Wemby was Ejected, Knicks SWEEP Sixers and advance to East Finals

Summary

PTI Podcast Summary – May 11, 2026

Episode Title: Wemby was Ejected, Knicks SWEEP Sixers and advance to East Finals
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Main Theme: Breakdown and debate of the hottest sports stories, including Wembanyama’s playoff ejection, the Knicks sweeping the Sixers to advance, analysis of the NBA draft lottery, and notable moments in NHL and MLB.

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1. Victor Wembanyama’s Ejection and Its Fallout

[Segment begins 01:02]

Key Points:

• Incident Recap:
  Victor Wembanyama was ejected in the second quarter after elbowing Nas Reed in the throat during the Spurs-Timberwolves playoff game. The referees issued a flagrant two foul, leading to the ejection.
• Wilbon’s Take:
  • Wemby acted out of frustration, which he called "an immature thing out of frustration" despite being a generally mature young man.
  • The act was reckless and dangerous, requiring an automatic flagrant two and ejection.
  • No further suspension needed, but Wemby "better not do it again because... he cost his team in all likelihood a game. That is a sign of immaturity." (01:32)
  • San Antonio’s inexperience, including that of Gregg Popovich, was exposed.
• Tony’s Take:
  • Tony saw Wemby as provoked: “Wembanyama was caught in a Timberwolf sandwich. He was being fouled on both sides... if a ref had blown the whistle earlier, maybe this thing could have been avoided.” (02:44)
  • The size mismatch led to contact being higher up on Reed’s body.
  • Tony saw anger in the intent but agreed suspension for next game wasn’t warranted: “Losing game four was punishment enough.” (03:27)
  • This sends a message: you “can’t react that way”—Minnesota may try to provoke him again.
  • Tony called for consistent foul standards by referees, citing how stars like Wilt and Shaq were often abused without whistles.
• On Wemby’s Reaction:
  • Tony admired Wemby’s composure: “He got up calmly and walked out. He didn’t flex, he didn’t howl. He accepted the punishment. I was impressed.” (04:33)
  • Wilbon reiterated: “He's a very mature young person. Seems to be. Who did something immature.” (04:45)

Notable Quotes:

• “We are watching him so closely … you can’t do that. You cost your team.” – Wilbon (01:32)
• “If he were the same size as Nas Reed, that elbow goes in the chest, but he’s so much bigger, that goes in the guy’s head…” – Tony (02:44)
• “This is a message that is being sent to everybody.” – Tony (03:27)
• “He got up calmly and walked out. He didn’t flex, he didn’t howl.” – Tony (04:33)

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2. Knicks Sweep Sixers: What Does It Mean?

[Segment begins 05:05]

Key Points:

• Recap:
  Knicks rout the Sixers 144–109, completing a sweep and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals, now with seven straight playoff wins.
• Wilbon’s Analysis:
  • Credits Knicks (not Sixers failure) for “nuclear offense” and smart adjustments.
  • “Mike Brown has made subtle changes … Karl-Anthony Towns becoming a point center … ball movement, not stagnation … Knicks are the second best team in the NBA playoffs after Oklahoma City.” (05:31)
• Tony’s Analysis:
  • Backs up Wilbon with stats: Knicks now at +194 point differential in ten playoff games—a record for the NBA postseason (06:36).
  • Still emphasizes Sixers mismanagement, referencing bloated contracts for Paul George and Joel Embiid: “$231 million for these two people... to get swept by the Knicks. And these are contracts all signed.” (07:23)
  • Embiid’s lack of playoff achievement highlighted: “He is the only NBA MVP ever to have not yet reached a conference final. Ever.” (07:45)
  • Calls out Philadelphia’s sports fans for not showing up in defeat.
  • Wilbon adds, “Philadelphia is a fraud as a sports city ... they let New York come in there and just run them over.” (08:32)
• Both agree:
  Embiid and the franchise must take responsibility for failing to deliver.

