. This isn't LSU. It's the Green Bay Packers. It's not what they do..." [07:30]

---

7. Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:04–04:25] NBA All-Star format debate ("Hell no, it's weak and it's scared." – Wilbon)
• [04:25–06:59] College Football Playoff rankings breakdown
• [06:59–10:14] Matt LaFleur and Packers coaching job security
• [12:18–18:19] Football "Five Good Minutes" — Steve Young on blitzes, hot streaks, play calling, QB hand injuries
• [21:12–23:21] Lightning round: Morton, Kevin Love, Russell Wilson, Beal

---

8. Overall Takeaways

• The NBA All-Star Game format is seen by Kornheiser and Wilbon as a missed opportunity for genuine, competitive drama between American and international stars; the league still ducks a straight-up US-vs-World showdown.
• College football’s playoff logic still baffles and delights, depending on affiliations; coaches’ job security in the NFL is scrutinized with context and big-picture thinking.
• Steve Young offers deep, entertaining insight into the nuances of quarterbacking, painting a vivid picture of preparation, responsibility, and playing through pain.
• The episode is classic PTI: combative, humorous, and brisk, with moments of nostalgia and sharp analysis.

---

Recommended for:
Anyone curious about the inner workings of sports leagues, All-Star debates, or interested in smart, accessible football analysis from one of the greats (Steve Young).

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by.

[Michael Wilbon]

Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbantoni. TOOTH Thieves stole $6,000 worth of cigarettes and vape products from a gas station in Memphis.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm Tony Kornheiser. And like I said, first we hit the Louvre, then we do something small. You gotta mix it up, gotta keep them guessing.

[Michael Wilbon]

That would be real small and real out of the way. From Paris to Memphis.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

Not Memphis, France. Right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Is there a Memphis, France?

[Michael Wilbon]

Memphis, Elvis, Memphis. Right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's not Memphis, France, is there?

[Michael Wilbon]

It probably is.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Really? I don't know.

[Michael Wilbon]

Let's get research.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't know.

[Michael Wilbon]

There's gotta be a Memphis.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Welcome to pti, boys and girls. In today's episode, new College football playoff rankings drop. Matt Lafleur faces contract uncertainty. And Steve Young joins us for five good minutes. But we begin today with revisions to the NBA All Star Game, which you are always screaming about. Wilvon. There will be three teams, two composed of American players and one composed of foreign players. They will be determined by fan vote, media vote, player vote and coach vote. The All Stars will be picked regardless of position and the three teams will then play a round robin tournament with each playing two quarters and then a 12 minute final quarter between the two winners. So, Wilbon, does it feel like the NBA has finally gotten the All Star format right?

[Michael Wilbon]

Hell no. It's weak and it's scared. And you would think a league that has been innovative over years would have the stones to simply say, we're putting a US team out there. We're putting an international team out there. Put something compelling on the court to make up for the garbage they trotted out for the last five to ten years. But no. No. And I don't know if this is just a commissioner's office, I don't know if they're scared of the American players. But let me just. Let me just ask you something real quick. It's rhetorical.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, then you ask me, who are.

[Michael Wilbon]

The five players on the first team? All NBA right now?

[Tony Kornheiser]

They are probably, if not all the vast majority are born in countries outside the United States.

[Michael Wilbon]

Luka Joker, sga, Giannis Wemby, those are your five. And beyond that, if anybody thinks you can't get the 12 international all stars, that's a lie. Cuz you can get Shingoon. You've got Franz Wagner now. Jamal Murray should have been an All Star. You got Laurie Marketing, you've got Abidja in Portland. Nobody's paying attention, but he's playing at All Star level. And they trot this out there where you can't even figure out who's playing when for whom. Cuz they're too scared to put international versus us. Why? Cuz they're scared the US Won't win. Is that it?

[Tony Kornheiser]

So this is interesting to me. I don't have your passion for this, but my sense of this is that, to use one of your phrases, this is hocus pocus.

[Michael Wilbon]

It is. It is.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Because first of all, how are you going to separate the two American teams? You're going to do it by age, like a young American team, an old American team. So you have been passionate about this USA versus the world for a long time. I was resistant to it for a variety of reasons. It felt artificial to me and maybe xenophobic to me. But now that I see that the majority of the great players right up near the top are born in foreign countries and the United States would actually be the underdog. Now, I want to see it, but I don't want to see it for 12 minutes. I want to see it for 48 minutes.

