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Mike Wilbon
Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. We are bumped by the Masters for the rest of the week. Tony, how you gonna spend all that free time?
Tony Kornheiser
I'm Tony Kornheiser. Watching golf, thinking about golf and stinking at golf. I'm a terrible player. I'm a 21 now. I mean, it's just the number keeps going up. I'm no good. I love it, but I'm no good.
Mike Wilbon
That means you're getting strokes. You're getting strokes from everybody except me, right?
Tony Kornheiser
You and I are going to play even whenever we play. Welcome to pti, boys and girls. In today's episode, Gino Oriemma apologizes, Jorge Soler charges the mound and Bryan Windhorst joins us for five good minutes. But we begin today with the Masters. As we have discussed, for the first time since 1994, neither Tiger woods nor Phil Mickelson will be playing between them. They have eight green jackets, Tiger five, Phil three. No one starting in this field has more than two green jackets. Wilbon, what is the biggest storyline here to you?
Mike Wilbon
Tony maybe the biggest storyline is there are a lot of people who can win this. And I know I've been listening to already Live from Augusta and Live at the Masters and all these shows because I'm like you, fanatical about this, obsessed with it and hard and fast. And it's going to be like that because there's no rain in the forecast and Augusta is going to play in a way that, you know, people want to see it play, but it doesn't often. I don't think there's any dominant storyline. Rory was last year, but he won. He won already. And I don't think Rory is a particular storyline this year. I hear people predicting that Patrick Reed should be a favorite. That troubles me personally, but I understand it given his familiarity with that golf course. Brooks Koepka's back, John Rahm, so you got the LIV guys, but you know, I don't know that that dominates the regular PGA Tour players who've been playing already. You got international field that's out there.
Tony Kornheiser
This is.
Mike Wilbon
I watch to figure out what the storylines are. They will reveal themselves. So I'm not going into this as any great predisposition about what's supposed to happen.
Tony Kornheiser
The biggest storyline at this Masters is the fact that Tiger woods and Phil Mickelson are not playing in it. I know we've talked about it. That doesn't mean it's not the biggest storyline, especially the circumstances under which Tiger woods is not playing. The other big storyline is the 40th anniversary of Jack Nicklaus winning the Masters, and everybody remembers that. But, Mike, as you know, once the puck drops, you can't look backwards. You got to look forwards. I'm going to disagree with you slightly about Rory. I mean, Rory was the biggest story last year because it completed the career Grand Slam. I believe if he actually repeated, that would be a tremendous accomplishment. But I don't know how motivated he is. And I will say that he has not won a tournament in the United States since winning the Masters last year. I think if Scottie Scheffler wins, that's a real big deal because that gives him three Masters championships and puts him in a three. Thoroughly elite category. Thoroughly elite. But he has had trouble lately because he's had one bad round a tournament, usually early. I have some numbers here. The last three tournaments, he's finished 12th, 24th and 22nd, and he hasn't played in a month. It's interesting you mentioned Patrick Reed. I was thinking the same thing. He won here. He played college golf in Augusta. I think he's leaving a live tour to play on the PGA Tour. I would mention Rahm, I would mention DeChambeau, just like you. And I would ultimately agree with you, Mike, that it has not revealed itself yet. Maybe by Saturday, but not yet. So we'll move on. Gino Auriemma has now apologized again, this time actually naming Dawn Staley, to whom he should have apologized to directly in the first place. Orema said in a statement, quote, this morning, Dawn Staley and I spoke. I apologize to dawn, her staff and her team. I've lost more games in the Final Four than any coach in history. But Friday, I lost something more important. I lost myself. Dawn and her team deserved to win and they deserved more from me, unquote. In an earlier statement, Staley said she hoped everyone could turn the page on this incident. Wilbon, are you willing to turn the page as Staley has asked?
Mike Wilbon
I'll get to it. He's in no rush to apologize he was in no rush to behave like a grown man and apologize. In the many rounds of interviews he did Friday night after he got his butt kicked, or in the next couple of days when people were gathered in his profession, his sport, his industry right here in Arizona, he didn't feel the need to do that. He took his sweet time. So I'll take my sweet time accepting it if I get around to it, and I hope others do too. Gino Warriorima is not some dope. He behaved badly. And so he wants the forgiveness now on his terms. He wants us to accept it on his terms. Sorry, you haven't earned that. And he kept repeating, he's been doing this 41 years. He's been doing it long enough to know what all the hot button issues are. He's been doing it long enough to know all the people that he has offended. People who could comprise their own Mount Rushmore of women's college basketball. So you know what? He took his time. I'll take mine.