Notable Quotes:

• “[The Knicks] are the second best team in the NBA playoffs after Oklahoma City.” – Wilbon (06:22)
• “Knicks are +194 in the playoffs… largest point differential of all time.” – Tony (06:36)
• “He (Embiid) is the only NBA MVP ever to have not yet reached a conference final. Ever.” – Tony (07:45)
• “Philadelphia is a fraud as a sports city.” – Wilbon (08:32)

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3. NBA Draft Lottery: Wizards Win Top Pick

[Segment begins 09:17]

Key Points:

• Outcome:
  Wizards land the #1 pick, followed by Jazz, Grizzlies, Bulls, and Clippers.
• Tony’s Critique:
  • Disgusted by “deliberately tanking” teams being rewarded: “They cheated the people who buy tickets. They cheated the game.” (09:51)
  • Calls for NBA to act quicker on anti-tanking reforms.
  • “Everything depends on who they pick ... Michael Winger ... will be run out of town if he picks badly.” (11:00)
  • Past Wizards #1 picks: John Wall (talented, but ultimately paid to leave) and Kwame Brown (a disaster).
• Wilbon’s Perspective:
  • “You can get the right one if you pick anywhere in the top five.” (11:16)
  • Suggests Wizards might leverage the pick for a trade if a top candidate (like Debancer) won’t play for them.
  • “Debancer … seems to be … the guy most people think is the best player and who Utah wants desperately.” (11:24)
  • Multiple prospects discussed, including Keonte George, Ace Bailey, Caleb Wilson, Peterson, Cam Boozer, and Wagler.
  • Tony: “But is there a Wemban in the draft? No, there is not.” (12:25)

Notable Quotes:

• “They cheated the people who buy tickets. They cheated the game.” – Tony (09:51)
• “You can get the right one if you pick anywhere in the top five.” – Wilbon (11:16)
• “But is there a Wemban in the draft? No, there is not.” – Tony (12:25)

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4. NHL Playoffs Musings

[Segment begins 14:39]

Key Points:

• Montreal vs. Buffalo:
  Wilbon enjoys the Habs-Sabres second-round series: “I find myself rooting for Montreal. Not against Buffalo. But that series is chippy now... but wow, Montreal scored some goals.” (14:45)
• Carolina Dominance:
  Tony marvels at the Hurricanes: “Carolina's eight and oh, the Knicks are eight and two. Carolina's goal differential is 24–10... first team to sweep first two series in a SE7 game format situation for 57 years.” (15:31)
• Colorado-Minnesota:
  High-scoring series, but Hurricanes’ dominance is the story.

Notable Quotes:

• “Carolina's eight and oh … allowed 10 goals in eight games … first time in 57 years.” – Tony (15:31)

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5. MLB – Tarek Skubal’s “Scope” and New Procedure

[Segment begins 16:41]

Key Points:

• Topic:
  Tarek Skubal, Tigers pitcher, expected to miss months with arm trouble, may now return within weeks due to a less invasive procedure called the “Skubal Scope.”
• Tony Explains:
  • Procedure recommended by agent Scott Boras and performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache has dramatically shortened expected recovery.
  • “If the Skubal scope is successful … this may be the future for pitchers.” (17:28)
• Wilbon’s Take:
  • Immediate availability (pre-trade deadline) could alter trade scenarios: “We can see him for a couple of starts. We can know what we're getting.” (18:23)

Notable Quotes:

• “This may be the future for pitchers.” – Tony (17:28)

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6. NBA Playoffs: Thunder/Lakers Outlook

[Segment begins 18:43]

Key Points:

• Thunder poised to sweep the Lakers.
• Both hosts unimpressed by Lakers' chances against Oklahoma City:
  • Tony: “Do you think the Lakers have a chance to win this series? … I think the other team's decisively better.” (19:02–19:11)

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7. Rapid-Fire: “Happy Time”, Baseball, NBA, and WNBA

[Segment begins 20:17]

Highlights:

• Cam Newton turns 37: Praised for his TV presence and unique hats.
• Remembering Ted Turner: Hosts recall when he managed his Braves for a game (and was quickly barred by MLB).
• Bobby Cox passes away: Saluting the Hall of Fame manager’s 29-year career, mostly with the Braves – 14 straight division titles.
• WNBA, Steve Kerr contract, Yankees swept by Brewers, Dodgers news, NBA picks:
  Wilbon likes the Cavs and Thunder tonight; Tony agrees Thunder are much better than the Lakers.

