The Masters, Doc Rivers Fallout, and NBA Playoffs

Summary

PTI Podcast Summary

Episode: The Masters, Doc Rivers Fallout, and NBA Playoffs
Date: April 13, 2026
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon

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Overview

In this lively episode, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon break down one of golf’s most dramatic Masters tournaments, the fallout of Doc Rivers being ousted in Milwaukee, the intrigue of looming NBA playoff matchups, and discuss Alexander Ovechkin’s uncertain future in the NHL. The hosts also pay tribute to legends, address tanking in the NBA, and answer viewers’ burning questions.

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The Masters: Rory McIlroy’s Wild Ride

[00:59–08:46]

Key Discussion Points

• Rory’s Dramatic Victory:

  • McIlroy built a substantial lead on Friday before losing and then regaining it on Sunday. Four birdies from holes 7 to 13 and a nerve-racking bogey on 18 sealed his win.
  • Wilbon: Described the tournament as “rousing” and praised Rory’s “resolve,” noting how rare it is for players to look at the board and still pull through under pressure.
    • “He had to wilt a little bit to get the drama, and then he had to show...resolve.” [01:59]
  • Kornheiser: Offered insights into Rory’s driving:
    • “91 people played in this Masters. Rory was ranked 90th in driving accuracy. 90th, and he still won.” [03:17]
    • Stressed McIlroy’s “resilience” and luck, with other leaders faltering and Scottie Scheffler missing a critical putt.
  • Historical Placement:
    • Wilbon pointed out seven majors would put Rory with Arnold Palmer and Bobby Jones; he’s now one away.
    • Kornheiser:
      • “He reminds me most of Phil Mickelson because of the way he wins, because of the rollercoaster effect.” [05:17]

• Other Notable Contenders:

  • Justin Rose, Cam Young, Collin Morikawa (despite back issues), and Scottie Scheffler featured, with Rose and Young briefly holding leads.
  • Kornheiser:
    • “Everybody roots for Justin Rose. … He gagged on that and I think we all feel sorry for him.” [06:05]
  • Discussion of How Tong Li’s collapse, shooting an 80, and the lack of TV coverage for these moments.

• Memorable Moment:

  • Rory’s second shot on 18
    • Kornheiser: “We didn’t know where it landed...Suddenly it’s in the sand. It could have been on the moon. We did not know.” [08:46]

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Doc Rivers Out in Milwaukee & The Giannis Dilemma

[08:47–12:41]

Key Discussion Points

• Rivers’ Exit:

  • Doc Rivers parted ways with the Bucks after a middling 97–103 record and playoff exits.
  • Wilbon (with friend bias):
    • Criticized Giannis’s unreliability in the postseason:
      • “Giannis hasn’t done a damn thing for five years but sort of put it out there that he doesn’t really know what he wants to do. He’s not available for any important game in the playoffs.” [09:24]
  • Kornheiser compared Giannis to Embiid in terms of missed games and described him as becoming “a divisive human being.”
    • “He has gotten rid of two coaches already, I believe...I guess he liked Doc for an hour.” [11:03]
    • Also notes the lack of certainty over Giannis’s future with the Bucks.

• On Tanking and Coaching:

  • Coaches are sometimes retained not for success but to facilitate tanking.
  • Washington Wizards’ extreme tanking (1–26 finish) cited:
    • “You should not get a draft pick for that. Is Adam Silver paying attention?” [12:26]

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NBA Playoff Preview: Compelling Series

[14:36–16:53]

Key Discussion Points

• Most Intriguing Matchups:
  • Wilbon and Kornheiser both point to Minnesota–Denver as the must-watch series, with Jokic versus Anthony Edwards’ breakout stardom.
    • Wilbon: “If I had to pick one, I would say Denver, Minnesota.” [15:38]
  • Lakers–Houston also mentioned, but both hosts see it as less competitive due to injuries.
  • The Knicks and Atlanta get a shout, with Wilbon arguing Atlanta could upset New York.
  • Wilbon mentions Wembanyama, half in jest, just to get his name in.

