The Tony Kornheiser Show

Episode: “Bunker trouble…again”

Date: September 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of "The Tony Kornheiser Show" captures Tony's signature blend of insightful sports commentary, humor, and conversational energy. Tony is joined by co-hosts and regular guests Michael Wilbon and Barry Zverluga for a wide-ranging conversation dominated by a dramatic weekend in sports: college football, the NFL, the thrilling Ryder Cup at Bethpage, and Major League Baseball’s playoff race. The hosts highlight on-field action, managerial missteps, the culture around major sporting events, and sprinkle in memorable anecdotes.

Main Themes & Key Discussion Points

1. College Football: Big Games, Big Gaffes

• Penn State vs. Oregon:
  • Debate over Penn State’s ability to win "the big ones" and criticism of coach James Franklin's poor record against top-10 teams.
  • Lighthearted banter on game-day attire at Penn State’s iconic ‘White Out,’ with Nigel donning an all-white suit, drawing Fleetwood Mac comparisons.
• Other Key College Games:
  • Surprising results: Ole Miss beat LSU, Alabama upset Georgia.
  • Disagreements and predictions gone awry: Booger McFarland predicted the Alabama win, which stunned Tony and Wilbon.
  • Discussion of Lane Kiffin’s transformation into a serious SEC coach.

Tony Kornheiser [01:23]: "James Franklin's not your man. He's just not. Not right now."
Michael Wilbon [23:17]: "Lane Kiffin, he's turned into a really good coach."

2. Ryder Cup Drama at Bethpage: Athletic Heroics & Ugly Crowds

• Match Highlights & American Comeback:
  • A weekend that brought dramatic reversals, especially in the singles matches, with clutch putts from Cam Young and Justin Thomas.
  • Americans nearly staged the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history, only to fall short due to key misses and European clutch performances.
• Captain’s Decisions Under Scrutiny:
  • Keegan Bradley’s controversial player pairings and rookie lineup strategy under question.
• Crowd Culture & Nationalism:
  • Extensive reflection on the hostile and vulgar crowd behavior, particularly targeting Rory McIlroy.
  • Both Tony and Barry attribute some responsibility to the PGA for “ginning up” nationalism and not enforcing decorum.
• The Half-Point Rule & Ryder Cup Structure:
  • Disagreement over the rule awarding both teams half a point when a player can't play, potentially impacting the outcome.
• Contrast in Team Chemistry:
  • The singular nature of American golf vs. the collective European team culture; American struggles in team formats highlighted by poor records in paired matches.

Barry Zverluga [06:52]: “That’s one of the great things about the Sunday singles. Big wild swings… at the end it sort of ends where math said it was.”
Tony Kornheiser [14:27]: “How were you out of the bunkers yesterday?”
Tony Kornheiser [39:01]: "I think the PGA has some responsibility in that for ginning this thing up. I do."
Michael Wilbon [43:20]: “There’s a level of decorum I think, you expect in golf, but really, this was a level of decorum that you expect in humanity.”

3. Major League Baseball: Playoff Push & Disappointments

• Nail-Biter Finishes:
  • Cincinnati’s fall, aided by the Marlins knocking the Mets out.
  • The Mets and Tigers both endured epic collapses; Tigers salvaged their season, Mets did not.
• Washington Nationals' Dismal Finale:
  • Nats lost in style to the White Sox; Bob Carpenter honored upon retiring as team announcer.
• Chicago Cubs & Padres Preview:
  • Wilbon conflicted as Cubs face the deeper Padres lineup in the playoffs – Cubs’ rookie ace Cade Horton sidelined with broken ribs, impacting pitching strategy.
• Critique of MLB’s Playoff Scheduling:
  • Long layoffs for division winners seen as detrimental to rhythm in an "everyday sport."
• Team Needs & Disappointments:
  • Nationals' lack of a ‘scary’ bat and lineup woes.
  • Eyeroll at the highest payroll Mets failing to deliver.

Tony Kornheiser [09:27]: “Most expensive team ever. And they’re out. That’s unbelievable.”
Michael Wilbon [29:20]: “That lineup… they’re loaded every day. They got nine dudes in that lineup.”