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8. Notable Quotes & Fun Moments

• On Ego Awareness Day:
  • “Tony Kornheiser has no ego.” – Tony, tongue-in-cheek (00:46)
  • “You sounded like Ricky Henderson.” – Wilbon (00:50)
• Fan-Baiting:
  Wilbon needles Philadelphia as a “fraud sports town” (08:32), Tony quips “Would Boston let that happen? No. Would Chicago let that happen? No. Would Washington? Yes.” (08:39)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Start Time | |-------------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Wembanyama Ejection | 01:02 | | Knicks Sweep Sixers | 05:05 | | NBA Draft Lottery / Wizards Pick | 09:17 | | NHL Playoffs Focus | 14:39 | | Tarek Skubal “Scope” Procedure/MLB | 16:41 | | Thunder/Lakers – Playoff Outlook | 18:43 | | Happy Time (Cam Newton, Ted Turner, Bobby Cox) | 20:17 | | Fast Finishes (WNBA, Yankees, Dodgers, NBA picks) | 23:45 |

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Tone & Style

The conversation brims with banter, pointed analysis, and classic PTI ribbing—Wilbon and Tony constantly challenge, tease, and reinforce each other's points. The language combines insight with wit, offering a fast-paced but deep tour through major sports headlines—always with a big-picture lens and memorable, often humorous, quotes.

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For listeners who missed the episode:
You’ll come away understanding the magnitude of Wemby’s ejection and its context, why the Knicks and Thunder are so dominant, how the Sixers failed, what’s wrong (and right) with the NBA lottery, and why recent surgical advances could change baseball. You’ll also get classic PTI color, with both hosts quick to crack on egos, fans, and each other.

Transcript

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[Mike Wilbon]

Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. It's National Ego Awareness Day. Tony, are you aware of your ego?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Please. Tony Kornheiser has no ego.

[Mike Wilbon]

You sounded like Ricky Henderson.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Is that right?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And Ricky would come to the ballpark and say, ricky, don't need no press today. I'd like to talk to you, Ricky. Ricky don't need no press today.

[Mike Wilbon]

But then he would talk for an

[Tony Kornheiser]

hour and a half. Hour and a half. Welcome to pti, boys and girls. In today's episode, the Knicks sweep the Sixers, the Wizards win the draft lottery, and Tarek Scubal could return sooner than expected. But we begin today with Victor Wembanyama being ejected in the second quarter of yesterday's Spurs Timberwolves game for elbowing Nas Reed in the throat. Wembanyama was given a flagrant two and the heave ho Minnesota went on to win a close game, 114, 109 to even that series at 2. 2. Wilbon, what do you make of the incident and the fallout?

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, the incident is fascinating, Tony, because we're dealing with, from all appearances, a very mature young man here who did an immature thing out of frustration. Right. This happens in any sport. It's just basketball happens in any and every sport. But when Banyama, I mean, we are watching him so closely. You know, he swings his elbow. Whether it was malicious or not doesn't matter. It was reckless, it was dangerous, and he had to be tossed. It's a flagrant, too, by definition. Period. Now, then we deal with the rest of it. You know, I've told you, my one reservation about San Antonio was everybody's reservation. They're inexperienced. They're going to be some places where they fall short because they don't know what this playoff basketball thing is all about. I thought their coach was guilty of that. I thought Victor was guilty of that. The players covered for him, they played brilliantly without him afterward. I mean, I, I thought that matters, but I, I, I think that, I don't think there should be any in there. PE will not be any further suspension or punishment. But this was a thing that Victor, he better not do it again because you. He cost his team in all likelihood, a game. That, that is a sign of immaturity.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We will get to all of these things as we keep talking about this. I was lucky enough to have watched that live when it happened, and it appeared to me that Wembanyama was caught in a Timberwolf sandwich. He was being fouled on both sides. So if a referee had blown the whistle earlier, maybe, maybe this thing could have been avoided. But it was a flagrant tooth. There's no question about that. What is interesting is if he were the same size as Nasri, that elbow goes in the chest, but he's so much bigger. That goes in the guy's head, you know, and what are you supposed to do about that? And it looked to me, and you and I differ on this. It looked to me like there was anger in the intent. It did. Okay.

