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- [00:01]
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 now@celsius.com. pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Lobon. It's St. Patrick's Day. Tony, what's the luckiest thing to happen to you?
- [00:33]
Tony Kornheiser
Tony Kornheiser? I woke up like you gotta.
- [00:37]
Mike Wilbon
You gotta make sure you're up. You gotta start somewhere on the right
- [00:39]
Tony Kornheiser
side of the dirt. At our age. At our age, no doubt. You gotta make sure.
- [00:44]
Mike Wilbon
Wait a minute.
- [00:44]
Tony Kornheiser
You gotta make sure.
- [00:45]
Mike Wilbon
I was in Chicago Saturday. We dyed the river green. There were a million people drinking in the streets from 7am until 4am what do you mean? St. Patty's is today and we just had it in Chicago.
- [01:02]
Tony Kornheiser
Well, you're in a different time zone in Chicago, so that's why you had it. Welcome to pti, boys and girls. In today's episode, the spurs win their 50th. The Dolphins send Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos. And Jay Bilas joins us for five good minutes. But we begin today with tonight's final game of the World Baseball Classic. The United States got in Monday by beating the Dominican Republic. Venezuela got there last night by coming from behind to beat Italy 4 2. Both Venezuela and the United States are loaded with major league players. The game will be in Miami starting at 8. Wilbon. What is stake tonight, Tony?
- [01:38]
Mike Wilbon
What's at stake is just baseball's ability to sell itself further with great players and great teams. And a festive atmosphere is beyond festive, a passionate atmosphere. And so in a week, you know, we're starting a month, March Madness. Talking about madness. These games have had some madness to them, particularly, I'm expecting. We saw last night in Miami. I think we're going to see tonight in Miami. You look at that Venezuelan team and Tony, the names are familiar to everybody, regardless of nationality. When you go across all these teams, whether you're talking about Japan, Korea, the Dominican, Canada, the United States, Venezuela. Ronald Acuna Jr. Acuna Jr. Mikel Garcia, Luisa Rice, Gino Suarez. You got Tovar, you got Gleyber Torres, you got Abreu, you got Jackson Churio. These names are known. These entities are known. And so you're going to go out there and see them. The cultures are different. That's fun. The Spirit of each team seems had to have a signature. That's fun. I mean, I'm excited about the whole tournament from start to finish, and I don't know what we're going to see today.
- [02:51]
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah. So I had two people get in touch with me today who were at last night's game between Venezuela and Miami. They said they heard noise last night like they had never heard in their lives at a baseball game. And they said they really believe that tonight the home crowd advantage is not going to be with the United States, it's going to be with Venezuela. And I wonder about that. I wonder how the US Players will feel when they see that not every, most people are not rooting for them. I mean, they're in their home country and they won't have the hometown crowd. I guess it'll be sort of like a soccer game where we in the United States, we entertain a country where soccer is the most meaningful thing that there is on the planet. So I'm interested in that. There's another thing that interests me, and I think you and I both agree that it's not an upset, it's not a shock of Venezuela wins.
- [03:42]
Mike Wilbon
Not at all. Not at all.
- [03:43]
Tony Kornheiser
But what interests me, what interests me. And we saw this with the Olympics, particularly the United States and Canada in the hockey, where people are professional teammates, but then they go to play for other countries. For example, the Giants have Logan Webb out there and Luisa Rice. The Royals have Bobby Witt Jr. And Salvador Perez. The Red Sox, Roman Anthony. They have Abreu. The brewers, the Phillies, they have people on their teams playing for different teams. It's odd to me and intriguing to me. It is intriguing to me.
- [04:15]
Mike Wilbon
Only the fun of it is what you could wind up with at the end. Pete Crowe. Armstrong not starting for the US Tonight, but he could wind up pitch hitting. He could wind up going out to the field and he could wind up hitting against his closer, Danny Palencio. He could wind up hitting against him with the game on the line. So that is a fun element. A big sidebar.
- [04:35]
Tony Kornheiser
The Cubs, the Brewers, the Phillies, they're in that situation where they've got people from both sides. Let's move to the NBA. Your favorite team, the spurs won last night, beating the Clippers without Kawhi Leonard by four points. That makes the Spurs 50 and 18. After the game, your favorite player, Victor Wembanyama, said he wanted to get at least 60 to balance out my rookie season when The spurs went 22 and 60 to get to 60 wins, the spurs must finish at least 10 and 4. Wilbond. Is that a goal worth aiming at?
