“Flush the Mouse!!!!”

Summary

Podcast Summary: "The Tony Kornheiser Show" Episode “Flush the Mouse!!!!”

Release Date: January 13, 2025
Host: Tony Kornheiser
Guests: Michael Wilbon, Paul Feinbaum
Production: This Show Stinks Productions, LLC

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Introduction

In the episode titled “Flush the Mouse!!!!” of "The Tony Kornheiser Show," Tony Kornheiser delves into a myriad of topics spanning the NFL wild card games, college football playoffs, personal anecdotes, and heartfelt listener stories. The episode, filled with insightful discussions, humor, and emotional tributes, showcases Tony's signature blend of sports commentary and engaging conversation with his co-hosts and listeners.

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NFL Wild Card Games Recap

Wildcard Game Highlights:
Tony begins the show by recapping the recent NFL wild card games, providing detailed analysis of key plays and standout performances. He discusses how certain games unfolded unexpectedly, emphasizing pivotal moments that determined the outcomes.

• Nick Taylor’s Playoff Performance:
  Tony highlights Nick Taylor’s exceptional performance during the playoffs, particularly his decisive shot landing just three feet from the green in a critical moment.

  “He gets it to three feet. This puts a lot of pressure on Echeveria… he pars the hole. The other guy wins.”
  (05:26)

Coaching Critiques:
The conversation shifts to coaching strategies, with Tony praising Mike Tomlin's coaching prowess while expressing skepticism about his ability to secure a playoff victory. He contrasts Tomlin’s consistent performance with Russell Wilson’s uncertain future in the league.

• Mike Tomlin’s Coaching:

  “He's a great coach. He's going to go to the Hall of Fame. But he can't win a playoff game. Not lately.”
  (08:58)

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College Football Playoffs Analysis

Finals Preview:
The episode transitions to college football, where Tony and guest Paul Feinbaum discuss the unexpected advancement of Notre Dame and Ohio State to the finals. They analyze team performances, coaching decisions, and player dynamics that influenced their journey.

• Notre Dame’s Resilience:
  Tony commends Notre Dame’s remarkable comeback after an early-season loss and their overall team dynamics. He contrasts their defensive strengths with Ohio State's offensive prowess.

  “Notre Dame's journey back has been one of the most remarkable stories I have ever seen.”
  (30:00)

• Ohio State’s Dominance:
  Tony argues for Ohio State's superiority, citing their depth and ability to perform under pressure, despite some close calls in recent games.

  “I think Ohio State is the best team in the country.”
  (30:26)

Coaching Decisions and Player Performances:
The discussion delves into coaching strategies, specifically Brian Kelly's tenure at LSU and his move from Notre Dame. Tony and Paul critique Kelly’s performance and its impact on the team’s success.

• Brian Kelly’s Challenges:

  “If he has another four lost seasons, I think the buyout talk will be…”
  (31:39)

Iconic Helmets in College Football:
Tony muses about the most recognizable helmets in college football, highlighting Notre Dame and Ohio State while inviting opinions on other iconic team symbols.

• Helmet Iconography:

  “The golden helmets of Notre Dame, they are almost iconic.”
  (40:09)

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Listener Interactions and Personal Stories

Jeff Ma’s Tribute to His Father:
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to listener Jeff Ma, who shares a heartfelt remembrance of his father. Tony and Paul, along with other listeners, express their appreciation and support for Jeff’s emotional tribute.

• Heartfelt Messages:

  “It was a great pleasure to have you on. Thank you, Paul.”
  (41:49)
  “I was quite moved by his story, and the lessons he learned from his father is the same that I've learned from mine.”
  (43:00)

Impact of Personal Stories:
Listeners share how Jeff Ma’s story resonates with their own experiences, emphasizing the importance of personal narratives in fostering connection and healing.

• Emotional Resonance:

  “Fostering connection with Jeff relieves the pain.”
  (50:09)

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Sports Insights and Opinions

Tight End Position Evolution:
Tony and his guests discuss the evolving role of tight ends in the NFL, highlighting the increased importance of dynamic playmakers in modern football strategies.

• Dynamic Tight Ends:

  “Tight end position is a gross position in a way that has never quite been a weapon across the board.”
  (19:29)

Coaching Strategies and Team Performance:
Analyzing various coaching decisions, the discussion touches on the balance between offensive and defensive strategies, with a focus on how they affect game outcomes.