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah, I'm ready to say okay. At this moment, I think he apologized completely. I think he apologized totally, thoroughly and unequivocally. He said, this is a quote. Women's basketball deserves better. My university, my athletes, my former players and our fans deserve better. Unquote. That's in the same body of the statement in which he apologized directly to Dawn Staley. So I think he's covered it all. It's late. He should have done this earlier, but he did it now and he did it publicly. The condemnation of Oriemma was unanimous out there.
Mike Wilbon
Good.
Tony Kornheiser
And I gotta tell you, Mike, that It was a 50, 50 shot in my mind that the next time we would hear from him would be when he announced his resignation. I wonder if he thought about that. I'll bet he did. I'll bet he decided, I don't want to go out this way. So let me try and say the right thing right now. I think Dawn Staley's public comments have been fine. She has not been vindictive at all. She is willing to accept an apology. I think even accepted the first apology, which was a non apology. And I think she knows who Gino Oriemma is. And I don't think she wanted to crush him. I think she has taken the high road here. I think she's taking a high road. I think Gino's looking for the high road, looking for the highway.
Mike Wilbon
Well, he's looking for it. He hadn't found it. You know what Chris Rock always says. I'm not giving you credit for doing what you're supposed to do.
Tony Kornheiser
Gino, I know you use that a lot.
Mike Wilbon
He was forced into this position, so. No, no.
Tony Kornheiser
100%, man.
Mike Wilbon
When he got forced into.
Tony Kornheiser
They're going to play. None of this matters, Mike, now, because on November 24, those two teams are going to play and this is going to be the biggest storyline.
Mike Wilbon
How about that?
Tony Kornheiser
And if they play again, if they play again in the final four, this will be the biggest storyline because this is what binds them now. This is what binds them.
Mike Wilbon
We'd find that storyline going in. Now to last night's dust up between the Braves and Angels. Jorge Soler charged Atlanta's Reynaldo Lopez after a pitch that was up, way up and in. Solaire had homered and been plunked two innings earlier and said he thought this was intentional. Braves manager Walt Weiss, all 170 pounds of him, helped tackle Solaire and said afterward, quote, I love Solaire, but that's a big man. As long as no one get hurt, it's kind of fun. I'm sorry. It's kind of a good time. Close quote. Baseball suspended Solaire today and Lopez seven games each. Tone, does Solaire have good reason to charge the mound?
Tony Kornheiser
This is an interesting thing to talk about given that we talked about Wilson Contreras yesterday and you had said of Wilson Contreras that you approved of the fact that he said he was going to take somebody out. Right. I mean, that's the unwritten rule of baseball is what you said. And I agree with that. Let me insult my notes here. So I suppose, Mike, that you are inclined to think Solaire did the right thing. I am leery about the Contreras situation because it's amorphous, because it could happen at any time in this. I'm inclined to support Solaire because it happened in the moment. He hits a home run off a pitcher he owns is like 14 hits and 23 at bats against a guy. In five home runs, he. He owns them. The next time up, same pitcher hits him. The next time up, third time around, same pitcher comes up and into him. And Solaire then stands in the batter's box and says, okay, let's go. And he rushes out. He doesn't throw the bat, which you said you would approve of yesterday. He doesn't slide high and try to take his knees out. No, he fights in what I thought was an honorable way. So I'm a little surprised at 7 for both, because 7 for a hitter is different than 7 for a pitcher.
Mike Wilbon
All right, we agree, right? Down the line on the depiction of this and sort of the back and forth to TikTok. But Tony, Major League Baseball, the commissioner's office, whoever hands down these suspensions, whoever hands down discipline couldn't have been more gutless. They basically took the pitcher out for one game while saying Solaire, who gets thrown at and thrown at twice, I don't care what Walt Weiss said. He, he threw at him. Anything else to me is garbage. So he threw at him twice. Right. He owns him. Like you said, six home runs off this dude. And Major League baseball gives Solaris 7. 5 home runs, gives Solaris 7 games and gives the pitcher one. That's a gutless, gutless move by Major League Baseball entirely.
