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Unknown Entrepreneur
I don't just stand on business. I live it 24 7. Because you don't become a young entrepreneur by staying stagnant. Whether I'm chasing deals, networking, or taking calls from behind the wheel of my Toyota Crown, I'm always in motion. You may think launching a successful startup is enough to be satisfied, but me, I'm just getting started. It's a new day at Toyota led by a new generation of drivers. And we want you to know one thing. You can't stop my drive. Toyota. Let's go places.
Mike Wilbon
Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. Tony, a 106-year-old woman in England says her secret to longevity is chocolate and partying. What's yours?
Tony Kornheiser
I'm Tony Kornheiser. Anxiety and resentment. Yeah, yeah. I'm a doubling down on anxiety and resentment with that.
Mike Wilbon
You know what? I'll double down on chocolate and partying. Yeah, I'm with that. Oh, I'm with that. Oh, ye. No doubt.
Tony Kornheiser
Anxiety and resentment gonna get me to at least. I don't know. Well, I'm about 95 now. Two years more. Welcome to PTI, boys and girls. In today's episode, Sam Darnold's future, Duke's prowess, and Jose Altuve's new position. But we begin today with Kyrie Irving tearing his acl. Late in the first quarter last night on a drive to the basket against Sacramento, Irving went down and immediately signaled for a trainer. The ACL tear was diagnosed this morning. Morning. And Irving will be out for the rest of this season and maybe next as well. Wilvon, what now for Irving and the Mavericks?
Mike Wilbon
Oh, Tony, Nothing good. I mean, nothing. Nothing good. I mean, we're all waiting to see if Anthony Davis could get back and Derek Lively could get back and, you know, Gafford could get back and can Dallas make a run and what can they play in a series against the Lakers early now, the season is lost. If. What's next? If I was running the Mavericks, I would say, Anthony Davis, you're not playing the rest of this year. We're going to go the opposite Joel embiid route. We're going to let Anthony Davis be the best he can be physically by just taking some months off and working with trainer nutrition, all those things that elite level NBA teams and players surround themselves with. We do that, Kyrie Irving is going to be essentially a free agent player option, free agent. And I don't know what happens. Tony, what do you do if you're Dallas? How long do you wait to see what's going to happen to a 30 year old or slightly older than person with a torn acl. He was, you know, nothing's ever been wrong with Kyrie in terms of basketball. There was a time in which locker room wise, he seemed toxic. He got in Dallas and he's been getting it done. He's turned into a leader, a responsible spokesman. He handled the trade in ways that were just amazing to me. Everything he said, he sounded the right note, he took the right approach. He was everything the franchise could want. And now this. I don't know where you go from here.
Tony Kornheiser
So you underestimated his age by a little bit. He's about to turn 33. He's older than you think. Okay. If you are right now the general manager of the Dallas Mavericks, Nico Harrison, you are done. You're done. I mean, maybe this creates a pool of sympathy or maybe you can work the owners and you can say to the owners it really would have worked if nobody got hurt. But the owners just raised ticket prices so they have problems of their own. You traded away Luka Doncic, the most popular player on the team. You got back Anthony Davis, who has played part of one game and who knows when he's going to be back. You just lost your best player, Kyrie Irving, and who knows when he is going to be back. So it's, it's, it just feels like it's completely over in Dallas at the moment. I was one of those guys, Mike, as you know, who thought in the near term that trade would work out, but that's because of Irving and Davis, because they had championship rings.
Mike Wilbon
Yeah.
Tony Kornheiser
And they're, they're gone. And nobody else on that team has a championship ring. Dallas at the moment is 33, 30. They're in 10th place. The only thing that's going to keep them from dropping out of the play in is Phoenix because Phoenix stinks. So Phoenix isn't going to catch them. Phoenix, somehow with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, they actually got worse. These two teams at the moment, Dallas and Phoenix are disasters. They're disasters.
Mike Wilbon
Yeah. But Phoenix is a different kind of. Phoenix is an on court disaster. And you trade some people away, you do some. The Dallas thing. Tony, I said to somebody earlier, this is like the Curse of the Bambino. I mean this is like trading away Babe Ruth and then the rest of it goes to him. Trade away, you know, Mike.
