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- [00:00]
Tony Kornheiser
Hey, it's Tony. On today's show, we will talk with Tim Kirchen about what he's hearing on the trade front as the deadline approaches. We'll also talk to Ryan McGee about what's going on at North Carolina with Bill Belichick and the football program. But first, Commerce. You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser show. Whether you're on the go or at the ballpark, T mobile is built to keep you connected wherever the game takes you. With America's best network, you know your phone is going to work, even in a crowded stadium, for instance. And if you lose track of your friends after a long seventh inning stretch, one quick message and a shared location later, you'll find each other without missing the next pitch. And you can upload the video of the game winning hit and share it before you even leave your seat. And on the days you can't make it to the ballpark, streaming the game on the go feels just as electric. No buffering, no interruptions, just every moment as it happens. Find out how baseball hits different with T mobile@t mobile.com MLB fastest based on analysis by OOKLA of speed test intelligence data of national speed score Results for the second half of 2025. Best based on analysis by OOKLA of the speed test intelligence Data for the second half of 2025. You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser show. The Tony Kornheiser show.
- [01:17]
Michael Wilbon
The other night I was browsing the Vistaprint website. Normally I wait till there's about two outs, two strikes in the nats game just to be sure. Just thinking about little ways to make our pod feel even more organized and professional. I completely lost track of time because there's so many options. We use Vistaprint. Order our show's custom notepads. We really do. And what's great is that I have orders from eight, nine years ago that are still saved. So it's as easy as going and logging into my account and they're ready to send out again. So I know Nigel uses some of the notepads, the spiral notepads, which is great. And I use some of the notepads that have our logo sort of in a shadow in the background. We actually send those out every year. Handwritten notes to our to our winners from the March Madness tournament bracket.
- [01:57]
Sean McDonough
That's lovely.
- [01:58]
Michael Wilbon
I realized how useful it would be to have show branded notepads for episode prep, just like Nigel. Interview questions. Tony just uses a legal pad, but we're working to get them into Our own show branded one production notes and all those ideas that pop into your head right before you hit record. Instead of scribbling notes on random pieces of paper, everything stays in one place and it looks great too. And you know what? They have recommendations. So once you're part of their system and your logos in there, they will say, hey, would you like a deck of cards? And you know what you're sitting there considering.
- [02:26]
Tony Kornheiser
Michael just passed the read to me. This is like a relay in the Olympics. Don't drop the like the 2 by 300 if there was such a thing. That's what we love about vistaprint. They make it easy to turn simple ideas into polished, professional products without spending a fortune. Whether you're running a podcast, a small business, or you just want materials that reflect your brand, vistaprint gives you the tools and real human support to help make it happen. Vistaprint print your possible. Right now, new customers can get 20% off with the code NEW20@vistaprint.com remember, that's 20% off@vistaprint.com when you use the code NEW20. So use the code people.
- [03:06]
Ryan McGee
Previously on the Tony Kornhauser Show.
- [03:10]
Tony Kornheiser
There were five guys that I went to high school with. One of them. I went to grade school.
- [03:15]
Michael Wilbon
The season prize. Five guys.
- [03:18]
Tony Kornheiser
I'm sorry, we didn't go to five guys. I mean, we got. I only went once to five guys. I've told this story. I didn't get any fries. And then I found out that's the greatest thing in the world. And it's endless.
- [03:28]
Tim Kirchen
Endless.
- [03:28]
Sean McDonough
Yes.
- [03:28]
Tony Kornheiser
And I designed any. I didn't get any, but I paid $14 for a junior cheeseburger, which seemed like a lot of money to me.
- [03:37]
Ryan McGee
This is General George Washington and you're listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show.
- [03:45]
Tony Kornheiser
So I often talk about the fact that I don't really know who listens that when we sit here and we do the show, it's. I don't have picture in my mind of somebody sitting down and listening. Excuse me. Or walking around and listening or being on a treadmill and listening. I don't have anything like that. And every once in a while I get a letter which reminds me of what I think would be, without overstating it, the profound effect that this kind of conversation can have on people who listen on a regular basis. We got this note from Michael Norwood who is at the University of North Carolina. Michael Kornhouser and I. You remember him when we met him. Yes. And it very pleasant and may have played a Year or two at Carolina or something like that. Not certain about that. But anyway, his dad passed away and he sent us, he sent us a note. Now I just sort of believe that if it doesn't say don't read this on the air, that, that it's okay to read it on the air and it's okay to share this with everybody out there who goes through the same stuff and who is. And I talk about this a lot. Part of the connective tissue of the show and it says, it's with a heavy heart that I tell you my dad passed away Sunday night at the age of 94. He was the reason for my love of sports. The very first college basketball game I ever attended to. He took me to the 1975 ACC Finals in Greensboro. I was there at that one myself. It was senior David Thompson in NC State versus freshman Phil Ford and unc. I was hooked for life. After that, we would go anywhere to watch anybody play. He eventually got me into golf. One of my fondest Memories is the 2005 US Open Father's Day final round at Pinehurst, when I got tickets for him and my son. When I hear you talk about Michael and the boys, it warms my heart that you are all able to do stuff together. I listened to only two podcasts. Basically you and your nephew Bill Simmons. That's it. That's the list. I listen in the morning on my five mile walk and my dad calls me every day at 8:23am he starts off with, I hate to wake you up. And I say the same thing every time. I've been up since 6:30. It's going to be hard listening to your future podcast and looking at the clock on my phone, waiting for that phone call that's not going to come. He lived a great long life. Two weeks ago he drove himself to the ymca. He went there four days a week. I used to describe him as somebody that rooted for his neighbors to win the lottery. And I share that with you because I think that everybody to a degree is in the same position. You know, not, not that they've lost a loved one or something like that, but they have a relationship that actually is made better and fuller by this show. You know, they meet people and they become pals and this is a common denominator. Michael, you agree with that, don't you?
- [06:33]
Michael Wilbon
I do. I love that. I love that phone call we all have that. It's, you know, whether I'm waking you up or I hate be a bother. I mean I get that five times A day from you.
- [06:41]
Tony Kornheiser
Right, Right. Well, yeah, that's because I don't have any friends.
- [06:45]
Tim Kirchen
You're it.
- [06:46]
Tony Kornheiser
You're stuck. I do have some friends. I. I didn't talk about this as much as I wanted to. I had my ulit high school weekend last weekend. Played golf with five other guys that I went to high school with, and I would not. I would not describe them as good friends in high school. I was talking with someone about this. I don't recall having any good friends in high school. And there's a reason for that. I went to high school on Long island, where the most important thing, and in fact the only important thing, was the ability to drive and to have a car. That's how Long island got to be. Long island people moved out from New York City and everything was connected by cars. There was a Long island railroad, but there was no subway system. The bus system was just. It's not something you jumped on. You jumped into your car. My problem was that I was the youngest kid in my class all the way up from, like, second grade on, because I skipped. I went from first to third grade. I didn't really go to second grade. They were mistaken. They were taking a big lead. Yeah, they were and I didn't. Nobody threw at me. The pitcher didn't throw, so I kept going. They were mistakenly under the assumption that I was smart. And I wasn't really, as we found out in high school when I graduated. Nowhere near, you know, anybody who was really smart, but I was the youngest one. So on Long island, you could get a junior license at 17, you know, and you could drive, and then at 18, you would get a full license. Well, I didn't turn 17 until I was out of high school. I never had a car, so I never had any. I couldn't go on a date like everybody else went on it. I couldn't do that. I didn't have a car. I had to be dependent on other people for double dates, and nobody liked me. So, you know, there was. There was no particular offer.
- [08:40]
Sean McDonough
Couldn't you get Mr. Smilo to drive you around?
- [08:42]
Tony Kornheiser
No, he was busy smoking Tina Wade cigarettes. So, yeah, so I didn't, you know, I didn't really have good friends in high school. And these guys have become, over the years, good friends, you know, Good friends. I've talked about their name. There's, you know, Gooch, who was the best basketball player, the best athlete in the school. I had this conversation. I won't say with who, but we were talking about whether or not his child was a good athlete and the position was. You can't really tell now at a certain age. And I said, oh, no, you, you can tell. When I was seven and eight years old, we went outside to play at Hewlett Elementary School. And there was this one kid who was better than everybody in anything he did. Steven Pearsall Gooch, better than everybody. He ended up being an all county basketball player and starting for three years at Penn. You, you know, I mean, and I went to see him play when I was in college. I went down to Philadelphia from Binghamton to watch him play. It was so thrilling for me as somebody I knew was on this court in a, you know, in a big time basketball situation in those days, in the early late 60s, early 70s, Ivy League schools, Penn and Princeton were, were national contenders. You know, they were great basketball programs. So he was the best. And then Steven Sheinberg became a. The dentist. Eddie Pletzer I'm probably closer with than anyone else. Bobby Kandel was the one that I told people about that all my life. He was our exchange student in high school. Very handsome, very smart, very athletic. He's our Robert Redford and all for like 50 years, I was convinced that Bobby had gone to Afghanistan. And a couple of years ago, when I saw him for the first time in a long time, and we're sitting at the table and everybody's around like, because this is the ULIT weekend. And I say so because now Afghanistan's been in the news for the last 40 years. And I go, what was it like in Afghanistan? He looked at me, said, I went to Pakistan. And I thought, well, this is useless. Then I've carried this around with me for all these years. It's completely useless. You went to Pakistan? Not to, not to Afghanistano. Not to Afghanistan. You're a moron. Oh, okay. You know, one other guy joined this year, Richie Pollitter, who I went to elementary school with and I probably known the longest. And we have, we play golf and we eat and we drink and that's what we do. Maybe watch tv. And we don't really watch a lot of TV because we sit around and we talk with each other. But there are very defined roles like gooch cooks. I mean, we go to Hickman's, we buy a tenderloin, we buy chicken, we buy sausages for two or three for two nights. And then Gooch goes out on his own, buys vegetables. And, you know, we went to. He sent me this year, this is great. He sent me to a farm stand because he Wanted to get eight ears of corn and four tomatoes. Okay, that was my task. Eight ears of corn. Do you know what that cost? Do you want to take a shot at what?
- [11:37]
Tim Kirchen
Eight.
- [11:38]
Tony Kornheiser
It's just eight years. A thousand ears of corn sitting in the street. I mean, eight years of corn and four tomatoes.
- [11:45]
Sean McDonough
I'm going to say that that should cost about5.5 to $7.
- [11:48]
Tony Kornheiser
Michael, take a shot. Do we have Michael?
- [11:51]
Sean McDonough
Hello?
- [11:52]
Tony Kornheiser
Do we have Sean?
- [11:53]
Sean McDonough
Yeah, I'm here. I'm.
- [11:55]
Tony Kornheiser
Where's Michael? He just left. Sean, take a shot at how much eight ears of corn and four tomatoes cost From a farm stand. Farmstead. Oh, so like $12. 12. 30.
- [12:07]
Ryan McGee
30.
- [12:08]
Tony Kornheiser
30. And when we're in the car, I'm with Steven Sheinberg, and he calls his wife and says, it just cost 30. And she says, what, are you nuts? What are you crazy? That shouldn't cost that at all. Well, it did. Wow. Cost $30 anyway. And Gooch cooks and Sheinberg cleans, and. And this year, Richie Pollard had to clean because he was new to the group. And then Eddie sort of makes sure of the general welfare of everyone and organizes things. And I host. You know, I mean, everybody has defined roles, and it works really well. And you only hope, you know, that you have more years to do it because it's. It's not. The golf brings us together, but the togetherness is a. Is a different factor. Anyway, I'll get off that, but I had a really good time. The Nats. I got two days of Nats for you. So the Gnats lose on Monday night. They lose by one run on Monday night. This is the Scherzer.
- [13:00]
Sean McDonough
Oh, right, yeah.
- [13:01]
Tony Kornheiser
Max Scherzer gets on the mound for Toronto in Nats park and gets a warm bunch of applause. He can only go like 70. 80 pitches, and he uses them up. He's not even out of the third inning. He uses up all of his pitches, and he basically says to the manager, that's it. I'm done. And he comes off the mound and he gets. As he walks to the Toronto dugout, he gets a standing ovation, as he should from Nats fans because of his 20 strikeout game. My son left after 18, didn't stay for 20.
- [13:39]
Michael Wilbon
I was there for the 20th.
- [13:41]
Tony Kornheiser
You were not. You were in the ballpark. You didn't actually see it. Okay, you were there. Technically, that's accurate. Okay. The two no hitters, the two Cy Youngs, the 20, and the World championship title. Yeah, they gave him a standing ovation, which warmed my heart. And he tipped his hat in gratitude, which warmed my heart, because he is the warrior God. And he's. I think, Michael. I think he's the best player to ever wear a Nats uniform to this point.
- [14:09]
Michael Wilbon
Yeah. Just given when they got him, what it meant as to win now, and just seeing him do the little prowl around the mat, it's everything. It brings you back.
- [14:17]
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah. And so last night, they played what you.
- [14:19]
Sean McDonough
I was gonna say he'll go in as a Nat if he wants to. He chooses a Hall of Fame.
- [14:24]
Tim Kirchen
Right.
- [14:24]
Tony Kornheiser
He's got. Yeah, he can do what he wants. And then last night, Shane Bieber is on the mound. Shane Bieber can't get out of the first six walks. Six walks. And I wrote in our great text chain, they'd have been better off with Justin Bieber, because Shane Bieber once won a Cy Young. He could not get out of the first inning. The Nats didn't even try to give all of it back. Cavalli began to wilt, maybe in the fourth or the fifth, but, you know, he got out of things. And then I got. I got out of the game after two home runs. Right. Abrams hit a home run. Yes. And then Cruz and. And when Dylan Cruz hit a home run, I thought, well, this is what you're waiting for. This is the. You're waiting for Dylan Cruz to say, I'm a major league. Not just a major league player. I'm a good major league player.
- [15:17]
Michael Wilbon
Getting return on that kid. Size, medium jersey.
- [15:20]
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah, that's. That's right. You're waiting for Dylan Cruz. And I think now. I think now you're waiting for Brady House. But I don't want Tina and Vivas. I don't want them at third base. And now you have no. You know, you think about trading Luis Garcia Jr. At the top of his game, but then you got Shaputzva at first base because they traded Mead. Curtis Mead.
- [15:46]
Sean McDonough
Yeah.
- [15:46]
Tony Kornheiser
Who had the worst luck in his second at bat for the Boston Red Sox.
- [15:53]
Sean McDonough
Yeah.
- [15:53]
Tony Kornheiser
He got drilled on the left wrist.
- [15:55]
Ryan McGee
Yep.
- [15:56]
Tony Kornheiser
Left wrist fracture. You don't even know if it was deliberate or not. I can't imagine it was deliberate, but you got to ask yourself that. And immediately they said there was no problem, but then within the day. Yeah, it's a fractured wrist. And he may be out for the season.
- [16:11]
Sean McDonough
Yeah.
- [16:11]
Tony Kornheiser
It might require surgery in his second at bat.
- [16:13]
Sean McDonough
Yeah. First at bat. A strikeout. So not exactly the good. Great impression.
- [16:17]
Tony Kornheiser
So now that looks like a good trade for the Nats. Like, even if the Nats had picked up like a friend for Chessy. That would have been a good trade. Good trade for the Nats. So. And they win last night. I bailed out Michael. You stayed for the whole game? Yes.
- [16:29]
Michael Wilbon
You did not see the top of the eighth and Springer hit a three on home run.
- [16:33]
Tony Kornheiser
No, I did not. So that I don't even know the final score. They were up seven. Really? Oh, who did he hit it off? Who was the pitcher?
- [16:42]
Michael Wilbon
I will pull that up for you. I think that might have been off of.
- [16:48]
Tony Kornheiser
Because they said Alvarez out the other day. They said, get out of here. Oh, I like Ribalta. Oh, that's too bad. I like Orlando Ribalta. And they closed, I assume, with Beater again, who makes me very nervous. But they won. I mean, I think it was Ireland. Gus Farland gave up the home run. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They have no luck with this. They, they, you know, they score a lot of runs and they don't win easily. Something always happens. Their bullpen is terrible. And if they were. Well, we'll have Tim on later. We'll ask Tim about this. If they were buyers, they would buy for the bullpen.
- [17:25]
Sean McDonough
Yeah, we nice to see. Get one arm in there that you could say we can lean on him.
- [17:29]
Michael Wilbon
Yeah. Again though, with the, with the expanded wildcard, everyone wants the same thing. And there's.
- [17:34]
Sean McDonough
That's right.
- [17:34]
Michael Wilbon
More teams like the Nats who are trying to hold on to some of these pieces because they still have a chance.
- [17:40]
Tony Kornheiser
There's something like 21 of the 30 teams within four games of a wild card, which is an enormous percentage. This isn't the NBA with a play in game. It isn't that. You know, you look to the one
- [17:59]
Michael Wilbon
or two games of the wild card if, even if you just look at the National League, they all have like a 11 to 20% chance of making the playoffs. So it's hard to convince some of those teams to let go of a good reliever.
- [18:08]
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah.
- [18:09]
Sean McDonough
Well, it makes you remember back in the days before the wild card and all these additional playoff spots at this time of the year, most teams, most fan bases be like, all right, well, we're done.
- [18:17]
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah, we're done. Who we bringing up on August 1st? Who are we bringing up to see if they can play from the minor leagues?
- [18:23]
Sean McDonough
And when does my NFL training camp, you know, get underway?
- [18:26]
Tony Kornheiser
Well, yesterday, the get up show yesterday was all NFL and college football. Oh, that's all it was. Because somebody there understands this is what people want. Footballers, what's the appetite for this? You can Give them a little bit of baseball, but get out of here with this other stuff.
- [18:44]
Sean McDonough
Yeah.
- [18:45]
Tony Kornheiser
Because the LeBron. The LeBron signing is the only one that matters now. Like, 20 people can sign in an hour. And, you know, I wouldn't put it on the air unless would.
- [18:54]
Sean McDonough
Unless, as you and Wilbourne talked about, you know, unless Steph Curry.
- [18:57]
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah, yeah. If Steph Curry moves somewhere, that's different. All right. Well, you were gone for a while, Michael.
- [19:04]
Michael Wilbon
Yeah, my Internet cut out. It wasn't even 8am wow.
- [19:08]
Tony Kornheiser
Well, you need to. You need to call Chip.
- [19:10]
Michael Wilbon
Chip. That was related to all those tornado watches from last night.
- [19:13]
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah, that was. You had watches. Not warnings.
- [19:17]
Tim Kirchen
Warnings.
- [19:18]
Tony Kornheiser
Not get to warning.
- [19:18]
Tim Kirchen
Where we were.
- [19:19]
Michael Wilbon
Yes.
- [19:19]
Ryan McGee
Yeah.
- [19:20]
Tony Kornheiser
Warning.
- [19:20]
Sean McDonough
When it says you seek, seek shelter immediately.
- [19:23]
Tony Kornheiser
Immediately. Get away from the windows.
- [19:24]
Michael Wilbon
The entire Mid Atlantic had. Had a watch.
- [19:28]
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah. Had a wall. Well, so when it went back to watch, I felt a lot better.
- [19:32]
Sean McDonough
Yeah. Then you stand down.
- [19:33]
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah. You know, that was a lot better. All right, we'll take a break. We'll come back. Who's first? Is Tim.
- [19:38]
Sean McDonough
First. Yeah.
- [19:39]
Tony Kornheiser
Tim Kirchen. When we return. I'm Tony Kornheiser. This is the Tony Kornheiser Show. Certain flavors instantly transport you back in time, like those classic, refreshing freezer pops everyone lived on as kids. That's why you want to try the new Firework Freeze five hour energy shot. It will completely blow you away. They have officially taken a beloved freezer pop classic and reimagined it into a delicious, convenient energy shot. It's a serious flavor explosion from the very first sip, perfectly blending juicy cherry, citrusy lime, and that sweet candy like blue raspberry. Honestly, it tastes exactly like the real thing, but with a major upgrade. You get that iconic freezer pop flavor you crave with absolutely none of the sugar. It's the ultimate zero sugar portable summer companion that sparks a tasty flavor sensation and keeps you moving. Whether you're headed to the beach, working late, or traveling, you need to stock up on this flavor immediately. Ignite your taste buds with a firework freeze flavored 5 hour energy shot. Now available online at 5hourenergy.com or find it on Amazon.
- [20:40]
Tim Kirchen
You know, recommendations can be great. Maybe someone recommended this podcast and here you are. But home projects are different. If a podcast isn't your thing, you lose a few minutes. If you hire your cousin's neighbor to mount your tv, you might end up with a lopsided screen and wall damage. Maybe I know a guy. Just isn't enough for your home. That's why Thumbtack works. It matches you with top rated local pros with photos, reviews and credentials all in one place. For your next home project, try thumbtack. Hire the right pro today.
- [21:12]
Tony Kornheiser
This is the Tony Kornheiser Show.
- [21:15]
Tim Kirchen
Tony Kornheiser Show.
- [21:20]
Tony Kornheiser
Wait till you hear the name of this this group. If you think groups we've had in the past are weird, how about this? Fifi Knife Fight. I get this letter from Jim Jacobson in Austin, Texas. My son's girlfriend, Fifi is the leader of a glam punk style band in Austin, Texas. They were recently featured artists at the south by Southwest festival and play music venues across the city. Their music is unique, edgy and completely listenable. Regardless of all that, they quite possibly have the greatest band name of all, all time, Fifi Knife Fight. It'd be very appreciative if you play the music on the show. Happy to do it. Happy to do it. This is a song called Leech. Another thing that you don't expect as the title of a song.
- [22:00]
Michael Wilbon
Leech.
- [22:01]
Tim Kirchen
Right.
- [22:01]
Tony Kornheiser
You know. And they play in Tim Kirchen. And this segment with Tim Kirkjin is brought to you by FanDuel. Play your game. This is the the reason you talk to baseball people, the reason that Tim was on the show PTI yesterday and is on today is there's the approaching trade deadline. The deadline, I think, is it August 3rd? August 3rd, right. Monday, August 3rd is the deadline, Tim.
- [22:24]
Tim Kirchen
Yes.
- [22:25]
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah. So what are you hearing about this is. This is when the Tim Kirchen's of the world have their ears to the ground and they have to figure out what is going on. What are you hearing? What is in your opinion? What are the one or two or even three biggest names that you think actually may well move before the trade deadline?
- [22:45]
Tim Kirchen
Well, Tarek Skubal is first, Tony, because he's the best pitcher in the American League. And the Tigers have one of the most difficult decisions that I can remember a team having their only chance to make the playoffs and to do something in October is Tarek Skubal. He's their only chance and yet he's a free agent at the end of the season and they're going to lose him to free agency. So they have to make this incredibly difficult decision. Do we trade the best pitcher in the American League, completely deflate our fan base, but we would be building for the future or do we keep him and go for it and try to make the playoffs and then potentially be a dangerous team in October? The problem is, as of Yesterday, there were four games out of the wild card. They had four teams in front of them. They were seven games under.500. So that's the issue that they face. He is the number one guy. Is he going or isn't he going? This is where, Tony. This is where GMs earn all their money right now. Are we in, are we out? Are we going to trade our best guy or are we going to keep him? So it all starts with Terry Scubal.
- [24:06]
Tony Kornheiser
What is your best guess right now? Four or five days ahead of the deadline that will happen with Schoolboy,
- [24:13]
Tim Kirchen
I think at the moment, and this could change this afternoon, Tony, I think it's likely that they trade him because if they're really, truly honest, maybe they don't see this being a team that's good enough to get to the World Series. But Tony, I'm telling you, I've had general managers tell me at the trade deadline, if we win tonight, we are going to be buyers. If we lose tonight, we are going to be sellers. That's how important every loss and every win is. So if the Tigers reel off four wins in a row, they won 14 to nothing last night and scored in all eight innings. If they win four games in a row, they're not going to trade Terrence School, nor should they. But if they lose four in a row and they look at and say we're 10 games under.500, we're not going. We're not going to get there. They're going to have to trade them. This is. This is a absolutely fascinating development with what they're going to do with this guy.
- [25:14]
Tony Kornheiser
So there are buyers and there are sellers. We had a statistic Yesterday on the PTI show that 21 of the 30 major league teams are within four or five games of a playoff spot, which is really a lot of teams, two thirds of the league can actually play in October. Who is selling? That is surprising you? What you're hearing? Who is buying? That is surprising you?
- [25:39]
Tim Kirchen
Well, it looks like. It looks like, Tony, because this again, changes by the hour. Looks like the Blue Jays are going to sell some players because and again, this team went to the World Series, won the World Series last year, and I want to bet my house they would be even better this year. But all sorts of things. Injuries flag, Guerrero hasn't hit. Things have gone wrong. So now it looks like the Blue Jays might turn into sellers instead of buyers. You know, Kevin Gossman is a really good starting pitcher who could help a team. He has an expiring contract. Dalton Varshow is a really good defensive outfielder and can hit the ball out of the ballpark. He has an expiring contract. So they are a team that looks like it might be. It might be selling. As for teams that are buying, I mean, the Pirates are going to buy, I think at the trade deadline. They don't have much money to buy with, but they're usually a seller at this time. But they look around, they have a chance to make the playoffs. And I had a guy called me the other day and I use this yesterday, Tony said Mason Miller of the Padres to the Pirates. How, I mean, how would that change the, the Pirates if they were to add the most dominant relief pitcher in the game today? At least somebody has put the Pirates in that equation.
- [27:04]
Tony Kornheiser
They haven't bought in many, many years. And it's, you know, they draft. Well, they drafted Garrett Cole. As soon as he was eligible to leave, he left. Most people assume the same with Paul Skeens, that as soon as he is eligible to leave, he will. I'm going to personalize this. You wouldn't trust me if I didn't. I'm going to go to the Nats. The Nats are a better team this year than any of us expected, scoring a lot more runs. Their Achilles heel is the bullpen. They have assets they can sell. They sold Curtis Mead the other day and terrible misfortune for him, you know, maybe being out for the season with a fractured wrist. But they got a pitcher who they think is top quality. They've got Luis Garcia on a great heater right now, including a home run again last night, I believe. And, and they've got C.J. abrams, an all star shortstop. And I'm wondering if you think either of them could go in a trade or are the Nats buying? And if they are, they need a reliever.
- [28:00]
Sean McDonough
That's.
- [28:01]
Tony Kornheiser
That's their clear need.
- [28:03]
Tim Kirchen
Right. So, Tony, one of my great weaknesses at this time as I go back in history, and Earl Weaver, Earl Weaver, who I quote all the time, used to say, if you have a chance to win this year, you have to try to win this year. And the Nationals have a chance to make the playoffs. The highest scoring team in the major leagues. They are really dangerous with their offense. Their bullpen is awful. I think it would be a mistake to trade Garcia and certainly to trade CJ Abrams when those guys are having great seasons. Use somebody else to go get a reliever. Relievers are easy to find this time of year. The Nationals need about three of them. I don't see any Great strength in the wild card race in the National League. Other. It's just not what I thought it was going to be. Meaning there is a spot for the Nationals to make the playoffs. I'm not saying they're going to, but they have a chance to. And therefore I think they have to keep their best players and use other resources to go get a couple of relievers. That's what I would do.
- [29:11]
Tony Kornheiser
Good. That makes me happy because I would not. Even with his defensive deficiencies, I would not get rid of C.J. abrams at all. I mean, I would not. He's having a great year. And Garcia starting in about, I don't know, June, since June and July is having a great year. Let me move off that and get to something that Wilbon and I talk about all the time, and that is the two young great pitchers in the National League, Paul Skeens and Jacob Mizarowski. Skeens getting roughed up a little bit this year and every time either of them throws, you think, well, Tommy John, by five o', clock, you know, it's just not going to work. Who would you rather have between the two of them?
- [29:49]
Tim Kirchen
I would. Boy, I would rather have skins. Because the track record is a little bit longer than Ms. Rowski. Skeins is delivery and his mechanics are virtually perfect. So I think he's less likely to get injured. But the best pitcher in baseball this year has been Jacob Mizarowski. Yeah, Tony, you just had a start the other day where in the first four innings of the game he allowed no hits and struck out 11. Nobody since in the expansion era, 1961, has ever done that four innings in I got 11 punch outs and no hits allowed. He. Yeah, he is the hardest throwing pitcher, at least in the the era where we can chart this stuff. He's the hardest throwing pitcher we've seen in the last 25 years. And most important, Tony, he can locate with any pitch that he has. So a hitter goes up there, he's throwing too hard for you to hit it and he's throwing almost all strikes, so you have to swing the bat. That is his strength. So I would take Mizarowski for this year, but based on the track record, he's, you know, Skeens has had way more starts than Mizarowski, so I would take him if I had to pick between the two, but that is a really hard choice.
- [31:11]
Tony Kornheiser
You were at the hall of Fame. You were there for the induction in Cooperstown. Tell us about it.
- [31:16]
Tim Kirchen
Well, it was great. It's my favorite weekend of the Year, Tony and I, you know, Jeff Kent belongs, hit more home runs than any second baseman in major league history. Carlos Beltran, one of the great all round center fielders I've ever seen. Andrew Jones, after Willie Mays, is the greatest defensive center fielder I've ever seen. So it was just another celebration of baseball. And I don't care how corny this sounds, Tony, you walk down Main street of Cooperstown, which I do every year just by myself, and to see the shared love from people about this game, it just warms my heart. So after the Friday night where we met with Paul Hoynes, Joe Buck, those guys were being inducted the next day. I was out with Dan Shaughnessy, Jason Stark, few others. And I don't know why I get such a kick out of this. I go to the bathroom and I'm the first one in there. There are four urinals. I pull in, and right behind me, guy says, hey, they let anyone in here. It was John Smoltz. He was to my right. I looked at my left, Tom Glavin was on my left. And then I looked at the fourth urinal, which was behind me, and it was Greg Maddox.
- [32:31]
Tony Kornheiser
So you're right in the starting rotation. You're in the starting rotation with them. Fantastic.
- [32:38]
Tim Kirchen
Someone asked me, one of my friends asked me, did you take a picture? We were in the bathroom.
- [32:44]
Nigel
What, are you crazy?
- [32:45]
Tim Kirchen
But there I am with the three aces, the three famous hall of Fame first ballot aces, me and those three guys. I thought that was one of the funniest things I've ever been a part of.
- [33:00]
Tony Kornheiser
That is. That's a great story. I had a similar thing happen, though not with that kind of volume. I was working for the Times. I was covering the, the series between then the Washington Bullets and maybe it was Seattle, you know, the championship series in 77 or 78. And I went into the bathroom and right next to me was George McGovern.
- [33:25]
Tim Kirchen
Oh.
- [33:26]
Tony Kornheiser
And I didn't know what to do. I. I didn't say anything. Well, you can't say something in a bathroom. You can't do that. But this was so thrilling for me because he had run for president. Lost, sure, but he had run for president. And I thought, wow, is that who you meet when you're in Washington? You meet these famous people? Anyway, let me go back to this, because Bob Costas did it the other night and it was, I thought it was fabulous on television. Bob Costas was at the game that. The Philadelphia game, and he talked about Don Mattingly, who is now the Interim manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. And it was, you know, hall of Fame weekend and he made the case for Don Mattingly. You are a baseball historian. You know Mattingly his entire career. You get to look at people who just went in and they are fine, fine players. I'm not sure they are all timers. One, you know, maybe they are all timers. Where are you on Mattingly in the hall of Fame?
- [34:21]
Tim Kirchen
Yeah, I think he should be in the hall of Fame after Keith Hernandez. He is the greatest defensive first baseman that I've ever seen. For at least, least a five year period, he was the best player in baseball. Now the back injury derailed him. His numbers do not match up with other first basemen in the game. But given his defense, the way the records that he broke, his greatness for at least a five year period is good enough for me. And I was just doing something on the, you know, on the labor situation. You know, if the, if the 94 season had been finished and the Yankees had won the World Series that year with Don Mattingly as their first baseman, Buck Showalter, I quoted years ago saying he would be in the hall of Fame if we didn't lose that because he never played on a World Series champion. And it was part because they didn't finish the 94 season. So I understand anyone who won't vote for Don Mattingly, if I had a choice, I would vote for Don Mattingly as a Hall of Famer.
- [35:32]
Tony Kornheiser
This is great. Thanks so much. Plug your podcast for us. Give the people the name.
- [35:36]
Tim Kirchen
Yeah. Is this a great game or what? It's my son Jeff and I, we laugh and we learn. Yesterday Tuesday we had Jason Vanetti on and we laughed and I mean, we laughed for over an hour. He is so funny. He is so clever. And we got all sorts of people on. We have a great guest every week. We have three podcasts per week on the taping today. It's the most fun I've ever had doing anything in this business because I'm doing it with my son.
- [36:04]
Tony Kornheiser
That's fabulous. Thank you, Tim. Talk soon.
- [36:07]
Tim Kirchen
Okay, guys. See you.
- [36:09]
Tony Kornheiser
Tim Kirchen. Boys and girls. This segment with Tim Kirkjin has been brought to you by FanDuel. Play your game. We're going to come back with Ryan McGee. We try to find out what indeed is going on in North Carolina with Bill Belichick and that football program. I'm Tony Kornheiser.
- [36:24]
Tim Kirchen
Evening.
- [36:25]
Tony Kornheiser
Buyer's remorse. Buy a new car. I'll be moving in. Let's get started. Sorry I Think there's been a mistake. I bought it from Carvana.
- [36:34]
Sean McDonough
You what?
- [36:34]
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah, Great price. I even have seven days to love it or return it. So there's no, no, no buyer's remorse. More like buyers rejoice. I guess I'll let myself out. Congratulations. I mean it. Buyers rejoice. Buy your car today on Carvana. Limitations and exclusions may apply. See our seven day return policy@carvana.com you're listening to the Tony Kornheiser show. The Tony Kornheiser Show. Once again, this is Fifi Knife Fight, right? Fifi Knife Fight.
- [37:09]
Sean McDonough
Great name.
- [37:09]
Tony Kornheiser
This is a song called so Cool Michael. If performers like Fifi Knife Fight want to send us their original music to play on this high quality podcast, how do they do it?
- [37:21]
Michael Wilbon
Send us your music by emailing it
- [37:22]
Tony Kornheiser
to jinglesonyquinizershow.com and they play in Ryan McGee, who is a North Carolina boy, right? Born and raised North Carolina. Did you by any chance go to north. The University of North Carolina?
- [37:38]
Ryan McGee
I did not. I, I grew up in. I probably shouldn't say this out loud before we talk about what we're going to talk about, but I grew up in North Carolina, what we call an ABC house, which is anybody but Carolina. My brother went to Wake Forest. My dad played baseball at East Carolina. Like, like everybody in the app. I got a whole app State branch of the family.
- [38:01]
Tim Kirchen
But.
- [38:01]
Ryan McGee
Yes, but I did not go to Carolina. But I grew up in a triangle. I grew up in Raleigh.
- [38:05]
Tony Kornheiser
Okay. So if you grow up there, whether you're a fan or not, I'm, I'm asking this, but I'm asking it sort of a loaded question because there were great expectations over generations for Carolina basketball, but. But not for Carolina football. Or am I wrong about that?
- [38:24]
Ryan McGee
No, but it's a source of great frustration because, I mean, I wrote a column, I mean, 20 years ago for ESPN the magazine that people still ask me about and I had to, I ranked, you know, the 10 programs where you ask, how are they not better at football? And North Carolina had it number one because, I mean, this is Choo Choo justice and it's Lawrence Taylor and it's, you know, Drake May, and it's all these players. But at the end of the day, the last time they won the Atlantic coast conference championship was 1980. Lawrence Taylor was in school and, and my dad was an ACC football official. He's a referee. And his first year in The ACC was 1981 and his last year was 2009. And, and he never saw North Carolina win a championship. So it's just, it makes no sense. North Carolina is a fantastic high school football state and they have all this history and, and you know, App State and you know, NC State, even Wake Forest, Duke, they've had their moments. But tell me about the last great North Carolina football moment. You can't do it. And it just doesn't make any sense.
- [39:35]
Tony Kornheiser
I would have said to you, the last great North Carolina football moment was when they signed Bill Belichick Ryan. I bought in. I did, I bought in Chapel Bill. I thought, this is a great signing. This is going to work. It's fantastic. It is a disaster. And we did this as the lead story on PTI yesterday and you know, we're happy to talk about it is an unmitigated disaster. Is there a further story on Mike Lombardi suspension? Do we know what caused that?
- [40:05]
Ryan McGee
We don't know. I mean, we don't know what. No, certainly no one in Chapel Hills going on the record. But, but I mean, multiple us, the athletic US as an ESPN.com, you know, what we're all being told from people within the building is it's an HR violation. And the reality is that this is something that has kind of dogged Lombardi at other stops. And my dad's other job was he was a college administrator. And so I grew up on college campuses like I've spent my entire life on a college campus. And we as sports writers, and rightfully so, you know, all we talk about is we talk about Notre Dame and USC and the quarterbacks and, you know, the money and, you know, what are they going to do with the playoff and conference realignment, all those things. But, but campus is still campus and there's a protocol to it. And it's a very different culture than anywhere else. Now, I have never worked or lived in an NFL front office. I don't know what that culture is like, but I know what a campus culture is like. And a campus culture is a, that is very accepting of being open minded, but they're not very accepting of, you know, stepping over certain lines and, and if, if Michael Lombardi did that, you know, then he would not be the first person that was put on him, paid administrative leave or, or shown the door. But I'll say this, had they won 11 games last year, I'm not sure what they would have done. But, you know, it's new Baloosh, right? Great line in Bull Durham. You know, you can grow fungus on your shower shoes and you know, if you win 20 in the show you're colorful. You know, if you lose 20, you're a swamp. And that's, you know, if you have a disastrous year and you're spending money hand over fist and you're not being a particularly great guy on campus, then you don't get to stay.
- [41:53]
Nigel
Yeah.
- [41:53]
Tony Kornheiser
It doesn't occur to me that Lombardi is going to be back ever in that program. There's something called the college sports committee that Pablo threw into the mix that investigates questionable nil things. And. And I haven't even gotten a Belichick yet. And I haven't gotten to Jordan Hudson yet. But I think you and I, because we're sports writers, would believe that if they weren't 4 and 8. I'm not saying all this goes away, but if they weren't 4 and 8, people say, hey, come on now. He's a great coach. And they were 4 and 8. The only teams they beat in the league were Syracuse and Stanford Combined Record 7 and 17. So where is the up. You know. You know what I mean? What? They had nothing, right?
- [42:35]
Ryan McGee
Yeah. And they got caught completely off guard, and they were not ready. And when they came on the campus, they. They signed no one. And Belichick basically admitted that, I live in Charlotte and we had ACC media days here two weeks ago. And Belichick basically said, you know, we screwed that up. Like, we. He got camp and didn't know who any of his players were. And this was after. And listen, and full disclosure, Michael Lombardi has been on Marty and McGee a couple of times and was a great guest. And. But he's very blustery.
- [43:08]
Tim Kirchen
Right.
- [43:09]
Ryan McGee
It's a lot of, you know, we're the 33rd NFL team. You know, we're going to change the business model. And I've been around long enough to know that the guys that come in and say we're changing the business model, they don't read the rule book. There is a rule book, and there's a new. And there's a new commission that enforces that rulebook. That's what the CSC is. And so it's. But you. You can't just come in and do whatever the hell you want. And, you know, Lane Kiffin learned that when Lane Kiffin got the Tennessee job, he committed like, three or four minor. But three or four recruiting violations, like, in the first week, because he just didn't understand how it worked. And so you have to sit down and figure out how it works. You can't just come in and treat it like you're running the packers or the Patriots or the Browns or whatever. Because that's not what college football is, no matter how everybody wants to put it that way.
- [43:55]
Tony Kornheiser
This. You're 100% right. Everyone, myself included, saying there's no such thing as college football anymore. They're just pros who happen to be playing for a college. But it is different. There are different rules. There are, you know, in college and in the pros. And it's not, it's not pro football in the way we understand pro football. It may get there someday, but it's not there now. I mean, the whole thing started and I, I don't know if I should dwell on this or not, and not even dwell on it, but the whole thing with Bill Belichick and Jordan Hudson brought nothing but sort of raised eyebrows to his initial time there. Right. I mean, that. You cannot, you cannot not mention that.
- [44:37]
Ryan McGee
No. And you just. Again, there's a protocol, right? I mean, there's, there's a way you do things. And Chapel Hill is a very proud place and it always has been. And you know, we, we, we like to joke. People like to joke about the guys in the argyle socks and the, in the, you know, and the powder blue jackets, but, but those are serious people that have worked really, really hard and they took a lot of pride in their, their alma mater. And the one thing they don't want to be is embarrassed. And you're willing to put up with that kind of stuff. Girlfriends and, you know, dumb statements and press conferences or whatever. You're willing to put up with that kind of stuff if the end result is you got something to be proud about on Saturday. But you have a half empty stadium, you have a team to won four games, and now you're under investigation for something, and the guy that was running everything is on paid administrative leave. And now it's, you know, rinse and repeat going into this fall because no one's expecting a lot of. And, you know, the ceiling is probably, hopefully we make it to the, you know, to the, to the Duke's Mayo ball. Right. I mean, that's kind of where they are, and that's not what these people sign on for. And, and it's just, it's, and it's, and it's also a model of how not to do it if you're hiring a coach. Because the reality is Belichick wasn't on the radar and someone with a lot of money that was on the board of trustees went, well, I want, I've already talked about Belichick we're going to hire him. That's kind of how it went down. So it's just, it's just a mess. It always has been there when it comes to football. And I just know that our buddy Mack Brown is sitting in the mountains of North Carolina right now, laughing.
- [46:12]
Tony Kornheiser
He's laughing. He's absolutely laughing. So let me, let me go to this. In the last five years, the University of Michigan, a wonderful academic school, was the national champions in football and the national champions in basketball, the national champions in football. Under investigation. Jim Harbaugh walks away. His top assistant gets the job, gets fired because of a terrible personal scandal. The coach in basketball who came in from Florida Atlantic University says, okay, I'll see you. I'm going to die. They lose, they get embarrassed. I think is fair to say Ryan in both of those jobs and the AD is gone. Ward Manual is gone. What is the chancellor of the North Carolina is a good academic school. It may not be Michigan, but it is a good academic school. And they had to fire an alum who was the basketball coach who should have gotten the job, and it just didn't work out. And now they got Bill Belichick in there who appears to just be a complete free agent, who's got Chapel, Bill notwithstanding, doesn't seem to be part of that culture at all. What happens there now?
- [47:29]
Ryan McGee
Yeah, you have an NFL head coach as your football coach, and now you have an NBA head coach as a basketball coach, neither of whom have any ties to the school other than the fact that bill there for 10 minutes, you know, a long time ago. And, and it's, it's, it's an interesting model to watch. Now they have a brand new athletic record. In full disclosure, he's a friend of mine, Steve Newmark. And Steve was the president of Roush Fenway Keselowski racing in NASCAR forever. And he, and he, he's the one we were talking about, Michael Jordan and the charters and all that. Newmark is the guy that really was the force behind NASCAR having charters and having franchise. And he is a incredibly smart person. But now he has been handed a mess. And, and the question is, you know, are you going to run it like a professional sports department, which you kind of are, but are you also going to run it like a collegiate sports department, which is what you actually are? And right now, I mean North Carolina, standing at that crossroads. And I'll tell you this, the good people of Chapel Hill, I live in Charlotte, we call it Chapel Hill South. The good people in the city where I am they will put up with all this in the fall because they always have in order to, you know, enjoy the winter and enjoy April with the basketball team. And if that's also going bad, then that's my, the first game I went to as a kid, my dad was officiating at Kingdom Stadium in Chapel Hill, Duke, North Carolina. And halfway through the game, everybody got up and left and my brother and I were like, where the hell's everybody going? And they were going to watch. The brand new Dean Dome had just opened and they were all going across the street to watch an exhibition game. That's what Chapel Hill is. So they're going to take whatever they can get with football, but what they're not going to take is being embarrassed. And right now they're all embarrassed.
- [49:14]
Tony Kornheiser
Do you, do you think Bill Belichick will be there next year? Do you think that he'll have a third year?
- [49:22]
Ryan McGee
No, I said all along I thought this felt like a two year experiment. Like, because either, either he was going to get bored or it was going to be something like this. And you know, because, because again, whether it's the greatest coach in the NFL or not, you have to still treat it like a collegiate job. And there's nothing that says that he has done that. And certainly now we know his administration wasn't doing that. And so I've always believed that he was just doing this to see if he could do it. Maybe he was doing this to set his son up for future success. But my feeling all along was at some point he'd get bored with it. The reason isn't it so funny, Tony? Especially sitting there in the town where Spurrier failed. Right. Everybody in the NFL has always gleefully talked about how NFL coaches or college coaches move up to the NFL and can't do it. And I've always argued, yeah, it also works the other way, especially now because the job is so complicated and, you know, you think you're going to come coach ball and the reality is, you know, you're recruiting and you're doing budgets and you're worried about nil and all these things and you got to go to the governor's mansion for a birthday party. I mean, all that kind of stuff. And I don't think Bill Belichick's made for that.
- [50:36]
Tony Kornheiser
It's a great pleasure to have you on the show every time you're on. Thank you, Ryan.
- [50:41]
Ryan McGee
Thank you. And, and apologies to all the North Carolina fans. Me talking about the ABC house, that's just.
- [50:47]
Tony Kornheiser
Okay, that's funny. And that's okay Ryan McGee, boys and girls. We will come back with email and jingle. I am Tony Kornheiser. You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show. What is Toyota affordability? It's buying smart. Right now your local Toyota dealer has great deals available on some of the most reliable trucks on the market like the off road ready Tacoma, the rugged full size Tundra and the legendary 4Runner, all with the space tech and features to handle it all from the work site to the trails. It also means driving for less with a efficient hybrid options available, extending your overall driving range and delivering great mpgs, meaning bigger savings at the pump without sacrificing power. And it means trading for more. The Tacoma and Tundra are ranked number one and number two in resale value over all vehicles according to Kelley Blue Book, which can mean thousands more than average right back in your pocket when it's time to trade in. That's Toyota affordability. Buy smart, drive for less and trade for more. Shop toyota.com or your local dealer for deals and details. Vehicles projected resale value is specific to the 2026 model year. For more information visit Kelley Blue Books kbb.com Toyota brand average resale is 53% versus the average vehicle at 45% Toyota. Let's go places. You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show. Here comes Tony Smile.
- [52:17]
Nigel
Got your emails maxes and your news. Here comes Tony Smile. Bag.
- [52:34]
Tony Kornheiser
Sucker for banjo music. That's Joe and Molly Chambers. Nig wanted to do the Bethesda Bagel ad and yes, you brought some sandwiches.
- [52:42]
Sean McDonough
Sandwiches, yeah. Very, very excited about that. Bethesda Bagels, we love them. You will as well. Just go to Bethesda Bagels.com for the location in the DC area near you. Then pop on in and you'll be thrilled. And I want to thank Chris Davenport for writing in. He says he would like to promote the summer of littles this Saturday, August 1st, at the Chicago Improv before our great friend Adam Ferrara does his show. He goes on at 7, but the doors open at 5, so that's when he'll be there with for the Littles meetup. I want to point out the Chicago Improv isn't actually in Chicago, but in Schaumburg, Illinois. Am I pronouncing that right?
- [53:15]
Tony Kornheiser
Schomburg, I believe.
- [53:15]
Sean McDonough
Yeah. In the Woodfield Mall. So go out for a night of laughs and meet some Littles.
- [53:19]
Tony Kornheiser
That's lovely. Before we get to the mailbag, let me just say you walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht your hat strategically dipped below one eye your scarf was apricot you had one eye in the mirror as you watch yourself Kavad and all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner they'd be your partner and you're so vain. You probably think this song is about you. If you Warren Beatty, you do, because it is. And it's Carly Simon and it is a great tooth. Yes, absolutely. Thanks to our guests today, Tim Kirchen and Ryan McGee. Thanks as well to today's sponsors. Remember, you can listen to us on Apple podcasts, Spotify and Odyssey if you get show through Apple podcasts. Please leave us a review. I've never seen any of these reviews. I've never seen them.
- [54:00]
Michael Wilbon
You stay away from the Internet.
- [54:01]
Sean McDonough
Yeah, you always stay away from the Internet.
- [54:02]
Tony Kornheiser
Go to the Internet.
- [54:03]
Michael Wilbon
$25.
- [54:05]
Tony Kornheiser
$25 for for eight years of corn and four tomato.
- [54:10]
Michael Wilbon
Okay, well, you chose some heavy tomatoes, I'm sure.
- [54:13]
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah, but it's a ridiculously high price. Years of corn. You can literally just walk into field a field and get ears of corn.
- [54:21]
Tim Kirchen
All right.
- [54:23]
Tony Kornheiser
From Daniel Kilday as promised, I bring you a Rick Devins Big Brother update pieced together. From what I've read online, I still can't bring myself to actually watch the show. Last week, Rick successfully had one of his biggest threats voted out of the house, a Mustachio gentleman named Rome, but not Jim Rome. This week, Rick was chosen by America to enter the Big Brother time capsule and walked away with a diamond power veto. What does that mean? I have no idea. But the point is Rick survives another week and is still alive with a chance of $750,000. I also have to mention that after you read my email on the air last week I received a text message from the official librarian of the Tony Kornheiser show who asked me to tell her to eat it the next time I write in. So please tell Mary Faye Randolph to eat it. From Ben hardheimer in Washington D.C. i wanted to help in giving a huge shout out to Dan Kolko. As a lifelong Nats fan who probably watches them on TV just as much as you do, let me know how I can get added to your Nats text chain. I've always been a fan of Dan's from afar, but this past weekend and he really showed how much of a men she is. Late last week I sent him a message to letting him know my fiance Julia would be at Friday night's game against the Diamondbacks as part of our bachelorette trip. And I wondered whether he could help in getting a shot of them on the broadcast. They were hard to miss. 20 girls decked out in Nats gear with dozens of signs with them. Not only did Dan replay my message reply to my message, he told me he would speak with his production team and do his best to get a shot of them. Dan went above and beyond coming back to the game from a commercial break. The TV camera was fixed on Julia and all her friends for 30 seconds. Dan and Denard Spann spoke about them being there to celebrate a bachelorette trip and how there was a lot to be excited about. I was unable to watch the game live, but upon going back to see if they made the broadcast, I was astonished when they showed Julia and our friends. Dan thank you, thank you, thank you truly. Big's helping Littles. It means a lot to me and my fiance and all her friends. Love seeing the clip. Last thank you to fellow fellow Littles Max Canefield and Lee Steinberg for encouraged me, encouraging me to put this plan in motion and helping with the execution. From Steve the Sycophant I just heard Dylan's email about bringing his family to last week's Main Street Community Band concert. Was a pleasure meeting him and his charming family. I must add that I got the impression that his lovely wife has the same attitude about us Littles that my wife does. That is these people are nuts and since my husband is part of this madness, I'll go along with it. But he's still crazy. From Shane o' Malley in Pittsburgh My family and I will be taking a week long vacation in Rehoboth at the end of August. I wanted to reach out to the show to see if you and Michael had any recommendations on local golf courses worth playing. I've played Bear Trap Dunes and Lighthouse Sound in the past, but I would love to play a new course in the area. Any insights would be greatly appreciated. We're also looking for some breakfast and dinner recommendations if you have any insights on the local cuisine. Nigel can chime in on that one if he has suggestions. Just out of curiosity, if we went to Rehoboth Beach Country Club and dropped a subtle cheesery for the staff along with a discreetly slipped $20 bill. Do you think they let us play as non members? No I don't. But breakfast is the crystal. You know. Don't, don't, don't think of anything else. Breakfast is the crystal. Michael Golf Course Everyone loves the Rookery, right? Rookery the Rookie is north of Rehoboth by about six, eight miles on Route 1.
- [57:29]
Ryan McGee
Yeah, right.
- [57:29]
Tony Kornheiser
You know everybody likes it.
- [57:31]
Sean McDonough
There's also a great mini golf course just above. I think it's on the roof near Funland, so you can check that out.
- [57:36]
Michael Wilbon
Oh my kids. Like the one with the dinosaurs.
- [57:38]
Sean McDonough
Oh yeah.
- [57:39]
Michael Wilbon
Gotta have that one by the Walmart.
- [57:41]
Tony Kornheiser
Here is a haiku for the devil and or Scott Boris from Shad dressed in red pitchfork. Or they may come in the form of a sports agent from Mark Hughes in Ashton, Maryland. It's great to hear your Nats text chain is growing. You might want to add Wilbond. He doesn't seem to be part of enough texting. We're not adding Wilbourne. We're not because we're not going to talk about hall of Famers and Richard Dent. No, no, no. He cares about the cops. Yes. He should care about the Cubs and the Bears and the Bulls. That's fine. From Amy My name is Amy. I live in Columbus, Ohio. I want to reach out in response to your frustration with calling places like AT&T. I work as a registered nurse in a cardiology clinic and my job involves making phone calls to pharmacies, nursing facilities, insurance companies, etc. The amount of time I spend fighting with with robots to get help from an actual person is shocking. At least once a day you can find me on the phone with the CVS pharmacy robot repeating speak to a pharmacist. Speak to a pharmacist over and over until I win. I just wanted you to know there's nurses out here that feel your pain of calling these places. However, people like us will persist and find the human in the end. My advice is to take notes on what to say to specific phone prompts to get a person as soon as possible. I've memorized certain keywords with a different automated number, numbers I have to call often. It helps save me a few more of my brain cells. If you happen to read this anywhere, please say hi to my wonderful husband, Adam Hess. He's a big fan and the one who first showed me pti. Isn't that nice? You're not going to share which he did not? No, I mean it would have been. If you're listening, Amy, send us the phrases. Although she seemed to make them robot specific, you know, that they weren't sort of general. But if you can, Amy, send it to us from Wayne Hickinbotta. While reeling off a list of top SEC golf teams, it would seem the University of Texas that produced Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, Jordan Speed, Scottie Scheffler et al should at least make the top six. While on the subject of Austin institutions, the Austin Summer of Littles will again be at the Waterloo Ice House Aug. 1 from 4 to 6. Mary Faye Randolph, who we just spoke of, has already confirmed she will be there. Yeah, I don't think a Texas in my head is an SEC school still. I know they are. Yes, but it's not that, you know, it's not that long ago that they were not. But yes, you're 100% right. From Joe Giglio, St. John's class of 2014. I couldn't help but write in and clarify the DMV High School James Wood attended before transferring to the IMG Academy during his junior year, Wood attended local sports powerhouse St. John's okay. St. John's located Military Road in Northwest Washington, SJC, has been one of the best local baseball programs for as long as I can remember and Wood is already their most famous alum. His friend from St. John's AZ Fudd, was the number one pick in this year's WNBA draft and just won the three point contest as a rookie. And of course at the end it always says go St. John's beat Gonzaga. That's, you know, and it goes the other way if you're in Gonzaga. Gonzaga, that's the St. John's but I mean, Kevin Plank is an alumnar and St. John's yes. And has done great things for the football program. It's very good athletic school. Jared Gray Lafayette, Louisiana Lafayette, Louisiana, I believe the home of Ron Guidry. A little known fact concerning the recent pole vault discussion. The pole vault world record holder Armand Mondo Duplantis was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, Ron Guidry's birthplace, even though he competes for his mother's native country of Sweden. Mondo's parents met at LSU in the 90s and settled in Lafayette. Mondo set many junior Olympic records before enrolling at LSU and eventually turning pro. Duplantis is one of only four four men to vote 20ft and above as of June 2026, he accounts for 31 of the 5038 of the 51 competitions where an athlete has cleared at least that height. Even though Mondo completes for sweet, competes for Sweden, Lafayette still considers him a native son, quite proud of his accomplishments. 20ft's unbelievable.
- [61:15]
Sean McDonough
That's incredible.
- [61:16]
Tony Kornheiser
It's unbelievable.
- [61:17]
Sean McDonough
His name is Mondo. Do you think, do you think he's ever Mongo? You said Mondo. Just a pawn and game of life.
- [61:22]
Tim Kirchen
No.
- [61:22]
Tony Kornheiser
Well, you know, can't write that movie again. Brandon Borzelli Lebanon, N.J. the Odyssey A sword and sandal film about the Nats bullpen's quest to avoid the major league record of 3017 blown saves in a single season. The trailer includes CGI cyclops throwing in the bullpen in hopes of scaring the opposing team, footage of flying cats descending from behind home plate, and a montage of Wander Suero highlights when the Nats bullpen was just ordinary bad from dawn in Almonte or El Monte, Ontario in Canada. I just stopped and looked at the moon tonight for longer than I have in years. What has the show done to me? The full moon was last night where I was. It was impossible to see, but I hope people got to see it. Two nights ago it was a big, beautiful yellow moon. Totally yellow. Totally beautiful. And one more on last night's PTI. I got Wilbon's Jeopardy for 500. I used to watch Jeopardy religiously. Now I'm getting ready for bed. Dg, you're out on your bike. Tight. Everyone, as always, do wear white.
- [62:21]
Ryan McGee
Can I raise a practical question at this point?
- [62:23]
Tony Kornheiser
Are you gonna do Stonehenge tomorrow?
- [62:25]
Tim Kirchen
No, we're not gonna do Stonehenge.
- [62:41]
Nigel
Sam, I've got my right hand on your throat. And my left hand is testing the sharp points of your teeth. Are you tough to notice to take me home? And are they sharp enough to taste the blood that boils beneath? Next thing I know I'm sitting on my floor with with a big bottle of leech. So here I go I'm wiping down everything you ever touched you little each. You've got your left hand and my left. And now my eyes are closing of their own accord. You're gonna have to make me. Cuz I'm a stubborn girl I won't go back on my word. Next thing I know I'm sitting on my floor with that big bottle of breach. Yes, here I go I'm wiping down everything you ever touched you made Only I never meant to make you think. I want you on your knees. My edges cut when you touch them so all I do is tease. But you are worse than the children that I used to teach and I am worse than the worst thing you ever thought. And I do not know why but it learns for me my skin and it shines out of my. So now the moon is coming up. I feel so stupid sometimes I wish I could die. But lover I will fill your cup. And lose myself in admiration of the sky. Of the sky. Sam. I'm always showing up so late to my own parties like I don't even care I don't care, I don't care I do the most to keep the peace to keep the party going But I swear I don't care, I don't care And I get everything I want I barely even have to ask some kind of magic like that and you're so small it doesn't register it all you're melee with sweets rolling down my back I'm on the road looking down at you jumping in the pool God, I'm so cool I'm on the road Plan out come I can make it grow Got out so cool stuff, cool stuff. Stop you're not so sure about me I won't waste the energy convincing you is not my job and you can hardly keep together Cry your tears to someone else you know I'm not your mom And I'm shoring like diamond shining Are you kidding me? Lucky that we miss I got a couple things that I'm still keeping on my swing. You know what can you ain't seen nothing yet. I'm on the road looking down at you breaking all the rules But I'm so cold. I know the world pass out culture you're shaking in your. But I. Cool stuff, cool stuff. The truth is I don't really need the encouragement. I know that I'm amazing I've been myself for years. It's kind of sad to think about how you'll regret the things you said how you corrode yourself with fear And I am freer than I've ever been and everything, everything comes easy and everything is great. I kinda like when you're uncomfortable you always seem to swim when we talk about all right. I'm on the road looking down, looking down, looking down at you. I'm jumping in the swimming pool. You know, it may be hot outside but I am just so cool. I'm on the road passed out a couple days so only just now coming to I don't need anyone so I surely don't need you. I'm so. I'm so. I don't. I'm so cool, I'm so cool, so cool, so cool, so cool, so cool, so cool. So. Sam. That felt like a moment to remember for a lifetime.