• Offensive vs. Defensive Strategies:

  “But this is a new and fascinating part of the game. Everything is going for it.”
  (15:20)

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Music and Band Features

Sour Station’s Spotlight:
The show features segments promoting the indie band Sour Station, including a discussion about their new EP "Sailing to Mars" and their musical journey.

• Band Introduction:

  “Sour Station is a self-described PSI pop band mixing the genres of indie rock and pop with reggae and punk flavors.”
  (28:14)

Audience Engagement:
Tony encourages aspiring musicians to submit their work for potential features, fostering a community atmosphere within the show.

• Music Submission Invitation:

  “Send us your music by emailing it to jinglesonyconisershow.com.”
  (28:47)

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Advertisements and Sponsorships

Home Security Segment:
A dedicated segment promotes Simplisafe, highlighting its features, affordability, and ease of installation. Tony underscores the importance of home security, weaving in a testimonial from Jeremy Brandt.

• Simplisafe Promotion:

  “Simplisafe lets you save time with customizable coverage to fit your needs and budget.”
  (27:04)

Local Business Ads:
Tony acknowledges various sponsors, including Bethesda Bagels and local businesses, integrating their promotions seamlessly into the conversation.

• Bethesda Bagels Advertisement:

  “Bethesda Bagels, we love them. You will as well just go to BethesdaBagels.com.”
  (42:20)

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Closing Remarks and Emotional Reflections

Community and Support:
In his closing remarks, Tony reflects on the importance of community support, especially during natural disasters, urging listeners to contribute to relief efforts.

• Encouraging Support:

  “If you can help in any way, please do.”
  (50:46)

Final Thoughts on Personal Tributes:
Tony reiterates the significance of personal stories like Jeff Ma’s, emphasizing how sharing such narratives can provide solace and strengthen community bonds.

• Final Tribute Reflection:

  “It’s the definition of the American dream.”
  (50:46)

Musical Outro:
The episode concludes with a musical reprise of “Let the River Run,” reinforcing the emotional and communal themes discussed throughout the show.

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Notable Quotes

• “He gets it to three feet. This puts a lot of pressure on Echeveria… he pars the hole. The other guy wins.” – Tony Kornheiser (05:26)

• “He's a great coach. He's going to go to the Hall of Fame. But he can't win a playoff game. Not lately.” – Tony Kornheiser (08:58)

• “Notre Dame's journey back has been one of the most remarkable stories I have ever seen.” – Tony Kornheiser (30:00)

• “Fostering connection with Jeff relieves the pain.” – Listener (50:09)

---

Conclusion

In episode “Flush the Mouse!!!!”, "The Tony Kornheiser Show" offers a comprehensive exploration of recent sports events, in-depth analyses of team performances, and heartfelt listener interactions. Tony Kornheiser, alongside Michael Wilbon and Paul Feinbaum, delivers engaging commentary that resonates with both sports enthusiasts and casual listeners. The episode balances spirited sports debate with meaningful personal stories, underscored by musical interludes and community-focused advertisements, making it a compelling listen for a diverse audience.

Transcript

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hey, it's Tony. On today's show, we'll talk to Michael Wilbon about the wild card games from this weekend. We'll also chat with Paul Feinbaum about the college football playoffs. But first, commerce.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

What's up? I just bought and financed a car through Carvana in minutes. You?

[Michael Wilbon]

The person who agonized four weeks over whether to paint your wall's eggshell or off white bought and financed a car in minutes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They made it easy.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Transparent terms, customizable, down and monthly.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Didn't even have to do any paperwork.

[Michael Wilbon]

Wow.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Mm. Hey, have you checked out that spreadsheet I sent you for our dinner?

[Michael Wilbon]

Options Finance your car with Carvana and experience subject to credit approval. Previously on the Tony Corn Show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

At least she's flow. At least she has a name. This guy is just the Capital One guy. And I started to laugh, you know, and I wrote, I took some notes, like, if you think it's about anything other than money, you're crazy. It's just simply about money. No, the head referee actually said, here's the Capital One guy.

[Jeremy Brandt]

Yeah, I'm reading a right of it right now. The fellow's name is Jeremy Brandt.

[Listener]

B R A N D T. It gets better. He was in one episode of the O.C. season 3.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Is that right?