- [05:06]
Mike Wilbon
Tony? Yes and no. The actual numbers of it are not. It's the attitude that is so not only are you right about calling Victor when Banyama, my favorite player now, I don't just watch the games. I try to then stream whatever Victor is saying after the game because I want to hear him because he's unbelievably engaging. He and SGA are that way. And in Winyama's case, Tony. It's the attitude that to me sounded like some guys I cared about in the NBA. It sounded like 23 in red, 33 in green and 32 and purple and gold. It sounded like them where they wanted to win every game. They were angry when they didn't, particularly Jordan and Bird. And I think that that's where Wembanyama. We saw him sobbing. We've seen the emotion pour out of this kid. And so if he now says to his teammates, you're going to play and you're going to play and you're going to play because I'm playing, that's what the NBA needs.
- [06:09]
Tony Kornheiser
So I'm going to underline pretty much what you have just said because I don't think that the San Antonio spurs want to win 60. Victor Wembanyama wants to win 60, and that is different. Victor Wembanyama has skin in this particular game. I too have heard him after games and it always sounds like he has skin in that particular game. It seems to me, Mike, that he is willing and eager to be a leader. That at the age of 22, he wants this to be his team. They got a player on the Spurs, Keldon Johnson, been here five or six years, qualifies as a veteran. Here's his quote about Wembignano wanting to win 60. He says it's not enough. It's not enough. To me, that is recognition of a leadership change on that particular team. Yeah, I don't think it's important, but Wembanyama thinks it's important. And I watch him out there like a giant whooping crane and I watch players regard him in awe. And if he. If this is important to him, Mike, it doesn't matter how many you go into the playoffs with. Golden State, went in with 73 and didn't win. Doesn't matter. The number that matters is they are 18 and two in their last 20. They're the best team in the NBA right now. They're the best team.
- [07:32]
Mike Wilbon
No doubt the only place that may matter. Push back on both of us, just a tiny little bit. You might want that one seed. Now, I don't know if they can get it even with 10 and 4, but you might want that one seed until you get a home game. Game 7, 5 and 7 against OKC.
- [07:45]
Tony Kornheiser
But they've beaten them everywhere they play.
- [07:47]
Mike Wilbon
They have.
- [07:48]
Tony Kornheiser
They've beaten the Thunder left and right.
- [07:50]
Mike Wilbon
They beat them, no doubt. This is a great story. Off the tracks a little bit, Tony. This line that Matt Leinert has drawn in the sand was Southern Cal. His alma mater retired his number 11 after he won two national titles and the Heisman. But Leonard says now the program has since asked multiple times to un retire his number to help land a prize. Recruitment. Leiner told his Throwbacks podcast listeners that his response has been, quote, absolutely not. I am never going to unretire my jersey for some random dude who could wear number 11 and transfer after a year. Close quote tone. Does Leinert's reasoning make sense to you?
- [08:38]
Tony Kornheiser
Okay, so I don't know Leiner. I interviewed him a couple of times. I've seen him on TV a couple of times. I don't come into this with any prejudice. I could not agree more with Matt Leinart. Are you kidding me? What is USC doing? What is Lincoln Riley becoming a part of? This guy won a national championship and a Heisman like Reggie Bush. He didn't retire his number. USC retired his number. Nat Matt Leiner. USC said this guy is so good that nobody else is wearing this number again. And now they want to take it down from the rafters and give it to somebody to maybe wear for a year. A kid that they're going to have to pay anyway. What. What are we talking about here? Dick's Sporting Goods. This is a terrible thing that they're doing to Matt Leinart. And I read where Matt Leinart said the only one he would give the number to is his kid. He shouldn't be allowed to do that. This number is retired. It's done. Anybody asking for number three on the Yankees? Anybody asking for 12 on the Jets? Anybody asking for 33 at UCLA? No. What are we talking about here?