[Mike Wilbon]

Now, I can't argue against that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Like, I am glad that he's not being suspended for game five. To me, them losing game four, basically without him for two and a half was a punishment that is punishment enough and suspension enough as far as I'm concerned. But this is a message that is being sent to everybody. When Benyama is being fouled, Wembanyama is being maltreated out there. Okay? Now, you can't react that way.

[Mike Wilbon]

No.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Minnesota is going to continue to do this in the hopes that he hits another guy and then he's going to be out for the series. He's going to be out the series. But it also should send a message to referees that there can't be multiple standards for fouls in the course of the NBA. You and I have seen this. We have seen Wilt and Shaq get beaten up.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And nobody calls anything so that in the case of Wembanyama, who's not as big and strong, is as big, not as strong as them. Everybody has a certain amount of jeopardy here. I will say this, and I know you will agree with me. In the aftermath of the incident, it was so intriguing. He sat down quietly, and as they waited to review the film, he turned to a teammate and said, am I being ejected?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

When he was informed he was being ejected, he got up calmly and walked out. He didn't flex, he didn't howl. He didn't taunt anybody. He accepted the punishment. I was impressed, but that's why I

[Mike Wilbon]

said he's a very mature young person. Seems to be. Who did something immature.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Gotta learn from it.

[Mike Wilbon]

And overly emotional. And he. Look, listen, there's so much riding on him. We're not, you know, we talk about the faces of a league he could be. He's the face he could be.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, not right now.

[Mike Wilbon]

He's becoming it right now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Within a year and a half. Within two, you know, certainly possible. Let's stay with the NBA and move to the other NBA game from yesterday. Your Knicks scored 144 points on the 76ers in Philadelphia. They could have scored 170. This game was almost as lopsided and as unwatchable as the knicks in Game 6 in Atlanta. The Knicks sweep this series. They now have seven playoff wins in a row. Wilbon, does this wipeout say more about the Knicks or the Sixers?

[Mike Wilbon]

The Knicks. The Knicks. I mean, the Sixers did a good job by beating Boston in the series. They got a series when none of us thought they were going to get that series, but they did. They were able to get Embiid out there, which coming into the playoffs, we didn't particularly think after the appendectomy that he was going to be out there.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right.

[Mike Wilbon]

They got, you know, George, they got the three of them out there for a little bit. And game two, which I think they should have won in Madison Square Garden, even that series, once the Knicks pulled away with that, there was no stopping a runaway train. The. The offense is now nuclear. They've made changes. I'm giving the Knicks credit here. Mike Brown has made subtle changes that his players have bought into Karl Anthony Towns becoming a point center and having assist games of 10, several of seven or more. But 10 ball movement, not stagnation, which happens sometimes with my man Jalen Brunson. No different Knicks offense going to everybody almost equally. Not quite equally. They are. They are the second best team in the NBA playoffs after Oklahoma City.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, So I am going to reluctantly agree with you that it says more about the Knicks because the way they are playing now, we are seeing something that we have never seen before. And there are some numbers to back this up. The Knicks are plus 194 in the playoffs so far. 10 games plus 194, which includes two games that they lost, but they only lost by one point apiece. In the history of the NBA playoffs, this is the largest point differential of all time. Of all Time. So they're playing great. But I think it says a lot about the Sixers, and I'm going to dwell on them. It says a lot about their failed management. It says a lot about their dopey slogan, trust the process. They have committed an incredible amount of money to Paul George and Joel Embiid. $112 million between them next year, 119 the year after that. That's $231 million for these two people trading for that. Yeah, right. And to get swept by the Knicks. And these are contracts all signed. And I know you love them by Darrell Morey, and I want to talk about it. I know you love Joel Embiid.