Tony Kornheiser
Luka, Mike. Nico Harrison took a master class in how to be a terrible gm. It's all bad. It's all bad. It's all bad.
Mike Wilbon
Yeah. Less than A year after coming off a trip to the NBA Finals where it was all good, Sam Darnold moving to the NFL could be looking for a new team after the Vikings chose not to franchise tag him. You know, a couple hours ago, Darnold had a Pro bowl season for Minnesota and looked like a lock for a big deal himself before struggling in his last two starts. The team is reportedly still interested in working to resign him, but he now becomes an unrestricted free agent. Tone, if you were Darnold, would you want to stay?
Tony Kornheiser
So if I'm Darnold, it depends on the money. If the money isn't better anywhere else than it is in Minnesota, you could probably let me stay because I know that the coach at Minnesota brought out the best in me and I know they like JJ McCarthy, but I would have been on a team with him for a year and I would have felt that I could work with him. Mike, this is such a small sample size of influence here. For 16 games, Sam Darnold was all world. The Vikings were 14 2. He had 35 touchdowns, only 12 interceptions. They weren't going to franchise him, they were going to extend him. Okay, they had McCarthy, they liked McCarthy, but he was out for the whole year. This guy Sam Darnold was the bird in the hand. And then they lost to Detroit 31 9. And Darnold was bad in that game. He threw the ball 41 times, only gained 163 yards in the air, no touchdowns. A bad game followed it up with a bad game. His numbers were better in the playoff loss to the Rams, but they weren't appreciably better. So in those two games, Mike, he had his offense accumulated just one touchdown. They lost by combined scores of 58 to 18. And he had 11 sacks. And that's where we are right now. Like it all turned in two games.
Mike Wilbon
Well, but it didn't, Tony. I'm gonna tell you why it didn't. This conversation was already going on and maybe I paid more attention to it because it's my division. It's a little off the beaten path for you. I95ers. But they weren't going to keep. They weren't convinced about keeping Sam Darnold anyway. Because what they were concerned about is at some point next season, not the final two games, he was going to turn into hello, Sam Darnold. And this conversation was already starting. And even if he had played well in those two games, he was still going to have to prove it in the playoffs and say, get to the conference final. Beat the championship game. Excuse me, before the Vikings were going to commit to him because they got the prized fair haired rookies sitting on the bench waiting to come back.
Tony Kornheiser
He's never played.
Mike Wilbon
Haven't played it down. Played anyway. He hadn't played anyway. Still haven't played. That. That doesn't change what they were waiting for Sam Darnold, for the trap door to open and for him to fall into Minnesota. Now it's easier. Now it's easier because he had those two games and it provides an excuse. It changes the narrative. They didn't know. To answer our original question, would you want to stay? I think I would want to stay because I'm going to get more than a one year deal because I'm not franchised. And if I can get, or if I can get from somebody else or whomever, three years at $30 million each. A hundred million dollars or approaching that for Sam Darnold, for a guy who was left for roadkill a year ago might be pretty good and a chance.
Tony Kornheiser
Before we get to the next story, why would anybody give him $30 million a year if he's fallen through the trapdoor?
Mike Wilbon
The Raiders.
Tony Kornheiser
He's been in, according to Raiders. No, not that much money. Not that much money.
Mike Wilbon
No.
Tony Kornheiser
No.
Mike Wilbon
Let's move tabs on this.
Tony Kornheiser
Duke beat Wake Forest last night by 33 points. This is the fourth straight game Duke has won by more than three. 30. Cooper Flagg had 28 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals in what might have been his last game at Cameron, where he is now. Hello, 17 and oh, Wilmot, have the Blue Devils convinced you they are a dominant team?
Mike Wilbon
Hell no. This is March 4th, isn't it? What are we talking about here? No, no, I'm not 19 years old. I've covered Georgetown when, when they dominated the regular season and didn't win. I covered the North. I was around covering the ACC when they had a player named Michael Jordan. They didn't win. They won as a, he won as a freshman. But they were great after that in the regular season, didn't win. I've seen Duke teams be great in the regular season and not win. I've seen UNLV be great and just plow through people in the regular season and not win. So no, I got, I can keep going, but I won't. So you know, I know the ACC is down too, so it's easier to just plow through the acc. But no, I've seen great teams be great in great conferences and have great seasons and flame out before holding a trophy on Monday night in March or April because they didn't get to do it.