[Listener]

Yes.

[Michael Wilbon]

The Tony Kornheiser show is on now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

From Rick Belo in Kimberly City, Missouri. Hey, Tony, how you doing? First time Long time. I'm not going to blow him up. Just wanted to give you a bit more info on the Capital One guy. As you mentioned, his name is Jeremy Brandt, and you alluded to the fact that he might be in danger of being typecast as the Capital One guy. What you might not know is that his other job is as a commercial airline pilot for United Airlines based at our Los Angeles hub. I know this because he and I both fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner for United. And those that know him personally say he's a great guy. So if the Capital One guy job doesn't work out, which, parenthetically, he's been doing for nearly 10 years, he's always got his day job flying the friendly skies. Thought you'd like to know. That said, I'd like to be considered for the title of the official United Airlines787 pilot and former Navy S3B Viking pilot of the Tony Kornheiser Show. Absolutely.

[Listener]

I need some advice for some flights.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Listener]

Long weekend's coming up soon.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I have to call you. Also, would you please tell Tim Connor in Springfield, Missouri, to eat it? We're holding on to this one. This is a good one. All right. So I watched, like everybody else. I watched a tremendous amount of television over the weekend. A tremendous amount of football on television, and in my case, a tremendous amount of golf on television. I watched every time. I don't have three TVs, like Wilbur. So every time a football thing went into a lull or halftime, because I don't care about the halftime, I went over to the Sony Open. And Michael. I don't know how much of it you watched.

[Listener]

Very little.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The gagging at the end by J.T. spawn and Stefan Yeager. They choked on 16, 17 and 18. They finished out of the playoff. And two guys in the playoff, Echeveria and Nick Taylor, who weren't even on the board, you know, halfway through the final round, get into a playoff. And Nick Taylor, as he does all the time, wins. Wins the playoff. Nick, they go out to play 18. I'll get off this because everybody wants football. I'm just going to say this for.

[Listener]

A little bit, but it's a cool playoff. Remember what Matsuyama did there?

[Tony Kornheiser]

They go out to play 18, which is a par five that everybody birdies.

[Listener]

The big W in the background.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. The wailea W with the pine trees. Yes. Everybody. Everybody birdies it. And a lot of people eagle it. Everybody gets on and two. Except they don't get on and two when you're Nick Taylor, and you hit a really bad drive into the sand, and then you hit the top or something, you know, and you don't get a real good roll, and you're 60 yards from the pin. The other guy's on in two. He's going to birdie. You have to think in your mind, he's going to birdie. And Nick Taylor, who won the Canadian Open last year by throwing an eagle in on a playoff hole, and he's Canadian, so it's a really big deal. Nick Taylor 60 yards away. Bones is doing the commentary and says, well, it's. It's question where he lands. He probably wants to land at one hop from the green and let it roll onto the green and roll down like, I'm happy to hit the green. He gets it to three feet. He gets it to three feet.

[Listener]

That's good, right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's just unbelievable how good a shot that was. He gets it to three feet. This puts a lot of pressure on Echeverria, who's on the green, but 70ft away, he leaves it seven or eight feet short. He misses the putt, he pars the hole. The other guy wins. So I watched that, and that was, you know, that was fun to watch. And I watched a lot of football. I didn't stay up, admittedly, all the way to the end of the Washington game.

[Listener]

My goodness.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Because it's just too late for me. But the.

[Listener]

You saw the highlights, though.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I've seen everything now. And. And we'll have Wilbon on. When Wilbon's kicker hits the goal post, it goes backwards. It doesn't score. When this guy hits the goal post, it goes left and it goes through.

[Listener]

Howie Kendrick did.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, yeah, he did. He did.

[Listener]

The nervous energy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

7 yards.

[Listener]

The nervous energy around this game, they show. They do it like this long, steady cam, because this is a drive. They get the ball back with 441. If they get one or two first downs. If, like, you have a chance to end the game here. They just keep showing. He's doing the Jordan Spieth. He keeps rubbing his hair like, what are you trying to do? Does your helmet not fit? Just get ready to kick.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And he almost missed it. I. I got that one wrong. I got a few games wrong. I got the Houston game wrong. I had the Chargers beating Houston, and I had Tampa Bay beating Washington because rookie quarterbacks on the road 5 and 17 all time. 5 and 20.