[Steve Young]

48 minutes?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. And I don't care who's voted on the team. I believe that the commissioner's office could say we're taking 10Americans, 10 from foreign countries. Just 10. And we're playing 48 hard minutes. And I don't know if the players would want to do it, but I.

[Michael Wilbon]

Don'T think they do.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh.

[Michael Wilbon]

So I. I think part. That's why I said they're scared of the players. I think there are enough players who say, wait a minute, we don't need to have our juices flowing competitively. And by the way, see, I understand that. Objection.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Like the hockey players did want it. They do. It's so they do it.

[Michael Wilbon]

And this, by the way, would be staged during the Winter Olympics after a hockey game or before a hockey game. This is. Let's move to the new College Football Playoff rankings. Please get me out of my angry mood.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You're always in an angry mood.

[Michael Wilbon]

Not more than this. The top five remain unchanged. Big Ten teams. Ohio State and Indiana HA are at one and two with SEC teams Texas A and M, Alabama and Georgia going three, four, five in all. The SEC has six teams in the top 12. The Big Ten has three. You love these with me, right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I do. I do love the show.

[Michael Wilbon]

So do you have beef with this week's edition?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, so. No, I don't. As you said, the top five are exactly the same. Here's what would have bothered me. It would have bothered me if they bumped Indiana down behind Texas A and M. Not because. Not because I think Indiana is better than Texas A and M. Because I don't necessarily think that. Because I felt that the way Indiana came back against Penn State needed to be acknowledged. That drive at the end of the game and that fabulous catch, you shouldn't penalize them for that. Just because Penn State had fired a coach and lost five in a row. To me that was, you know, Penn State deserved attention on that game. So I was glad to see that and the other things that happened in the top 10. I'm okay with Texas Tech going ahead of Ole Miss at number six. Yeah, Texas Tech beat a team that was undefeated, ranked ahead of them in the top 10 and Ole Miss beat the Citadel. Now we can't really take it seriously if you beat the Citadel, but to a larger point, they're both well inside the top 10, so they're aimed at the playoffs.

[Michael Wilbon]

Anyway, there was no news from yesterday's announcement of the CFP rankings. None whatsoever. But I'm going to just make sure you get the full credit because in live time I said to you during that game before the catch, I said if Penn State wins this game, Alabama, I mean, I'm sorry, Indiana comes down. And even if Indiana wins this game narrowly, and they did.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes they did, I would bump Texas.

[Michael Wilbon]

A and M ahead of Indian. So the committee did. That's not news. That was the toughest decision they had to make. Well, it was the only tough decision.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I will tell you that. I am gratified that they continued to have complete disrespect for the acc. Cuz I thought they might cave in cuz there was a lot of noise.

[Michael Wilbon]

Virginia lost, Louisville lost.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I understand. And so Miami is the highest ranked team in the ACC at 15. But they're not even a lock by any means to play in the ACC championship.

[Michael Wilbon]

No, they're not.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So that's, I mean, to me it's interesting. I know you don't like it as much as I do, but I like it. Let's move to the NFL and the Green Bay Packers. Yesterday we discussed the packers after their loss to the Eagles, and we wondered if Jordan Love had regressed. Today let's talk about Matt LaFleur, who was the one sending the plays into Jordan Love. The other night, LaFleur was asked about his job security and whether he was coaching for his job. And he said, quote, you're always coaching for everything in the league. You can't ever exhale. Unquote. Well, bon, the packers played the Giants this week. Do you think LaFleur is coaching for his job?

[Michael Wilbon]

No. This isn't LSU. It's the green Bay Packers. It's not what they do, even though Mark Murphy's not running this anymore. But let me go back for a second because I was watching live. I love about streaming. Now you can watch everybody's press conference live all night if you want. And I was interested in LaFleur, and I did not expect anybody to ask him that question. But you and I have covered teams and we know sometimes you get asked a question and it's cuz you know something someone in the organization has said. You led you to a place which says you might want to ask this.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right.

