Should the Cowboys Pay Brandon Aubrey?

Summary

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PTI Podcast Summary — "Should the Cowboys Pay Brandon Aubrey?"

Date: February 25, 2026
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon

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Episode Overview

This episode of Pardon the Interruption dives into current headlines from the world of sports, centering on the Dallas Cowboys' contract negotiations with standout kicker Brandon Aubrey. The hosts debate whether Aubrey deserves a record-setting payday, before shifting to the NBA MVP race, landmark college basketball events, and Pat Riley’s sartorial crusade for suited-up coaches. Lively banter and opinionated takes abound, true to PTI’s style.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Should the Cowboys Pay Brandon Aubrey?

[00:55–04:29]

The Context:

• Brandon Aubrey, the Cowboys’ kicker, is reportedly in contract talks: offered ~$7.5 million/year over several years, but wants closer to $10M.
• Current top kicker salary: Harrison Butker ($6.4M/year).
• Aubrey set records with long-distance kicks last season.

Wilbon’s Take:

• Skeptical about paying premium for a kicker, referencing high school and college talent pools:

  "They're a dime a dozen. Let them walk." — Mike Wilbon [02:20]

• Notes Aubrey’s occasional failures in clutch moments:

  "He also missed kicks that either lost the game or didn’t enable the Cowboys to extend the game." — Wilbon [02:02]

Tony’s Take:

• Argues kickers have “a disproportionate effect on the outcome of the game.”
• Shares stats on Aubrey (112 of 127 career, 88.2% accuracy; 35 of 44 from 50+ yards, 6 from 60+).
• References UFL trial rules—potential for higher-impact kicks to alter games and his own twist:

  "If you go beyond 60, you’re going to get four points... I want to penalize you if you miss." — Tony Kornheiser [03:18]

• Concludes high-impact kickers are worth the investment.

Memorable Exchange:

• Wilbon (on finding kickers):

  "...the guy in Chicago, Santos, he's kicking in real elements, not like these indoor dome dudes."

• Tony:

  "I love when the Cowboys are on this show and we can scream about should Aubrey get his money? That's good." [04:20]

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2. NBA MVP Race & the 65-Game Rule

[04:32–07:45]

The Context:

• New NBA rule: Players must play at least 65 of 82 games for award eligibility (aimed at stopping “load management”).
• Several candidates (Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic) risk missing eligibility.

Tony’s Take:

• Firm on valuing durability:

  "You are less valuable if you play 61... than if you play 74... I believe, Mike, you're most valuable if you play." [05:28]

• Accepts new stars (Cade Cunningham, Jaylen Brown) could still be deserving MVPs.

Wilbon’s Perspective:

• Agrees, noting end-of-season urgency means fewer "load management" outings.
• Reminds listeners that “it’s go time now,” with most players pushing through minor injuries.

  "I think if you got Jaylen Brown eligible, you got Cade Cunningham... eligible, you got Wembanyama eligible." [06:38]

Memorable Quote (Tony):

"If the NBA doesn’t want this next year, change the number. Okay." [06:58]

• Stresses that rules are clear, and awards aren’t “devalued” if newer faces win.

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3. Duke Blows Out Notre Dame in College Hoops

[07:50–10:42]

The Context:

• Duke defeats Notre Dame 156–56, the worst home loss for Notre Dame since 1898.

Wilbon’s Reaction:

• Focuses on Notre Dame’s decline:

  “You losing by double digits and you’re Notre Dame...” [08:49]

• Recalls past glory under coach Digger Phelps.

Tony’s Reflection:

• Nostalgic for Notre Dame’s heyday under Phelps, references history (e.g., ending UCLA winning streak).
• Punchy halftime stat:

  “You know the score at halftime, big man? 54 and 22.” [09:59]

Memorable Quote:

• Tony:

  "Now Duke is the number one team in the country. Notre Dame was missing its top two starters, but you know the score at halftime, big man, 54 and 22." [09:59]

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4. Jonathan Kaminga’s Hawks Debut [13:22–15:24]

Tony:

• Word: "Impressive."
• 27 points, 7 rebounds, highly efficient: "If he plays like this every night, the Hawks stole him." [13:38]

Wilbon:

• "My word is my bad."
• Calls out Golden State for failing to harness Kaminga’s value:

  "Golden State ... didn’t get this right. OK? And Steve Kerr ... this was not ... his best work to me..." [14:12]

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5. Pat Riley's Campaign for Coaches in Suits [15:30–17:40]

Tony:

• Word: "Great."
• Proposes formality shows authority:

  "Dress like an adult. Dress like a leader. ... All of these people in sweatsuits ... they look terrible." [15:34, 15:40]

Wilbon:

• Shares his pride at Riley once complimenting his attire:

  "That's a mic drop. I'm not going to get a greater compliment than that." [16:56]

• Argues for dressing up at least during playoffs.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "They're a dime a dozen. Let them walk." — Mike Wilbon on kickers [02:20]
• "He has a disproportionate effect on the outcome of the game." — Tony Kornheiser [02:53]
• "You are less valuable if you play 61, 62, 63 than if you play 74, 75, 76." — Tony Kornheiser [05:28]
• "Something's wrong. Syracuse is lost. I watched Notre Dame. I thought Notre Dame was lost. But you know what? Duke's not lost." — Tony Kornheiser [10:15]
• "Pat Riley says, I loved what you had on. ... That's a mic drop." — Mike Wilbon [16:44–16:56]
• "Dress like an adult. Dress like a leader." — Tony Kornheiser [15:39]

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Additional Highlights

College and NHL

• Tribute to James Brown on his 75th birthday [19:53]
• Sidney Crosby’s injury—Penguins playoff implications [22:34]

Rapid Fire (Big Finish) [24:20–25:18]

• Knicks vs. Cavs significance, Harden injury, Broncos/Jets play-calling changes, Luka's clutch pass, top MLB prospect Connor Griffin, and NBA matchups (Celtics/Nuggets).

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Should Cowboys Pay Aubrey: 00:55–04:29
• NBA MVP Race/65-Game Rule: 04:32–07:45
• Duke/Notre Dame Basketball Blowout: 07:50–10:42
• Kaminga's Hawks Debut: 13:22–15:24
• Pat Riley on Coaches Suits: 15:30–17:40
• Sidney Crosby Update & Army-Navy Game: 22:08–23:56
• Rapid Fire Big Finish: 24:20–25:18

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Tone and Style

The episode maintains the sharp, conversational, and lightly combative rhythm PTI is known for. Plenty of good-natured ribbing, nostalgia, and quick pivots from one topic to the next. Strong opinions, stats, inside jokes, and a reverence for sports history characterize the entire show.

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For listeners seeking more than the Dallas kicker debate, this episode also delivers sharp takes on basketball’s biggest stories, sartorial standards in coaching, and memorable sports legacies—all wrapped in the witty, rapid-fire PTI package.

Transcript

[Mike Wilbon]

5:00am I'm up with a crisp Celsius energy drink running 12 miles today. Grab a green juice, quick change and head to work. Meetings, workshops. One more Celsius. No slowing down. Working late, but obviously still meeting the girls for a little dancing. Celsius Live fit. Go grab a cold refreshing Celsius at your local retailer or locate [e-mail]. pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Lilbon. It's national Quiet Day. Tony, what are your favorite qu.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm Tony Kornheiser. Meditating, reflecting. Safe cracking.

[Mike Wilbon]

Is that even a thing anymore? Safe crack?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Mike Wilbon]

Is Anybody under like 90 years old? Is safe cracking something that a youngster would do?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you know why you have to be quiet? You have to hear the clips.

[Unidentified Guest or Producer]

You hear it.

[Mike Wilbon]

I know you have to hear the clips, but don't they just have some electronic technology cracks?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't want that. I want real safe cracks.

[Unidentified Guest or Producer]

Okay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Welcome to pti, boys and girls. In today's episode of Wrinkle in the NBA MVP race, Duke rolls over Notre Dame and Pat Riley calls for the return of coaches wearing suits. Thank God. I parenthetically. But we begin today with a popular refrain around the Dallas Cowboys should so and so get his money. Uh oh, but this time it's not Dak. This time it's the kicker, Brandon Aubrey. Aubrey has reportedly been offered a multi year deal averaging close to seven and a half million dollars a season. Aubrey reportedly wants close to $10 million. The highest paid kicker right now is Kansas City's Harrison Butker, getting $6.4 million a year. So Aubrey would reset the market. Last year, Aubrey hit 11 field goals from 50 or beyond Wilm. Should Aubrey get his money?