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Alexander Ovechkin: Legend in Limbo

[16:53–18:56]

Key Discussion Points

• Farewell Handshake Snub:

  • Ovechkin declined a ceremonial handshake from Penguins, fueling retirement speculation.
    • Kornheiser:
      • “He doesn’t believe [it’s] over…It was very ceremonial and he did not want it. … The Capitals can still make the playoffs.” [17:08]
    • Wilbon:
      • “He absolutely felt that way…He wasn’t upset with anybody, he was just saying, hold on, let’s not rush this, Sparky.” [18:14]

• Ovi’s Future:

  • Debate whether he can still contribute; 32 goals at 40 suggests yes, but will the team support a true rebuild?
  • Kornheiser:
    • “They will never just cut him or ask him to leave. They will not do that because he’s a draw.” [18:47]

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Mailbag & Quick Hits

• Tanking in the NBA:
  • Further criticism for intentional losing, especially by the Wizards [12:14–12:31].
• Jannik Sinner Retakes Tennis No. 1
  • Both dismiss the significance, predicting a back-and-forth era (“ping pong this thing all summer long”) [24:47].
• Tributes:
  • Phil Garner (Scrap Iron)—praised for grit as a longtime MLB player/manager [23:30–24:05].
  • Kobe Bryant, on the 10th anniversary of his famous 60-point farewell game [22:14–23:29].
• NHL Playoff Droughts:
  • Red Wings now have longest drought; both express surprise and note its impact on the league [21:51–22:14].

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Rory’s resilience:
  • Kornheiser:
    • “Rory was great when he had to be great…He showed resilience. He regained the lead, and he was great on that putt on 16 away from the hole. That was Tiger-esque.” [03:17]
• On Giannis’s impact:
  • Wilbon:
    • “He’s not available for any important game in the playoffs.” [09:24]
• On tanking:
  • Kornheiser:
    • “You should not get a draft pick for that. Is Adam Silver paying attention?” [12:26]
• On Ovechkin’s future:
  • Wilbon:
    • “Let’s not rush this, Sparky.” [18:14]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Masters & Rory’s comeback: [00:59–08:46]
• Doc Rivers’ firing & NBA coaching carousel: [08:47–12:41]
• NBA playoffs preview: [14:36–16:53]
• Alexander Ovechkin retirement chatter: [16:53–18:56]
• Quick tributes (Phil Garner, Kobe Bryant): [22:14–24:05]

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Tone & Highlights

The episode is filled with PTI’s trademark wit, gentle ribbing, and direct opinions. Both hosts deploy humor—e.g., the running bit about Wilbon mentioning Wembanyama—and bring deep insight and context to each topic. As always, major stories are discussed with energy, history, and a sharp focus on what matters most to fans.

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This episode is a must-listen for sports fans eager for a sharp, entertaining recap of the Masters drama, NBA’s shifting landscape, and reflections on sports legends’ legacies.

Transcript

[Thrivent/Commercial Announcer]

For some of us, personal finances aren't just personal. They include a lot more people than ourselves. Loved ones, neighbors, the communities we call home, and the causes we hold in our hearts. At Thrivent, we help plan your financial picture with the bigger picture in mind. Because even though our business is helping guide your finances, our ambition is to make it mean so much more. Thrivent, where money means more. Connect with [e-mail].

[Mike Wilbon]

pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. Tony, Police in Northern Virginia arrested a naked man for a string of home burglaries.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Tony Kornheiser. Oh, please. I wasn't naked. I was wearing sneakers.

[Mike Wilbon]

Oh, wow. That changes it, doesn't it?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. Not naked.

[Mike Wilbon]

They just change it from a Florida man.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's all it was. We don't believe that happened in Fairfax or Arlington or Alexandria. Cause we live 10 minutes away. We don't. We don't. We don't believe.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, we don't believe.

[Mike Wilbon]

We don't.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But we need Open. We need an Open. Welcome to pti, boys and girls. In today's episode, Doc Rivers is out. The NBA playoffs are said, and Alexandrovechin says he has not decided whether he's retiring. But we begin today with the Masters and the rollercoaster ride between Friday and Sunday of Rory McIlroy. On Friday, McIlroy was six shots ahead of everyone. By the sixth hole. Sunday, McIlroy was two shots down to Cameron Young, and later two shots down to Justin Rose. McElroy recovered, had four birdies between holes seven and 13, and one barely when he made a bogey from behind a tree on 18. Wilbon, we both watched. What do you make of how Rory did this, and where does this place him historically among the greatest golfers?