- [09:40]
Mike Wilbon
I loved Leiner's response. I loved it. I do. But I will say this. I don't see a problem with USC asking him, and I see no problem with him saying no. You can ask because the kids want. Look, Tony, these kids come in now, these high school hotshots, they come in thinking they can have the world, and it's up to someone to say, son, no, no, you're not having that. So I get if Leonard wanted to do it, I, I wouldn't object to it. I might find a little strange. I find it strange in pro sports. When I look down in the field, I'm sitting in Soldier field. Somebody has 95 on Richard Dent, the MVP of the only super bowl the Bears ever won, and some dude is wearing 95. It makes me crazy. But it doesn't make me crazy. So I let it go.
- [10:34]
Tony Kornheiser
This. This is where Nil has brought us.
- [10:38]
Mike Wilbon
Yes, it has.
- [10:39]
Commercial Announcer 1
Right here.
- [10:39]
Mike Wilbon
It has.
- [10:40]
Tony Kornheiser
Right here.
- [10:40]
Mike Wilbon
No doubt.
- [10:41]
Tony Kornheiser
Let's take a break. Coming up, we will ask Jay Bilis which one Seeds he sees as particularly vulnerable.
- [10:47]
Mike Wilbon
We'll also ask him whether there's a lesser appreciated team he believes could go on a run.
- [10:54]
Tony Kornheiser
I don't think USC should do this. You and I disagree on that. They put that away. They put that number away.
- [11:00]
Mike Wilbon
They did.
- [11:01]
Tony Kornheiser
No. Find another number. Find another number.
- [11:04]
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- [13:02]
Tony Kornheiser
Let's dig into the men's bracket with our great friend, the dashing ESPN college basketball analyst, Jay Billis. Let me give you credit. Last year you correctly picked an all chalk Final Four nailed. You are 100% right. But not this year. Which one seeds do you see this year as particularly vulnerable?
- [13:24]
Jay Bilas
You know, it's funny, last year was such a different year. When the bracket came out, I felt really strongly that all four number one seeds were going to make it to the Final Four. And you never know. People think we know and we don't, but this year feels different. Clearly there are some great teams out there, but you know, Duke's dealing with some injuries right now. Caleb Foster and Patrick Gunba did not. Two starters did not play in the ACC tournament. You don't know if they're going to be at 100%. That that limits. That's certainly going to limit your ceiling and make you a little bit more vulner. Same thing with Michigan. LJ Cason, their outstanding point guard. Backup point guard, but he could start on the majority of teams in this tournament. He tore his acl so he's out for the season. I think that limits Michigan a little bit in Florida as good as they are and they're outstanding again, you know, their guards don't shoot it great. So on any given night they may not shoot it well. But a team that I like, I think Michigan State and their experience is 3 seed to take a look at out of the east and then Iowa State out of the Midwest. The number two seed, Iowa State's legit. The only thing they don't do is they don't shoot free throws. Great. And that can bite him in a given game. But Milan Momcilovic is the best shooter in the country and if anybody saw what he did against Arizona, scored nine points in in a minute toward the end of the first half or at the end of the first half. And I thought I was watching Reggie Miller in the Garden against the Knicks.
- [14:51]
Mike Wilbon
Jay, you come up with the final four of Michigan State, Florida, Arizona and Iowa State, you and I have the same championship game, Arizona beating Michigan State. Give us some of your reasoning. Take us through that a little bit.
- [15:07]
Jay Bilas
You know, because of Duke's injuries, I do think Duke has been the most consistent team at the highest level this year along with Arizona. Arizona only lost two games. They were back to back at Kansas and Allen Field, Allen Fieldhouse and then they lost to Texas Tech when J.T. thomas and was healthy in McHale. But you know, I think Michigan State, they're older and they're experienced and they've been playing well consistently through the last half of the season. So I don't want to say it's a flyer. I think if they played a seven game series, Duke would win. But it's not a seven game series and I'm going to go with their experience. Arizona has three freshmen that are in their starting lineup. Braden Buries, Ivan Karchenkov is now standing defender and Kohl Pete. They're, they're completely healthy right now. They just won the Big 12 regular season and the Big 12 tournament and I, I do like their draw except for if they play Wisconsin and Arizona. Wisconsin have a history in the NCAA tournament but Wisconsin has two great guards with Nick Boyd and John Blackwell and their big guys can shoot it and that can pull some of the Arizona big guys out of the lane. That's the one team that I think makes them a little bit vulnerable. But I think Arizona is legit.