[Michael Wilbon]

And it was a damn smart question because somebody's thinking that. But it's not going to happen. I understand why you asked the question. I thought LaFleur handled it beautifully, smoothly. They're not LSU or Penn State or Florida. They're not going to fire, are they?

[Tony Kornheiser]

The Tennessee, The New York Giants. No, they're not. Okay, so you're making that distinction. It's the Packers. Yeah, well, you make that distinction with the packers because there's no owner. So the guy at Carolina can't just find. But it's not.

[Michael Wilbon]

Not the same.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's not the same. Look, Matt LaFleur's record. Let me get the right notes here. Matt LaFleur's record is 72. 36:1. Who wouldn't want that? Yeah. Kyle Shanahan, who everybody thinks is a genius. 76 and 66 in San Francisco. Sean McVay, who everyone thinks is a genius, 87 and 54 in Los Angeles. All these three guys, as you remember, coached together in Washington. And amazingly, we're not the head coach. We're not the head coach. But LaFleur's record in the pros is actually better than McVay's and Shanahan's. I understand this impulse and here's why. The impulse is there. When Green Bay, they beat Detroit in the first game of the season within two weeks. Everybody in the world, including you, had Green Bay in the super bowl, stupid. And they had Jordan love as an MVP candidate. Since then they are 3, 3 and 1 and they have no offense. So you look at the offense, you look at the play caller and you look at the executor of the offensive quarterback. And you want. Because it's not the defense, because the defense has only given up 36 points.

[Michael Wilbon]

And three losses, you say fix it. You don't say get out.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right.

[Michael Wilbon]

Nobody wants to work at something then you know LaFleur is going to work at this. His reputation.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Why are the coach epidemic at the moment?

[Michael Wilbon]

Oh, my God.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's insane. Let's take a break. Coming up, Sam Darnold has been great against the blitz. We're going to ask Steve Young what a quarterback needs to make that happen.

[Michael Wilbon]

We're also going to ask him whether Matthew Stafford not throwing a pick since week three is more reflective of luck or skill.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think it's the college football firings that have induced everyone into a frenzy. To fire people, you're going to get.

[Michael Wilbon]

Somebody better than lafleur.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The only thing you can do is say, let somebody else call the plays for a couple of weeks and let's see if that works. But you don't fire a guy like that. Pardon the interpretation. Interruption is presented by Bulleit. Frontier whiskey, please. Drink responsibly.

[Steve Young]

Part of happy hour.

[Commercial Announcer]

So I've got a question for all the gamers out there. Are you seriously going to miss out on Alienware's biggest gaming sale of the year? I mean, these are Black Friday prices we're talking about, so it's not just another sale. I took a look and this is some pretty big bang for your buck. You know, it's Alienware with some of the most advanced engineering out there with systems at the top of reviewers lists. And what about a gift for yourself? Gift yourself a new Alienware 16 Area 51 gaming laptop. I mean, this thing's got performance at the absolute next level with Intel Core Ultra processors. And even better, you can get it during Black Friday. Plus, you can save on all kinds of displays and accessories like the Alienware 27 4K QD OLED gaming monitor for ultimate visual fidelity. These really are incredible deals on PCs with otherworldly performance. So I'd visit alienware.com deals soon and grab what you can before their biggest sale of the year goes dark. As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge. Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by.

[Steve Young]

Welcome back to Pardon the Interruption presented by Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Part of happy hour.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We've got a few football questions for our great friend, the man who had real problems with his drop backs as a freshman at BYU before I taught him how to backpedal correctly, hall of Famer Steve Young. We'll start with this. We'll start with Sam Darnold of the Seahawks. He has been the best quarterback in the league this season against the blitz. What are a quarterback's keys to succeeding against the blitz?

[Steve Young]

So we talked about this a couple weeks ago, but it's owning the data, right? It's doing the study during the week to get the intricacies of the debt, the blitz that you're going to face that week. I remember I played Darren with the great Darren woods in the Dallas Cowboys and I studied them as much as I possibly could and I got to a point where I could sense if Darren was looking at me, he wasn't blitzing. But if he was looking off into the stands or looking somewhere else, I knew he was coming. And so it's that kind of rigor to preparation for blitz is how you face the blitz. And then you need receivers like JSN that he's got that can get open not 15 yards down the field. But now blitz is about now. And so I have a plan. I know what they're doing with blitz wise. I'm ready to get rid of it. And now I need a receiver who can get open now and then more than anything, everyone else needs to be at the top of their game, right? It's like we understand the blitz, we can pick it up. You're not going to get hit from the back of the head by somebody that we forgot about. So it's all, it's like football, it's everything but the quarterback number one can take care of it by doing the study.