[Listener]

At the end of the first half, Mayfield settling down. Mike Evans started to take over that game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's a Hall of Fame guy. Jaden Daniels, great player. I think I. I may be wrong on this. The owner is in his second year, didn't do anything big his first year. Didn't. Didn't fool around, didn't come in and sweep it out.

[Guest]

Right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You're waiting. Waited a year, hired a gm, hired a coach, hired an offensive coordinator, drafted Jaden Daniels. What's. What did he do wrong? He did nothing wrong. Jaden Daniels. This is the second year in a row this is not a slight to Caleb Williams. This is the second year in a row that the number two overall pick at the same position as the number one overall pick is significantly better. Jaden Dan. And Caleb Williams is good. You can win with Caleb Williams. This is not like last year when Bryce Young was terrible. Yeah. And terrible into the beginning of this year and they had to bench him.

[Jeremy Brandt]

Now he's.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Now he's good. Yeah. But this is not that Caleb Williams credible. Had a good year, Got sacked all the time because her offensive line is terrible. But Jaden Daniels is great. Yeah, he's great. You know, he's. Wow.

[Jeremy Brandt]

So you're saying with this ownership, they didn't fire the head coach with a winning record in the middle of the season?

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, they did not.

[Jeremy Brandt]

Oh, that was the last regime.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That was. Nora Turner was fired with a winning record in the middle of the season. Yeah. Yeah. No, they didn't do that. I would. There was one other thing and I watched, you know, watch the. All the other games. The other games weren't very good.

[Listener]

Houston, they had good halves.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The first half were drum the Chargers by 20. The Ravens drum the Steelers setting up a great game. You know, and you, you know, you cannot help but look at it as Lamar Jackson versus Josh Allen. I know it's not, but that's what you look at it as.

[Listener]

Jackson's to calm down. The MVP champs.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Ravens beat the Steelers by 14. Bills beat the Broncos by 24. And then the Washington game was the only game in which the home team lost, the only upset. Well, the Houston game may have been an upset technically, but you know, Wilbon had that one.

[Jeremy Brandt]

Anything to make of the Steelers losing, like the last five games in this is rumors of Tomlin, you know, might be on the hot seat.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's not on the hot seat. He's a great coach. He's going to go to the hall of Fame. But he can't win a playoff game. Yeah. Not lately. Can't win a playoff game. And I can't see Russell Wilson being there next Year. I mean, you know, it worked okay, but at the end it didn't work at all. Yeah. Yeah. The one other thing I wanted to say was I watched this commercial and I don't even know what it's for. I think it's for this event that Eli and Peyton Manning are in where Eli, fantastic, says he wants to be a kicker.

[Listener]

Never gonna make it as a kicker.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, he wants to be a kicker. And Peyton laugh. They're wearing wigs.

[Listener]

It's the costuming that makes just fantastic.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And Peyton says, no, Eli, you're dest. You can't. You're gonn quarterback like a quarterback like me and your daddy, you know, just. It's just so. I don't know what it's for.

[Listener]

We have the same reaction.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's brilliant.

[Listener]

I think it's for a. It's for one of the betting. One of the betting sites and it's for a. They all do these kick challenges. It's like a Make a field goal and.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And Eli, if presuming that's him actually kicks one. Yeah. You know, I mean, Eli Manning.

[Jeremy Brandt]

Anyone having more fun than those two?

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, it's just. It's. Did you see it?

[Listener]

They lean into the dress so well.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's good.

[Jeremy Brandt]

I'm gonna look it up.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You know, it's just so good. They have taken over sports broadcast.

[Listener]

It's like a continuation of Chad Powers just in a different.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, that was such a great bit.