Tony Kornheiser
Can I just, I'll just, I'm just going to end this by saying Walton is not a gutless move because you said this about Walt Weiss. 61175 Solaire, 63235. Walt Weiss. That was a 62 years old. Yeah, that was, that was something. That was something. Let's take a break. Coming up, what is next for Giannis and the Bucs? We will ask Brian Windhorst.
Mike Wilbon
Giannis, he's still in the league. We'll also ask him whether a curious play by the Kings last night warrants a fine from the NBA.
Tony Kornheiser
I found it interesting that I thought Weiss sympathized with Solaire who he had in, in Atlanta.
Mike Wilbon
He had him and says he loves,
Tony Kornheiser
says he loves him. Yeah, clearly. I think he said he understood what was going on there. I did.
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Tony Kornheiser
We have NBA questions for our great friend, ESPN senior NBA writer Brian Windhorst. Let's start with this, Brian. What do you expect to happen in Milwaukee, specifically with Giannis and Doc Rivers?
Brian Windhorst
Okay, let me say this in a way that will not get me in too much trouble. I would be surprised if Doc Rivers is the coach next year and Giannis is on the team now, how that all arranges itself and how everybody wants to protect themselves so they don't look bad, so they save face and all that stuff. Because for some reason that is an issue with this Bucs franchise. I don't want to get too fried over my skis, but the way this season finished and there's a big, big stat that's awfully important with the Bucs. And it's not that Giannis missed time with five different injuries this year. It's that they were 17 and 19. With Giannis on the court, this was not a winning team even when he was there. It is a flawed team and the way to fix it, unfortunately, is to trade him. They're going to come to that understanding if they haven't already and they're going to do something about it. And unfortunately this season the team did not respond to the way Doc Rivers coached them. I'm not pointing a finger at anybody. That's just the truth. And so I expect there to be a change in that regard.
Mike Wilbon
Wow. It's a long way since that championship in 2021. Let's go to the place we have to go, Brian. Happily, Victor Wembanyama. Now, he's out tonight and is listed as day to day. But the bigger Picture is the 65 game eligibility rule, the threshold for postseason awards, the regular season awards. Do you think that the circumstances of all this are going to lead the league to change it? Something the players union did sign off on?
Brian Windhorst
Nope. I think the players, I think the league likes the rule. I think it is functioning. There are moments with it that I think make the league look a little punitive here. Actually, one of the things that I've learned as I watch these players really stretch to get to this limit they really like these awards. Whatever they want to say, their actions indicate they care about getting onto these lists and getting these honors. And here's the thing. I'll just put forth Nikola Jokic. He has been sitting with a game to spare now for five, six weeks and he has continued to play and continue to play. He can't say he doesn't care about awards either. But I also think that, that it just shows how many of games would he have maybe missed if he didn't have to hit that the behavior of the star players indicates that this number means something. And yes, you can point to the players who may miss the award. A chance to get an award by a game or two the league would privately point to. Look how many players got it by a game or two. And look how many games they played, including national television games, which was the point of all this. So while it is unpopular, it is working whether anybody wants to admit it publicly or not.
Mike Wilbon
Well, one of the players affected by this directly is Luka Doncic, who has flown to Spain to get treatment for his hamstring injury. Brian, is there any real chance beyond hope that this is going to get Luka to the point where he looks like March Luka in the NBA playoffs?
Brian Windhorst
Probably not, but I would take a trip to Spain to find out. Especially, you know, after a long season. I don't think the Spanish have cured hamstring injuries. I do think Luca has demonstrated in the past that he will play through pain and that he will play through injuries. So I do think that depending on how, you know, the Lakers do, his season is not, should not be considered over. But the idea that he is going to be able to contribute and at the beginning of a playoff series, I do not believe that that is possible. If they press it to maybe the back end of the first round, maybe you're hoping he can limp out there. And that's where I think the Lakers heads are at right now.
Tony Kornheiser
We will get you out of here on this. It's fairly complicated. Draymond Green wonders why the league doesn't find more teams for tanking after the Kings fouled away from the ball. And in the penalty with three minutes left last night, they fouled Seth Curry. Do you have any thoughts on this? Because I'm sitting in a city where the team has been tanking for three years.