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm sorry, did I miss something? Which you couldn't find a Lakers story. You couldn't find Luka and LeBron. Yesterday you went to a cowboy getting his money.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Not today.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm gonna surprise you with this. I'm gonna go straight Jerry and Steven Jones and say no, no. I know this guy had six kicks beyond 60.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Beyond 60.

[Mike Wilbon]

I get it. He's prolific. He's.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Wow.

[Mike Wilbon]

He also missed kicks that either lost the game or didn't enable the Cowboys to extend the game. I saw those kicks. So I know it's also cyclical. Kickers, you think running backs have been de emphasized. There's a kicker at every high school in America who thinks he's Steph Curry who goes out to the logo to kick from 60. Every soccer team, every football team. You can find them. They're a Dime a dozen. Let them walk. The Cowboys can't sign people like their quarterback without drama. They're gonna make a priority out of this. Dude, no.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, so let me go to some numbers, cuz I think the numbers tell a story.

[Mike Wilbon]

Okay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's 112 out of 127 career. That's 88.2% from 50 and out. He's 35 of 44. That's right around 80% and as you say, 6 from 60. I think you should pay this guy a ton of money and I'll tell you why. Cuz he keeps you in the game when your offense stinks. And he sometimes wins the game when your offense stinks. And they won seven last year and this guy won three of them. I get it. Nobody wants to pay a kicker. Guys on the football team don't want to pay the kicker like the players though, because they're not on the team because they're separated. And they practice. Practices, but they have a disproportionate effect on the outcome of the game. And you know why I'm interested in this? I'm interested in this because of the new rule in the UFL which basically has sponsorship from the NFL as a tryout where if you go beyond 60, you're going to get four points. And as you know, my feeling is that's fine. But I want to penalize you if you miss. If you miss from 61, I want to take one point off your score, which is my idea.

[Mike Wilbon]

I actually like this. Yeah, but Tony. And if that happens, it's going to be like four years down the road and this dude will be out of the league. Anyway. My point is this. First of all, the Cowboys could wind up through various means with a second round pick. Second round pick. I could get a Hall of Fame player with a second round pick, much less a kicker. I can trade down and get two picks and wind up.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Kickers have gone in the first round. History knows.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes, yes, yes, yes. But not many.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Not many.

[Mike Wilbon]

All I'm saying is he's everything you said he is. But kickers, they're so fungible now you can find them and they all. The guy in Chicago, Santos, he's kicking in real elements, not like these indoor dome dudes. And he went like 4 for 6 from 50.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right? I'm tell you something. What I love when the Cowboys are on this show and we can scream about should Aubrey get his money? That's good.

[Mike Wilbon]

Tobe shouldn't get his money.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Good tv.

[Mike Wilbon]

Let's move to the Lakers no, no, no. The NBA MVP race, which may end up with fewer candidates than you might think. The NBA's rule is that players must play 65 games to qualify. It could cause Nikola Jokic a shot at his fourth. He can afford to only miss one more game. Shai Gilgeous Alexander can only miss seven more and he's slated to miss tonight's game in Detroit. Luka can only miss five more. Tone, would the MVP award feel compromised to you without those guys eligible?

[Tony Kornheiser]

So let's do a small little history lesson here. You have to play for. To be eligible for awards, post season awards, you have to play in 65 of the 82 games. That rule was instituted to stop load management. Yes, that's what it was. It was not to stop people getting hurt.

[Mike Wilbon]

I like that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It was to stop load management. That's a hard and fast number. 65. At the moment nobody thinks that Gilgis, Alexander or Jokic does load management.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They're just hurt. So they fall on the wrong side of this at the moment. But it is, it's a hard and fast number. So let's go to this for a second. My position is simple. I believe you are less valuable if you play 61, 62, 63 than if you play 74, 75, 76. Jokic, 16 already. Right. He's missed 16 already and Wembanyama 13 already. Gilgis Alexander at 10 might qualify. Cade Cunningham has missed six, Jaylen Brown has missed six. I believe, Mike, you're most valuable if you play. So if you give me Cunningham or Jaylen Brown, I take them and I say the award is not devalued.