[Mike Wilbon]

I do.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And Joel Embiid is a player, when he's healthy, is a wonderful player. It's infrequent that he's healthy. Right. It's infrequent.

[Mike Wilbon]

Inescapable fact.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right. So Joel Embiid has to take some responsibility for what happened to the 76ers. He is the only NBA MVP ever to have not yet reached a conference final. Ever. And I stress, ever. His contemporaries at center, which include Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nicola Jokic, they have rings. He hasn't gotten to a conference final yet. What we see mostly with him recently is him on the ground holding his leg and not stopping anybody from scoring the nick he played yesterday. The Knicks were up 8157 at the half and 12283 at the.

[Mike Wilbon]

They're not close. Can I just take a second to take a shot at fraudulent town that you like Philadelphia.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You can. I love Philadelphia.

[Mike Wilbon]

Bother to go to the game. They let the Knicks overrun them. Would Boston let that happen? No. Would. Would Chicago let that happen? No.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Would Washington? Yes.

[Mike Wilbon]

Washington. Doesn't matter. Philadelphia is a fraud as a sports city. It is. Because when everything's going their way, they want to run their mouths on WIP and they want to get in your face and they want to get chesty and they can go to jail in the bottom of their stadiums.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, I used to.

[Mike Wilbon]

They're a fraud. They're a fraud. Philadelphia as a sports town, they let New York come in there and just run them over.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But you agree there's responsibility here for Joel Embiid? There's some responsibility here.

[Mike Wilbon]

Joel Embiid. The whole team. The whole thing.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Just.

[Mike Wilbon]

I was expecting something of a series after game two was close.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No series.

[Mike Wilbon]

None. Good for the Knicks. Let's move to yesterday's prom for the. Also Rams Tony's Washington Wizards won the NBA draft lottery and will pick first in the June draft, followed by the Jazz, Grizzlies, Bulls and Clippers. Tony, after railing against the Wizards tanking for years, you killed them.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I did.

[Mike Wilbon]

How do you feel about them winning the top pick and what should this draft do for them and the other teams with top five picks?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I live inside the boundaries of Washington, D.C. it's always better when your teams win.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Four major league teams in Washington, D.C. and this past season, none of them made the playoffs. Three of them had losing records. I want the Washington Wizards to be a good team, but I find it disgraceful that after deliberately losing games for years, after deliberately tanking, that they end up with the number one pick. They cheated the people who buy tickets. They cheated the game. How does that separate the league? You asked me about them. I'm not separating them from Utah or somebody else. I would say the same thing had somebody else won the number one pick. They did this with complicity with the owner who would have said, I don't want to do it this way. Like they say in the Pittsburgh Steelers, we try to win every game. That didn't happen here.

[Mike Wilbon]

All right, but now that they have tanked and gotten this pick, what happens?

[Tony Kornheiser]

They get the reward, which stinks. Let me go a little bit further here. Adam Silver makes an announcement that tanking is bad, and next year we're going to change it. No, no, no, no, no. Change it this year. The rule is bad. Change it this year. What happens? Everything depends on. On who they pick. Michael Winger, who runs a basketball operation, is being congratulated for getting the number one pick. He'll be run out of town if he picks badly on the number one pick.

[Mike Wilbon]

Hard to pick badly.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This time they had. Last time they had a number one pick was John Wall, who scored a lot of points, didn't make his teammates better, and ended up being paid not to play by another team. Before that Kwame Brown disaster that was so it's. Yes, there are a lot of really good players here, but you got to get the right one.