Brian Windhorst
Yeah, Shams told us earlier that their NBA is investigating this. And I'm saying this is what the NBA is investigating. All the tanking that's going on, this is what they're investigating. Unfortunately for the Kings and their fans, this has an easy explanation. I think Doug Christie didn't know how many fouls there were and he asked his team to foul because he wanted to use a timeout to set up a play and he thought they had a foul to give and they didn't. I think it's as simple as that. I don't think it was a tanking move. In fact, you could argue that the Kings haven't been effectively tanking for weeks now and they are out of the top three because they've won more games than they need to. I think it's an indication of a coach making a mistake and the players frankly wanting to cover for him. By the way, he did call timeout after that take foul. He drew up a play and it led to a three point shot. So they traded three for two. They actually were ahead in that transaction. However, I agree with Draymond that the league has not followed through with what they said they were going to in regards to tanking enforcement. I agree with Draymond that players would be held more accountable than teams are being held accountable to this and would be fined more. And on that point, I do think he is correct and has a point.
Tony Kornheiser
Thank you, Brian, as always. Thank you. Thank you.
Mike Wilbon
I appreciate it.
Brian Windhorst
Enjoy the masters, guys.
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah, doesn't help me watching a team that's deliberately trying to lose for three years. Let's take one last break. Still to come, the Detroit Pistons may be getting a big boost to their lineup tonight.
Mike Wilbon
And the Pirates give a nine year contract to a dude who's played five games in the bigs. Tone, I got a solution for you with the Wizards. Just move to a place where the team is good and they're not tanking. You're an empty nest. Three years worth of you already got two, three, four homes. Anyway.
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Tony Kornheiser
Happy time people. Happy tw 27th birthday. Sedarian Deleon Lamb. You know him as CD the Cowboys Pro bowl wide receiver. Now playing on the other side from George Pickens, Lamb was the 17th overall pick by the Cowboys in 2020 out of Oklahoma, where his quarterbacks were in successive seasons Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts. Now Lamb catches passes from Dak Prescott, who, yes, got his money. This past season, Lamb had 75 catches for 1,077 yards with just three touchdowns in 14 games, the fewest receiving touchdowns of Lamb's career. Over that career, Lamb has 571 catches, 7,416 yards and 41 touchdowns. In 2020 through 2025, Lamb has the third most receiving yards in the league and the fifth most receptions.
Mike Wilbon
All these flashy parts, Lamb and Pickens and Dak and the Cowboys still never amount to Jack. That makes me happy.
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah, well, it's because their offense isn't the problem. Their defense is the problem. Happy Anniversary, Detroit Tigers on this day 63 years ago, the Tigers claimed young pitcher Denny McLean off waivers from your Chicago White Sox. Five years later, in 1968, McClain won the Cy Young and the American League League MVP when he went 31. 6 with a 196 ERA. The Tigers won the World Series that year when their other great starter, Micky Lolich, had three complete game wins, including Game 7. Since then, no pitcher has won 30 games. Steve Carlton in 1972 and Bob Welsh in 1990 won 27. The most wins in this century is 24 by Justin Verlander and Randy Johnson. We talk about how starters don't go as deep into games or win as many games as they used to. The most wins in the last 10 years is 22 by Rick Porcello.
Mike Wilbon
Tony All McLean's life was a huge deal in Chicago, including the Detroit years because McLean was from Chicago. If he had been a star the south side with the White Sox of the south side. He went to Mount Carmel High School, rival of my Saint Ignatius. Little known fact, we both had something in common. Played the Hammond organization growing up. Mcclain a lot more accomplished musician than me.
Tony Kornheiser
Oh, I remember. I remember when Denny McLean had gigs as an organization.
Mike Wilbon
Yes, he had gigs. I remember that.
Tony Kornheiser
I didn't know you did that. I didn't know you did that. A melancholy trails now to Davey Lopes. The Dodgers great has passed away at the age of 80. Lopes was a four time All Star with the Dodgers. The second baseman of the classic LA infield that also included Steve Garvey, Ron say and Bill Russell. The quartet made four World Series together, winning one in 1981. Lopes was a fine defensive player and a great base stealer when that was central to the game. He played for four teams, managed the brewers for three seasons and was in the league in one position or another for 45 years.
Mike Wilbon
Wow, Tony, that infield that you mentioned that Davey Lopes helped anchor. They had Fernando Valenzuela on the mound for a little bit of that time late in that run. Just astonishing team to watch stay together for a long time with the Dodgers.