- [16:20]
Mike Wilbon
With all that said, is there any lesser appreciated team? Jay I guess we used to call them dark horses that you think could go on a run.
- [16:31]
Jay Bilas
Wisconsin's one of them for the reasons I stated. And then I would say Vanderbilt as a five seed. Vanderbilt is ridiculously good, especially in the backcourt. Now they don't have a ton of size. They're not without size. It's not like they're a bunch of little guys running out there, but they don't have, you know, this crazy shop blocking ability. But their guards, Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles. Tyler Tanner's a local Nashville kid, went to Brentwood Academy there in Tennessee and he's lightning quick, great hands, great finisher around the basket, got this floppy hair that everybody's going to fall in love with. And Duke Miles is one of the better defenders you're going to see. Some of the steals he makes are ridiculous. They're savant like so I wouldn't be surprised to see them do something extraordinary. They've got Florida in their bracket and Florida owes them one after Vanderbilt, you know, beat the hell out of them in the SEC tournament. And so I still have Florida coming out of there. But watch out for Vanderbilt, they're good.
- [17:30]
Tony Kornheiser
We will get you out of here on this. Ask you to be very quick. It's about one player. Is there one player out there you think people should stop what they're doing and make sure they watch that kid in that game,
- [17:43]
Jay Bilas
Darius Acuff Jr. Of Arkansas. He is ridiculous. And he's got a little bit of Dame Lillard in him, a little bit of Kyrie. He's the first player in the SEC to lead that league in scoring an assist since Pete Maravich did it. And he averaged 24 in conference play and over six and a half assists. Had 30 in the title game. Why he's not being talked about in the conversation for the number one pick, I don't know. Because that dude is the real deal
- [18:12]
Mike Wilbon
with you on that, Jay.
- [18:13]
Tony Kornheiser
Okay, thank you, Jay. Thank you as always.
- [18:16]
Mike Wilbon
Appreciate you.
- [18:17]
Jay Bilas
Thank you.
- [18:19]
Tony Kornheiser
Let's take one last break. Still to come, the Dolphins send Jaylen Waddle to Denver. What does that mean for both teams?
- [18:25]
Mike Wilbon
And is Kevin Durant right to blame himself for the Rockets loss to the Lakers last night? I don't know about that. Acuff. Tony Acuff, the one guy I would mention. I'm totally with Jay on this. There's a little Allen Iverson in there too. To me at times. Really, he's this kid is something. He's something to watch.
- [18:44]
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- [19:27]
Tony Kornheiser
Save money and get a better view of the road when you replace your worn out wiper blades at O'Reilly Auto Parts. Right now, save $10 on a pair of Rain X Latitude wiper blades. They feature beam blade technology to improve windshield contact for maximum visibility. The professional parts people will even install your new wiper blades for free. Choose Rain X Latitude wiper blades at your local O'Reilly Auto Parts store or online at o'reillyauto.com. Happy time people. Happy 29th birthday. Katie Ledecky. She's still in the water. Swimmers rarely go into their late 20s. She's still in the water. Ledecky is a local for us, growing up in Bethesda and going to Stone ridge. She has 14 Olympic medals, nine gold, four silver and a bronze. In the 2024 Olympics in Paris, she won gold in the 800 meter and 1500 meter freestyle events. She has won the 800 four times and the 1500 the two times the event has been running. Ledecky holds the world record in both those races. She began her olympic career in 2012 in London when she was 15, and she plans to compete for a spot on the United States team in Los Angeles in 2028. Ledecky has the most Olympic medals of any female swimmer.
- [20:44]
Mike Wilbon
It's great to have had a front row seat to all of her successes in 2012. I was at those games in London watching Katie Ledecky. Tony, if I go Bethesda, great athlete, Walter Johnson, Katie Ledecky, do I then go to Dominique Dawes and Tim Kirkjin? To Kirkjin, fourth head. He's Cal Ripken's favorite point guard. Kirkchin Kirkjin.
- [21:07]
Tony Kornheiser
Yes.
- [21:07]
Mike Wilbon
Here we go.
- [21:08]
Jay Bilas
Yes.