Tony Kornheiser
Okay, so the question is, are they a dominant team? They are a dominant team in the ACC. They are 181 in the ACC. They have won 10 games by 25 or more points. Some years back when the ACC was what we recognized, we would have said, yes, they are a dominant team. But the ACC isn't like it was when we covered in the 80s and 90s. It's not like that. They got three ranked teams. They got Duke, they got Clemson. They got Louisville. I read somewhere that there are nine ACC teams that are outside the top hundred. Right. That's not good. Now Duke has beaten Auburn. Mike, that's a great win. That's over the number one team in the country. But it was December 5th in Cameron, and sadly, they're not playing the NCAAs in Cameron. Do I think they can win the national championship? Yes. Do I think they're a dominant team in the way that I thought UConn last year, in their second year, was a dominant team? No, I. Yeah, I don't think they are that kind of team at the moment. What interested me, I watched that game last night. What interested me the most was the Duke fans cheering, one more year at Cooper Flagg. And I have to say, Mike, I agree with them. He's 18 years old. He can't play against men 30 to 35 years old. Physically, he can't do it. If I were him, I would consider getting $5 million from nil, which would be easy for him. And play him. Get more. Get more than you can get in the pros, and then. Okay, and then stay one more year. Work on your physicality. Larry Bird, who he's compared to all the time, Wasn't Larry Bird 22 or 23 when he went to the NBA?
Mike Wilbon
At least 23 or 24. Larry had worked a real job and gone back to school. He wasn't 18.
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah, right. Yeah. Let's take a break. Coming up, Jose Altuve has been an All Star second baseman nine times. So does it make sense for the Astros to move him to left field?
Mike Wilbon
Steve Kerr says NBA refs are missing too many traveling calls. What's the word for that? People scouts now would tell you, oh, Bird's too old. We like him at 18, 19. That Larry Bird, Larry Joe Bird, he's too old.
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Unknown Entrepreneur
I don't just stand on business. I live it 247 because you don't become a young entrepreneur by staying stagnant. Whether I'm chasing deals, networking or taking calls from behind the wheel of my Toyota Crown, I'm always in motion. You may think launching a successful startup is enough to be satisfied, but me? I'm just getting started. It's a new day at Toyota, led by a new generation of drivers, and we want you to know one thing. You can't stop my drive. Toyota. Let's go. Places.
Tony Kornheiser
Time to play a little lingo. Bingo. And what's the word? What's first?
Unknown Advertiser
The Astros moving Jose Altuve from second.
Tony Kornheiser
Base to left field is blank. It's weird. What is the reason for this? This guy is a hall of fame second baseman, right? These numbers. He's played 1,767 games for Houston in a defensive position and 1,765 of them. That defensive position was second. Mike he had the best fielding percentage among second base in the American League last year. He's going to be 35 in May. Isn't the outfield tougher on your legs? There was some thought that when they were trying to keep Alex Bregman that to keep the integrity of the infield, they might move Bregman to second and might move Altuve to left. But has anybody told them that Bregman signed with the Red Sox? And here's Altuve in left and he says he likes it. So I don't want to be critical. I Just think it's weird.
Mike Wilbon
Tony, I'm with you. I'm Echo. Everything you said is puzzling is my word. Because, you know, I thought when I first heard this, I presumed, given the Astros recent history, that they had some ace in the minor leagues who played second base. Some 20 year old stud phenom who was going to move up and take the place to snatch the baton from the future hall of Fame second baseman Altuve, as you said. But that appears not to be the case. Or not yet. Unless the Astros have got somebody stashed somewhere in the world that we haven't identified him yet. Because the Astros. If you're going to take somebody's scouting department, I'll take the Astros. And you can have whoever's next in the major League Astros. But Tone, if that's not the case, then you put out two. They out where he's got to run more.
Tony Kornheiser
I don't get it.
Mike Wilbon
It's puzzling. Puzzling to me.
Tony Kornheiser
Yes, it makes sense. What's next?
Unknown Advertiser
Steve Kerr's complaints about traveling are blank.