[Mike Wilbon]

The historical placement I'll get to in a second, Tony. It was rousing. I mean, the fact that he built that crazy lead and that's all people talked about for, you know, overnight, and then it just. It frittered away. So gave it back so quickly.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Gave it back, right? Yes.

[Mike Wilbon]

And so we got the drama that I think a lot of us were hoping for, not to root anything bad for Rory, because I'm one of those people who generally roots for Rory and thinks he's just a sort of a fine person and a champion. But he had to wilt a little bit to get the drama, and then he had to show. One of the overused words in sports, I find, is resolve. Everybody thinks they have resolve. They don't have anything that took resolve. He's Looking at the board. And Rory does look at the board, as opposed to some golfers who do not. He's looking at the board, he sees himself, and he just pulls it together. And other people. I told you. You texted me and you said, it looks like he's done.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes, that sounds like. Hold on. He was overpowered by three holes on the first part. Threes in the court, all true, but

[Mike Wilbon]

I thought nerves were going to set in on the others. And that's exact what happened. Rory survived it. It became a marathon. It was so cool. Really quickly, the historical placement. Tony, if you get the seven, he's at six now, Majors, championships, you get the seven. You're with Arnold Palmer and Bobby Jones and there's guys above that, but you get to seven, and Rory is now within one of that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm going to give you another R word that I don't like, but it applies in the same way, and that is resilience.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes, yes, yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He lost the lead. He regained the lead. Look, I'll give you a statistic that I think is fabulous that I heard this morning from our friend Steve Sands from the Golf Channel. Everybody thinks Rory is the greatest driver of the golf ball in the world. Certainly the longest. Okay, 91 people played in this Masters. Rory was ranked 90th in driving accuracy. 90th and he still won. The drive on 18 could have landed in South Carolina. It could have. So Rory was great when he had to be great. He was great on that stretch from 12 through 18 on Friday with six birdies. He was great yesterday in the middle of the course, getting four birdies on a stretch from seven through 13. He showed resilience. He regained the lead, and he was great on that putt on 16 away from the hole. That was Tiger esque. That was a great play. He was also remarkably lucky. He was lucky that Justin Rose. I'm gonna keep going for a while. That gagged in front of him, you know, on the back nine. He was lucky that neither Cameron Young, who's the other person I'm thinking about Russell Henley. I'm guess to him that they didn't press him late in the round. And he was extremely lucky that Scottie Scheffler missed a birdie putt on 17 by 1 inch on the left hand side. Okay. Extremely lucky because that way Nobody was within one of him. They were within two of him. And he could afford that drive on 18. Yes, he could afford that in terms of where he ranks overall. So I'm sorry to go way through the bell like this. Rory McIlroy now is one of four people ever. Now he's the fifth, no, he's the fourth ever. To repeat the man back to back. There's Jack, there's Tiger, there's Faldo and now Rory. This is an elite group. He has a grand slam. He is part of an elite group. If he gets to 10, I believe that he will be one of the five or six greatest golfers of all time.

[Mike Wilbon]

Tends a lot to him.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I understand that. I think that's it. But I'd also tell you this. He reminds me most of Phil Mickelson because of the way he wins, because of the rollercoaster effect. He went wire to wire technically in this. And it was always a doubt. It was always so I equate him with Phil, with Arnie, with seve, that

[Mike Wilbon]

it's a wild ride, it's a fun ride.

[Tony Kornheiser]

If you're a viewer, it's thrilling.

[Mike Wilbon]

If you're a consumer, Roy, it's thrilling. Was only part of a leading peloton for much of the round. Scotty Scheffler, as we mentioned the made his big run en route to a second place finish. Cam Young and Justin Rose both led briefly and then fell off. Collin Morikawa, who you knew I like a lot, finished tied for seventh despite being hobbled by back issues. So of the others who were in contention, tone, for whom did you find yourself rooting?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think everybody roots for Justin Rose and Justin Rose is star crossed at the Masters. He has lost two playoffs in the Masters. This was different.

