Podcast Summary: The Tony Kornheiser Show — “Closed on the weekend??”
Date: August 18, 2025
Host: Tony Kornheiser
Guests: Michael Wilbon, Steve Sands
Brief Overview
This episode of The Tony Kornheiser Show is quintessential TK: starting with sports (the Nationals' series, MLB playoff races, NFL preseason, BMW Championship in golf), yet filled with personal stories and pointed rants, notably a lengthy segment where Tony details the difficulties of finding veterinary care for his injured dog during a summer weekend in Delaware. Regular guest Michael Wilbon joins throughout, and later NBC’s Steve Sands weighs in on the BMW Championship and the greatness of Scottie Scheffler. The episode is rich with wit, personal experience, sports knowledge, and TK’s trademark exasperation with modern inconveniences.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Washington Nationals, MLB Player Moves, and Roster Reflections
Timestamps: 01:57–04:33
- The Nationals split a series with the Phillies—a better team—at home. Tony and Wilbon agree that's as much as you could hope for.
- “Splitting the series at home. Two. Two. All you could ask.” — TK (02:07)
- Discussion on player movement: Nathaniel Lowe to Boston, Kyle Finnegan to Detroit, Alex Call to the Dodgers. All moving from a last-place team to contenders/champions.
- Wilbon offers an unexpected mea culpa on reliever José A. Ferrer, whom he previously disliked, now seeing his value as a closer.
- Praise for young Nats pitchers (Gore and Cavalli) and concerns over overuse and injuries.
The Vet Rant: A Weekend Emergency Gone Wrong
Timestamps: 04:34–13:18
- Tony delivers an extended, impassioned story about trying to get care for his dog, Chessy, who had a bleeding sore.
- Details frustrations of modern veterinary practices:
- Closed weekends at local vets.
- Being rejected because he is "not an active client" despite prior patronage.
- Refusal to even let him immediately re-register or have a brief console by phone.
- Directed to emergency centers 1+ hour away.
- General lament for the lack of empathy and customer service in both veterinary and (by comparison) general medical care.
- “What do you mean a veterinarian is closed on Saturday and Sunday? … You can only look at them and notice their behavior is strange and want some professional opinion.” — TK (05:56)
- “If you're going to call yourself the Savannah Animal Hospital, you know, I mean, I, I don't know… I wondered, how does this work?” — TK (08:32)
- “It made me sad. Less than angry. It made me sad.” — Wilbon (11:14)
- Wilbon and caller Michael relate the story to similar challenges getting urgent care for children and reflect on the business and moral opportunities for vets in tourist towns.
NFL Preseason: Bears & Caleb Williams Hype
Timestamps: 15:00–22:36
- Michael Wilbon, Bears fan, glows over the performance of new head coach Ben Johnson and rookie QB Caleb Williams in a preseason rout of the Bills (38–0).
- “All of the acquisition of talent around Caleb Williams… we got an embarrassment of riches.” — Wilbon (16:09)
- Emphasizes that while Buffalo didn’t play starters, for Bears fans just seeing competent offense was exciting.
- Discusses high expectations but realistic skepticism:
- Wilbon expects a tough start (1–4 or 2–2), citing a brutal schedule.
- Voices he’s been "seduced" by preseason hype before, but Ben Johnson stands out for his demanding, detail-oriented coaching style; compares his intensity to Bill Walsh and Joe Gibbs.
- Contrasts Johnson with previous coaches he disliked, such as Matt Nagy.
Around the League: NFL and Preseason Observations
Timestamps: 22:36–22:36
- Tony and Wilbon briefly touch on watching other preseason games, particularly the Giants looking unexpectedly competent (“the Giants could be this year’s Commanders”).
- Admits watching “way too much preseason football.”
Golf: BMW Championship, Caves Valley, & Scheffler’s Signature Moment (with Steve Sands)
Timestamps: 22:36–45:07 (with Sands joining at 32:09)
- Tony and Wilbon marvel at Scottie Scheffler’s gutsy chip-in at the BMW Championship (“magical… Tiger-esque”) and discuss his place among golf’s elite.
- “That chip-in felt like a signature moment… something that was otherworldly.” — Steve Sands (33:15)
- “This kid is off to a start in his career that is only comparable to what Tiger did.” — Sands (33:40)
- Conversation on the psychological toll and drama of holding off a dominant player like Scheffler; how lesser opponents (like McIntyre) can fall apart under pressure.
- Sands explains the playoff systems and why the PGA Tour keeps the Tour Championship at 30 players for practical and traditional reasons.
MLB Playoff Races & The Joy of Full Stadiums
Timestamps: 26:27–29:30
- Wilbon reflects on how much better baseball is with full stadiums—calls out cities/stadiums with passionate fanbases, laments the fall-off in St. Louis.
- “It makes the game so much more exciting when the place is full.” — Wilbon (27:12)
Looking Ahead: Labor Day as Sports New Year
Timestamps: 24:56–26:27
- Labor Day viewed as the "bell lap" for the sports world: NFL/college football starting, MLB pennant races peaking, US Open Tennis, English Premier League in swing.
- A period of renewal and anticipation — sports fans’ delight.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On veterinary woes:
“What do you mean a veterinarian is closed on Saturday and Sunday? These are animals. They can't tell you what's wrong with them… I assume you become a veterinarian because you love animals… So what are you doing being closed on Saturday and Sunday?”
— Tony Kornheiser (05:56)
On the Bears’ hype train:
“We’ve got an embarrassment of riches… all of that was on display in that first drive, which is what mattered. The Bears got the ball at their seven or eight, and in about six plays went 92, 93 yards. Zip, zip, zip, zip, zip…”
— Michael Wilbon (16:09)
On sports with packed stadiums:
“It makes the game so much more exciting when the place is full… Not just the people behind home plate in the fancy seats. And it’s full. And it’s tense. And passionate.”
— Wilbon (27:12, 27:29)
On Scheffler’s BMW moment:
“That chip-in felt like a signature moment. It just felt like something that was otherworldly. And the comparisons to Tiger are going to start happening, Tony.”
— Steve Sands (33:15)
Important Segment Timestamps
- 01:57–04:33 — Nationals recap, MLB player moves, Nationals pitcher evaluations
- 04:34–13:18 — Tony’s veterinary saga & Wilbon’s reflection on rural/resort town emergency care
- 15:00–22:36 — Bears preseason win, Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams excitement, NFL schedule worries
- 26:27–29:30 — MLB and the thrill of full stadiums
- 24:56–26:27 — Labor Day as sports "new year," sports fan anticipation
- 32:09–45:07 — Steve Sands joins to discuss the BMW Championship, Scheffler’s dominance, and Tour playoffs
Tone & Style
- The episode is conversational, witty, and full of exasperated but good-natured rants—vintage Tony Kornheiser.
- Michael Wilbon provides passionate fan perspective for the Bears (and beyond), but also practical and critical observations.
- Steve Sands lends polished sportscaster insight, especially on golf.
Conclusion
A classic Tony Kornheiser Show mix: sports news and analysis, very human stories, and grumpy-old-man takes on the small indignities of modern life. The show is both deeply informed and warmly familiar, full of in-jokes for regular listeners but accessible and engaging for newcomers, especially those interested in how personal life and sports fandom intersect.