[Mike Wilbon]

You got to get the right one. But you can get the right one if you pick anywhere in the top five. I'm going to go to what the Wizards will likely think.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's fine.

[Mike Wilbon]

Debancer, who has left BYU after his freshman year, seems to be, from conversation anecdotally, the guy that more people than not think is the best player and

[Tony Kornheiser]

who Utah wants desperately.

[Mike Wilbon]

And Utah wants desperately. Yes, he has said, I want to stay in Utah, do you think he

[Tony Kornheiser]

can pull an Eli? Eli Manning, A John Elway?

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, if you're the Wizards, you could say give me Keante George or Ace Bailey and let's flop picks. And you can have dance if you have them. Caleb Wilson rated that highly and then you could draft him. Auff. Who you like all year?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I do.

[Mike Wilbon]

Peterson, who I'm confused by and it scares me even though his talent is undeniable. Cam Boozer, who I know you don't

[Tony Kornheiser]

like as much as others.

[Mike Wilbon]

Do you know his father's Two teams are picking second and fourth. He, Utah and Chicago going to be interesting. And Wagler, who we both like from Illinois. The playmaking six five kid Tony. There's enough people. There's. There'll be Euros and African kids and Asian kids in this draft.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But is there a Wemban in the draft? No, there is not.

[Mike Wilbon]

There's no Wimby but Danza, I know

[Tony Kornheiser]

you've loved him all year.

[Mike Wilbon]

I like him as much as Cooper Flag.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Cooper Flag's a great pick and he's had a great year. Terrible team that was destroyed by a dopey trade. Let's take a break. Coming up, the Sabres get stomped by the Canadiens.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's hard. Sku ball. Maybe back sooner than thought due to a new procedure. Your boy Scott Boris is named after his client.

[Tony Kornheiser]

My boy.

[Mike Wilbon]

You and Scott so tight.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They should make the playoffs next year. The Wizards. If they don't, it's a failure. Not win a round, but just make the playoffs. They got a two, they got a one. They got Trey Young. They should be if he ever gets something. Yes, they should.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Right?

[Mike Wilbon]

What does Sketchers.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Time to find out what's moving the multitudes in mail time. I'll put on my glasses. I'll get the first one.

[Mike Wilbon]

Mail time. Multitudes on our part.

[Tony Kornheiser]

NHL playoffs. Here we go. Which second round Stanley cup series stands out to you the most?

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, the one that stands out is one I'm actually watching a little bit of and paying attention. And that would be Montreal and Buffalo. I, I don't, I, I can't sit here and tell you why I, I should hate the Canadiens. They spoiled the Blackhawks twice in my childhood. Winning Stanley Cups once in a game seven. I should hate Le Canadien, but I don't. There's something charming about them. I can't root for Toronto and I can't root for Edmonton because they're not actually in it anymore. And so I, I find myself rooting for Montreal. Not against Buffalo. But that series is chippy now. There was too much piling on and skirmishing and going after each other and fighting in that series. So I don't like that part. But wow. Montreal scored some goals. Not a nine goal outburst, but they got six including.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Speaking of a nine goal outburst, my first inclination was to talk about the Colorado Minnesota series because of all the Goals the games are 965251. It's an astonishing amount of goals in the playoffs. In the playoffs. It's just too many considering Montreal and Buffalo hasn't appealed to me. I just think because both teams are very likable. But I cannot rate anyone over Carolina. The Carolina Hurricane is killing people. You think the Knicks are killing people? Carolina's eight and oh, the Knicks are eight and two. Carolina's goal differential is 24 to 10. They've allowed 10 goals in eight games. This is the first time in, in like 57 years in the NHL that a team has swept the first two series in a SE7 game format situation. You know, so I mean I, I, I look at this. I don't want to root for a so called sun hockey team. I don't. But come on. And they're playing great. They're playing great.