[Mike Wilbon]

He had a second place finisher.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He had the lead, okay, after the front nine, he had the lead. He was walking a 10 with a two shot lead and then he gagged. He gagged. In fact, he missed something like a one foot putt late. So he gagged on that and I think we all feel sorry for him. I will repeat on Scheffler. If Scottie Scheffler makes that putt on 17, we're going to a playoff. I mean, Scottie Scheffler was even par for the first two rounds, minus 11 on the weekend, 65, 68. Had no bogeys on the weekend. None. He didn't make that putt. So. And I think he would have won. I do think he would have won. So now he has a second place with two firsts in that particular tournament. I found myself, and I want to pronounce this name correct, rooting A. That's Jack Nicklaus territory, by the way, that he's got in his last 20 majors. Scheffler is in the top 1016 times. What? 16 times. How? Tong Li from China, with whom I was unfamiliar, but as you know, because you watched on Friday and Saturday, he hit irons to two feet from everywhere on the course. And then he had a disastrous back nine.

[Mike Wilbon]

He shot 80.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He shot 44 on the course.

[Mike Wilbon]

Shot 80. He had a 10. We have 10. He put it 10 into the water, off the green completely. That meltdown. And by the way, we didn't see any of it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We don't have tens because it's taken eight.

[Mike Wilbon]

I don't want to be critical.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We're picking up, picking up.

[Mike Wilbon]

Stop cutting off. Things happened that you want more explanation for. It sounded Van de Veldean, but we didn't actually see it when he shot 80. I like you. I was rooting for Justin Rose.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Mike Wilbon]

And I was rooting for Roy. And I always.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I was overall rooting for Roy.

[Mike Wilbon]

Colin Morcawa, as you know.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I know.

[Mike Wilbon]

I thought he was gonna have to withdraw. He suffered the injury last week, and he had this late charge and made five birdies in a row on Sunday. Are you kidding me?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Darrell Hatton had a late charge, too. Got to 10. Got to 10.

[Mike Wilbon]

You. The tournament is always rewarding for some reason or another. You can find something about the Masters to be happy with. You've got this drama involving usually the sport's greatest names for four days. But I thought this was particularly that way because it gave you so many characters and teased you and pulled them back.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The critical moment in what you're saying is when Rory gives back the lead on Saturday fairly quickly, and that makes a drama. I just need to add one more thing here. The second shot, Ferrari on 18. We didn't know where it landed.

[Mike Wilbon]

No.

[Tony Kornheiser]

2 to 3 minutes. This is the most important shot in the tournament. We didn't know where it was. Suddenly it's in the sand. It could have been on the moon. We did not know. That was amazing. Let's move to the NBA and what feels like the first of what might become many coaching changes. Doc Rivers, out in Milwaukee, took the job two and a half seasons ago, went 97, 103, and never advanced in the playoffs, despite the presence of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Wilbon. Does this parting of ways make sense to you?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes. Yeah, it does make sense to me. And I'm looking at this from a different perspective. I've been friends with Glenn Rivers long time. For decades.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Long time.

[Mike Wilbon]

Okay, so I'm not gonna sit here and try to act like I'm neutral. I'm not. Giannis hasn't done a damn thing for five years, but sort of put it out there that he doesn't really know what he wants to do. He's not available for any important game in the playoffs. Let me say it again. For five years, since winning a championship, he starts every season like a house of fire. And everybody says, oh, Giannis is one of the three or four greatest players in the game. And you get the Game 3 in the playoffs and he ain't there. So they should have traded Giannis before, you know, I, I.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You thought he'd be traded by the deadline.

[Mike Wilbon]

I did. You said that. I worried about Doc in this job because it's tied directly to what Giannis can or cannot do. Any NBA head coaching job has that dynamic. And I got tired of Giannis, even though he's a great player when he's there. But in the playoffs, what?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let me give you a statistic that you're going to like. He has not played more than 67 games out of 82. Only once in the last seven seasons, something like that. So what he is, basically, is Joel Embiid without laying on the ground holding his leg. That's what he has become. Look, last week we had Brian Windhorst on the show. The first question of Brian was, what's happening in Milwaukee? And he said he did not think neither Doc nor Giannis would be there next year. So so far, he's one for one. And I agree with you that Giannis is a great player. He's got a ring. He's a great player, but he also appears to be a divisive human being on that team. He has gotten rid of two coaches already, I believe, and you agree with me on that. And I guess he liked Doc for an hour. We don't know what happened after.

