Tony Kornheiser (2:29)

Do you like the Dodgers to win the Series?

Mike Wilbon (2:30)

Yes, I do.

Tony Kornheiser (2:31)

Okay. All right. So we're going to be agreed on all of these things. My feeling about this is very similar to your feeling about this. The Dodgers pitching has been phenomenal. Starting pitching has been phenomenal. There's no other word for it. Their opposition Batting average is.132. That's unbelievable. But yes, this is a long layoff. What I worry about this, Baseball is an everyday sport. When you take this much time off, then you worry about rust instead of rest. And I have, I have something here. It's an ominous statistic. This year will be the fifth time since 1985 that one team in the League Champions League Championship Series swept and the other went seven games. In the previous four times this happened, the seven game team won every World Series. Right. I mean, you know, I think the Dodgers will win because I think good pitching trumps good hitting. And the Dodgers can hit. You know, the Dodgers can hit.

Mike Wilbon (3:28)

This is one of the best hitting Dodgers lineups ever.

Tony Kornheiser (3:33)

They have more runs in the regular season than Toronto. 825 to. 798. Toronto doesn't have a top of the order like the Dodgers. No, nobody does.

Mike Wilbon (3:41)

No.

Tony Kornheiser (3:42)

Connie and Betts and Freeman. But again, Mike, you know what it feels like. It feels like the World Series is a bowl game that we've waited so long. And so I, and I, and I look, I think Toronto is really good. Their batting average, team batting average in the post season is.296. That's unbelievably high. The Dodgers is.256. So you know, I respect them. The hottest guy in baseball is Vlad Guerrero. They have more home runs than strikeouts. That doesn't happen.

Mike Wilbon (4:11)

If he, if, if Toronto can get to the Dodger bullpen, then they're in good shape.

Tony Kornheiser (4:16)

With Guerrero, they're in good shape.

Mike Wilbon (4:17)

Springer and Bichette back in the line. They can hold up.

Tony Kornheiser (4:21)

Toronto won more games in the regular season. So they have home field. They have a maximum of four games there. They're 54 and 27 at home.

Mike Wilbon (4:28)

Great homework.

Tony Kornheiser (4:29)

So. And yet I still, I will be surprised if the Dodgers lose. I will.

Mike Wilbon (4:33)

Surprised.

Tony Kornheiser (4:34)

Surprised.

Mike Wilbon (4:34)

Okay. Yeah, I'm looking forward to this.

Tony Kornheiser (4:37)

And by the way, if Snell goes out there tonight and gives up three hits and seven innings, then it's on. Yeah, right.

Mike Wilbon (4:42)

Then you keep that momentum.

Tony Kornheiser (4:43)

You feel good. That's right.

Mike Wilbon (4:45)

The next night, let's move to the National Football League. And the Chargers beat down to the Vikings. The Chargers Office came alive with the return of all Pro tackle Joe Alt, and the defense sacked Carson Wentz five times. Tone, what did this win do for you and your estimation of the now 53 charges?

Tony Kornheiser (5:04)

Not much really, because Minnesota isn't a very good team. This was supposed to be J.J. mcCarthy's team, but for weeks now they've gone to Carson Wentz who gets beat up. And a lot of people looked at that game and said, why is he still in there? We don't know if JJ McCarthy is any good, but after all these years, we have a sense that Carson Wentz isn't very good. Right. So I don't think a win over Minnesota is something you hang your hat on. Were the charges good? Yeah, the Chargers were good. Justin Herbert, some stats against pressure. 13 of 15, 162 yards, two touchdowns. He also threw an interception. He has seven, which is sort of a lot of interceptions for a Pro bowl quarterback. And I was talking to Jason Lochir today, and he was talking about Joe Walt's presence and what that meant. In the games that Joe Alt has played, the Chargers are 4. 0. In the four games that he's missed, they're 1 and 3. And the one was that really dicey win against Miami. So he's obviously an important component there.

Mike Wilbon (6:02)

Yeah, the Chargers, I didn't go crazy when they lost a couple. I still think they're pretty good. I still think they're a threat to win their division, even though Kansas City's.

Tony Kornheiser (6:12)

In it and Denver.

Mike Wilbon (6:12)

And Denver's ahead of them.

Tony Kornheiser (6:13)

And Denver.