[Mike Wilbon]

We are not going to have phony disagreement here because not only that, Tony, you mentioned a couple of the names. First of all, it's go time now. So not only is there no load management now for anybody that really cares, you're gonna play through certain injuries cause you want position, you want to either avoid the playing, you want to avoid San Antonio in the first round. Whatever your motivation is, we're at go time. We're 25 games and fewer. So I think if you got Jaylen Brown eligible, you got Cade Cunningham eligible, you got Wim Banyama eligible.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Cunningham, yes. Cunningham and Jaylen Brown ground are on teams that are the equal or better than these other guys teams.

[Mike Wilbon]

So no doubt.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So you know, I don't really want to hear it. What this is about is load management and they're threatening people. They're saying if you don't play, you can't get your contractual bonus because you can't win the award.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's a big deal too.

[Tony Kornheiser]

If the NBA doesn't want this next year, change the number. Okay.

[Mike Wilbon]

You could tweak it right now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

65, which is. Here's the number. 79.2% of the games. It could be 60. That's 73% of the games. But don't tell me that the award is going to be devalued if Cunningham or Jaylen Brown.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's not. It's not. First of all, if Detroit and Cunningham win the east regular season, I'm probably voting. I'd vote for him anyway. He would be in my finalist. Okay. Same thing with Jaylen Brown leading a team without his supposed best player, his tag team partner, Jason Tatum, and certainly. Come on. Jokic has not only won these awards, he's led his team to a title. If you go, if he enabled, you know, I'll make you a bet. Little side bet. Jokish is not missing any more games.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. This season we'll see.

[Mike Wilbon]

He's gonna be.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But nobody's accusing them of being low.

[Mike Wilbon]

No, no, no. Not at all.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's go to college basketball. Number one, Duke slaughtered Notre Dame last night, 156 in South Bend. It was the worst home loss for Notre dame basketball since 1898. That's right. I said 1898 and I didn't even know there was basketball then. There's basketball now and Notre Dame isn't really playing it. Wilbon. Is the headline here the size of Duke's win or the size of Notre Dame's loss?

[Mike Wilbon]

Notre Dame. It's Notre Dame. It's for me, somebody who grew up 92 miles from the South Bend campus. It's Notre Dame. And I understand Notre Dame basketball is not Notre Dame football, though do not tell that to our dear friend Digger Phelps, who should have like stood in a line and hugged in each player as he left the court last night. Because this is not the Notre Dame basketball that he built. Notre Dame has already lost 9, 8. They had already lost 8 going in last last night's game. Double digit games, Tony.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, okay. But they're 12 and 16 over.

[Mike Wilbon]

But I'm talking about just three and

[Tony Kornheiser]

12 in the lead.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm talking about getting puffed.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Mike Wilbon]

You losing by double digits and you're Notre Dame. I turn. I had to fly last night. So that game was like a 16 point game. When I clicked off, I was watching. You continued watching.

[Tony Kornheiser]

In between TGLs, baby. In between the TGLs. Look, thank you for mentioning Digger Phelps. They did a shot of Digger last night and it was great to see Digger. Digger Phelps, who should be in the hall of Fame, is synonymous with the glory days of Notre Dame basketball. I remember.

[Mike Wilbon]

It is the glory days.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I remember when Digger Phelps and Notre Dame stopped UCLA's winning streak in that building.

[Mike Wilbon]

Were you at that game?

[Tony Kornheiser]

88. No, but I was at the game when Digger Phelps and Notre Dame ended San Francisco's unbeaten season at 29. 0. I was there for that. And at that game, Digger, before the game, handed out green carnations to his assistant coaches, told him to wear them and checked where the cameras were because Digger always wanted to know where the cameras were. That was when Notre Dame basketball, it's never the equal of football, but it was close. It was a big deal. Now Duke is the number one team in the country. Notre Dame was missing its top two starters, but you know the score at halftime, big man, 54 and 22. 54 to 22 game.

[Mike Wilbon]

It was impressive by Duke because it could have been a trap game coming off Michigan.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is nothing like what Notre Dame used to be with Digger and nothing like it was for a lot of the years with Mike Bray. It's. Look, Mike, I'm getting nostalgic in my old age. I said this to you last week when I saw Duke pound Syracuse. I said, something's wrong. Syracuse is lost. I watched Notre Dame. I thought Notre Dame was lost. But you know what? Duke's not lost. And they change coaches, too. They change coaches, too.