[Michael Wilbon]

I want to ask you about a hot quarterback right now. I mean, Darnold is going to face, you know, Matthew Stafford, of course, who's thrown 20 touchdown passes since he's thrown a pick with last done in week three. You've been on hot streaks in your life. Do you feel you just own the moment or are there other elements? Do you ever feel there's good fortune or luck involved in that? In that point I, I wish luck.

[Steve Young]

Could be a part of it. Look, when you're in the top of your game, and especially in football because you need so much help, everyone has to be on the same page, like metaphor. So in many ways, like to be at the top of your game, you have your receiver that's on the top of their game and it's not bouncing off of their hands. There's linemen that are on top of their game so they're not putting their hand up and blocking it, tipping up and intercepting. You get on a streak. Everyone, including you, are now playing incredibly efficient football. Because to deal with all the crazy mitigation in every play in football and still have success, have it not have anything go wrong or haywire. That's a miracle of preparation. That's not a miracle of luck. That's not like spinning the wheel, red and blue in the roulette wheel and go, I mean red and black and going, oh, hopefully nothing goes wrong. I mean that's just not going to happen. You're not going to get a streak in luck. Never.

[Michael Wilbon]

Now we love it when you have said, and you said it on more than one occasion that the quarterback needs to take responsibility of so many things, putting it right on you guys shoulders. But what do you do when a coach decides to take over the play calling like Dan Campbell, like, I mean, so how do you reconcile all this, Steve?

[Steve Young]

You know, as a player. Players know when they, when we draft players and they come in for the first minicamp, you go, who did you draft? We look at him like he can't play. Like, why didn't you ask me? Players know and like. But players can't advocate. You have to be super careful. You go to the general manager and you go, hey, look, the offensive coordinator, the play caller, I don't like him. You know it's not going to work. You can't do that. You can't. I wish you could. I remember George Seifert who became the head coach, but he was a defensive coordinator, a great defensive mind. The team that we were playing that week, he would study their defense because he was a, that was his thing. I know defense. And he'd draw plays up that he knew were going to dominate against that team and he'd bring them in to us, hand them to Mike Holmer, Mike Shanahan or whoever. Else and he's like, hey, run this play, it'll kill him. And we'd look at the play and we're like, I don't know how, I don't know how to do that. And it's so funny that even people who are in the middle of it don't understand the intricacy of what you're doing offensively and how you call play. You can't just draw stuff up. It doesn't work. And I think that that's. People don't understand. Even George had to learn that. He'd be so mad. He'd. We'd go back out and practice and run his play and we'd drop back and he'd go throw it now. And I'm like, where? You know, it's like, I don't know what you're talking about, bro. And so it's the offensive coordinator job and getting people that you like and you know that's part of the mitigating circumstances that quarterback have to own. Like it's. I'm have to be accountable for a crappy offensive coordinator. That's just a fact. So many, many people have to do that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We will get you out of here on this. Vikings quarterback J.J. mcCarthy is practicing with a bandaged hand after hitting it on a helmet. That seems like an ever present peril for a quarterback. Are there any tricks to avoid that type of injury?

[Steve Young]

Yeah, pitch, you know, like get out of. Get golf, right? No, no, you're not going to break your hand on a helmet. But really I had to happen preseason hit a helmet next play. I didn't know it, I didn't know what happened. And I grabbed the ball and I grabbed it and it was like, oh my gosh, they gave me a flat football. It's flat. And then I ran to the sidelines because it was flat. I was like, I gave the breath. I go, the ball's flat. And he goes, no, it's not. My thumb had broken in half. And so the sensation, the sensation of grabbing the ball made it feel flat. And so I was like, oh my gosh, it's my finger that's broken, not the ball that's deflated. But it happens and it happens and there's nothing, I don't think there's anything you can do about it. But 28 days later, first you know the opening day at Pittsburgh and, and it was healed. So you know, but you know, you look at an old quarterbacks hands, they're all beat up because of that. Like they've hit a lot of helmets and I've broken. You know, you break all kinds of stuff, so. I should have played golf. I should have pitched.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But no, no, you did great. You're in the hall of Fame for the Dodgers in the hall of Fame and Super bowl trophies. Thanks as always, Steve. Thank you.

[Steve Young]

What I could have been.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's take one last break. Still to come, the Giants go with Jameis Winston over Russell Wilson and Bradley.

[Michael Wilbon]

Beal goes out for the season. Doesn't it seem like we've had that? You've busted your hands up against helmets, haven't you?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Not how tough is that? Not exactly.

[Michael Wilbon]

That's almost Ronnie lot tough.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Well, if you go to the sidelines and your thumb is broken, well, I.

[Michael Wilbon]

Mean, you know, broken.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Ronnie's was like split in half. Yeah, it happens.

[Commercial Announcer]

Hair loss isn't just about hair. It's about how you feel when you look in the mirror. HIMS helps you take back that confidence with access to simple personalized care that fits your life. HIMS offers convenient access to a range of prescription treatments that actually work, like chews, oral medications, serums and sprays. With doctor trusted ingredients like finasteride and minoxidil, you can stop further hair loss and even regrow hair in as little as three to six months. It's all about making care easier. No hidden fees, no surprise costs, just expert backed, clinically proven Solutions delivered with 100% online access and personalized to your needs. You don't need to rearrange your life to get help. HIMSS brings real treatment to your schedule from the comfort of home on your terms. Whether it's hair loss, ed, weight loss or more, HIMSS is your digital front door to feeling like yourself again. For simple online access to personalized and affordable care for hair loss, ED, weight loss and more, visit HIMSS.com PTI that's HIMSS.com PTI for your free online visit HIMS.com PTI Individual results may vary based on studies of topical and oral minoxidil and finasteride. Featured products include compounded drug products which the FDA does not approve or verify for safety, effectiveness or quality. Prescription required. See website for full details, restrictions and important safety information. Ever start snacking and think, wait, should I be eating something healthier? Yeah, skip the guilt. With wonderful pistachios, you don't have to choose between tasty and smart. These are the don't hold back snack, packed with bold, craveable flavors like honey roasted, chili roasted and jalapeno lime. Whether you want the heat, the sweet or something in between. They've got you. Each serving brings 6 grams of protein and 0 grams of regret. Want the full crack and snack experience? Go classic with in shell. Prefer no mess, no hassle, no shells has your back perfect for game time, halftime or anytime. Whether you're watching the game, grinding through emails or just need a break from the chaos, Wonderful Pistachios are always a win, so don't hold back. Grab a bag and snack like you mean it. Head to wonderfulpistachios.com to learn more.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Pardon the Interruption is presented by Bullock Frontier Whiskey. Please drink responsibly.

[Steve Young]

Part of happy hour.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy time people. Happy 42nd birthday. Charlie Morton, the right hander, pitched for three teams in 2025 the Orioles, Tigers and Braves. He made 27 starts, had a 911 record and a 583 ERA. Those are not great numbers, but consider that he was 441 at the time. Morton debuted in Atlanta in 2008, then went on to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Houston, Tampa Bay, back to Atlanta, Baltimore, Detroit and once more to Atlanta. His career record is 147 and 134. His career ERA is 4.13. He made two All Star Games and was on World Series champions in Houston and Atlanta this past season. Only Justin Verlander was an older regular rotation starter and by almost nine months, Morton is, by the way, expected to retire.

[Michael Wilbon]

In those clips he had some great curveballs, which leads me to talk about Uncle Charlie.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

He exhausted his career, it seems to me.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, right.

[Michael Wilbon]

He squeezed. No regrets.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Every drop. No regret.

[Michael Wilbon]

He could get out of it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He didn't have any regrets. Cannot and walks away with good numbers. Yeah, good numbers. Happy anniversary Kevin Love on this day 15 years ago, the young Timberwolves forward put up 31 points and 31 rebounds in a comeback win over the Knicks. Love's 3131 game is one of 1563030 games in NBA history and Wilt Chamberlain had 124 of them.