[Mike Wilbon]

No, he still likes Doc. I don't work between Doc. It's not working on us.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They got to get rid of him. Okay? I have grown weary. I have grown weary of Giannis saying, I'm gonna be here next year, and then 24 hours later saying, I don't know if they want me to be here next year. For all I know, he's buying a house in another city someplace. New York, I don't have any idea. But it's not working there and it's gotta change.

[Mike Wilbon]

So the parting of the ways which you asked me, it needed to be. Look, Dr. Rivers has, first of all had a Hall of Fame career. He just won the hall of fame.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Got a ring.

[Mike Wilbon]

Okay, got a ring. Hall of Fame. He had a distinguished playing career. And as Doc said the other night, he's got X number of grandkids. I forget the number. It's either six or nine. He's got grandchildren now. I don't know how Doc got to grandchildren before I did.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He also got a membership at Bel Air.

[Mike Wilbon]

He's got six of clubs and he said that. Right? So go do it. So do that. He doesn't need any more than.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you think a lot of coaches will get fired or you think we won't? No, I don't think I was surprised Doug Christie was kept on in Sacramento.

[Mike Wilbon]

Okay, but wait a minute.

[Tony Kornheiser]

22.

[Mike Wilbon]

Wait, wait, wait, wait. But you know why?

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, I'm asking.

[Mike Wilbon]

The organizations wanted these teams to tank and lose. Okay, so you're coming to Washington.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Brings me to the Wizard.

[Mike Wilbon]

Fired either.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, he's not. Keith. Everybody thinks he's gone. No, he's not gone cuz he's doing what the owner and the general manager said to lose. They finished 1 and 26. Let me repeat that. What? What?

[Mike Wilbon]

Who's the win?

[Tony Kornheiser]

1 and 20. They beat Utah because Utah tanked in front of them. 1 and 26. You should not get a draft pick for that. Is Adam Silver paying attention? You should not. Let's take a break. Coming up. With the regular season over, what should we be looking forward to in the NBA's postseason?

[Mike Wilbon]

And is Alexander Ovechkin retiring or not retiring? The regulars. NBA season just smelled. It was awful. Too many teams tanking, too God awful. It was just awful. And people don't play now. Luckily the playoffs, which I guess the teams care now.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's find out what's moving the masses in mail time. I'll get the first one.

[Mike Wilbon]

Okay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Put on my glasses to read it. Here we go. Which is the most compelling upcoming NBA playoff series that we know about?

[Mike Wilbon]

Tony? I think there's a couple in the West. I mean we get Kevin Durant versus LeBron James. This probably the last time we're going to see that. So I find that alone compelling. Even though the Lakers are not a real threat without Luka Doncic. Even though Doncic is going to rejoin the team this week.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Really?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's going to fly back from nobody know.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Mike Wilbon]

I got no problem with him going to wherever he can be treated to. Get back in. I'd love to see Luke in the playoffs, but we're not going to see that. So anyway, that's compelling. Minnesota and Denver. A series we've seen a couple of times. Minnesota knocked Denver out when they were defending champs. I love that matchup again. And so we see that anytime. There's Wembanyama, it's fun to watch. And the Knicks, Atlanta. See, I think that Atlanta could actually beat the New York.

[Tony Kornheiser]

How did Wembanyama get into this? How did you mention him?

[Mike Wilbon]

Just because I just wanted to mention.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You just wanted to mention him? Yes.

[Mike Wilbon]

It was just gratuitous.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Mike Wilbon]

It was just, you know, so. But I gave you three series. If I had to pick one, I would say Denver, Minnesota.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. So we're waiting for the play ins to determine the one eights and the two sevens.

[Mike Wilbon]

Right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm not going to try to sell you on a 1 8. I'm not going to do that. I agree with you that the Denver Minnesota series and the Lakers series with Houston are good. I think I should say that it's important that we mention the Lakers on this show and we attack all the other shows that do nothing but talk about the Lakers and the Cowboys. Because that's what we do.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And that series isn't gonna be much. Cause Reeves is not gonna play. I don't know if Doncic is gonna play. This is not gonna be much. So I'm gonna agree with you. Because the last two years, Minnesota has gotten to the conference finals, and a couple of years ago, or three years ago at the most, Denver won the whole thing. Yeah. So that's. I mean, you know, you want. That may be the best first round series in any sport. Great. No, in any sport. Great first season, you know, because you have a guy. Jokic is the best basketball player in the world, and Anthony Edwards would like to be. So. Yes, I'll agree with you.