[Mike Wilbon]

Last one. I can root for Buffalo whoever survives that series. The scubal Scope.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Mike Wilbon]

How could the Skubal Scope Change things for Tarek, the Tigers and baseball.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The Skubel scope is a word invention, of course, of Scott Boris, who may or may not be the devil, but that's irrelevant here. This is what happened was we expected school to be out two to three months while they removed floating bodies from his arm. And Boris called Dr. Neil ElAttrache, who you may remember from Tom Brady. He was Tom Brady's surgeon at one point. And if anything happens to me, I'm calling the guy as well. And he went in there and in some way did this. Not as vast an operation as was

[Mike Wilbon]

expected, but not as intrusive.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. And now it is said that Scubal could come back in four to six weeks.

[Mike Wilbon]

Okay, now, just in time before the trade deadline.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes, and I understand all of that. So what this talks to me about, because that's amazing, four to six weeks is medical science advancements. And maybe the key. First of all, pitchers had Tommy John, didn't have Tommy John for a long period of time. And now you can get it and now you can come back. You get it twice and can come back. May not be as good, but you can come back. If the school scope is successful in that regard, you can keep your velo and be back in six weeks. Right. So this may be the future for pitchers.

[Mike Wilbon]

And by the way, would you rather not hyping here?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, if he gets his guy back in four to six weeks and he's heading into free agency, who wouldn't take that?

[Mike Wilbon]

Everybody would take it. And by the way, so the Tigers still will have that decision to make.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They're not trading.

[Mike Wilbon]

Stay with this.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The American League's so bad, you can get. You can. You can win.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah, but we got a lot of time between now and the trade deadline. They could still trade him. And a team could say after this procedure, because it's not so intrusive that he can't come back quicker, we can see him for a couple of starts. We can know what we're getting.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Summer, Summer, summer. These are addition starts in effect. Absolutely. But that's.

[Mike Wilbon]

And it's him. It's school.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Come on now, that's enough email. Let's take one last break. Still to come, will the Thunder sweep out the Lakers tonight? You kidding me with that question? Really?

[Mike Wilbon]

And a few thoughts on the life and times of Bobby Cox.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What is the average win margin in that series?

[Mike Wilbon]

It's been like 29 in all their games this year, including the regular season.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you think the Lakers have a chance to win this year? Yeah, one game. Really?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't. I think the other teams have a chance decisively better.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm not going to have the Lakers.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I like the Lakers. The other team's decisively better.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's like Philly. They're going to get rich.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Eisen here. PayPal is now the official peer to peer payments sponsor of the NFL, which means all the money moments that fandom creates, whether splitting tailgate costs or chipping in on tickets and game day food between friends are covered wherever the game is played or watched. PayPal moves with fans. You can send money through text, email or directly to your friends with eligible accounts on Venmo. Just download the PayPal app and share all the moments that matter. Account with PayPal is required. Not available in all regions where PayPal operates.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's Charles Barkley here with Wayfair. Let me tell you, game day is serious business at my house.

[Tony Kornheiser]

If I'm grilling, chilling and watching hoops, my outdoor setup better be ready to play.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's where Wayfair wins.

[Tony Kornheiser]

From patio seating and umbrellas to grills and grill accessories, Wayfair's got it all

[Mike Wilbon]

and it shows up fast. I'm talking fast and easy delivery.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So level up your grill game and

[Mike Wilbon]

your outdoor chill game and head to Wayfarer.com to get your outdoor space ready for the season.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Wayfair Every style, Every home. Happy time people. Happy 37th birthday. Cam Newton. Newton had one of the great college seasons ever at Auburn in 2010 when he won the Heisman Trophy and the national championship. He was then drafted overall number one by Carolina and he was NFL Rookie of the Year in 2015. Newton was the NFL MVP when he led the Panthers to the super bowl where they lost to Denver. Newton's NFL career took off like a rocket ship, but fell to earth quickly because of injuries. By 2020 he was in post Brady New England where he started 15 games and went 7 8. When the Patriots released him, Newton went back to Carolina where he was.05 as a starter. In recent years he has taken to wearing large flamboyant hats on television and I believe that Newton is on ESPN about as much as you, Mike.