Mike Wilbon (6:14)

A threat. I'm not saying the favorite, but a threat. Okay, so. So the Chargers are about where they are. This is what NFL season does. This is what all professional sports seasons do. Unless you have a dominant Crazy Patriots 18. 0 team or bears 15 and 1, or dolphins, you have an ebb and flow. Teams are going to lose. The Chargers are going to lose three or four more times. I think the Chargers sort of regain their footing. The Vikings. Tony. So there are two teams coming into the season that I thought were going to take a backslide. The Charger. I'm sorry, The Vikings, because of their quarterback situation, because I think getting rid of Sam Darnold was stupid. And the commanders, because they had everything go right, including great health.

Tony Kornheiser (6:58)

That's right.

Mike Wilbon (6:58)

That's right. And so I worry about that, and I certainly hope that Jason Daniels can be healthy and be out there soon. But those are the two teams taking the backslide.

Tony Kornheiser (7:07)

Jaden Daniels, not Jason Daniels.

Mike Wilbon (7:09)

Jaden.

Tony Kornheiser (7:09)

Jason locanfora. Jaden Daniels. Jaden, I will give you the next four games though, that the Chargers have because they are all winnable. At Tennessee is winnable.

Mike Wilbon (7:17)

Very.

Tony Kornheiser (7:18)

Home Steelers is winnable. At Jacksonville is winnable. Home Raiders is winnable. So you know, but like you have in the past, I often think of the charges that the whole is not greater than the sum of its parts. So I remain somewhat skeptical. Let us revisit the gambling story in the NBA from yesterday. Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat was arrested in connection with alleged insider information betting. And Chauncey Billups, coach of the Trailblazers, was arrested for his alleged involvement in a poker scheme that has mob implications. Wilbon. This is at least a public relations nightmare for the NBA total. What sort of pressure is on Commissioner Adam Silver right now?

Mike Wilbon (7:57)

None. None he can do. He couldn't do anything on the front end. He doesn't have the power of subpoena. He wasn't going to be able to compel witnesses to testify or to give him information. Nothing. They're not a law enforcement organization. Adam Silver. Now you could, from a public relations standpoint, you could stand there and huff and puff and pound a table and look like a tougher guy. I don't know what David Stern would have been able to do. He might have been able to project something different.

Tony Kornheiser (8:24)

He would have tried.

Mike Wilbon (8:25)

He would have tried. But in terms of what Adam Silver can do, he's got to sit there now and take it. He's got to sit there now and hope. Here's what he can do. He can pray every night that this is the iceberg in full and not just the tip. All right, that's about it.

Tony Kornheiser (8:41)

So let me start by stating for the record, nothing happened today that advanced this story from yesterday. We don't know if it's gonna widen out. We don't know if, as you say, it is the tip of the iceberg or the iceberg itself. Regardless of that, even if this is all it is, it's disastrous in terms of public relations. And Adam Silver is where you and I disagree. Has to get out in front of this. I was seriously. No, I was honestly stunned last night that he did not go on the pregame show with Ernie Johnson and Shaq and Kenny Smith and Charles. He should have been there cuz they talked about it at great length and because they're NBA guys. That might have been a soft landing to me. It looks like he's hiding under his desk. I refer to my notes. I don't think this is as bad as Tim Donaghy I mean, I really don't, I don't think it's close to that. But what you have, what's most important is the integrity of your game. And if this is true about Terry Rozier, then you don't have the integrity of your game. And that's, you know. And you had an investigation into him, however limited you might have been. You cleared him cuz you let him play. Now you have an investigation into Steve Ballmer and Kawhi Leonard. And if it comes out that you're not going to do anything about that, the general public is going to say, well, you don't want to do anything about that. You have an inferior investigation. They're gonna say, maybe you just wanna sweep wrongdoings under the rug. And that's why I believe Adam Silver has to get out and talk and talk. But he hasn't.

Mike Wilbon (10:12)

And you know what they're gonna do tonight? They're gonna play the damn games and.

Tony Kornheiser (10:16)

He'S not gonna say a word.

Mike Wilbon (10:17)

I don't think so. You say he has to get out. I do. He has to and he's not going to. And Tony, here's the shame of it.

Tony Kornheiser (10:24)

He was in front on this. He wanted sports, gambling, he wanted.

Mike Wilbon (10:28)

He wears it therefore. Tony, people don't care. They're not gonna stop watching the games. They're not gonna stop buying the stuff they wear, the jerseys.