[Mike Wilbon]

Edwards has been a giant slayer, by the way. He's eliminated some people. I'll agree. He really has. The Knicks. You're not.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I know. I didn't say the Knicks.

[Mike Wilbon]

I know. You skipped over the Knicks.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I didn't say wembanyama or the Knicks. I didn't say it.

[Mike Wilbon]

You know, I'm going to say wembanyama. Yeah. Ov, what do you think it means that Alex Ovechkin waved off the post game farewell handshake with the Penguins? The Penguins seem very, like, respectful, like they wanted to do this. And OVI was like, no, no, no, no, no.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. I mean, the only thing I can think of is that he doesn't believe over. Maybe that happens in the final game of the season, but not just the final home game of the season. It was very ceremonial and he did not want it. You realize, I thought it was cool.

[Mike Wilbon]

I thought it was.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The Capitals can still make the playoffs.

[Mike Wilbon]

They got to have. The players have to lose face. Okay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But if they do, they play Pittsburgh. So there's plenty of time for more face offs between Crosby and Ovechkin, who came in basically together, who are giant hall of Fame stars and who each have won Cups. So that's important, you know, So, I mean, the other. What hangs over this is, is Ovechkin retiring? Is he retiring? Is he staying? Is he on the fence? We don't know where he is at the moment, so I think maybe he just felt that this was a premature. Congratulations.

[Mike Wilbon]

I think he absolutely felt that way. And it was. You know, there's so many things that we might feel critical about the way people handle, you know, their own careers at the end or late or what, not knowing what to do. I thought that was just very cool.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Mike Wilbon]

And he wasn't upset with anybody. He was just saying, hold on, let's not. Let's not rush this, Sparky. And I like that. But Ovich, can he play anymore if he comes back? He can't.

[Tony Kornheiser]

How many goals did he have?

[Mike Wilbon]

I know he can score.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He got a bunch of goals.

[Mike Wilbon]

He can score, but there's other parts of the game. And the Capitals May miss playoffs.

[Tony Kornheiser]

32 goals.

[Mike Wilbon]

Let me say again, he's 40 years old, the Capitals. Okay, so he's got this thing he does.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Are you saying. You're saying he should.

[Mike Wilbon]

No, I'm saying that that has to be an examination. And the team, if they're going to really try to be a real team again and win another Stanley Cup.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right. They're years away from that. They will never just cut him or ask him to leave. They will not do that because he's a draw.

[Mike Wilbon]

They don't ask him to stay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's the reason people walk into that gym.

[Mike Wilbon]

I know. Because they don't ask him to stay. What does that mean?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think they will ask him to stay. That's enough email. I don't know. He will. Let's take one last break. Silver Crumb. Jannik. Sinner. Not Jacob. Sinner.

[Mike Wilbon]

Ha.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Jannik. Sinner. Beats. That's his brother, Carlos Alcaraz, for his third straight tournament win.

[Mike Wilbon]

And who will go first in tonight's WNBA draft?

[Tony Kornheiser]

We got locals. Who you got? Who you got going first?

[Mike Wilbon]

There's a European woman who. Six, four.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, so you don't have a local. You don't have blood or.

[Mike Wilbon]

I want Tiki Rice in Chicago. You know where I want her to go Fifth.

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[Rich Eisen]

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[Mike Wilbon]

Taxes.

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You'll get to it tonight or tomorrow or after the weekend. And if you handle it the old way, you're refreshing your inbox like it's breaking news. Waiting, wondering, hoping. Everything squared away. That's a lot of mental bandwidth. With Intuit TurboTax Expert full service. You can match with a dedicated expert who understands your specific tax situation and handles your taxes for you start to finish. You can do it all online or meet in person at one of their new tech enabled store locations. Have your tax forms imported directly into the app and hand everything off to your TurboTax expert while they work to get you every dollar you deserve. You can go about your normal routine, giving you time back to focus on what actually deserves your attention. Like rooting for your team to make the playoffs. April 15th is not waiting people. Visit turbotax.com and hand off your taxes to a TurboTax expert today.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy time people. Happy 26th birthday. Rasmus Dalien, the Buffalo Sabres defenseman and Captain was the first overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. Dalien has 19 goals and 53 assists this season. Played for Sweden in the Winter Olympics a couple of months ago. The Sabres lead the Atlantic Division with 106 points and they will make the playoffs for the first time since 2011, ending a 14 year playoff drought. I was stunned to learn that the Detroit Red Wings now own the longest playoff drought in the NHL. 10 years.