Tony Kornheiser
In those years all those infielders were under six feet. All of them. Let's go to the big finish. Cade Cunningham is expected to return for the Pistons tonight against the Bucks. Is that a big deal?
Mike Wilbon
Yes. The Pistons can incorporate him back and get him back to midseason form. I don't know if he can't reach 65 games. Maybe. Maybe there's an appeal. I don't know. Pirates are signing 19 year old rookie Connor Griffin to a nine year $140 million deal. Does that make sense?
Tony Kornheiser
It makes sense if you think that this makes them think they can keep Paul schemes. That those two could anchor a good team in Pittsburgh and build from them. The Rockets have won seven straight. Is that significant?
Mike Wilbon
Yes, that's a big deal. If you can finish in fourth or even third, you get home court advantage in that first round. The seven game series. Yes, and they're still playing for it. Alex Ovechkin says he will decide his NHL future this summer. Your prediction?
Tony Kornheiser
I think he will retire and go out as still a very, very, very good player. Last one. The Vegas Golden Knights are now 4, 0 under torch. Of course they are. Your reaction?
Mike Wilbon
Why doesn't everybody just fire their car coach a week before the playoffs begin? Why not?
Tony Kornheiser
That's how it works. We're out of time. We'll try to do better the next time. And I am Tony Kornheiser.
Mike Wilbon
I'm Mike Wilbon. We are bumped until Monday by the Masters.
Tony Kornheiser
You knuckleheads from 30 for 30 podcasts.
Brian Windhorst
Did you say someone got shot?
Tony Kornheiser
Brian Pata, senior defensive lineman from Miami, gunned down the key to this case.
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It's Brian.
Mike Wilbon
An hour before he died, he was
Tony Kornheiser
on the phone arguing with somebody.
Brian Windhorst
This might be a hit.
Tony Kornheiser
You want the truth? They just want a conviction. Being placed under arrest.
Mike Wilbon
We had a killer amongst us.
Tony Kornheiser
Murder at the U. Listen now.
Date: April 8, 2026
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser, Michael Wilbon
Guest: Brian Windhorst
In this episode, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon discuss the wide-open field at the Masters—highlighting the absence of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. They analyze potential contenders and the evolving storylines, then pivot to topical debates on Gino Auriemma's apology to Dawn Staley, Jorge Soler's dramatic MLB brawl, and major NBA issues such as Giannis Antetokounmpo's future and playoff eligibility rules. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst joins for "Five Good Minutes" on the NBA’s hottest questions.
[00:59–02:42]
[04:43–07:32]
[07:32–10:39]
[12:43–18:19]
[12:43–13:58]
Windhorst’s Prediction: Both Giannis and Doc Rivers unlikely to remain with the Bucks next season, citing a 17–19 record even with Giannis on the court.
"I would be surprised if Doc Rivers is the coach next year and Giannis is on the team... This was not a winning team even when he was there...the way to fix it, unfortunately, is to trade him." – Brian Windhorst [12:56]
[13:58–15:45]
No Change Coming: Despite pushback, Windhorst says NBA is satisfied with the rule; motivates stars to play more games and appears effective.
"The behavior of the star players indicates that this number means something...while it is unpopular, it is working." – Brian Windhorst [14:49]
[15:45–16:46]
Outlook: Windhorst is doubtful hamstring treatment in Spain will return Doncic to full strength for playoffs but notes his toughness.
"I don't think the Spanish have cured hamstring injuries. I do think Luka ... will play through pain." – Brian Windhorst [16:14]
[16:46–18:19]
Foul Play? Windhorst says Kings coach simply lost track of team fouls, not an attempt to tank; agrees with Draymond Green: teams less penalized for tanking than players for on-court infractions.
"This has an easy explanation. I think Doug Christie didn't know how many fouls there were...I agree with Draymond that the league has not followed through ... in regards to tanking enforcement." – Brian Windhorst [17:11]
| Segment | Time | |----------------------------------------|-----------| | Masters: Storylines & Contenders | 00:59–04:43| | Gino Auriemma Apology | 04:43–07:32| | MLB: Soler/Lopez Brawl | 07:32–10:39| | NBA: Brian Windhorst Joins | 12:43–18:19| | Happy Time / Big Finish | 20:33–24:59|
This episode is a lively analysis of shifting landscapes in golf, baseball, and basketball—with colorful, insightful commentary and fresh perspectives from both the hosts and their expert NBA guest.