Tony Kornheiser
They are unassailable. But this has been going on for a long time. Referees do not call walking in the NBA. You can take four or five steps and they don't call it. They call it a Euro step or a crab dribble, but they don't call it what it is, which is walking. Here is what Kerr said, this direct quote. I don't understand why we are not teaching our officials to call traveling in this league. I see five or six travels a game that aren't called. You know, there's a problem and There are like 100 fans in the stands and coaches on the sideline and everyone is signaling for travel. He's right. But again, it's been going on for 20 years. Much like the NFL, the NBA is trying to protect offense. It's all about offense. Adam Silver could change this with one letter and he's not gonna do it.
Mike Wilbon
No, Tony. And that's why my word is ignored. They know what? They know Steve Kerr is telling the truth. He's accurate. They don't want to hear it. I wish we'd had Steve Kerr last night in Evanston, Illinois, where the Big Ten refs hosed Doug Collins son's team hosed Northwestern and handed a victory to UCLA after a huge comeback. I wish he'd been there for that because Doug Collins knows there's traveling and too much of it too. He and Steve Kerr would be aligned on that. And I wish Steve had been with us and we could have crusaded because I'm still angry about getting hosed at home in the senior night game. But ignore Tony. They don't. The NBA wants people taking off. They want 19 year olds not to have nil money. They want the 19 year olds like your boy in Durham taking off from the foul line after six steps or a euro step or a crab dribble and flushing it. And so those complaints will be ignored.
Tony Kornheiser
That's the final word. Let's take one last break. Still to come, the jets are reportedly saying goodbye to a receiver they just.
Mike Wilbon
Traded for Shay Gildrich. Alexander goes for 50 again. Good thing he didn't have the big 10 refs going against him last night. He'd have been held to about 30.
Tony Kornheiser
So the purple got hosed. The purple got hosed. You say purple got hosed?
Mike Wilbon
Host I was on the court very near the end of the game. Had to hold me down.
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Tony Kornheiser
Buy now at espnplus.com PPV Happy time people. Happy 80th birthday, Gary Williams. This is from our hearts because Gary is our friend of longstanding. When I was writing a column for the Washington Post, I tried to stay away from Gary's games because I knew I could not be objective. I will try and be objective now when I say that Gary coached harder and with more intensity than any coach I've ever known. Nobody prepared his team better than Gary. Nobody game coached better than Gary got everything out of his players. Gary coached at American, at Boston College, at Ohio State and ultimately at his alma mater Maryland where he won the national championship in 2002. His career record was 668 and 380 and he's in the hall of Fame because everyone recognized how good he was.
Mike Wilbon
Here, here Tony, before you semi retired to the golf course and started your long self imposed trek to the attic. I, because of all that, got to be with Gary Williams in Maryland game after game, season after season. And I feel honored when I look back on it to have been there for Gary taking Maryland to the Final Four, Gary taking Maryland to the national championship. And I feel honored that I got to go back to back college basketball coaches as a reporter with John Thompson and Gary Williams. I think you were there for that too. We had a pretty good, pretty good.
Tony Kornheiser
I was there for some of it and now I'm there on the golf course with Garrett. Happy anniversary Jacksonville Dolphins on this day 55 years ago, the little known school without a conference affiliation became the first college basketball team ever to average 100 points a game. Joe Williams recruited two seven footers, Artis Gilmore and Pembroke Burroughs III, put him out there with guard Rex Morgan and finished the regular season 23 1. It was talked that Jacksonville only made the NCAA tournament because they played a weak schedule. So in their first three tournament games they beat Western Kentucky, Big Ten champion Iowa and Blue Blood Kentucky scoring over 100 in each game. Jacksonville beat St. Bonaventure in the national semifinal but ultimately lost to the UCLA team of Sidney Wicks, Curtis Rowe and Henry Bibby 8069 in the final.
Mike Wilbon
Doesn't this sound like the story we just did on Duke to start the show? They were dominant. They scored 100 points every game and they didn't win. So does anybody know they were dominant? Let me just talk about the difference real quick between college basketball then and now. It was appointment viewing to see Jacksonville. Once when I was 11 years old, you had to watch him in the final Four. It's the Only time you got to see him. Thankfully, the world has changed.