4. NFL Roundup: Surprises, Slumps & Standouts

• Wild Results:
  • Dallas-Green Bay game deemed entertaining, but its true import is questioned.
  • Baltimore’s troubles continue: Lamar Jackson’s magic has faded, team looks vulnerable after a third loss to a top team and Jackson’s injury.
  • Giants- Chargers result seen as shocking.
  • Standout quarterback play: Dak Prescott praised, Chargers’ and Packers’ credibility called into doubt.
• Brief NHL Mention:
  • Tony quickly dismisses preseason NHL talk—“No, I don’t care.” [14:27]

Michael Wilbon [25:22]: “Dak Prescott’s playing at as good a level as any quarterback in the NFL right now. It doesn’t really matter as much because he doesn’t have a full team.” Tony Kornheiser [27:32]: “Maybe the Chargers and the Packers aren’t quite as good as we thought they were.”

5. Tony’s Golf Game & Anecdotes: "Bunker trouble…again"

• Self-deprecating Humor:
  • Tony laments a disastrous personal round: "I shot at least 110" due to bunker woes, despite pro advice and caddying from "John."
  • Light, relatable moments about aging and diminishing golf ability.

Tony Kornheiser [14:30]: “So much worse. If I kept an accurate score, I shot at least 110… Four shots in two different bunkers. I could not get out.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Crowd Behavior at the Ryder Cup:

  “The crowds were awful all week, just unspeakably awful.” — Barry Zverluga [38:53]
  “Vulgar. It’s awful.” — Tony Kornheiser [39:30]

• On Camaraderie and Singles Success in the Ryder Cup:

  “The Americans roared back once none of them had to play with each other.” — Barry Zverluga [48:32]

• On MLB’s Playoff Layout:

  “Baseball is an everyday sport. I don’t want to sit out for five days.” — Tony Kornheiser [31:28]

• On Sports as Life’s Rhythm:

  “It’s as great a weekend as you can possibly get. Football, baseball and golf—it’s got everything.” — Michael Wilbon [21:21]

Timestamped Highlights

| Timestamp | Segment | Details | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:23 | Penn State’s “Big Game” Woes | Tony questions Franklin’s future; Penn State fans should be “very afraid.” | | 03:00 | College Football Weekend Recap | Alabama stuns Georgia; debate over who saw it coming. | | 03:58 | Ryder Cup Drama | Hope for a U.S. comeback as singles matches heat up. | | 06:52 | Baseball’s Playoff Finish | Mets’ collapse, Marlins’ role discussed. | | 14:27 | Tony’s Golf Game | Humorous recounting of bunker disasters. | | 18:52 | Wilbon’s Multi-Screen Sports Sunday | Why Ryder Cup overtook football viewing for both Tony and Wilbon. | | 22:04 | NFL Surprises | Wilbon gives Booger credit for Alabama/Georgia prediction; new QB standouts discussed. | | 27:32 | Lamar Jackson’s Fading Magic | Ravens’ outlook grim according to hosts. | | 29:20 | MLB Playoff Preview: Cubs vs Padres | Cubs’ pitching setback, Padres’ depth discussed; MLB’s off-days criticized. | | 37:57 | Ryder Cup Atmosphere at 18th Hole (Barry) | “It was awesome... unexpected drama.” | | 43:20 | Blaming the PGA for Fan Decorum | Reflection on how the event was promoted—and what could have been done. | | 45:46 | U.S. Ryder Cup Captaincy Decisions | Keegan Bradley’s “plan” inflexibility questioned. |

Flow & Tone

The episode maintains Tony’s signature blend of dry wit and sharp critique. Banter with Wilbon and Zverluga feels warm but challenging, marked by long-term friendship and mutual respect. The tone is conversational yet full of passionate opinions, especially as the hosts dig into management philosophies and sports culture debates.

Summary

This episode offers a lively, honest, and multifaceted survey of a packed sports weekend. Both sports diehards and casual fans will appreciate the engaging breakdowns, no-nonsense opinions, and the recurring humor—whether lamenting the state of the Washington Nationals or the hazards of a sand trap. The show provides not just analysis, but insight into how sports events and their culture reflect broader themes of leadership, community, and even personal aging.

**For a full experience, listen to:

• [03:58] for the Ryder Cup play-by-play
• [14:30] for Tony’s golf fail confession
• [25:22] for in-depth NFL quarterback debate
• [37:57] for on-the-ground Ryder Cup color**

Quintessential Tony: "Should be afraid. Should be very afraid in the Big Ten." [01:23]