[Listener]

Dazed and Confused influence.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's really wonderful. It's just wonderful. All right, we will take a break. Michael Wilbon will join us. When we return, we'll talk all about the football games. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

[Michael Wilbon]

This is the Tony Kornheiser show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Michael Wilbon]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

This is a group called Sour Station. Their songs are sent to us by our friend Sam Angel. This is a song called In My Mind and Sam writes I'm sending along a couple of singles from Sour Station featuring my cousin Nate Farrell on bass. Sour Station is a self described PSI pop band mixing the genres of indie rock and pop with reggae and punk flavors. They were formed at a community college just north of Philadelphia in 2022 with front woman Natalie Buchel joining next year. They're joined by Dan Kovitz on lead guitar and Mark McBride on drums. Sour Station primarily performs in the Philly underground scene, occasionally at festivals including an appearance at Cherry Blossom Festival in D.C. in the spring of 2024. Their new EP is called Sailing to Mars. It's out now and this song in my Mind plays in Michael Wilbon. It was a. I don't know really where to start. I think I have to start with Washington. Both of us got this wrong. I said earlier in the show that when your kickers in Chicago, when they hit the upright, they doink it and it doesn't go through. The Washington guy went through. The quarterback looks like he's been a quarterback for 100 years. He does not get rattled. He finds people open. He runs when he has to and he runs well. He really runs well. It's a remarkable turnaround. I didn't think they were going to win that game and neither did you.

[Guest]

Well, I didn't. I didn't have a. It was a pick them. I mean I didn't. I'm going to go with the veteran because rookie quarterbacks coming into that game starting playoff games were 5 and 18. Yeah, so I know. So I wasn't picking them. But I wasn't. I Sat down not knowing who's going to win that game. It's not like the other games where I think there was a clear favorite in the day, the other two games and the other three the previous games that weekend. So, you know, it was an even game. I mean, Tampa's not, you know, 1927 Yankees.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, they're not.

[Guest]

Fear them.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, they're not.

[Guest]

So. But you know, they. I mean, Baker Mayfield, just the anxiety, the angst on his face from the fumble that cost him seven. Yeah, and that's the game. I mean, that's the game. He knows it. And he's had a hell of a year. He's had a hell of a couple of years, but, man, Jade, Jaden Daniels. I mean, wow.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's. He's.

[Guest]

Wow.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He is really, really good. And because he's really good, their coach, Dan Quinn goes for it all the time, Mike. And makes it almost all the time.

[Guest]

Yeah, I'm not sure it's because, I mean, first of all, you don't go for it unless you have a team you think can make it. But Tony, that's the way the game is played now. Everybody does it. Everybody. They're 4th and 1 and 4th and 2. Whether you're doing a tush push or if you have a dynamic runner. I mean, Tampa did it, too. They go for it on fourth down. I mean, Washington could have kick the field goal earlier and they got shut out on that, that particular fourth down play deep in the red zone. So that's what they do. It's with the way the game is played, I would have taken the field goal both times.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Me too.

[Guest]

Not just one of them. That's just me. But that's not the way. I don't know how many coaches are just not bold enough to go for it anymore. And they're influenced by the analytics people that their teams hire and stick in their offices, who may not even be football people, but they hire them. It doesn't govern the game the way baseball does, but it's certainly a new and fascinating part of the game. Everything is going for it. And yes, it makes it easier when you got a kid who can run that way and make the decisions that he makes. He makes great decisions, you know, for rookie, he makes great decisions. For a vet.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes, he does.

[Guest]

And it's his first year.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes, he does. He's amazing. He's really good. And he's pretty soon going to be in the category of Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. And we are excited that they're going to play right that's the game we want.

[Guest]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Listener]

No.

[Guest]

Yeah, that's. That's a. That's a marquee event right there. You want to see those two go up against each other. It's not often you get that kind of matchup. And I'm going to say this. And people have to listen literally to what I say and not just decide they're going to make out of it something they want to make out of it. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady face off a number of times, but they're not these two.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, it's different. Different styles. Different styles.

[Guest]

They don't. They. And yes, they controlled the game, but they didn't like as great as Tom Brady. The goat. Tom Brady never in his 20 years brought me out of my seat. Didn't do that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What?

[Guest]

Tom Brady didn't bring me out of my seat.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What Brady and Manning did was different. They directed offenses and passed. They were passing quarterbacks. They ran when they had to, but they didn't want to run. They were passing quarterbacks. Their artistry was made into art by the guy who caught the ball. These guys do it themselves. It's. It's a virtuoso performance. It's really. You're right. It's different. It's different.

[Guest]

Especially the way Lamar Jackson played yesterday.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Wow.