Tony Kornheiser
Happy trails to last night's game for the Grizzlies. The Hawks and Grizz were tied with seconds left when Atlanta's Dyson Daniels picked the ball from Desmond Bain, dribbled once, then passed ahead to Caris LeVert, who won the game. At the buzzer, LeVert made the shot, but Daniels is the story here. The 21 year old is leading the league with three steals per game. That's 67% more than the player in second place, Shay Gilgis Alexander. The Australian will be the first NBA player in 31 years to average three steals per game living up to his fabulous nickname of the Great Barrier Thief.
Mike Wilbon
That is such a great nickname. You're right, Tony. You don't have to have the first, second or third pick to find players of consequence in the draft. He was eighth. Now Atlanta can scout him and find him. I wouldn't have gotten rid of DeAndre Hunter that quickly to send him away. But they know how to scout and find some players.
Tony Kornheiser
You like him, right? You think he's a fine. You like him?
Mike Wilbon
Yes. Yes, absolutely. I like him.
Tony Kornheiser
Let's go to the big finish. The Eagles made Saquon Barkley the highest paid running back in history with a two year, $41 million contract extension. You happy for him?
Mike Wilbon
Yeah, I am. I. I like running backs. But he's only the only one making more than 20 mil. Maybe it'll change the approach to running backs. The jets have released Devonte Adams. Oh, your reaction?
Tony Kornheiser
They released Aaron Rodgers as well. They came as a tag team. Adams came here because of Rodgers. No point in being there now. The Yankees shutting down. Luigi healed for at least six weeks due to a lat strain. Is that significant?
Mike Wilbon
Yeah, it was Rookie of the year 15, 7, 3 and a half era. They got some depth of pitching, but you still want him. Bill Belichick and North Carolina will not be on HBO's Hard Knocks after the deal fell apart. Your thoughts?
Tony Kornheiser
I don't think college teams should be on that show anyway. But apparently there are owners in the NFL that did not want Belichick on NFL film. They must not like him. Last one, Shay Gilgious. Alexander had his fourth 50 point game in seven weeks. Big deal.
Mike Wilbon
With Jordan and Wilt. It's a big deal. But let me ask you this real quick. I know you don't vote anymore, but if you had to vote for MVP, SGA or no.
Tony Kornheiser
Too soon. 20 games left.
Mike Wilbon
You want me to wait? Hold my ballot.
Tony Kornheiser
All right, we're out of time. We'll try and do better the next time. Patrick Cullen. Shout out.
Mike Wilbon
I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads. You can get the PTI podcast on the ESPN app or Apple podcast. I'm not paying a fine to the Big Ten, Tony. I'm just telling you, not pay.
Tony Kornheiser
It's okay. You don't have to.
Mike Wilbon
And.
Tony Kornheiser
And no early voting on mvp. Come on now. No early voting.
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Podcast Summary: PTI – "Unfortunate Disaster In Dallas & Duke Dominance In Basketball"
Release Date: March 4, 2025
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon
Description: Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon delve into the day's hottest sports topics, offering their insights and analyses.
The episode opens with a troubling update on Kyrie Irving’s injury. Irving suffered an ACL tear during a drive to the basket against Sacramento, which was confirmed the following morning. This injury sidelines him for the rest of the season, possibly extending into the next.
Tony Kornheiser [01:03]:
"If you are the general manager of the Dallas Mavericks, Nico Harrison, you are done. It's completely over in Dallas at the moment."
Mike Wilbon expresses uncertainty about the team's future, highlighting the absence of key players like Anthony Davis, Derek Lively, and Kyrie Irving. Kornheiser criticizes the Mavericks' management decisions, emphasizing the departure of all championship-caliber players, leaving the team in disarray.
Mike Wilbon [01:38]:
"We're all waiting to see if Anthony Davis could get back and Derek Lively could get back... If Dallas can make a run and what they can play in a series against the Lakers early now, the season is lost."
The discussion shifts to Sam Darnold’s uncertain position with the Minnesota Vikings. After a promising Pro Bowl season, Darnold struggled in his last two starts, leading to his status as an unrestricted free agent.