[Mike Wilbon]

Duke has been able to maintain this in a way that very few other places. Kansas. Not even Indiana. No. Indiana. Nice loss at home to Northwestern.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Wildcats. You had a good one.

[Mike Wilbon]

So Indiana hasn't been able to maintain it either?

[Tony Kornheiser]

No.

[Mike Wilbon]

Not a good night for basketball in the Hoosier State, huh?

[Tony Kornheiser]

No. Did the Pacers lose as well?

[Mike Wilbon]

I don't know about the who, but the college.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's tell them they always do lose. Let's take a break. Coming up, Jonathan Kaminga lit it up in his debut for the Hawks. What is the word for that and how?

[Mike Wilbon]

Best to describe Pat Riley's call for coaches to start wearing suits again?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Brilliant would be the word that would come to mind. Quickly.

[Mike Wilbon]

Put it on.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I have other words. Hold on. I was there with Digger. Digger should be in the hall of Fame handing out green carnations.

[Mike Wilbon]

Unthinkable that Digger is not in the hall of Fame.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't understand that.

[Mike Wilbon]

We're not talking about first ballot, just any.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

The doctor has entered the lab of fab vocab sans the coat. I forgot to bring the coat to the studio. What's first?

[Mike Wilbon]

Jonathan Kaminga's debut for the Hawks was blank.

[Tony Kornheiser]

My word is impressive. Okay, he had 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals in 24 minutes. Yeah, nine to 12 from the field. Three or four from three against who?

[Mike Wilbon]

That floor?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, I'm going to get to that. I'm going to get to that. He came off the bench when the score was 12 to 9 in Atlanta at the end of the first quarter was 35 to 20. Now the opponent was the Wizards who are attempting to tank every single game. But you have to play who's ever on the schedule. It's not his fault. He was plus 16. I don't know what happened between Kaminga and Steve Kerr, but obviously it was enough to force Kaminga out of Golden State. If he plays like this every night, the Hawks stole him. Because as good as Porzingis may be, if he can't actually play, what's the difference?

[Mike Wilbon]

Totally agree with you, Tony. As you know, I'm going to get to the Golden State part of this. My word is my bad, my bad. Because you look at Kamingo and what he's gonna do, he's gonna do this a lot, not all the time. He gonna average 27. It's my bad. Golden State, they didn't get this right. Okay? And Steve Kerr, to me, who is going to the hall of Fame as a coach and is just one of my favorite people to have covered forever in my life as a sports writer and doing this, this was not Steve Kerr's best work to me and I would like to find out what happen. But this is a my bad situation. Jonathan Kaminga can play. He is able bodied. He is long enough. He plays out on the wing, he can defend. I'm not saying he did everything to the staff's liking in Golden State, because he didn't. But don't tell me that Jonathan Kamingka didn't have value. I was hoping the Bulls would get him in a trade with Vuch. Didn't occur to somebody in the Bulls

[Tony Kornheiser]

front office gave him every opportunity and at every step along the way he did something to antagonize him. Why would they?

[Mike Wilbon]

No, it didn't. It doesn't add up. Golden look, everybody makes personnel mistakes, particularly when you're as good as Golden State. You get drafts wrong. Cause you're reaching. This ain't a reach.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He had them for. They had him for years and they just can't do it anymore. What's next?

[Mike Wilbon]

Pat Riley's call for coaches to wear suits is blank.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's great. Of course it's great. Dress, you know, dress like an adult.

[Mike Wilbon]

I was gonna say. You better say it. You better say it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Dress like an adult. Dress like a leader. All right. Put on a suit and tie like Pat Riley. Does anybody think that Pat Riley's coaching ability was impaired by the clothes that he wore? All of these people in sweatsuits, to me, they look terrible. They look like they lost their luggage on the airplane in. I mean, and they are out There. And it's not just them.

[Mike Wilbon]

All 20 assistants and the college ones.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All of them. Every single NBA team wears the same thing. Look, you want to wear this in practice, that's fine. Don't wear this in the game. I think you will agree with me that Pat Riley and Chuck Daly were the best dressed coaches out there for years and years and years.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah, right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Look, they elevated their profession. These guys are lowering their profession.

[Mike Wilbon]

Nobody loves a good pair of cashmere Zanya joggers like, as much as I do. However, when you get to the game,

[Tony Kornheiser]

you're a real man of the people.

[Mike Wilbon]

I was gonna say this is my. One of my. This is like the greatest compliment I've ever gotten. I'm at Dwyane Wade's retirement party.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Pat Riley says.

[Mike Wilbon]

Pat Riley says, I texted you. I was so excited. Pat Riley puts his hands on my shoulders, looks at me and says, I loved what you had on. On the show. And I think it was Thursday. That's it. That's a mic drop. I'm not going to get a greater compliment than that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right.

[Mike Wilbon]

Pat Riley. Put on a suit, then wear turtleneck. Wear a cashmere polo with the. Put on a jacket, even if it's not a suit. Get dressed. There are guys like Doc Rivers can dress. Doc Rivers has a closet full of suits. I know this. I know these guys have the suits.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you have a word? Did you give a word?

[Mike Wilbon]

Thank God.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Mike Wilbon]

And the other word would have been.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. I don't. I don't understand why coaches think that.

[Mike Wilbon]

Because the league lets them. Because there are no standards.

[Tony Kornheiser]

When they are walking the sideline in that outfit, they have no authority.

[Mike Wilbon]

Pat Riley had authority. Yes, he did. And you know what? This is more important than tanking. Put some coaches in suits and you got guys who'll follow the coach.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's the final word.

[Mike Wilbon]

Less likely to tank.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's take one last break. Still to come, what's the extended loss of Sidney Crosby? Sid the kid. No longer due to the Penguins playoff chances.

[Mike Wilbon]

And does it make sense to move the traditional date of the Army Navy game?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Why do they not wear coats and ties? They look so much better. Why?

[Mike Wilbon]

They look great.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They have enough money to buy them. They look great.

[Mike Wilbon]

Really good. What are you doing?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't get it.

[Mike Wilbon]

Larry Brown was really well dressed, too. Yes, but nobody's Henrik Lundstrom. He's the best dressed guy in the history of sports.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Really?

[Mike Wilbon]

In the history of sports.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hockey.

[Mike Wilbon]

He goes ahead of Riley.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Really?

[Mike Wilbon]

The only guy ever to go ahead,

[Unidentified Guest or Producer]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy time people. Happy 75th birthday, James Brown. Most of you know JB from anchoring the NFL Today on CBS. He's been doing that since 2006. Before that, he anchored the Sunday Football show on Fox from 1994 until he went to CBS. And he'd done college basketball play by play for years. But Wilbon and I knew James from his hometown days in Washington, dc. James Brown was a great high school basketball player at famed dematha, playing for hall of Fame coach Morgan Wooten. There was talk of him going to a big basketball school like North Carolina or ucla. But James chose instead to go to Harvard, a choice he has never regretted. When I started doing radio in 1992, I was doing 10 to 1. James followed me from 1 to 4. Wilbon, tell everyone why we love James Brown.

[Mike Wilbon]

There's no better host. There's no better friend. There's no better neighbor. There's one thing I don't particularly like about jb.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What's that?

[Mike Wilbon]

He insists. Like our Friend Gary Williams of going through Baldouchees and Safeway in the neighborhood. We're all neighbors. Right through the produce and the fruits.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And you don't do that.

[Mike Wilbon]

I don't want anybody in my house to think I'm ever gonna touch the fruit or the veggies. Not doing that. Jb, you're so practical.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You and I have a rift about that. I like to go shopping. Happy anniversary, Wichita State. On this day 12 years ago, the Shockers beat Bradley to become the first D1 men's basketball team to reach 300 in the regular season. That team was led by now NBA vet Fred Van Vliet, who coincidentally is celebrating his 32nd birthday today. A couple of other players on that team, Clee Anthony early and Ron Baker, had a few years in the NBA. Wichita was coached by Greg Marshall, who resigned in 2020 after an investigation into alleged abusive behavior towards his players. Wichita State went into that and so NCAA tournament as a number one seed got its record to 350 before losing to Kentucky 78. 76 in the NCAA's second round.