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, he's on first take more and he's completely engaging. Seems to enjoy very much this second career. This second life.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Mike Wilbon]

You know.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Mike Wilbon]

So the hats are pretty cool. I can't.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Would you. I wouldn't wear.

[Mike Wilbon]

I can't do it. But I'm happy Cam does.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy anniversary, Ted Turner. We recently lost Ted Turner, but On this day 49 years ago was. With his Atlanta Braves losing streak stretching to 16 games, Turner assigned manager Dave Bristol to a 10 day quote scouting trip and named himself manager. With his self promotion, Turner became the first major league owner slash manager since the legendary Connie Mack managed the Athletics. Turner managed the Braves for one game, a loss to the the Pirates, before National League president Chubb Feeney told Turner to cease managing the team. Turner appealed to commissioner Bowie Kuhn and even showed up to manage the team when the Braves returned to Atlanta. But Kuhn turned him down, pointing out Turner's quote, lack of familiarity with game operations.

[Mike Wilbon]

Love that story. So is there an owner now who's got the power and the sense of showmanship that he would try that, that Ted Turner? Is there a guy out there?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I always thought Mark Cuban could try it. I mean he didn't try it.

[Mike Wilbon]

He didn't try it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I thought he might be a guy who could try. Jerry Jones, I think would like to try it.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah, this year.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, he liked to try it. And the melancholy trails to Bobby Cox. The hall of Fame manager has passed away at the age of 84. Cox took the Blue Jays to the ALCS in 1985 but was best known for his time leading the braves. Starting in 1991, Cox's squads won 14 straight division titles, five pennants. In the 1995 World Series. Those teams featured names like Greg Maddox, John Smoltz, Tom Glavin, Chipper Jones and Andrew Jones, all in the hall of Fame. In all, Cox won 2,504 games, fourth all time behind Connie Mack, Tony La Russa and John McGraw. Bob Nightingale wrote in USA Today quote, There may not have been more of a beloved manager in the history of the game.

[Mike Wilbon]

You realize that Walter Alston, 23 years, Tommy Lasorda, 21 years, did not manage as long as Bobby Cox, 29 years, 21 in that second stint with the Braves. And by the way, winning percentage, Cox is at.556. And Walter Alston, the great Walter Alston.558. Bobby Cox underrated the whole time, an

[Tony Kornheiser]

all time great manager. And in the hall of Fame with Tony La Russa and Joe Tory. Let's go to the big finish. WNBA regular season is underway. I know you watch your takeaway from the weekend games.

[Mike Wilbon]

There was a lot of back and forth out there. Vegas gets smacked in the first game, comes back and win the second. Sky is better. Doesn't matter to you? Matters to me. The athletic reports that warriors coach Steve Kerr has agreed to a two year extension. Are you surprised?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I am a little really? But I guess he wants to go out with Steph Curry.

[Mike Wilbon]

That makes sense.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The brewers swept the Yankees. Do you find that significant?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah, sadly significant for me because the brewers are supposed to be replaced building and yet they're one of the, you know, teams in the NL Central, all of whom are over 500. Mookie Betts returns to the Dodgers after a month away with an oblique strain. Is that a big deal?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. He's a great player and they're stumbling a little bit. Yes. Last one, Pistons Cav. Thunders, Lakers tonight. Who you got?

[Mike Wilbon]

I think Cavs and I'm going to stay with the Thunder. I think the Lakers could pull off one win, but okay. Oklahoma City, man. Can't go against.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We're out of time. We'll try to do better the next time. Today is 5:11 Happy Steve Spurr.

[Mike Wilbon]

5:11 oh, ball coach, I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads. And now your Sports Center.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, there are some worse than us. That's not so bad for us. We weren't the worst pti.

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