[Guest]

That's what we wanted to see before. And that's not. It was on Lamar Jackson, but it wasn't just on Lamar Jackson because sometimes the Ravens coaching staff was so hell bent, understandably so, on protecting Lamar Jackson. They didn't take him out of bubble wrap. He took himself out of bubble wrap yesterday. And when he. When he does that, it's breathtaking to watch.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Just. And Josh Allen the same way. Josh Allen is bigger and stronger than these others, but they are wondrous to watch and they are ready at any given point to run the ball. Whereas Manning and Brady. No. They come from a different school. It's a different school. It's a different type of game. The most. The best play I saw all day yesterday. I don't know if you saw it. Dallas Goddard caught a pass.

[Guest]

Yeah. Going down the side that. When he stiff arms a guy twice.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Number 24, the DB for Green Bay. He was posterized. He was post. Right. It's like people came up to him afterwards to console him. I mean, that. That play will. That lives forever. Right. That lives forever me.

[Guest]

That was. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That was. That was tough to handle. If you're that guy, you got to live with that for a while. Oh, that was amazing. And you don't think of Goddard is being that guy. Got it. No, I mean tight end play. Tight end playing the NFL has never been more dynamic. Yes. It doesn't mean that the greatest tight ends of all time are playing right now because you still want to include people who, you know, Ozzie Newsom and Mike Ditka, people who've been retired for 50 years and. But. But as a group, you know, you got this kid out of the kid on the Raiders now who's a rookie this year, Powers who broke Ditka's rookie records.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Guest]

You have every team you have to have now. You have to have a tight end who can put fear in the other team's defense or you didn't do your job drafting.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think you're right about that. Tight end position is a gross position.

[Guest]

In a way that has never quite been a weapon across the board. They're not just blocking for 25 teams now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, no, you're right. We both love Mike Tomlin. We think he's a Hall of Fame coach, can't win a playoff game. What do you make of this? We make of this.

[Guest]

Well, you know, the question yesterday, all issues are local, even if they're not local. But all issues when you're saying the Chicago Bears is who's going to coach the team and the moment, Pittsburgh. Well, when Pittsburgh was apparent Pittsburgh was going to lose, which is earlier in that game, I texted my crew and I just said, okay, suppose Tomlin is available tomorrow.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, you take him. Sure, of course.

[Guest]

Well. Well.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, no, you do.

[Guest]

I don't know.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think.

[Guest]

I don't. I don't know. I. I don't know that anymore. Yes, he's a Hall of Fame coach. Yes. You talk about culture, setting. Yes. There's a lot you look at and think, okay, if I bring in Mike Tomlin with the people I've got now, maybe this is going to work even better than it has in Pittsburgh the last couple or few years, because you have these one and done situations. But Tony, I mean, it raises the floor, but I don't know what it does for the ceiling. And so this is a question about Tomlin now, not just concerning my team, because that's very specific, but concerning the Steelers. And maybe you can't let him go because of every. Because you're seeing everything. But we've had people tell us that in Pittsburgh it's seen differently.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's always different. Local. Sure.

[Guest]

Well, okay. I don't know. But. But you wonder if. Or you Wonder if Tomlin, knowing he could get another gig, walks in and says, look, you guys deserve the right to try to get close that I'm getting you. I'm gonna walk. It's been great.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Wow. I mean, that would be. For me, that would be completely unexpected. I don't see Russell Wilson back there. I see Justin Fields as being given that team, but I wouldn't. I wouldn't see that. You know, who was bad yesterday? Who would have been like, real bad. Jordan Love would have been real bad, except Justin Herbert was worse. I said to you on the air on Friday that Justin Herbert had three interceptions all season.

[Guest]

He had four in a game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Four. He had four the other day. I had that game wrong. You had that one right. You had Houston. I did not.

[Guest]

You know, these are, these are single elimination games. These are not series. You know, I don't. You know, yeah, I picked Houston, but do I think the Houston is that much better than the Chargers? No, not really. But we're talking about a single elimination playoff game at home in Houston's case. So I'm not. It's not. It's not an end of the world result to me. I mean, that's. Houston ought to win that game. I don't care what. I don't care. Who's favored? The Houston. The Houston team came into the season with expectations, with reasonable expectations. Maybe not the expectations I had where I had them going to the conference final. And I don't think that's possible because we know who they got next. They're at Kansas City. Yeah, but, but, you know, yeah, people are going to have bad games. I, you know, you're going to have. Baker Mayfield had a bad moment. It wasn't a bad game, but he had a moment that he. That cost his team the fumble just as much as the quarterbacks cost the Chargers. And who else do we just say.