Tony Kornheiser (10:37)

I think they care, Tony.

Mike Wilbon (10:38)

I think they don't care.

Tony Kornheiser (10:39)

They care if they think it's crooked.

Mike Wilbon (10:41)

Crooked? What does that mean? That's an old fashioned notion that the NBA's target audience is not familiar with in any way whatsoever. I think they're gonna consume the product and not care.

Tony Kornheiser (10:53)

Millions of people on a daily basis bet, yes, they bet the end, yes. But if they feel that the NBA is not legit, that there is what would lead Charlie? Things like Terry Rozier.

Mike Wilbon (11:08)

Terry Rozier didn't even fix a game. He took himself out early, he enriched himself and some buddies.

Tony Kornheiser (11:13)

He fixed. He may not have deliberately fixed the entire game. He fixed his party.

Mike Wilbon (11:18)

Allegedly.

Tony Kornheiser (11:18)

He fixed his part. Allegedly. Let's take a break. We're angry here. It's like Charles and Kenny last night. But when we come back, Indiana is ranked second in the nation. UCLA has won three straight. Who is feistier heading into Saturday's game?

Mike Wilbon (11:32)

And which quarterback has more on the line when the packers pass meets their present tossing?

Tony Kornheiser (11:38)

You don't think that's the job of a commissioner?

Mike Wilbon (11:39)

Yeah, I didn't say it wasn't his job.

Tony Kornheiser (11:41)

Well, he's not doing it.

Mike Wilbon (11:42)

He's not gonna do it. Bet me. Oops.

Tony Kornheiser (11:44)

Ooh, ooh.

Mike Wilbon (11:46)

Do we go to DraftKings or ESPN Bet for that?

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Commercial Announcer (13:18)

Welcome back to Pardon the Interruption. Presented by Twisted Tea Hard Iced Tea Part of Happy Hour.

Tony Kornheiser (13:31)

It's time for Toss Up. Two men enter, one man leaves, finishes the show, then celebrates by carving two words into a pumpkin. I win. What's first?

Mike Wilbon (13:41)

Toss up. Which team is feistier heading into Saturday's game, UCLA or number two? Indiana.

Commercial Announcer (13:47)

So?

Tony Kornheiser (13:47)

So I don't know what feistier means, but I have a sense of what a possible trap game looks like and smells like. Indiana is a 25 point favorite and the assumption is that UCLA stinks. Ucla stunk. They were.03 and then fired their coach. Then they went to04, losing to Northwestern. Since then they have won three games in a row. They have scored 100 points in those three games, which is a lot. They're now rushing the ball 208 yards a game. With the new coach. With the old coach they rushed it 122 yards. With the new coach, they're giving up 115 fewer yards per Game. And I'm not saying they're going to beat Indiana. I don't think they're going to beat Indiana. But Indiana's got a really soft schedule coming up and you have to guard against complacency. UCLA is not limping into this game like they were when they were 03.

Mike Wilbon (14:40)

That's right. And to mention that, go back into the details of that soft schedule for Indiana. Ucla, of course, Tomorrow at Maryland, at Penn State, Wisconsin and Purdue. They should win all the rest of their games. And this is why Indiana's the feistier team. Cause they know they can win these games and get into for a second straight season, the playoff.

Tony Kornheiser (15:02)

But their coaches can.

Mike Wilbon (15:03)

UCLA can't do it.

Tony Kornheiser (15:04)

But their coach is warning them. Their coaches say treat them like they're three on.

Mike Wilbon (15:07)

That's why they're feisty too. Okay. Because he knows what you know, that's that this looks like a trap game. He don't want that. Look, he's getting a lot of money now. Eyes are on him. Eyes are on Indiana football. For the first time in my life. I grew up next door. Indiana football.

Tony Kornheiser (15:26)

Indiana basketball, not Indiana.

Mike Wilbon (15:27)

That's right. And so they got a chance to do something really great here. Tony. And again, UCLA at Maryland, at Penn State, Wisconsin, Purdue. Indiana will be favored to win all those games.

Tony Kornheiser (15:38)

Yeah. The assumption is Penn State has collapsed at this point. What's next?

Mike Wilbon (15:41)

Toss up. Which quarterback has more on the line when they meet on Sunday night, Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love?

Tony Kornheiser (15:47)

Jordan Love has nothing on the line. The answer to this is Aaron Rodgers. Aaron Rodgers. And why is that? Because this is it for Aaron Rodgers. This is his last year. This is his one shot against the team where he made his reputation. His one shot against the team where he won a Super bowl and won four MVPs. And his one shot against the team as you well remember, that traded up to get Jordan Love while Aaron Rodgers was still great. Aaron Rodgers thinks about things like this now. Everything he has said so far about Green Bay and Jordan Love, it's like he's reading from a script on how to be a nice fellow and ace, you know, is it convincing? Maybe for some. But you know, Aaron Rodgers sees this game as part of his legacy. Jordan Love's got years to go in this. And I mean, they lost last week, Pittsburgh. And Aaron Rodgers sees himself as having to staunch that. That's how he thinks. I think it's all on the line for him and not at all for Jordan Love.

Mike Wilbon (16:45)

I don't give a damn what Aaron Rodgers thinks.

Tony Kornheiser (16:47)

Well, that's part of the question.

Mike Wilbon (16:48)

No, I'm judging this. And it's all on the kid, really. He's got to do something. Aaron Rodgers has a gold jacket in a garage next to the ayahuasca tank. Okay, it's over for Aaron Rodgers. He's going to the hall of Fame. He's. He'll do TV if he wants. He'll get his own show and 17 podcasts and pair himself with somebody in a black muscle shirt. It doesn't matter. Even if he gets nothing, The Green Bay packers have it all in front of them this year. I know the NFC is tougher than we thought it would be, and their.

Tony Kornheiser (17:23)

Division'S tougher, but Jordan Love has years to go.

Mike Wilbon (17:26)

Jordan, he has now. He's been in the league like five years.

Tony Kornheiser (17:29)

So that's it.

Mike Wilbon (17:29)

How long is he going to wait? Aaron Rodgers did his. About this time. Aaron Rodgers, get off the stage.

Tony Kornheiser (17:36)

What does it matter? What is that thing you say has a tank? Ayahuasca. I always think of Hiawatha. I don't. Every time you say that, I think you're saying hiawatha.

Mike Wilbon (17:44)

Aaron Rodgers. What?

Tony Kornheiser (17:46)

Look.

Mike Wilbon (17:46)

Come on now.

Tony Kornheiser (17:47)

Look, the people saw this.

Mike Wilbon (17:49)

I win.

Tony Kornheiser (17:50)

I mean, he's crazy. He's wrong. Let's take one last break. Coming up, Lamar Jackson might be back in time just to torment your bears.

Mike Wilbon (17:57)

Wilmar, I'm worried about that one. Matt Rempe and Ryan Reeves turned the ice rink into a sub ring.

Tony Kornheiser (18:04)

Old school 1960s referee doesn't want to get in the middle of that.

Mike Wilbon (18:08)

No, he shouldn't.

Tony Kornheiser (18:09)

No, because he's going to get hit.

Mike Wilbon (18:10)

By both right hands.

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Commercial Announcer (18:42)

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Tony Kornheiser (19:17)

Happy 29th birthday. Raphael Devers. The Red Sox couldn't wait to get rid of Devers after he publicly complained about losing his third base job to Alex Bregner. Devers then refused to play first base as well, so Boston shipped him across the country and to the other league as well in June. Devers slumped badly when he first joined the Giants, but by the end of the year he had 35 home runs and 109 RBI. The second most homers of his career, the third most RBI. His batting average fell to.252 though, and his worst average since 2018. Devers is a three time All Star. He was on the Red Sox World Series champions in 2018 and now he will play for a college coach in San Francisco.

Mike Wilbon (19:58)

Devers played 163 games this year, by the way. Now he has to be about the business of leading his new team to catch that rival team, the one down south. Cause that's what it's about. And the Giants still lead the Dodgers three championships to two in this Central, right?

Tony Kornheiser (20:14)

It's your stats.

Mike Wilbon (20:15)

I know.

Tony Kornheiser (20:16)

Happy anniversary. Sandy Koufax. On this day 62 years ago, the Dodgers lefty became the first pitcher to win the Cy Young Award by unanimous vote. Koufax won three Cy Youngs, one each by unanimous vote. No other pitcher has won three size unanimously and Koufax won his in the era when There was only one size, not one in each league. Koufax won four World Series rings including including in 1963 against the Yankees when Koufax's 15 strikeout performance earned him series MVP. He got another series MVP in 1965 when he made three starts against the Twins, pitching 24 innings, giving up one earned and striking out 29 in his career. Koufax's record is 16587 with a.276 ERA.