Tony Kornheiser [05:41]:
"If I were Darnold, it depends on the money. If the money isn't better anywhere else than it is in Minnesota, you could probably let me stay."
Kornheiser questions the viability of keeping Darnold, considering his recent performance decline. Wilbon suggests that despite the struggles, Darnold might secure a lucrative deal elsewhere, referencing potential offers from teams like the Raiders.
Tony and Mike analyze Duke's impressive victory over Wake Forest, where Duke won by 33 points. They discuss whether Duke is a truly dominant team within the ACC and their prospects for the national championship.
Tony Kornheiser [09:06]:
"Do I think they are a dominant team in the way that I thought UConn last year was? No, I don't think they are that kind of team at the moment."
Kornheiser commends Duke's fanbase for their support of star player Cooper Flagg but raises concerns about Flagg’s readiness to compete against more physically mature opponents. Mike Wilbon shares skepticism about labeling Duke as dominant, citing past experiences where strong regular-season teams faltered in championships.
The hosts delve into the Astros' surprising decision to move Jose Altuve from second base to left field, despite Altuve's stellar defensive record at his longtime position.
Tony Kornheiser [14:08]:
"He's a hall of fame second baseman, right? This defensive position was second."
Mike Wilbon finds the move puzzling, questioning the Astros' rationale given Altuve’s accolades and defensive prowess. They speculate whether the Astros have future talent ready to take over second base or if there are other strategic reasons behind the shift.
Steve Kerr's longstanding frustration with NBA referees not calling traveling violations is a focal point of discussion. The hosts debate the impact of missed calls on the game’s integrity and offensive play.
Tony Kornheiser [16:00]:
"Steve Kerr's complaints about traveling are unassailable... Adam Silver could change this with one letter and he's not gonna do it."
Mike Wilbon agrees with Kerr, lamenting the NBA's apparent preference for offensive fluidity over strict rule enforcement. They express frustration over the lack of action from the league despite consistent feedback from prominent figures like Kerr.
A heartfelt tribute is paid to Gary Williams, celebrating his illustrious coaching career and his recent 80th birthday.
Tony Kornheiser [20:09]:
"Gary coached harder and with more intensity than any coach I've ever known... His career record was 668 and 380 and he's in the hall of Fame because everyone recognized how good he was."
Mike Wilbon echoes Kornheiser’s sentiments, reminiscing about their shared experiences covering Williams’ teams and acknowledging his significant contributions to college basketball.
The duo reflects on Jacksonville Dolphins’ remarkable season 55 years ago, where they became the first college basketball team to average 100 points per game. Despite their offensive prowess, they fell short in the national championship.
Tony Kornheiser [21:31]:
"Happy anniversary Jacksonville Dolphins... they scored over 100 in each game but ultimately lost to the UCLA team in the final."
Mike Wilbon draws parallels to Duke’s current performance, questioning the correlation between high-scoring games and championship success.
Tony highlights a recent Grizzlies game where Dyson Daniels led the league with three steals per game, earning him the nickname "Great Barrier Thief."
Tony Kornheiser [22:43]:
"The Australian will be the first NBA player in 31 years to average three steals per game... living up to his fabulous nickname of the Great Barrier Thief."
Mike Wilbon praises Daniels’ scouting and acquisition by the Grizzlies, commending the team's ability to find impactful players outside the top draft picks.
The conversation wraps up with Saquon Barkley securing a two-year, $41 million contract extension with the Eagles, making him the highest-paid running back in history. They discuss the implications for the running back position in the NFL.
Mike Wilbon [23:48]:
"Maybe it'll change the approach to running backs. The Jets have released Devonte Adams. Oh, your reaction?"
Kornheiser expresses mixed feelings, noting Barkley’s prominence while also mentioning the Jets’ decision to release another player, Aaron Rodgers, highlighting the volatile nature of NFL contracts.
Conclusion
Throughout the episode, Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon provide incisive commentary on a range of sports topics, from player injuries and team management woes to historic college basketball achievements and contract negotiations in the NFL. Their dynamic discussion offers listeners a comprehensive overview of current sports events, enriched with personal insights and memorable quotes.
Note: Advertisements and non-content segments have been excluded to focus solely on the substantive discussions between Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon.