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- [00:02]
A
The world moves fast. Your workday even faster. Pitching products, drafting reports, analyzing data. Microsoft 365 Copilot is your AI assistant for work built into Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other Microsoft 365 apps you use, helping you quickly write, analyze, create and summarize so you can cut through clutter and clear a path to your best work. Learn more@Microsoft.com M365 copilot pardon the interruption, but I'm Pablo Ottore. Wilbon is off today, and I am honored that you invited me back on to co host with you, Tony.
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B
I'm Tony Kornheiser. I'm just trying to stay on your good side. You're a tough guy now. Yeah, you know, I gotta be careful. I gotta be careful.
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A
I'm afraid and I'm confused. Yeah, I'm just your friendly neighborhood sports journalist. Why? What's in your closets, Tony?
- [00:55]
B
Anything. As they say, be afraid. Be very afraid. Welcome to pti, everybody. Wilbot is off chunking and blading, so I'm joined by our great friend, the host of the podcast, Pablo Torre finds out. Mr. Pablo Torre. Good. And we begin today with talk of the NBA mvp. JJ Redick boosted his guy Luka Doncic last night, saying Doncic is leading the Lakers. Great recent success. The Lakers are 152 since Feb. 28, including a win last night over Washington. And in that span, Don Tichet's averaging 36.5 points on 49.3% shooting, eight rebounds, seven assists a game. A leading contender for MVP as well, Oklahoma City's Shea Gilgeous. Alexander said he was not going to stump for himself for MVP, even after last night's 47 points against Detroit. He prefers to let his play do the talking. And we all know that Victor Wembanyama publicly says he wants to be the MVP. Wembanyama had 41 last night with 16 rebounds against Chicago. Pablo, which approach to the MVP award has the most impact on you?
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A
None of the campaigning strategies, Tony, as you know from your time in dc, none of it really replaces the substance at hand. Like, I've seen Daryl Morey be so thirsty for James Harden. Joel Embiid, I've seen people say, I would never insert myself into this process. I don't care. I'm looking at the merits, though, the subjects on their own merits. And I'm like, okay, where do I put Doncic? I'm Putting him probably fourth, I think. Shai Giulis Alexander, number one, Thunder, the best team. He's averaging 55% on 32 points a game for a guard. That's insane. Jokic is leading the league in rebounds and assists as a center. Wemby, if he wasn't playing as little as he was 400 to 500 minutes less than the other guys, I'd probably pick him because of his defense. And Doncic, nothing to, nothing to be ashamed of. He's just, he's number four to me. Number four in the. On the list.
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B
So I really like the fact that Wembanyama has said publicly he wants to be the MVP and that he wants there to be no doubt about the separation he has from everybody else. The Lakers are 15 and 2 lately. Pablo, that's really good. The spurs are 25 and 2 since February 1st and Wembanyama is in the middle of that. Che, Gilgis, Alexander. He doesn't. It's fine that he doesn't want to campaign for this. He doesn't have to. He won it last year. He's having about the same year and his team is the best team in the league. So it's very easy to vote for him. And I think that humility will help him. Doncic has been great lately. There's a quote though from Doncic which indicates to me that he thinks he's not that high with the voters. He says the better I play, the more I go down in the ratings. But here's the thing. They've been very much better this year than last year. They've been very much better most recently than earlier in the season. J.J. redick is 100% right to stump for Doncic. It's 100% right to do that, you know, and I get all of it. But on the ballot that I have, if I had one, it would be Jaylen Brown. First, because I think what he's done in the absence of Jayson Tatum is terrific. And then second for me would be Wembanyama, but it would have been Cade Cunningham had he not gotten hurt. Cuz Detroit is on top in the east. And then I would have Gilgis, Alexander, Doncic and Jokic, who is, and I'm sure you agree with this, simply the best basketball player in the world. He's the best player in the world.
- [04:30]
A
Oh, so it's, it's. Look, we're at a point in the NBA where the MVP race, you could tell me any of those names are the winner. And I'm not going to storm the league office like we are. We are blessed with an abundance of high level talent, a lot of it international, by the way. Jaylen Brown kind of sticking out on that list of guys, but we're good. And I think it's a difference of minor differences as opposed to one obvious choice. But I want to move Tony from awards to comeuppance because Ducks captain Radko Gudis faced the Maple Leafs last night for the first time since putting their star Auston Matthews out for the season with that knee on, knee hit and Gudis had been injured and could have ducked the game, but he decided to play to, quote, stand behind my own mistakes, end quote. And so with the drop of the puck, Toronto's Max Domi dropped his gloves and punched Gudis 10 times without receiving a single punch in return. Tony, did Radko Gudis earn back a measure of your respect by doing that? By playing and taking his punishment?
- [05:35]
B
Absolutely, absolutely. He has been a guy who's been suspended multiple times. He has taken people out. He took out Auston Matthews for the rest of the year. He did not have to play in this game. Anaheim is not going back to Toronto this year. He could have said just scratch me and I'm done. But instead he made it very publicly clear that he wanted to be out there. Made it very publicly clear that you could take a shot at him. He was going to be there, give him your best shot. And he knew that the honor of Toronto depended on getting in a fight with him. So as you say, as soon as they have the opening puck drop, the most senior Toronto player in terms of being a fighter, Max Domi went after him. There were two more dust ups. Thankfully nobody got hurt. And this will sound like frontier justice, Pablo, but I think what Gudas did is honorable to get out there. I don't know if it'll satisfy all the fans of the Maple Leafs, cuz Matthews is the captain of the Maple Leafs. But to me to say, I'm here, take your best shot, I'm not going anywhere. Yes, he got back respect from me. Yes, he did. Yeah.
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A
No, we're living in a time where like the guardrails of honor and shame have never mattered less. Except in hockey where we're learning that there are depths to that honor code. I mean, Tony, this was a samurai taking out his katana blade and sticking it into his own intestines saying, I deserve this and I will. More than that, I will be non violent in my expression of shame. I didn't realize that this was a process that was so obviously dictated, like you just said. Yeah, of course Domi had to do it because he was the number one guy in terms of experience. But also remember they didn't do this in the game when Austin Matthews got hurt. And so dude is also bail out the honor of the make believes by giving himself at that altar. Yes.
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B
Yeah. I mean, I found this. I found the entire exercise. I know it's violent. Wilbon always says they only fight in the NHL and not in Europe and not the Olympics. Except that Gudis is from Europe and He's been in 50 fights in the NHL. He's been more fights than Leon Spinks in his whole career. But I found this commendable. Pablo, his behavior in this action, I found commendable. Let's move to the NFL. The first game of the season this year for San Francisco will be in Melbourne, Australia against the Rams. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan does not want to go to Australia for this game or any game. Yesterday Shanahan was asked if he saw positives here and he said, I don't see any pro. It's cool for the league to play globally, but as far as the team doing it, no, there's not much benefit. The Niners will not get a bye week after the Australia game and the flight to Melbourne is 16 hours each way. Pablo, do the positives outweigh the negatives for the NFL?
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A
No, they don't. And the NFL, it's funny to frame it around wants, as Kyle Shanahan was doing, because the NFL, we're in the wants business now. The NFL doesn't need to see the planet as this risk board to conquer, but they do. Apparently Australia is on that list. And that's confusing to me because Australia is about as far away from the United States as you can get. Also, it's not a big market. It's like smaller than Texas. And also I don't really see how, how you could plausibly keep doing this because it's a 15 hour flight. But the NFL wants to build another market because they just want it. And do they need it? Absolutely not.
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B
I will say the one good thing for this game, theoretically when you look at it, is it's a division game. So two teams in the same division have to bear this. And they are very good teams and they are incumbent playoff teams. The bad news is they're in the same division as Seattle, the Super bowl winner. And I don't know if there's how large the Disadvantage is for 32 hours in the air when you're not making Seattle do it. I understand what the NFL is doing. I understand the idea of a global footprint I understand why they would want to be in Australia if I owned the 49ers, I want my team to be worth more. So, yeah, I'm in favor of global stuff. I understand where they're going. They're closest to it in proximity. That's why east coast teams go to London games. But if I'm the coach of the 49ers. Pablo, I don't want this. I don't. This is. 32 hours in the air is going to affect me. This game, the next game, and the game after. If I'm the coach of the 49ers, I don't care how many Christian McCaffrey jerseys I sell in Melbourne or Sydney. I don't care about that. So I don't want this game. I don't.
- [10:12]
A
Yeah, Tony, I'm very aware that you don't want this. As a hypothetical NFL coach, I also know even more acutely that. That you don't want this. As you can you imagine getting on a plane, you personally, for 16 hours direct? That's the shortest thing you got.
- [10:28]
B
It's too long. Hey, I'll tell you another thing that's interesting, that Kyle Shanahan mentioned that they're also playing in Mexico City this coming season. Well, that flight. I mean, the subtext of that is, look what you do with us. You're killing us. You're making us do all these games. That flight's four hour and 15 minutes. They also play at the Giants in New Jersey. That's over five hours. So. And nobody's going to say, let's cancel a game with the Giants because the Giants stink. You'd play them in Mexico City or anywhere if you could. Let's take a break. Coming up, the Pistons were missing four starters last night, but still took the Thunder to overtime. We're going to ask Kendrick Perkins what that means.
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We'll also ask him if he thinks the Coach of the Year award is stupid, like Joe Mazzulla insists it is.
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It's interesting, what you said about the cold in the NHL, that they still have that code. Yeah, because he could have ducked that game easy. 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 Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com or just stop
- [11:53]
C
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B
We've got some NBA questions for our great friend from NBA Today, ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins. Let's start with this. The Pistons top five scorers, they were out last night. Top five and they still pushed Oklahoma City to overtime on the road. What if anything perk? What if anything do you take from that game?
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That SGA is the MVP of the league and he's getting my vote that we just witnessed a guy coming off a back to back going against a fierce Detroit Piston team that played with a physical style of play and that a guy that didn't make no excuses without having his Robin and Jalen Williams drop 47. Can we understand the moment for a second when it comes to sga, we're talking about a guy that just went on a championship run, led a team, went deep into the postseason, into June, all of a sudden come back the following season without his Robin lead his team to the top record in the NBA 60 win season and he joined the company of Michael Jeffrey Jordan again. Four consecutive seasons of averaging 30 in and shooting over 50% from the field. I got the email today was I'm going to be participating as a voter or not. I put yes and SGA is getting penciled in as my MVP perk.
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A
I want to stay at the top of the standings. The team's trailing the Thunder. The Cavs got the Lakers tonight. Which team are you hiring on, Los Angeles or Cleveland?
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D
I'm actually, I'm actually higher on Cleveland to be honest with you. I be. I feel like they have all the pieces, you know, to go and actually make a legit push in the Eastern Conference. But let me say this to you. Out of all the teams in the league, they're the team that's under the most pressure. Donovan Mitchell is under the most pressure. He's a team. He's a guy that hasn't led the team to a conference finals. Now you're playing with a guy, James Harden, who's going to relieve pressure from you. James Harden also is one of the best facilitators in the game. He's going to make Evan Mobley and Jared Allen better. We saw that last night. Evan Mobley had a season high 34 points. So when you talk about what they added at the trade deadline and what they need to accomplish and the focus that they have to have, I'm looking at the Cavs and I believe that they're going to be a sleeper because no one is picking them as their favorite, but they have all the pieces and check all the boxes.
- [15:43]
A
Okay, so you checked the box on being a voter for mvp. I want to take us to the other award that's been making news. So coach of the year, right? This is Celtics head coach Joe Missoula. On the premise of that award, I'll read you the quote. I don't need it. I think it's stupid. They shouldn't have it. I don't ever want to be asked or talk about it again. It's just that dumb. End quote. And he goes on to say that a team success is really about the players and the staff perk. And you're shaking your head. So do you agree with Joe Mazzulla about the stupidity of the award?
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You know what's the sad part is that Joe Missoula is a candidate for coach of the year and that was one of the most asinine things I've ever heard in my life when it comes to disrespecting that position. Like, you're disrespecting greats like Phil Jackson who had to manage egos of a Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman. You're disrespecting Phil Jackson that had to manage egos between Kobe and Shaq. You're disrespecting Greg Popovich and. And Red are back. And also you're making it. You're disrespecting the guys that's coming up under you that actually want access to the. To these type of jobs of being a head coach. Like head coaches matter. They spend more time in the gym and away from their families than players do. When you talk about sacrificing, coaches really do sacrifice. They don't stand by 24 hours a day. A player could call an assistant coach at 2 in the morning and say that he want to get shots up and that coach better get his ass up and meet him at the gym so that he could be available to work that player out. And I love Joe Missoula. I think he has a different personality, but he's a hell of a coach. But that right there, it just didn't sit well with me and it was one of the most asinine things I've ever heard.
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I want you to see me. It's silent applause for what you just said. I am applauding you. That was great. And we will get you out of here on this. Anthony Edwards missed the tip last night because the quote is nature called. As a player, how often, how often are you forced to make a decision whether to play or just go to the bathroom? How often? Perk.
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D
I mean, we listen, I'm willing to bet if you take a survey or take a poll that 80% of current and former players all had the same routine of using the restroom before they started the game. Now you can't help it that nature called at a certain time when you typically probably go 20 or 30 minutes before you have to run out on the floor. Yeah, but everyone has their routine and, and majority of the guys that, that I played with, hell, they had their own stall. They had they personal stall that they wanted to use before they went out on the floor. So this is not surprising to me. This is just part of it. Let me tell you a quick story. Rajon Rondo used to get to the facility, work out on the floor, take a shower, put his game jersey on, and then go out there and play. We thought it was weird, but it was his routine. So whatever floats your boat, whatever's gonna make you perform at your highest level, dammit, do it.
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I see what you say there. Floats your boat. That's a. I see what you did there. Thank you, Perk. Thank you Perk. Let's take one last break. Still to come, Texas and South Carolina make it a repeat final four.
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A
And players on your MLB package maybe smaller than they appear.
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B
Yeah, it's good because that helps them, you know, get, get a shorter strike zone.
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A
It's better for them abs, not ibs. Which is more relevant to the topic we just discussed. Investigated.
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C
This college basketball tournament moment is brought to you by Marriott Bonvoy.
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A
Connecticut has won the Big east championship.
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B
Fresh off winning five games in five days to win the 20002011 Big east tournament, the UConn Huskies entered the NCAA tournament as the 3 seed in the west, including a 36 point performance by Kimball Walker in the Sweet 16. The run to the Huskies third national championship was one of the most remarkable postseason runs in college basketball history.
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C
Marriott Bonvoy where Game day checks in
- [20:09]
B
Evan Cohen Here Game day brings the excitement your stay should feel just as memorable. With Marriott Bonvoy, official hotel partner of the NCAA and U.S. soccer, you're connected to a port portfolio of brands designed
- [20:22]
A
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- [20:24]
B
Some offer complimentary breakfast, others give you room to spread out space to stay productive or extended stay comforts. So whether you're a traveling fan or part of the team, Marriott Bonvoy celebrates the moments that live on before and after the game. Marriott Bonvoy where GameDay checks in partner
- [20:40]
C
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- [21:23]
B
Happy time people. Happy 64th birthday. John Taylor the 49ers wide receiver began his football career with failure. Taylor did not make his college team at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina. Taylor then enrolled at Delaware State and made the team as a walk on. Taylor played his college football in Dover, Delaware and was so good there he was drafted in third round by the 49ers. Taylor played his entire nine year NFL career in San Francisco, caught 347 passes, 5,598 yards and 43 touchdowns, mostly from Joe Montana and Steve Young. Taylor's most famous catch came with 34 seconds left in Super Bowl 23 to beat the Cincinnati Bengals. And that one was from Montana.
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A
Yeah, Tony, I totally underestimated the trajectory of John Taylor, who after high school went to work at a liquor warehouse instead of taking baseball scholarships and then did everything you just said and of course ends up being a protagonist in one of the great sports photographs, let alone sports moments and greatest touchdowns you've ever seen.
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B
Happy Anniversary Wade Boggs on this day 28 years ago, the Future First Ballot hall of Famer and Boston Red Sox legend made history for another franchise by hitting the first home run ever for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in their inaugural game. Boggs homer to wright in the sixth inning with the Tigers ahead 11 0. So Boggs got the franchise's first RBI as well. Boggs spent 18 years in the majors, mainly with the Red Sox, but also the Yankees and Rays. Boggs won the American league batting title five of six years from 1983 to 1988. His.328 career batting average is the highest of any living former player, 1/10,000th of a point ahead of Rod Carew. Boggs is behind only Brooks Robinson and George Brett for consecutive All Star appearances by a third baseman. Boggs had 12.
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A
And yet the number that occurs to me now is 73, which is the number that Wade Boggs himself said. The number of beers he drank on a single cross country flight.
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Cross country in the 90s. Yeah.
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A
Which I continue to investigate.
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Big yeah, that podcast is made for that. Happy trails. Michigan and tcu, both teams failed to won seeds in the Elite Eight of the women's bracket last night. In the early game, Texas crushed Michigan by 36, on par with the team's average margin of victory in its four tournament games of 35 and a half. The Longhorns now advance to face UCLA, who they beat in November. The Bruins only loss of the season in the late game, South Carolina topped TCU by 26. So South Carolina and Dawn Staley now get UConn and Gino Auriemma. All the final four teams are won seeds and all were in last year's Final Four, which was won by UConn. The Huskies have not lost a game in nearly 14 months.
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A
Yeah, we're watching both tournaments now be devoid of Cinderellas, but UConn and South Carolina, three of the last four championships went to those teams. I imagine it might happen again.
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B
Yeah, I mean, you know, I'm gratified when the ones get into it. You know, I think you see the best teams when all the ones get in and in the men's side, what is it? A one, a one, a two and a three. You're getting the best teams. Let's go to the big finish. Mark Cuban told the Intersections podcast that he does not regret selling the Mavs, but does regret selling them to the Adelson and Dumont families. Your thoughts?
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A
Yeah. When did he realize that and why won't he tell? Tell me the answer to that question on my podcast. The new Giants manager, Tony Vitello, won his first game last night. That's significant.
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B
Yeah. He's the riskiest hire as college coach. Laser. Laser. Measurements of the baseball system for the ABS system baseball players has resulted in many being 1 to 3 inches shorter than Liston. Your thoughts?
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A
I'm 5 foot 10 and 3 quarters inches. Precision is important. The Golden Knights beat the Canucks last night in John Tortorella's first game as well. Coach, are you impressed?
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Fabulous torts. Fabulous. Last one. U.S. men's Soccer takes on Portugal tonight in Atlanta. Is that significant?
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Yes. 72 days, apparently till the World Cup. Maybe don't get crushed by another foreign country. That'd be good.
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We're out of time. We'll try to do better the next time. I'm Tony Kornhuisen.
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And I'm Pablo Torre. Thank you for watching. Pablo Torre Finds out is my show, but for now, you're Sports Center.
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B
Good job, Pablo from 30 for 30 podcasts.
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A
Did you say someone got shot? Brian Pata, senior defensive lineman from Miami, gunned down the key to this case.
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B
It's Brian. Scripted. An hour before he died, he was on the phone arguing with somebody. This might be a hit.
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A
You want the truth? They just want a conviction. Being placed under arrest.
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D
We had a killer amongst us.
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B
Murder at the U. Listen now.