[Michael Wilbon]

Come on.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Love is now a veteran presence on the Utah Jazz after being traded there from Miami. At 37, Love is averaging just 13 minutes a game so far. In his 18th season in the league. Love led the league in rebounds in 2011, the year he was voted Most Improved Player. He's five time All Star. Love was one and done at UCLA, playing alongside Russell Westbrook and making the Final Four.

[Michael Wilbon]

I made two predictions. These are things I'm hoping for knowing Kevin love a little bit. 1. I hope he gets traded to a team that matters around the deadline so he can be involved in the run to the playoffs and the playoffs, and then whenever he decides he's had enough. I hope he does television and I hope we get him as a guest whenever we want because he's great to talk to about basketball and all the.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Things affiliated on a championship team with LeBron in Cleveland and his uncle Mike Love, one of the original Beach Boys, one of the originals. Happy trails to Russell Wilson, starting for the Giants on Sunday. Oh, man. Giants interim head coach your boy Mike Kafka announced today that the team will start Jameis Winston against the packers in place of the concussed Jackson Dart. Wilson had relieved Dart after the rookie exited the game in the fourth quarter of last week's loss to your Bears. But now it's clear that Wilson has been demoted to third string after beginning the season as a starter. Winston is capable of putting up monster numbers. He threw for 497 yards for the Browns against the Broncos just last year. But he also has the worst career pass interception percentage among active quarterbacks.

[Michael Wilbon]

I'm so interested in this game because the Cheeseheads play in in the Meadowlands.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right?

[Michael Wilbon]

And I want them to lose. They're not going to lose again.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They're not going to lose.

[Michael Wilbon]

Jameis Winston could put up some big numbers.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They could also have five interceptions.

[Michael Wilbon]

Making his hair.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is the end of Russell Wilson. This is the end. Let Russ Cook. You don't have to be great in Seattle the last three years. It's bad. It's over. One correction. There is unfortunately no city named Memphis in France. What? There used to be a nightclub in Paris named Le Memphis. Did you go there? Let's go to the big finish.

[Michael Wilbon]

Let's do this.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Guard, Bradley Beal, Your boy?

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Out for the season after hip surgery. Your thoughts?

[Michael Wilbon]

I root for Bradley Beal. He hasn't played, though, in a meaningful game in, like, nine seasons. Like just his 2000.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Unbelievable contract. You know how he's getting paid this year? I want to see a million dollars.

[Michael Wilbon]

Have a great last when he comes back.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Stop it.

[Michael Wilbon]

Pat Murphy. Murphy of the Brewers. Stephen Vogt, The Guardians, Baseball's managers of the Year.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You okay with that? I am, but it's the second year in a row for both of them. Is it possible they reached into the.

[Michael Wilbon]

Wrong pile or glitz?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, they're the wrong pile. I don't know. Nathan McKinnon of the Avalanche had three points in a win over the Ducks to give him 12 points in his last three games. Wow. You impressed?

[Michael Wilbon]

How many days in a row are we gonna have McKinnon updates. That should be reserved. Right? And not even for Sidney Crosby, like, for Gretzky. North Carolina coach Bill Belichick was asked about his interest in the Giants job and said he's focused on Wake Forest. Onto Wake. Your thoughts?

[Tony Kornheiser]

It sounds like him, you know, on to Cincinnati. He should just worry about the team.

[Michael Wilbon]

You're not going to the Giants.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Last one. The 111 Thunder host the Lakers tonight. You're intrigued, aren't you?

[Michael Wilbon]

The Lakers have been terrific so far, but until LeBron gets back, I don't. I'm not interested in watching until LeBron must be great.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, you got a TV, you got three TVs. Run a time. Trying to do better the next time. Go Bear Cap against Georgetown tonight.

[Michael Wilbon]

Ok. See, I'm Mike Wilbach. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads. Hey, fans. Welcome back to Fansville's cheers and tears. Okay, so like, everybody deals with losing, right? To a rival and a last second field goal, whatever.

[Commercial Announcer]

It's fine.

[Michael Wilbon]

I'm totally fine. But I cope with losing with an ice cold Dr. Pepper. Those 23 flavors are like so delicious. They totally wash away the pain of your college football team taking a big.

[Steve Young]

Fat L. College football.

[Michael Wilbon]

It's a pepper thing.