[Mike Wilbon]

I also gotta mention 62 years ago today, young Cassius Clay shocked the world by knocking out Sonny Liston in Miami. Just a hell of an event. One of the great events of all time.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I. I remember that. I remember the next fight in Lewiston.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you know Sonny Liston's real first name? I do. Charles.

[Mike Wilbon]

Charles. Charles, son. People thought Ali was going to get knocked out by Sonny Liston and perish in the ring. My father was afraid Ali was going to lose his life.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He was not Ali then. He was Cassius. Cassius Marcellus Clay at that point. Happy trail. Sidney Crosby. The Penguin star is expected to miss at least four weeks after suffering what has been termed a lower body injury during the Winter Olympics. That injury kept him out of the gold medal game against the United States. Could really hurt the Penguins in their march towards the playoffs. The Penguins are currently in the postseason field, but just points away from dropping out. And Crosby leads the team in goals, assists and points.

[Mike Wilbon]

Ah, Tony. It just seems that Crosby lately hasn't been able to get to that point. He did a few years ago.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You know. He's not a kid.

[Mike Wilbon]

He's not a kid.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's not a kid.

[Mike Wilbon]

He's not a kid. Even though I would seem like I would root against Sidney Crosby, I want to see a healthy Sidney Crosby in the playoffs.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No doubt he's no longer Sid the Kid, but he's the player. And a bonus. Happy trails to the traditional date of The Army Navy game. The two teams have met in the last game of the college football regular season for nearly a century. But army coach Jeff Monken tells the athletic he's in favor of moving it up two weeks as long as the game is still the only one being played in its window. That would allow the game to count towards the American Conference race and the playoff field, both of them, which have been decided a week prior to the game. It could also create space for another round of playoff games.

[Mike Wilbon]

God help us to create any more space for any more playoff games. That game needs to have exclusivity. It's earned it. That's the. It should occupy that spot alone. And so I don't care what day they play it earlier in December.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Just alone. Yeah. What I was worried about when I first heard this was it would not be a solitary game because let's say they played it on Thanksgiving Day. The NFL is on Thanksgiving. So you don't want that. You have to find a place in the schedule for Army Navy people. If for nothing else. People need to watch them march in. They do one of the great spectacles in sports.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's a wonderful. They market away the time with.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You have an omission on the NBA and coaches wearing suits.

[Mike Wilbon]

Doc Rivers has a really good idea, says wear suits at least in the playoffs. That's a great idea. And the league I know has an apparel deal with Nike. I don't care. I don't care about that. Football and basketball guys, look. Tom Landry, Mike Ditka, Vince Lombardi. Did those guys look great? Suit coat, please tie.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Big finish quickly. The Cavs beat the Knicks last night. Is that significant other than Harden?

[Mike Wilbon]

James Harden fracturing his right thumb. He's going to play through it. I don't know that it particularly is. Sean Payton is giving up offensive play calling for the Broncos while Aaron Glenn is taking on defensive play calling for the Jets. Bigger deal.

[Tony Kornheiser]

There's no big deal with the Jets. Aaron Glenn says it's a superpower, really.

[Mike Wilbon]

Let's start using it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Luka hesitated to take a game winning shot attempt against the Magic and dish to LeBron. Who missed your analysis.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's not that big a deal. The big deal is they're not great together. Tony. By any metric so far this season for the Lakers. Not offensively. Baseball's number one prospect, 19 year old Connor Griffin. Homer twice for the Pirates and spring training yesterday. Have you seen this kid?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I haven't. I want to. I want to see him in schemes. They're bringing a guard tackle team. That's wonderful. Last one. Thunder, Pistons and Celtics. Nuggets tonight. Which is the more intriguing matchup?

[Mike Wilbon]

Celtics and Nuggets have most of their people playing. I think that's the more intriguing.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We are out of time. We will try to do better the next time.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm Tony Cornheim. Looks like a little load management. OKC. I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow. Knuckleheads from 30 for 30 podcasts.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Brian Pata, senior defensive lineman from Miami, gunned down the key to this case. It's Brian.

[Mike Wilbon]

An hour before he died, he was on the phone arguing with somebody.

[Unidentified Guest or Producer]

This might be a hit. You want the truth? They just want a conviction.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Being placed under arrest.

[Mike Wilbon]

We had a killer amongst us.

[Unidentified Guest or Producer]

Murder at the U.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Listen now.