[Mike Wilbon]

Wow.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Stunned because the Red Wings were the best American team of the original six. They won four Stanley Cups between 1997 and 2008 and they made the playoffs 25 straight years between 1991 and 2016.

[Mike Wilbon]

Aren't their fortunes so like the Raiders? Remember when the Raiders were the winningest team in the NFL?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I hadn't thought about it.

[Mike Wilbon]

It went just went away. The Red Wings going away. It can't be good for the sport.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No no no no no. Happy Anniversary Kobe Bryant. This is posthumous. But on this day 10 years ago, in his last NBA game, the 37 year old Black Mamba scored an NBA season high of 60 points against Utah. Bryant, who retired after the season, outscored the entire Jazz team in the fourth quarter 23 to 12 in the Lakers 10196 victory. At 37 years and 234 days old, Bryant became the oldest player to score 60 or more in a single game. Bryant took a personal record 50 shots that game. According to Stat Head only Bryant, George Gervin, Michael Jordan, Chris Webber, Russell Westbrook and recently Dejounte Murray, Kate Cunningham and Jalen Brunson have taken 44 shots in one game in the last 50 years. What a shot. They all did it once. Kobe did it six times. Wilbon, you could have been at this game, right?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah, it could have been. I exercised what we call bad judgment. I was off the producer said. Pick one Golden State. Breaking to go for 73 right or stay right here in LA. Where across the street you can go over and see Mamba's last game I chose to go to see the Warriors. I got a phone call later. Taunting from somebody. You want to imagine who that was? I bet it's Kobe Bryant. Where were you?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I bet it's Kobe Bryant.

[Mike Wilbon]

What kind of choice was that?

[Tony Kornheiser]

A melancholy trails to Phil Garner. The longtime infielder and manager passed away on Saturday from pancreatic cancer at the age of 76. Garner, who had the fabulous nickname of Scrap Iron, was a three time all star, breaking in with Charlie Finley's A's before winning a World Series with the Pirates. We are Family team of 1979. In that seven game win over the Orioles, Garner went 12 for 24. He followed a 16 year playing career with 15 years as a manager, leading Houston to the World series in 2005 where they were swept by the White Sox. Garner and Davey Lopes, who died last week, followed similar arcs across their career.

[Mike Wilbon]

There were glamorous, more glamorous people on that we are family team sergeant Parker, Sargel and Parker. But he seemed to personify the grit and the scrappiness. The nickname Scrap Iron of that team which was very memorable.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Couple of corrections Jannik Sinner's brother's name is Mark, not Jacob apparently. Local news in D.C. has video of the naked burglary.

[Mike Wilbon]

I see it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Maybe we should have believed that. Quick to the big finish. Still time Christian Yellow to the Brewers. Injured a hamstring. Big deal.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes. The brewers themselves admitted publicly they don't think there's going to be good news regarding this. And he's their best player. The Yankees have both lost five in a row. Who should be more concerned?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Nets. They spend more money and they don't make the playoffs ever. Sinner beat Alcaraz and Monte Carlo to retake the world number one ranking. Is that significant?

[Mike Wilbon]

No. They're going to ping pong this thing all summer long and then for the next eight to 10 years. Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick gonna make his final start of his career tonight. How are you gonna remember him?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Won two cups with the Kings as the starting goalie.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

None with the Rangers. Last one. The WNBA draft is tonight. You're glued to the set. Who goes first?

[Mike Wilbon]

Our fam of Spain. Seems like she might be the first pick for Dallas. Seems like a logical first pick to me.

[Tony Kornheiser]

If it's not, you have to apologize. We're out of time. Try and do better the next time. I'm Tony Kornheise.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads. And now, I suppose it's Lauren Betts.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's fine. We got kids here from the University of Maryland, right?

[Mike Wilbon]

Welcome ti.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

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