“Bad News from Egg Harbor”

Summary

The Tony Kornheiser Show

Episode: “Bad News from Egg Harbor”
Date: March 2, 2026
Host: Tony Kornheiser
Guests: Michael Wilbon, Joe Lunardi, Alexis King (Producer), others

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Episode Overview

This lively episode centers on Tony’s eventful trip to Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, and serves as a springboard for discussions about aging and travel, great bread, sports mishaps, family stories, and, as usual, a heavy dose of college basketball talk (including some bracketing with bracketologist Joe Lunardi). The episode humorously explores the quirks of Tony’s life, from his emails about shoe businesses to “bad news” about a favorite bagel shop, all delivered in his signature witty, self-deprecating style alongside his familiar cast of contributors.

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Key Topics & Discussion Highlights

1. “Shoe Business” and Spam Emails (01:17-01:52)

• Tony and crew riff on receiving irrelevant business emails, joking about running a retail shoe business and still getting pitches to revive the defunct “Chatter” restaurant.
  • Tony (01:52): “Yeah, we’re out of the chatter business. Been out for five or six years.”

2. Mistaken Celebrity Facts (02:00-02:46)

• Clarifying confusion about Jamie Gertz (NBA owner and not the Spanx inventor). The creator of Spanx is Sara Blakely, also a part-owner of the Hawks.
  • Tony (02:38): “All together now. All together now. As the Beatles would say.”

3. Tony’s Nervous Road Trip to New Jersey (03:02-09:02)

• Tony recounts driving with Carol to visit family in Egg Harbor, revealing anxiety about highway speeds and aging behind the wheel.
  • Tony (04:51): “I’m a good driver, but how’s my reaction if something happens? Will my reaction be good enough?”
• Mishap: Carol forgets her phone, prompting a 15-minute delay—only to find it in her dress.
  • Tony (03:40): “Well, I did go back. We lost 15 minutes. And the phone was in her dress the whole time?”
• Discussing travel fatigue, preferred rest stops, and freeway confusion.
  • Tony (04:26): “You have to go north and then east... There’s nothing you can do.”

4. Elizabeth’s Sourdough Bread & Family Food Stories (07:28–11:23)

• Praise for Elizabeth’s homemade boule sourdough; discussion of bread’s “ping-pong” family starter.
  • Tony (08:02): “It was the best bread I’d ever had in my life.”
• Brainstorming ideas for her to sell bread at markets—Wilbon questions the logistics.
  • Michael Wilbon (08:41): “What happens on a rainy day? You have 30 boules of bread and then all of a sudden no one shows up...”
• Reminiscences about Chicken Vesuvio, Maggiano’s, and how food travels between family.
  • Tony (10:26): “Yes. It’s great. So I have this food now, and I’m happy about that.”

5. Golf, Family Achievements & Humorous Moments (11:23–12:22)

• News that Moni got a second hole-in-one; lighthearted envy from the group.
  • Tony (11:39): “You and I, between us, have none. We have none.”
• Wilbon reflects on the experience as a longtime player and seeing different generations enjoy the game.

6. Weekend Sports Recap: Golf (Shane Lowry), Knicks-Spurs, College Hoops (12:22–24:39; resumes at 17:54–24:39)

• Recapping Shane Lowry’s dramatic late-round collapse on the PGA Tour.
  • Tony (18:02): “This is a guy, this guy won last night the British Open… It’s a scream out loud moment.”
  • Michael Wilbon (18:38): “It was a, it was a scream out loud moment... And you feel good for the guy who wins.”
• Knicks vs. Spurs: the Knicks couldn’t let rookie sensation “Wimby” (Victor Wembanyama) “take their lunch money” (21:15)
• Pitino and St. John’s big win over Villanova; Wilbon enjoys Rick Pitino’s showmanship in a “don” cream suit (23:19)
  • Michael Wilbon (24:19): “I love Rick Pitino in terms of the basketball coach. And you knew... after losing to UConn by 150, someone was gonna get hit like Mike Tyson on Michael Spinks.”

7. NCAA Basketball & Bracketology with Joe Lunardi (30:57–43:50)

• Tony learns that his favorite bagel shop in Egg Harbor is gone. Joe Lunardi mourns its loss and jokes about having to find a new place (“a tragedy”) (31:25–32:56)
  • Joe Lunardi (33:18): “I got nothing. I mean, it’s truly, I would say in Philly for me, of the worst things that have happened in the last year, it was either that or falling apart against the 49ers in the playoffs. And I think I’m going with the bagel shop.”
• Discusses top NCAA seeds: Duke, Arizona, Michigan, UConn—and the defending champion Florida (34:40)
• Tony and Joe ruminate on the number of “great games” recently and theorize about money consolidating basketball talent (35:18–37:08)
  • Joe Lunardi (36:17): “The money in the sport… may be beginning to funnel the talent, you know, to a narrower top... which isn’t great for the rest of the sport, but for people who watch one or two games a week, the right games are on.”
• Debate over Big 12 rankings (37:08)
  • Wilbon: Arizona, Iowa State, Houston, Kansas.
  • Tony: skeptical of Houston after recent losses.
  • Lunardi: Houston “travels well,” still rates them highly for having a distinct, consistent style. “You gotta get 70 to beat Houston, and that’s really hard” (38:30).
• Final Four is in Indianapolis, with all divisions celebrating in one place (38:35).
• Discusses struggles of storied programs (Notre Dame, Syracuse) and the downsides of football-driven conference moves (39:25–41:15).
• Miami of Ohio’s projected low seed despite an undefeated record—historically rare (41:17–42:19).
• Sleeper mid-seed tournament teams: St. Louis (offensive firepower), St. Mary’s (upset artist over Gonzaga) (42:47–43:22).

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Memorable Quotes & Segments with Timestamps

• Tony on Aging & Driving:
  “I’m a good driver, but how’s my reaction if something happens? Will my reaction be good enough?” (04:51)

• On Bread & Family:
  “It was the best bread I’d ever had in my life.” (08:02)
  “The bread is that good, the bread is that good.” (08:37)

• Tony on Golf and Envy:
  “You and I, between us, have none [hole-in-ones]. We have none.” (11:39)

• On Shane Lowry’s Collapse:
  “It was Van de Veldean, but Van de Velde was one hole. This is two.” (18:32)
  “It was a, it was a scream out loud moment. And you feel good for the guy who wins because there’s nothing.” (18:38)

• On Rick Pitino’s Swagger:
  “When Rick Pitino walked out in the cream suit with the white shirt and cream tie like he was a don. This was so great.” (23:19)

• Bad News from Egg Harbor - Bagel Shop Closing:
  “It was every day, the New York bagel stop.” (33:42)
  Joe Lunardi: “I got nothing. I mean, it’s truly… the worst thing that has happened in the last year—was either that or falling apart against the 49ers in the playoffs. And I think I’m going with the bagel shop.” (33:18)

• On College Basketball’s Future:
  “The money in the sport… may be beginning to funnel the talent, you know, to a narrower top of the sport.” (36:17, Lunardi)

• College Sports Realignment:
  “Maryland made a bad decision. Bad decision.” (40:14, Tony)

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Additional Noteworthy Segments

• Lighthearted Bickering over Chili-on-Rice (47:33)
• Classic email bag full of listener jokes about Tony’s “shoe business” and chili preferences (46:12–49:20)
• Insights on mid-major tournament sleepers and basketball “bean counters” (42:47–43:41)

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Tone & Style

The show is classic Kornheiser: sharp, funny, and full of digressions—equal parts sports talk, food commentary, and familial banter. Michael Wilbon’s rapport with Tony is easy and teasing, while Joe Lunardi brings expert insight and wry Philly humor. The running gags (shoe spam, “sunk cost” bread, and bagel shop mourning) keep the episode light and quick-moving.

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Spam Email/Shoe Business riff — 01:17–01:52
• Mistaken Celebrity Fact Correction — 02:00–02:46
• Road Trip Anecdote & Egg Harbor Visit — 03:02–09:02
• Sourdough Bread Origin, Family Food — 07:28–11:23
• Golf/Bread Stories/Moni's Hole in One — 11:23–12:22
• Weekend Sports Recap (Golf/Lowry, Knicks, Pitino) — 12:22–24:39; 17:54–24:39
• Bracketology with Joe Lunardi & Bagel Shop Loss — 30:57–43:50

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For New Listeners

This episode is a quintessential example of why Tony Kornheiser remains a beloved, multigenerational host: it playfully hops from serious sports talk to family stories and local color (bread, bagels, chili) while never losing its dry, feisty humor or warmth. The detailed Big 12 breakdowns and bracket insights are valuable for hoops fans, while the offbeat stories and email segment make it entertaining for anyone. If you missed the show, this summary gives you all the laughs, quotables, and sports takes with none of the ads.

Transcript

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hey, it's Tony. On today's show, we will talk with Wilbon about what he was watching this weekend. And we'll talk to Joe Linardi to see how the field for the NCAA tournament is shaping up. But first, let's keep the sales weasels happy.

[Show Announcer]

5am I'm up with a crisp Celsius energy drink running 12 miles today. Grab a green juice, quick change and head to work. Meetings, workshops. One more Celsius. No slowing down. Working late, but obviously still meeting the girls for a little dancing. Celsius live fit. Go grab a cold, refreshing Celsius at your local retailer or LOC. Locate [e-mail]. Previously on the Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm reading this. Every word. I'm reading every word. I'm not leaving any words out. I'm not adding any words.

[Alexis King]

Hi.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Tony K has a retail shoes business. A line of credit and term funding could help cover inventory costs during seasonal spikes. We keep upfront costs simple, so you don't slow down when shipments arrive or sales push up. Interested in a quick chat to see how it could fit your cadence? Thanks again, Alexis King.

[Michael Wilbon]

A lot of buzzwords.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What are you talking about? Are we in the shoe business? How did I get in the shoe business?

[Show Announcer]

The Tony Kornheiser show is on now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm sort of waiting for the follow up on that for Alexis King to get back in touch with me now that I'm a shoe magnet.

[Michael Wilbon]

All about the cadence.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

Yeah, well, we have got to protect the cue.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You have a mistake you want to correct?

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

Well, I do. I'll get to that in a second. But I thought you might want to read this email which came in over the weekend.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hi. I noticed the vibe of Chatter. Great menu and atmosphere, everything. Some funding could help you expand or enhance your offerings. We'd love to chat about how we could support your growth. This is from Jenna Nelson at something called Buildmaker. Yeah, we're out of the chatter business. Been on the chatter business for five or six years.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

Yeah, they may want to update their files.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What are you talking about?

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

We actually get stuff for chatter every now and then. It always, always makes me good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you want to correct your mistake? Yes.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

So on Friday show, Brian Windhoard said, I think Jamie Gertz, who's a part owner of the Falcon or the Hawks, was the inventor of Spanx.

[Tony Kornheiser]

She is not that you said she was.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

Yes, she is very rich. That is accurate.

[Tony Kornheiser]

She.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

She and her husband founded something called Apollo Management, which is a private equity.

[Joe Linardi]

Apollo.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That it? Apollo is a very big deal. Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

She's worth hundreds of billions.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Who's the golfer? The slowest player. Patrick Cantlay. You often wears an Apollo hat, Cantlay all day. Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

So that's. So that's their firm. So they're worth a lot of money.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But the woman who works there he will be remain nameless.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

The woman who in Vinit Spanx is Sarah Blakely. She also is a part owner of the Hawks. So they're all together there.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All together now. All together now. All together now. As the Beatles would say.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yes, we're all in this together.

[Joe Linardi]

Hand in hand.

[Michael Wilbon]

So late to some reference.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Columbia's open. It's only walking strict hours. It's only walking. So I can't. I can't play. I can't walk anymore. I can't walk the course.

[Michael Wilbon]

Any news on Rehoboth? Are they still under snow?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think they're still under snow. I'm unaware. I'm going to call them, but I took a trip this weekend. I don't usually do this. I drove up. Carol and I drove up to New Jersey to see Elizabeth and Ron. And I was very happy to do it, but I.

[Michael Wilbon]

Slow start to the trip.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I was very nervous. Yeah, Slow start to the trip as we got out of the house and we were halfway towards getting onto the Beltway when Carol said, I don't have my phone. So we had to go back. We lost 15 minutes.

[Michael Wilbon]

You don't have to go back.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, I did go back. We lost 15 minutes. And the phone was in her dress the whole time? Yeah, the whole time. Soul time. Because I called it from the car and it went right to voicemail. And she said, yeah, I turn it off. What is the point? So we came back and we saw Michael. Michael was coming over to say goodbye. We were already gone. But we came back.

[Michael Wilbon]

The best was I had checked my phone because I have location services turned on for you just to know where you are at all times.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And Elizabeth has that.

[Michael Wilbon]

And I was like, great, you're still at the house.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. So anyway, so it's about a three and a half hour drive all in. It's about a three and a half hour drive to where they live. They live in Egg Harbor Township, which is just north of Atlantic City. And there's no way you can make it shorter. There's no bridge. There's nothing you can do.

[Michael Wilbon]

Oh, you have to go up and down.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You have to go up and down. You have to go north and then east. You know, there's nothing you can do. You have to go the length of New Jersey. There's nothing you can do. Okay. So I was particularly nervous about this at my age. Nervous about particularly being on 95 and wondering, you know, I'm a good driver, but how's my reaction if something happens? Will my reaction be good enough?

[Michael Wilbon]

Well, and this. The speed on 95 has changed since I learned how to drive about, what,

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

105 miles an hour?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I mean, I was. I tried.

[Michael Wilbon]

The order of lanes no longer. No longer means anything.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They're barred from being in the left lane. They go in it anyway. There was one guy. There was a truck, a van, with like, nine cars on top of it, which scares everybody to death that a car is going to fall off and roll right in. And this guy's in the left lane. He's in the left lane. Come on. Anyway, so I try to stay in the right lane as often as possible. And even in the right lane, there were times when I.

[Michael Wilbon]

Right lanes for texting, apparently.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, I was not texting. There were times when I looked at my speedometer and I was like, 81, 82. Whoa. No, we can't do this.

[Michael Wilbon]

Is 80 your threshold?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I don't want to be over 80. I don't really. 75 is where, you know, I don't want to go over 75. So I got there, it was fine. The trip's both ways. The problem with yesterday's trip, and it was a nice day, the problem with yesterday's trip was I didn't sleep at all. So I was not. My eyes weren't great. I wasn't as focused as I wanted to be. I opened the window a few times.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah, I gotta get that cold air.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. And I did that. But the trips were fine. I am satisfied that I can do it. I don't really want to do it. I'm satisfied I can do it.

[Alexis King]

But.

[Michael Wilbon]

But do you find it easier to drive on 95 going north because of the familiarity with those stops? You know, every 45 minutes you get Baltimore. Then, you know, then you get the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. And I like to go to the Maryland house. Yeah. More than the Chesapeake.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

More than the Chesapeake.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Maryland house. A little bit smaller. It's easier to deal with, you know, coming back down, there's more construction. Coming back down is a little more confusing.

[Michael Wilbon]

But did you stop at any of the rest areas on the Jersey Turnpike, or do you get off that before you really hit those?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm not on the Jersey Turnpike at all. I'm on the Atlantic City, those rest

[Michael Wilbon]

areas have gotten really nice.

[Tony Kornheiser]

There's one rest. There's one rest area on the Atlantic City Expressway about 10 miles from where I have to get off. It's fine. They have the, like a battleship on display or something like that's the only one that I saw. But we go, we get over the Delaware Memorial Bridge, and then it gets a little bit easier. You're not going 85 miles an hour. You get on I295 north towards Camden, and then you get onto the Atlantic City Expressway at some point. Anyway, it's about three and a half hours all in. Elizabeth cooked. She cooked a great dinner and sent us home with a lot of food. But one of the things she sent us home with was a fabulous sourdough bread. Is the style of that bread, Michael. A Boule.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yep.

[Tony Kornheiser]

B O U L E. Boull.

[Joe Linardi]

Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

And what I love about the origins of this bread is Lindsley trained baker and chef. She went to culinary school.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes, yes, she did. She's a graduate of the Academy de Cuisine. She is a trained baker.

[Michael Wilbon]

Five and a half years ago, she gave me a sourdough starter that I have kept, you know, in various stages in my fridge. And I use it. We mostly use it for pizza dough. We make focaccia and pizza dough out of it. And she had lost hers along the way. And maybe a year or two ago, she came back down and I. And I fed and I gave her some to carry home. So the fact that it keeps ping ponging back and forth across straight lines is wonderful.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's that it was the best spread I'd ever had in my life.

[Michael Wilbon]

Thank you.

[Joe Linardi]

Well, you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Anyway, here's what I think she should do now. She doesn't listen to the podcast. I'm not sure she knows I have a podcast. So this will not get back to her on any level, but I think she should make about 30 of these things at a time, about 30 of them, and go to a farmer's market and sell them for, I don't know, 15, $20. What would you be able to get

[Michael Wilbon]

for something you could probably get 18, 20 bucks.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And it's reasonable. The bread is that good. The bread is that good.

[Michael Wilbon]

So, I mean, sounds great. The tough model with all that is what happens on the rainy day. You have 30 bouls of bread and then all of a sudden no one shows up and you're sitting there with this sunk cost. I think for you, you're sitting there waiting. Where she lives, if you can get involved with some private caterers and start to have a more consistent clientele and a delivery service. I mean, people want good bread.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Bread was great. Bread was absolutely great. So, anyway, then we came out.

[Michael Wilbon]

How's the Chicken Vesuvio?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Chicken Vesuvio is tremendous.

[Michael Wilbon]

Great name.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

That is a fantastic name.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, well, Elizabeth said, it's like a volcano. Do you remember Chicken Vesuvio? And I said, no, I barely remember Mount Vesuvio. And she said, you used to order it all the time at Maggiano's. When we went to Maggiano's, and I said something that I say often. I am unburdened by memory. I do not remember any of this. Do not remember. I don't remember going to Maggiano's more than once in my life. I didn't do it. And then Ron realized it probably wasn't Maggiano's, and we isolated it to that's Amore.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yes. With the bocce court, which we used

[Tony Kornheiser]

to go to regularly when it was on Wisconsin Avenue. Now there's still one, I think, on in Gaithersburg, but I'm not even certain.

[Michael Wilbon]

Off at 28.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. But that's where we got chicken Vesuvio.

[Michael Wilbon]

By Dr. Giblin.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, by Doc. Yeah. That's where we got Chicken Vesuvio. And she made it. It was fabulous.

[Michael Wilbon]

Sent me home with potatoes and peas in it, Right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. Great. I ate it two nights in a row. It was great. And then she sent me home with a lot of frozen entrees that you have to take out of the freezer for a full day and then slow cook, and there are three or four of them. And so I'm.

[Michael Wilbon]

For those busy game days when you're running all these errands.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Michael Wilbon]

Or do you see a trend that your adult children are mostly trying to feed you?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. It's great. So I have this food now, and I'm happy about that. And it was a very satisfying trip, you know, I mean, it was very. It was quite nice.

[Michael Wilbon]

You gave us a chunk of bread. Oh, the boys lined up like pigeons, and I handed out how great bread lines were.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's great. It was. That's all I'm saying.

[Michael Wilbon]

There is one. You would not remember this. You brought home a bread when I was a kid, and you left it on the counter. And over the course of an afternoon, I went up and I slowly picked out all the inside of the bread, leaving the outer crust.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Really perfect crime.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yes. Until Tony found it. You were as angry as if someone opened up your ginger Ale in the fridge.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, I really enjoyed. I really enjoyed the outside as much as the inside.

[Michael Wilbon]

I mean, it's beautifully inside, Outside, outside, inside.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, it's beautifully crafted. Anyways, A really good bread. It's a really good pred. And I have a piece for Nigel now as a day old.

[Joe Linardi]

Can't wait.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Can't wait for it. One other thing that sourdough. Right? Sourdough. One other thing that we need to say. Moni got a hole in one.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

Really?

[Tony Kornheiser]

At Oldfield.

[Michael Wilbon]

Another hole in one.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's her second hole in one.

[Alexis King]

Oh, wow.

[Michael Wilbon]

And Chan is running out of places to put the pictures.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right. So Chan writes me.

[Michael Wilbon]

Chan's entire camera roll is just Moni celebrating.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Chan writes me and says, you know, Michael better get busy. And I said, michael better get busy. You and I, between us, have none. We have none.

[Michael Wilbon]

So Chan had a leaner on that same hole. What's so great is like, I've been playing that golf course for almost 20 years now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Alexis King]

This is.

[Michael Wilbon]

This is old field down in. In Ocoatee, South Carolina. And so I know these holes and what's, you know, to see a course played differently across, you know, ability and age is. It's tremendous.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. So I'm glad that she got that two.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

Now she has official.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Just two. Two more than I. It's, as I say, when it's my friend Tommy the best. Is she also Prunus. We have three Pulitzer prizes.

[Michael Wilbon]

She prefers to play nine holes. So, you know, I'm sure she was contemplating walking in close to.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So I. I would have. I mean, Wilbon is going to be on next. I'm banking on the fact that Wilbon saw Shane Lowry.

[Michael Wilbon]

You watched the live, right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I watched all of it. I. Well, I.

[Michael Wilbon]

You could see the mind racing. Don't go in the water. Don't go in the water. Don't go in the water.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, the second one. Oh, the second one to the right. Yes. So.

[Michael Wilbon]

And the first he was lucky to save double. He had to make about a five and a half footer off of a, you know, out of a bad lie in the bunker.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Before that, the second one, he go. He's got to get on the green. He's got to have a shot at eagle. Instead he bad shot into the. Into the bunker there on 18.

[Michael Wilbon]

Well, on 18. So this is the bad part about TV.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I actually think 16 and 17, it went in the water.

[Michael Wilbon]

Right. PJ Tor needed something like this. You need some sort of conflict. You need something that's out of the Ordinary because it's gotten a little bit too easy and predictable the last couple weeks. Sadly, Shane Lowry fit that role, who everybody likes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Everybody likes him. Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

And you just saw him on TV the other week having a birthday party for his kid, and he talked.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He talked about what happened. I mean, I got a note from Sands last night. Sands was there. And. And so DG is there. He's. DG's physically there. And DG since. Since 8:00 clock in the morning is saying, I'm. I'm. I'm on Lowry. I'm on Lowry. And I write, at one time, he

[Michael Wilbon]

made so many feet of butts.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Larry was started the day at 11 under par, I believe 11, whatever it was, he was second. He was not in the lead, but he was in the last group or was tied for the. Whatever it was. He was at 19. At one point.

[Michael Wilbon]

He was playing away from pins, like

[Joe Linardi]

playing a good conservative.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I wrote DG, I said, I think you got this. And then 15 minutes later, well, when he said, oh, I don't know.

[Michael Wilbon]

So everyone talks about the difficulty of that final stretch. And the bummer is, after that moment, you would love 18 to be somewhat gettable, so there's a chance he could

[Tony Kornheiser]

make well, but it is not. You don't think it's gettable on the bar flat?

[Alexis King]

No.

[Michael Wilbon]

There were zero eagles all day, so, no, it was not gettable.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, so it was against the win.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah. So. And then you look at what happened on 17 and Echevarria pushed his shot so you could see his heart leaping out of his chest.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. He thought it was in the water.

[Michael Wilbon]

And it gets, you know, it's barely on the green, and then he rolls it in. Rolls in about an 18 footer. And all Lowry has to do is, even if he missed left, you can get away with a bogey there. You can try and save something with the birdie on the last, which just,

[Tony Kornheiser]

you know, it was a complete and utter gag.

[Alexis King]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So anyway, I'm hoping that Wilbon watched it and we can talk about it

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

was also, I know we're not big race car people, but, you know, after we.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Michael Jordan won again, third place in a row. So the. The answer, if you want to succeed in NASCAR is Sue nascar. You get on a win and then allow you to be happy by giving you an extra boost in your car. Tyler Reddick won again. Yeah, Tyler Reddick won again. All right, so we will take a break. Wilbaun, when we return. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

[Show Announcer]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Michael Wilbon]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

Yeah, you've really liked this, right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's very good.

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[Show Announcer]

You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is Gavin Shire. This is a song called Heroes. Gavin Shire writes, I'm a singer, songwriter, musician living in the Washington D.C. metro area. Thought I'd try sending you a few of my songs for Potential airing on your show. This is from my new album, A Little Bit More Heroes, Liars and Other Stories, which has been released February 1st a month ago. Hope you like them. Once again, this is. Gavin Shire plays in Michael Wilbon. As I said at the beginning of the show, I've got stuff that I can talk to Wilbon about, but I am hoping, I am so hoping that Michael Wilbon saw the end of the golf.

[Joe Linardi]

Oh, yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Did you? In your life. This is a guy, this guy won

[Michael Wilbon]

last night, the British Open.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is not.

[Michael Wilbon]

It's when he, I mean to go in the water. It's a scream out loud moment. I know it's not a big tournament.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right.

[Michael Wilbon]

I know it's not. I know that I even decided to look up like prize money won by each of these guys because, you know, you don't see a. Just a elite world player do that

[Tony Kornheiser]

twice two holes in a row.

[Michael Wilbon]

It was Van de Veldeans, but Vanderbilt was one hole.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is two.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It just, it was a, it was a scream out loud moment. And you feel good for the guy who wins because there's nothing.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

The wife is closing on a house yesterday.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right. And they bought a dog.

[Michael Wilbon]

They probably wake up in the morning. He's thinking, if I finish. I looked this up because if I finish fifth, I got like $303,000. I mean, you know, it's going to make life a lot easier at this closing. If I, if I can finish fifth and you finish first and it's $1.7 million. This is unbelievable.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Shane Lowry has won the British Open. He is a world class golfer and he is one of the more likable people on the tour.

[Michael Wilbon]

All the above.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And you see it, the second one. What are you doing? Going to the right. What are you doing? You know, what did you think? I was agape? I was, I was agape.

[Joe Linardi]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

I don't look for reasons.

[Alexis King]

Sports.

[Michael Wilbon]

It's sports. That's what it is. Back to back captivates us like nothing else because you have stuff like that that happens in every sport so infrequently to the best people in that sport that it shocks the hell out of you. But, you know, it was interesting. I did listen to him. I stayed with the post game long enough.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. He addressed. Yes. He didn't walk out. He wasn't nasty. He didn't do that.

[Michael Wilbon]

Wasn't. He wasn't unreal.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Joe Linardi]

Yes. Those.

[Michael Wilbon]

That was the only, that's kind of the only thing I watched yesterday because it was a day in which we had a birthday party in the, in the, you know, friend, friend, booze, just like family category. And so I was not. I wasn't even. I was monitoring San Antonio Knicks because my position on this was very fairly predictable, Tony. It's like if you're the New York Knicks, you can't have one of these games where you let Wimby come in and take your lunch money. You can't have that. The Knicks couldn't have that. The Knicks have aspirations. They have players, they have recent history, they have ambition. The New York Knicks could not leave there yesterday without winning that game. And so when I started looking at the score Knicks were up to, I'm like, okay, that's what's supposed to happen.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's the end of a road trip for San Antonio also, isn't it?

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah, the road trip.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

I mean, that's of the rodeo. They have a rodeo every year in San Antonio and the spurs have to go on the road not for five or six games, but like eight.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. And they had won all of them to this point.

[Michael Wilbon]

They won all of them. And I don't think they've ever. I don't think Tim Duncan and David Robinson and pop ever went undefeated on the rodeo.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think this was predictable and so do you.

[Joe Linardi]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, totally. Yeah. Did you.

[Michael Wilbon]

It was result that. Anyway, not only was it predictable, Tony, it was a result that had to happen for your New York.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I agree with that. I do, I agree with that. So you didn't. But. Okay, well, let me get to something. In college which is similar. The stakes aren't quite as high, but it's similar. OK. You knew that St. John's was going to Pound Village.

[Michael Wilbon]

Oh, my God. That was the East Coast. I called it on Friday. Yes, I called on the air when we. Thursday. Whatever it was, we knew. No, that was automatic. And I'm sitting around with the birthday was. I mentioned my dear friend Stephanie Clemens, one of Cheryl's best friends and one of my best friends. And Stephanie is a huge Philly sports fan. And the room, the birthday party was Philly sports people.

[Joe Linardi]

Philly.

[Michael Wilbon]

Look, Tony, not like other. Not like other cities where some people are in a little bit of stuff. They might know a little something. No, no, no. There's 50 people there for lunch and 30 of them are from Philly and they know everything. One of the moms. One of the moms is 94 years old. It was great. And I'm sitting next to her and she turned to me and she Said, what is wrong with this idiot for what he does to Jalen.

[Joe Linardi]

Hurts.

[Michael Wilbon]

And his reaction in the locker room. And I'm like, I love this woman. This is so cool. All right. These are the Villanova, these people. There's some people in there from Villanova,

[Tony Kornheiser]

and they've won recently. They've won three championships.

[Michael Wilbon]

And I said, Jay Wright won two during the day. No, this is the most predictable thing that could happen is if don't look at it as Villanova can't do anything in the tournament. It has nothing to do with that. This had to do with Rick Pitino. When Rick Pitino walked out in the cream suit with the white shirt and cream tie like he was a don. This was so great. This was so great. I once walked with Pitino from the Garden all the way up to the Essex House. Tony, on a hot summer night after a draft when Pitino was in a white suit. And it was just, you know, look, Rick Matino been involved in some things you can't square. I mean, he has been. But you and I, we love Rick Pitino.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We go back a long way.

[Michael Wilbon]

A long way.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Go back a long way.

[Michael Wilbon]

I love Rick Pitino in terms of the basketball coach. And you knew whoever was in his way in that game after losing the UConn by 150, was gonna get hit like Mike Tyson on Leon Spinks.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. So.

[Alexis King]

All right.

[Michael Wilbon]

Michael Spinks, did you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Michael Spinks. Michael Spinks, did you. Michael Spinks, did you do. Are you familiar with the story about the kid, the player on usc? Do you know this story?

[Michael Wilbon]

No, just a little. The skeleton of it. I just wasn't interested. It bored me.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let me ask you a question. What do you mean? You go sit in the stands?

[Joe Linardi]

Yeah, yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What do you mean? What do you mean? You have to be released from the team. You can't.

[Michael Wilbon]

Of course you do, but I don't know. What, it just didn't scare you a little bit.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's so bizarre. And I think that that coach is a screamer. I've, you know, I think he's a screamer. That's Musselman son, right. Is the coach at usc. So I don't know. I don't know all of it, but when they show the clip, they show the clip of him to sit in the stands.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah. That's worse than reading a book on the sideline. It's easy, you know, and it's a kid, and I'm not going to judge him like I judge that fool in Philadelphia. I, I, you know, it Just. I, I didn't. I just kind of signed off that one.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, I watched. I watched a little. I watched Arizona, Kansas, and.

[Michael Wilbon]

Okay. That I like that game was significant.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Michael Wilbon]

Arizona.

[Joe Linardi]

You look. You can't. Look.

[Michael Wilbon]

Darren Peterson may be. I'm not drafting him first. Sorry. I'm not. I'm not even drafting him second or third. There's too many good players. I understand that he's a great talent, and you can see him control a basketball game and whatever. He is 18 years old. I understand why everybody wants him and why everybody thinks he's got it. I get it. But he didn't want to play because an agent said he doesn't want to play or whoever said I can't. You know, and you shouldn't be losing that game to Arizona by what winds up being 23 points after you get it to one. And Bill Self's a hell of a coach, and that's a great, great program, but I, you know, I'm not taking him one. He's a fascinating character. We're going to get more of him and his story this week, next week in the. In Big 12 tournament. Tony, give me what. Give me your order in the Big 12 right now. Just the Big 12. Who you top four.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. I. I would have Arizona one.

[Joe Linardi]

Okay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I believe Houston losing three games in a row sinks them mentally. So I don't have them, too. I'm not. I'm not sure that I have Kansas, too, but Iowa State is a team that rebounds. I don't mean rebounds of basketball. I mean, they get hit and they come back. So I sort of like them. So I think they're two. If you're asking me who would win in Kansas. Houston. I actually think Kansas would win.

[Joe Linardi]

Really?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I do. I think Kansas would win, but I can't tell you exactly why. I just think when you start losing, when you lose multiple games late in the season.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah, but under the circumstances of where those games were played and who they were played against.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, one of them was at home. Houston lost at home.

[Michael Wilbon]

One of them. That means two of them weren't. Yeah, I'm gonna take Houston third. I'm gonna go with Iowa State second.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, that's what I do.

[Michael Wilbon]

But. But I tell you what.

[Joe Linardi]

Would it.

[Michael Wilbon]

Would it surprise me if Houston won the conference tournament?

[Joe Linardi]

Nick.

[Michael Wilbon]

No, it wouldn't. Kelvin Sampson is really. He's a really fine coach.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's a fine coach a lot of years. He is a fine coach in a variety of places. So you didn't. You didn't pay Any attention to the Lakers or the warriors or anything like that?

[Michael Wilbon]

I did.

[Joe Linardi]

Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

Well, I paid attention in that I'm watching another. There was another NBA game on and I had switched over to that for whatever reason that was. And I look at the score of the Lakers, Warriors, I just said, I'm never going to that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, it's too. It's top 10.

[Michael Wilbon]

I literally did not go. And, you know, there was no Steph Curry.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right.

[Michael Wilbon]

The warriors, all they can do is be in the play in. That' sthey couldn't make the Giannis deal. This is why to me, you make the. You have to make the Giannis deal. Although, you know, Jimmy Butler wasn't going to play this year anyway, but you make the Giannis deal. So you get Giannis now so that you have Giannis, Curry, Butler and Draymond a little, you know, you have them at least over the summer and you have them go into next year with some momentum. The Warriors, I hate to say it, man, but because I love the Warriors, I don't just like the Warriors, I don't just respect them. I love the warriors and have gotten to know reasonably well over the last 11 years the principals. And you can't lose that game like that to the Lakers.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, that was bad. That's bad. I will see you later. I'll see you later.

[Michael Wilbon]

All right, Tom.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Michael Wilbon, boys and girls, we will take a break. Joe Linardi will join us. We'll ask him what his Big 12 top four is now that Wilbon's given his. I'm Tony Kornheiser. What would you like the power to do? Dig deep and ask it. Can you really live so far from the family you lean on? Will a broken nose break you? Or will it make you?

[Michael Wilbon]

Diego Luna retakes the field.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Bank of America champions U.S. men's national team player Diego Luna and everyone who dares to ask, what would you like the power to do? Bank of America proud to be the Official bank of US Soccer and FIFA World Cup 2026 bank of America NA Member FDSE. You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser show once again. This is Gavin Shire. He's local in the Washington area. This is a song called in youn Arms. Michael. If independent artists like Gavin Shire want their music played on this high quality podcast, how they go about it.

[Michael Wilbon]

Send us your music by emailing it to jingles@tony koenizershow.com and Gavin plays in

[Tony Kornheiser]

my friend Joe Linardi. And yeah, we're going to Talk about bracketology. But there's a much greater issue here. Talk to Lenardi about. I was in Egg Harbor Township yesterday and I said to my son in law, Ron, I said, let's go to Lenardi's bagel joint, the New York bagel stop. And Ron said to me, it's gone. It's gone. It was. So do you explain what happened?

[Joe Linardi]

What happened, Tony? It's a tragedy. Steve O, the owner, is going mainstream. He's opening a shop up here in Delco. Outside of Philadelphia.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Joe Linardi]

And the only way I can explain it is he doesn't just want my summer business, he wants my year round business. Well, he picked a spot about a mile from my house and I had nothing to do with it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So where. But when you're down by the shore, where are you going now?

[Joe Linardi]

It's a real panic. I'm good with the. I'm good with the scrapple, egg and cheese because those are three of the four basic food groups.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right, right.

[Joe Linardi]

I do that at my blitzes around the corner. That was the place open during COVID Kept me alive during the bubble tournament. You'll remember, back in 21.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Joe Linardi]

Weren't allowed to go in the store, but my man Dave would make it and bring it out to the window. And then I helped him with his brackets, so it all worked out okay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So. But the guy who sold the shop and has moved into the interior of Pennsylvania, did he at least take your picture with him? Is it going to be up on a wall someplace?

[Joe Linardi]

He's not returning my call. I hope he's listening. I mean, who else gets a number one seed bagel shop recommendation from the Bracket house?

[Tony Kornheiser]

So when I said to Ron. Well, I said to Ron, let's go. Take me. And he goes, it's not there anymore. I thought this would be bigger news. I thought I would have known this.

[Joe Linardi]

Under. Under the COVID of darkness, he pulled a Robert earset.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Wow. Wow. Okay. All right. All right. Let's get to brachatology, which is.

[Joe Linardi]

I got nothing. I mean, it's truly, I would say in Philly for me, of the worst things that have happened in the last year, it was either that or falling apart against the 49ers in the playoffs. And I think I'm going with the bagel shop.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. It was every day, the New York bagel stop.

[Joe Linardi]

Was it called correct New York style bagel?

[Show Announcer]

Just.

[Alexis King]

Wow.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Just. I was gonna go take pictures. I was so excited. I just. I didn't see this coming at all. All right, I've got Ron doing? He's fine. He's good. He's a fireman, you know, and fire inspector in Avalon and a fireman in Stone Harbor. He's doing very well. I was happy to see him.

[Joe Linardi]

I'm telling you, anybody that keeps the shore safe is great in my book.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yep. Yep.

[Joe Linardi]

Okay, I'll be there soon enough.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, well, he goes every once in a while, Jaws house, you know, the alarm goes off and they go there and nothing is ever wrong. The alarm just went off. And you want to say to Jaws, would you get a better alarm system? Because you're dragging these people out there. All right?

[Joe Linardi]

They didn't, they didn't make as much money being the NFL MVP in 1980.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's true, that's true. Okay, I got duke, Arizona, Michigan, UConn as ones. Am I off?

[Joe Linardi]

No, you're dead on. There's one other team that's good enough to be there, and that would be Florida, the defending champs. Right. They're certainly, you know, showing last year's form over the last four or five weeks. So you couldn't go wrong taking any of them.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So my feeling is this. In the last two to three weeks, never in my life have I recalled so many great games. Not. It's not that great games, great teams playing great teams every single night.

[Alexis King]

How did.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And all over the place, how did that happen?

[Joe Linardi]

I think there's a couple reasons. What? I don't know if it's a one off or the start of a trend. Right. Like smart people can say what's going to happen in the future because of what's happening now. I'm not sure if this is really the start of a trend, but I do think that the money in the sport, and let's not kid ourselves, right. It's broken the sport that is. And there's a lot of money. And I think that that may be beginning to funnel the talent, you know, to a narrower top of the sport, which isn't great for the rest of the sport, but for the people who maybe watch one or two college basketball games a week and the right games are on, and that's more accident than anything else. Like the programmers in July can only be so smart, Right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right.

[Joe Linardi]

With matchups and they, they're smart enough to talk to people like me, but in July I don't know anything because I haven't had my bagel.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, that was just a tragedy.

[Joe Linardi]

And we have had at the top of the Big Ten, at the top of the Big 12 in particular. Tony just matchup after Matchup after matchup. It certainly makes you feel pretty optimistic for March. And unlike college football, where those teams actively try not to play one another during the season. Right. In college basketball, they're actually encouraged by the selection and seeding process to do so, which not to get, you know, attacked by anyone in my mind, makes college basketball a vastly superior sport.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So Wilbon wants me to find out your rankings in the Big 12, the four in a row at the top. Wilbon has Arizona, Iowa State, Houston and Kansas. Wilbon is still sold on Houston. I said I'm not, because they lost a bunch in a row. What are your, what are your rankings in that conference?

[Joe Linardi]

I would go Houston second, although I am concerned, you know, about their ability to score in later round NCAA games. But here's the thing, Tony, because you go back, you remember John Cheney and Temple?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Sure, of course.

[Joe Linardi]

Right. Like, like they played one way all the time and Houston plays one way all the time. And that way travels much better against unfamiliar opponents than familiar opponents, just as it did with Cheney. And I think that the short turnaround time for teams outside the Big 12 against Houston in the tournament is very difficult. And I think they, they've been in the Final Four twice the last five years. They've been in the Elite Twice, Elite Eight twice, and they're still a factor.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Joe Linardi]

You gotta get, you gotta get 70 to be Houston, and that's really hard.

[Tony Kornheiser]

By the way, where is the Final Four this year? Where is it?

[Joe Linardi]

Indy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. All right.

[Joe Linardi]

And here's what's cool. They're kind of doing like a celebration of basketball. They're doing the Division 2 and Division 3 championships the same weekend. And the NIT Final 4 is right up the street at Butler, at Hinkle Field House. So that's your hoops junkie.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Joe Linardi]

And you like St. Elmo's. That's where to go.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. St. Elmo's is the only place, by the way, I know this is against Duke, so I shouldn't, you know, it's not like they lost to bad to a bad team, but Notre Dame and Syracuse, it looks to me like they need a reset. It's just. Look, both those. And I have such nice feelings historically about Notre Dame and Syracuse in basketball, but they look done, don't they?

[Joe Linardi]

Well, I can't. I don't know enough about the inner workings of Notre Dame, but I will say this about Syracuse, Jim Boeheim, and like them, or not like them, but he's really smart. And deep down he thought the ACC was a terrible Idea for Syracuse basketball.

[Alexis King]

Mm.

[Joe Linardi]

He's like, we're a biggie school and, you know, we're making a football decision. And I get it. I mean, he liked getting paid, I think, as we all do. But look at all the schools that have made crappy basketball decisions based on football and what's happened to them. Syracuse, Pitt, Boston College. At a lower level, Temple, now Maryland.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Maryland made a bad decision. Bad decision.

[Joe Linardi]

I mean, look, you go in the Big Ten, you hit the lottery. From a revenue perspective.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Joe Linardi]

Okay, I get it. But, you know, in the long run, is it worth it? I don't know. That's up to bean counters and people smarter than me. But, like, like, we. We grew up with. We talked about John Chaney. Like, doesn't everybody miss John Chaney trying to kill John Caliper?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, that was good. That was good fun.

[Joe Linardi]

Great tv.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, that was good fun.

[Joe Linardi]

And it was genuine. And now, like temples in the American, they're a non factor. Their closest league rival is 500 miles away in Charlotte. UMass just made a football decision to leave the Atlantic stand and go to the Mid America Conference, thinking they would dominate in basketball. Not only are they not going to win the American Mid American Conference, they're not going to make the Mid American Conference tournament.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's terrible. That's a Binghamton situation.

[Joe Linardi]

What are we doing here? What are we doing?

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, you're right. I got one other question. Miami of Ohio, who is going to be everybody? Sentimental pick. What. What kind of a realistic seeding do they get that they. Do they get any higher than a seven or an eight, they'll be lucky

[Joe Linardi]

to get that high.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. Okay. Yeah.

[Joe Linardi]

And what I expect, I think they will run the table, including their conference tournament, and I think they'll be in an 8, 9 game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. Yeah, I. Because I didn't. You know, I don't want to get carried away with a record because. Who did they play? Go ahead.

[Joe Linardi]

Not very. Not a very good schedule, admittedly. But do you know, because you're old enough to know. Seating began in 1979. There have been previously six undefeated Division 1 teams entering the conference tournaments. They've all been one seat by acclamation.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Joe Linardi]

We're debating whether or not they should even get in. We've lost the plot.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, no, there's. Miami of Ohio is not going to be a one seat as they would

[Joe Linardi]

go out, but I mean, they should make 68.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Sure, sure. Is there.

[Joe Linardi]

Is there a question Runway there between 1 and 68?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, it's nowhere. Yeah, sure. No, absolutely. Is there anybody, Is there anybody that we haven't talked about, you know, like between a five and an eight that you love, that you think that this team is good? This team's good.

[Joe Linardi]

St. Louis.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Joe Linardi]

Out of the Atlantic 10. Great offense. We not good. Great. And very underrated defensively. Very innovative style. You'll remember from a couple years ago. They got the kid with the goggles.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes, I remember that kid. Yeah.

[Joe Linardi]

He's. He's there. They can do it. And if you really want to go under the radar, how about St. Mary's just knocked off.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They just peek on Zaga. Yeah.

[Joe Linardi]

Again, I don't know why we treat it like an upset.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They do it every year. They do it every year. St. Mary's is good. Every single year, they're good.

[Joe Linardi]

And I'm a little biased because I happen to have been at the game loudest building I've been in in 25 years.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Really? Okay. All right. Well, tell us when you find another bagel joint and you and I will go. I'll make sure I. I find you down on the shore. Thanks, Joe.

[Joe Linardi]

It's sad if he doesn't open soon. I don't know, I might have to retire and move to Fort Lauderdale.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'll talk to you soon. Joe Linardi. Boys and girls, we will take a break and we will have email and jingle when we return. I am Tony Kornheiser.

[Michael Wilbon]

It's a season two playoff race with TGL. Presented by SoFi. Sunday at 9pm Eastern. Jupiter Links versus Boston Common Golf. Monday at 7pm Eastern. Los Angeles Golf Club versus New York Golf Club. Tuesday at 9pm Eastern. The Bay Golf Club versus Jupiter Links. Keep up. It's Golf Watch on ESPN, ESPN2 and the ESPN app.

[Show Announcer]

This is the Tony Kornheiser show. Tony Korneiser show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Here comes Tony's mailbag. Got your email faxes and your notes. Here comes Tony's mail back. Gonna reach stuff for all you folks. Hey, Tony. Come on, come on. Hey, Tony.

[Show Announcer]

Read that mail now, baby.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Mercy, mercy, danger. Love it. Just look. I, I, I love that. That just makes me so happy. You want to do the Bethesda bagel ad?

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

Yes, Bethesda Bagels.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We love them.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

You will as well. Just go to Bethesda Bagels.com for the location in the DC area nearest you. Then pop on and you'll be thrilled. Like we were today when we got the bagel sandwiches.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Big day for you. A bagel sandwich. I know some of Elizabeth.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

Big day for Nigel Crusty.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Before we get to the mailbag Let me just say I don't know what it is that makes me love you so I only know I never want to let you go because you started something now can't you see that ever since we met you had a hold on me it happens to be true I only want to be with you Dusty Springfield and Linda Ronstadt are the best. The best ever. They're the best. Thanks to our guests today, Michael Wilbon and Joe Linardi. Thanks as well to today's sponsors. Remember, you can listen to us on Apple podcasts, Spotify and Audacy if you get showed through Apple. Please leave us a Review the service

[Michael Wilbon]

station you're thinking is the Frank Farley Service plot, milepost 21.3.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's it.

[Michael Wilbon]

The model size is 22ft long.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So it's a battleship, right?

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

Yeah, the battleship. Yeah, it's a very famous battleship for your country.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So that's the one rest area on Atlantic City Expressway that I pass on the way to and from Ross Bridges in Lexington, Kentucky. Who says, rack me, I'm out. Please bring back the snack down. He says, Mr. Tony, you know what they say, ain't no business like shoe business. That's funny. Daniel Ziegler, Stevensville, Michigan Let me know when your wingtips are on sale. Nine and a half extra wide.

[Michael Wilbon]

Thomas born of a saddle shoe guy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Scapoose or Scapoosey, Oregon Chuck and Roxy, number 362. Yeah, I'm a size 12. That's stuff is great. Chris Band sells Forest Hill, Maryland. I also need a new pair of black loafers for work. Can you tell me what you have in stock? Also, what shipping options do you have? USPS David Epstein in New York. I'm a size 10. Generally take a 4 wide, which can be tricky to find. Please keep that in mind as you manufacture your first line of sneakers. Hoping I can use the code. If I may be so bold, I like the name T Kicks. Much appreciated. From Bill MATFELD, Fort Mill, S.C. you tend to buy shoes in bulk, so you must have attracted some attention. They just assume that somebody who has 47 pair of the same shoe intends to sell them. Clearly they don't listen to the podcast. Tom Targonsky, Sioux City, Iowa I was glad to hear of another chili served over white rice fan out there. I grew up in Brooklyn. That's where my mom served it. Is it an east coast thing? The woman I'm related to by marriage prefers saltine crackers with her chili. This is a product of her South Dakota Upbringing. She looked at me like I had two heads the first time I mentioned I like rice with my chili. We have two grown daughters and one prefers rice, the other person prefers crackers. Thankfully, our 36 year marriage hasn't crumbled due to this fissure. And he signs it Bombo Genesis. Yeah, I like, I like chili over rice. By the way, saltines. The most underrated cracker in the United States world.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

100%.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I mean if you put them in soups, soup, it's great. All soup. Yeah. Saltine crackers. Yeah. Can't get better than saltine crackers. From Tommy in Salt Lake City, Utah. A few years ago I was at the gastroenterologist's office. Had a long wait for the doctor. I noticed various awards sitting on the shelf across from me. As I looked at each award, I was surprised to find out that not one was for the practice of medicine. Every single award in the doctor's office was for various years of the local chili cook off. I am still unsure if this settled my nerves as a nice distraction for the gas station or made my nervousness worse going back for the operation. Never underestimate the importance of a chili cook off as it may be the crowning achievement of someone's career. Steve the sicker fan Dear Dr. Grandpa Satchmo goat, my lesion idol. You put chili on rice? No, no, no. That's an abomination equal to the disgusting so called Cincinnati chili served on spaghetti. I can live with people eating chili with beans, but on rice? Never, never, never. Stop this immediately. We must honor our love of the great Southwest and the the American spirit fortified by pure unadulterated chili.

[Michael Wilbon]

Now do you like chunks of beef or you okay with ground?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I sort of like it chunky, but I'm okay with ground, sure. Ryan Scully in Littleton, Colorado. Regarding your recent chili cook off voting were some of the chili's on their last year of ballot eligibility? And when you're forced to vote for those chilies while leaving the best chili, the chili that won the most chili cook offs of all time off of your ballot. Nathan Ackerhelm Charlotte, North Carolina Nectarines, eh? Plums. Firm, tart, small, good, squishy and soft. Give them away. Apples only in pies. Not for sitting and eating. Not a pear guy. Peaches can eat it. Nothing fuzzy. This is a recap on my fruit preferences from the Fairly accurate, right? My favorite fruit is in season's cherries. Cherry.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

That's right, yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Cherries. My favorite.

[Alexis King]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

From Matt Taylor in Regina, Saskatchewan, in Canada. Tony I don't like foods that are fuzzy. Me puts down the kiwi I was about to eat like an apple and starts to rethink my life choices from Mark Mollico in Trophy Club, Texas. Wow. Dear Captain Tony, As a skipper, you're aware that ships in port are safe, but you also know that that's not what chips are made for. Like many of my fellow Littles, I enjoy your trips to Wilbon Island, Lanfora island and other familiar ports of call. I also take great joy when you venture out of your comfort zone to take a trip to Florida to golf with the Socialite and regale us with tall tales of your adventures. I enjoy hearing new voices like Todd Harris and Matt Barry. New Bigs like new Little should always be welcome. Wasn't that long ago that Morgan Pressell was a new mate on the SS Kornheiser and she has become a favorite along with her uncle who is a Little Keep up your renaissance. It's like the different coffee ice creams you try. You don't know who you're going to like until you try it. That's a really smart from Mark Mollico and Trophy Club Bill Isaacson. It the theme for the show gradually has become how you are living your life. Like a variation of an Arch Campbell movie review. Didn't do it, don't want to do it. But as you wonder if you can make it by cracking open your door to ebbling, E billing, e commerce. I thought it was ebbling. I'd never seen the word ebilling, e commerce and streaming. Keep in mind what happened last week. You had these back to back non ironic segments. A segment that originated for you making fun of the Olympic X Games like the half pipe followed by a segment with your full on hug for professional video simulator golf. I might add that those segments were on your podcast. Who knows what the future holds. From Carl and us we go New York. There was a solar eclipse two weeks ago in Antarctica and you know what that means. Eclipses always come in pairs. There will be a lunar eclipse. This important? I was going to say this. There'll be a lunar eclipse on Tuesday. That's tomorrow. March 3rd fully. Clips start around 6am so we should get to see part of it without setting alarms. You'll be up walking the dog. I'll be getting ready for work. Sunrise for that day is 6:37. And recall that during a full moon sunrise and moon set are at the same time because the sun and moon are on opposite sides of the sky. During a lunar eclipse they are on exact opposite sides of the sky. Hence the shadow on the moon. Hope we have some clear skies. I worry about that in Washington because of we have weather forecast but it's supposed to be a blood moon. It's supposed to turn red. That's right. When it is eclipsed it is supposed to turn red. Hope we can see it. Bob Guberman Falls Church, Virginia I am a bit behind listening to your podcast, so I just heard the discussion on Sal Magley Magley pitched for 14 years in the majors with the first half of his career with the New York Giants. He had a 1-19-62 1 loss record, 315 ERA. An outstanding career, but not worthy of the hall of Fame. In the final stretch of the Giants miraculous comeback to win the 1951 pennant, Magaly was a mainstay in their starting rotation along with Larry Jansen and Jim Hernandez. The starting pitching rotation mantra that September was Jansen, Magley Hearn and Pray for Rain. Not quite a Ralph Branca moment, but Magley pitched a complete game for the Dodgers in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series. He was the losing pitcher in Don Larson's perfect game. I didn't know that.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

Did not know that either.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, wow. I grew up in Washington Heights, Manhattan. At 11 or 12 I was part of a neighborhood group of kids that used to play fast pitch softball in the schoolyard of PS187 on Cabrini Boulevard. One day while we were taking batting practice, Magaly came to by the schoolyard and stopped for a moment to watch us. We immediately recognized him and invited him to take a turn batting. He laughed and to our surprise said okay. Stupid us being a pitcher, we thought he couldn't hit. We all gawked as he hit every pitch over the schoolyard fence and across the street. Afterwards, Maglie spent about a half hour talking baseball with us and giving us some tips. Totally unexpected and contrary to his reputation as a hard nosed unfriendly person. That's lovely. Patrick Sitter Sioux Falls, South Dakota I don't listen, I just send emails. Ruck from the Soviet Safeway My friend Berg that I've known for 50 years lives in Rhode island right by Providence. Got 37 inches. Here are some pictures and one of his 115 pound dog. Yeah, that's a really big dog and the dog is almost eclipsed by the snow. By the snow, yeah.

[Michael Wilbon's Co-host or Producer]

Massive amount.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Sam R.E.M Springfield, Virginia Chuck and Roxy340 hey, on Friday's show you talked about wine you received from Peachfork Winery in Palisade, Colorado. I know that winery. Our oldest daughter Maggie is getting married at that very winery this September. Obviously, you, Nigel and Michael are cordially invited with front row parking included. As a bonus, I'll give you the password for Johnnie Walker Blue from the bartender. I'm sure we can squeeze in a round at Chapeta. C H R P E T E P E T A golf course before the ceremony. Keep up the good work. Thanks for the entertainment. Please tell Al Monteiro to eat it. Oh, somebody's getting married. Benji Portno in Pittsburgh, the local Burger King took out the self order kiosks. You have no choice but to order with a live human being. Pick a date. I'll save a table for you. It's only two and a half hours away. Tell Ash you need it. Kurt Unruh, Roanoke, Indiana. Not Roanoke, Virginia. Roanoke, Indiana. The conversation you and Ryan McGee had about working words and phrases into segments and broadcasts reminded me of a time when I worked in corporate banking. We did something similar during a meeting when we were talking about the credit worthiness of some of our customers. My manager had myself and others on my team work in titles to songs by the Beatles into our presentations. I remember someone asked to work Penny Lane. I think Hard Day's Night and help. No one caught on until my manager's manager asked all of us in another meeting about it. It was fantastic. And from Rich Barajas in South El Paso, Texas. Going forward, any of my emails that are read, I would like to be Rich Barajas from South El Paso, Texas. The opposite of Wilbon. Of course there is no southwest of El Paso. South of El Paso is Juarez, Mexico, which is just east of Minnesota according to Wilbur. Got a new bike tonight, everyone, as always do wherewith?

[Michael Wilbon]

We've got to protect our phony baloney job, gentlemen. We must do something about this. Immediately.

[Alexis King]

Immediately. Immediately.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Haram.

[Alexis King]

Haram.

[Show Announcer]

Har har.

[Michael Wilbon]

I didn't get a harumph out of that guy.

[Joe Linardi]

Give the governor Har har.

[Alexis King]

All of my heroes are dead I guess I should have seen it coming still it's a kick in the head how the sands of time keep running I'm a new generation of heroes mean nothing to me Just to play limitations a digital facsimiles are dead they didn't last too long Anything but saying already been said all of my heroes are gone. All of my heroes grow old. So much for teen rebellion. Time is tickling cold now it's the next millennium and an old generation of heroes have left the stage All a magic and mystique it's just an echo of another age I'm on the outside looking in the today's tomorrow that's all there is there's no going back But I'm true with heroes all of my heroes are dead they didn't last too long Anything what saying's already been said all of my heroes are gone. I'm on the outside looking in I've got your days to my life that's all there is there's no going back. All of my heroes are dead they didn't last too long Everything I say has already been said all of my heroes are gone all of my heroes are dead they didn't last too long Anything but Satan's already been said all of my heroes are gone. I got nothing to say it's just one of those days when the world is standing still I got nothing to do but be here with you and we both got time to kill Watching the clouds roll by in a constable sky with a bottle of sweet wine you and me looking down on the roofs of the town Counting cars as they pass. Just for a while I'm free here in your arms Just this moment with me lying here in your arms Nowhere else I'd rather be than here in your arms My love here in your arms My love here in your arms. We lie together for hours as the late summer showers wash the dirt from the city streets On a hot afternoon in the cool of your room Whip a rose beneath the sheets and we talk for a while and I'll make you smile and we hold each other tight Watching the tracks of the rain on the window pane Far away from the world outside. Just for a while I free here in your arms in just this moment with me lying here in your arms Nowhere else I'd rather be here in your arms oh my love here in your arms My love here in your arms your. Somewhere a phone is ringing I never know what you're thinking the time is slowly ticking away. Now the sun's going down the street lights come on outside People are going home we dress in the dark and you make some remark about not wanting to be alone Then you start to cry and I try to reply but my voice freezes up inside I got nothing to say it's just one of those days Just a glimpse of. Just for a while free here in your arms Just this moment with me Right here in your arms Nowhere else I'd rather be Been here in your arms my love Here in your arms my love here in your arms. And just for a while I'm free here in your arms. And just this moment with me right here in your arms. You're here in arms I'd rather be than here in your arms. For my love here in your arms. My love here in your arms. For my love here in your arms. Just for a while. While I'm free here in your arms.