- [21:08]
Tony Kornheiser
Happy anniversary, Princeton. On this day 37 years ago, Princeton nearly became the first 16 seed to knock off a number one, falling just short to Georgetown 50 to 49 in a game that was excruciatingly close. Despite the presence of Alonzo Mourning, Jaren Jackson and Charles Smith for the Hoyas. The wait for a 16 to beat a 1 continued until 2018 when UMBC beat Virginia by 20 points. The only other 16 to beat a 1 was Fairleigh Dickinson, who beat Purdue with Zach Eady in 2023. UMBC just won the America east tournament a few days ago and is again a 16. But this time they will open in a play in game tonight against Howard for the right to play Michigan. The America east where champions rise.
- [21:53]
Mike Wilbon
Tony. Virginia, of course, bounced back to win something called the national championship.
- [21:58]
Tony Kornheiser
That's right.
- [21:59]
Mike Wilbon
The next year I got them going kind of far in the bracket. Kenny, Blakeney and Howard. I'm into that game tonight, cheering hard for Kenny and the Bison.
- [22:08]
Tony Kornheiser
I'm going the other way, as you know. I'm going for my conference.
- [22:11]
Mike Wilbon
I got.
- [22:11]
Tony Kornheiser
Happy trails. Jaylen Waddle. The Dolphins sent the talented receiver and a fourth round pick to the Broncos for a first, third and fourth. The speedy 27 year old figures to be a key addition for Wilbourn's boy, Sean Payton, who's coming off an AFC championship game loss. Waddle has topped 1,000 yards receiving three times in his five seasons and nearly did it again last season with Waddle and Tyreek Hill now gone. New Dolphins quarterback Velika Willis has to hope the team gets him some receiving help in the draft in which Miami has two first round picks and 11 picks overall.
- [22:45]
Mike Wilbon
I like what Denver did. They took a big swing. I mean, they had to give up some stuff, some resources, but they're taking a big swing. Their window seems to be wide open and they're going for it. Good for them.
- [22:57]
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah, don't back out of it like the Ravens did. And happy trails. Leon Draisiedl the Oilers star is expecting to miss the rest of the regular season with a lower body injury suffered from a hit he took in Sunday's win over the Predators. Draisaitl is fourth in the NHL in scoring 97 points in 65 games this season and the Oilers are currently in the Stanley cup playoff field, though not by much.
- [23:20]
Mike Wilbon
Dry Seidl, Auston Matthews. You don't want to see stars eliminated any time. This is getting too much like the NBA with those guys going out for the remainder of the season.
- [23:32]
Tony Kornheiser
Let's go to the big finish if we could. Kevin Durant blamed himself for the Rockets loss to the Lakers last night. Is that justified?
- [23:39]
Mike Wilbon
No, no, that was. I mean that's cool of KD to do that, but Luka went off and he had a lot of help from Austin, Reeves and LeBron filling in, doing everything necessary. No, the Lakers are on a heater. Steve Kerr got win number 600 last night. The Dubs beat your dubs. The Wizards Significant?
- [23:59]
Tony Kornheiser
No. The Wizards are a G league team. No, I just want to reemphasize the Lakers keep winning.
- [24:04]
Mike Wilbon
Wil Bond they do.
- [24:05]
Tony Kornheiser
The Lakers keep winning. Seiya Suzuki Let me get that right on the Cubs getting an MRI on the right knee. He hurt in the World Baseball Classic cause for concern.
- [24:15]
Mike Wilbon
Yes, he led the team with 100 runs batted in. Yes, he's supposed to be a star in our lineup. Matt Shaw can he play the outfield just to get case TGL bed sheet semifinal tonight. Who you got?
- [24:29]
Tony Kornheiser
I always like Jupiter in la. I'll take them Last one second play in game tonight Texas NC State who you got?
- [24:35]
Mike Wilbon
I'm gonna take NC State Tonight is a sneaky great clicker night. There's a lot of stuff to watch playing games the baseball a lot of stuff to watch Wimby at out of time.
- [24:50]
Tony Kornheiser
Try and do better the next time. I'm Tony Kornheiser.
- [24:55]
Mike Wilbon
Mike will buy same time tomorrow Knucklehead.
- [24:57]
Commercial Announcer 2
As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge. Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Granger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-granger. Click granger.com or just stop by.