Mike Wilbon (21:04)

I don't want to hear anything. Case made that baseball now is as good as baseball then I don't want to hear it because you don't even have that. And he wasn't. While he was singular in some ways, you had Marshall, you had Whitey. Fool doesn't owe you.

Tony Kornheiser (21:18)

You had changed your mind a little bit.

Mike Wilbon (21:19)

Look at how many people I just said. Ohtani didn't go nine. He didn't go 24 in three games.

Tony Kornheiser (21:25)

He might. He might.

Mike Wilbon (21:26)

Let me see.

Tony Kornheiser (21:26)

Let's see what happens.

Mike Wilbon (21:27)

Let me see it.

Tony Kornheiser (21:28)

Happy trails to most of last night's. Game from Matt Rempe. The Rangers tough guy exited last night's game early with an upper body injury after an exchange of haymakers with Sharks enforcer Ryan Reaves. You hate fighting, Wilbur. You gotta appreciate helmets flying off. Turns out Mr. Rempe had challenged Mr. Reaves to the fight in the pre game warmup. Be careful what you ask for, kids. Not only did the Sharks win the fight, they won their first game of the season. 65 in overtime.

Mike Wilbon (21:55)

How about Rimby going 669255? I mean he makes Reeves look tiny at 622 25.

Tony Kornheiser (22:04)

His nickname is the Rempire State. That is still fabulous.

Commercial Announcer (22:08)

That's garbage.

Mike Wilbon (22:08)

And he NHL.

Tony Kornheiser (22:09)

I know you don't like fighting.

Mike Wilbon (22:11)

Doesn't need it.

Tony Kornheiser (22:11)

Radel. It's a fabulous nickname. One omission. Eagles receiver A.J. brown has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Giants with a hamstring injury. Let's go to the big finish.

Mike Wilbon (22:19)

Let's do it.

Tony Kornheiser (22:20)

Lamar Jackson bulldo at practice today for the Ravens. What does that mean, Mr. Baer?

Mike Wilbon (22:25)

I'm scared that we could get Michael Spinks if he's right. Cause Baltimore has to win this game. They're at home coming off a bye. I'm a little scared. The Falcons have listed Michael Penix Jr. As questionable against the Dolphins. What does that mean?

Tony Kornheiser (22:39)

It means it's possible Kirk Cousins will be in the game. Yes. Could he come back And Wally Pip, the guy that Wally pipped hip, you.

Mike Wilbon (22:47)

Know, that's a great storyline.

Tony Kornheiser (22:48)

Could he do that? Is that possible? It is. The ceremonial first pitches in Toronto for Games 1 and 2 will be thrown out by Seaboard Gaston and Joe Carter. Makes sense, doesn't it?

Mike Wilbon (22:56)

They are the national baseball heroes of Canada, right? Yes, they are absolutely amazing.

Tony Kornheiser (23:02)

Well, George Springer is getting there.

Mike Wilbon (23:03)

Springer is on deck.

Tony Kornheiser (23:05)

Yeah.

Mike Wilbon (23:06)

The Bruins have lost six straight calls for concern.

Tony Kornheiser (23:08)

Anytime you lose six in a row, it's cause for concern. It's very early in the season.

Mike Wilbon (23:12)

Save up seven.

Tony Kornheiser (23:13)

I mean, you know, if this happened.

Mike Wilbon (23:14)

In March, somebody might get fired.

Tony Kornheiser (23:16)

You know, even in January, everybody gets fired. Everybody's last one. The MLS playoffs are tonight. Inter Miami hosts Nashville sc. Who you got?

Mike Wilbon (23:25)

I got three TV screens, as you know.

Tony Kornheiser (23:27)

Right.

Mike Wilbon (23:28)

None of them will have that.

Tony Kornheiser (23:30)

Okay.

Mike Wilbon (23:30)

I'll have the World Series large.

Tony Kornheiser (23:33)

I'll have two NBA games flanking.

Mike Wilbon (23:35)

I may click over to watch your boy wearing pink. I may do that.

Tony Kornheiser (23:39)

We're out of time. We'll try to do better the next time. I'm Tony Cornheim.

Mike Wilbon (23:42)

I'm Mike Wilbond have a great weekend Knuckle.

Commercial Announcer (23:45)

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