[Tony Kornheiser]

In packers and the Packers. Do you think Washington can go to Detroit and win that game?

[Guest]

Yeah. Yeah. I'm not going to take them. I'm not going to pick them to win. Yes, I do think they can go win that game in part because Detroit is not the Detroit team we saw in October when they were just, just, just rolling people. They got enough injuries, particularly on defense, where now they're going to get some people back. But, but, like, are those guys going to have time to practice at all Wednesday, Thursday, Friday? Should Detroit be favored playing in that building? Yes. Do I expect the Lions to really be up for this moment, given the history of their franchise and the history of that city. I mean, people think people. Again, all football is local except for people like you and me who've actually been to all these places and seen teams play and have a sense of the franchise and how it operates in that place. And if you think it's a crusade, because the Washington franchise has been down in the mouth for 25 years. If you think it's a crusade here.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Guest]

You have no idea what you're thinking.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Them once since 1957.

[Guest]

So. So in Detroit, if you're 70 years old, you don't remember, Chances are you don't have clear memories of the Lions and Bobby Lane. You don't. You don't. You don't have that. Even if you go back to Lim, Barney and Alti Taylor and Alex Karras, you don't remember the previous 10 years when the Lions could win.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, it's not like remembering Darryl Green. No, we remember Darryl Green.

[Guest]

And it's not like the histories of the franchises. Even when you go, when you take everything into account or the histories of the city. I mean, I grew up next door to Detroit. I know what this means to Detroit and all of Michigan. It's a crusade. It's a civic crusade. When I see people from Detroit in other places, in the airport. I went to the Georgetown game Saturday. When I see them, I look them in the eye and say, hey, man, enjoy this. Because they've never had it. It's like the Cub, I think, though maybe worse. And so, you know, I know where. Anyway, I expect the Lions to play up to that. And if they do, then they should win that game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I agree with that. All right, I'll talk to you later. Thank you. All right, Tom, Michael Wilbon, boys and girls. We'll take a break. We will come back with Paul Feinbaum. We'll talk about college football. I'm Tony Kornheiser. You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show. This is a simply safe read. Nothing is more important than protecting your loved ones from harm. That's why you, along with millions of Americans, should trust Simplisafe with your home security. Enjoy the peace of mind of a secure home every day. They have an exclusive New Year's discount, I guess, just for these listeners on this show. Wow. 50% of your new Simply Safe system when you order. Now, Nigel's been using Simplisafe for a while now, and he's been really happy with them, haven't you?

[Jeremy Brandt]

I have. No, it's a great system. It gives you peace of mind. It's very inexpensive, very easy to deal with and the getting them on the phone is great. And you just feel, you feel safe which is an important thing you feel.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Simply said. Simply. Traditional security systems only take action after someone has already broken in. It's too late. Simplisafe's active guard outdoor protection can help prevent break ins before they happen. AI powered cameras backed by live professional monitoring agents monitor your property and detect suspicious activity. So if someone's lurking around or acting suspiciously, you know what we're talking about here.

[Jeremy Brandt]

Just usually me.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Those agents see and talk to them in real time. Hey hey. And they'll activate spotlights and even contact the police. Spotlights. I'm gonna dance. All before the intruders have a chance to get inside your home. Simplisafe also does not have long term contracts or cancellation fees. And their monitoring plans start affordably at about a dollar a day. They also have 60 day satisfaction guarantee or you get your money back. And Simplisafe has been named best home security system by U.S. news & World Report five years in a row. So start the year with greater peace of mind. Visit simplisafe.comtony to claim 50% off a new system with a professional monitoring plan and your first month free. That's simplisafe.com Tony there's no safe like Simplisafe.

[Michael Wilbon]

You are listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show. The Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Once again, this is a band called Sour Station. Our friend Sam angel tipped us to this band. This is a song called Sailing to Mars. Written by the drummer Mark McBride. The song marked the beginning of a new era for the band when Sour Station began recording in a new studio located in an abandoned petroleum factory.

[Guest]

Wow.

[Tony Kornheiser]

In New Jersey. New studio space allowed the band's creativity experimentation to flourish and provided inspiration for the newly released EP Sailing to Mars. Michael, if people like Sour Station want to send us their original music, how do they do it?

[Listener]

Send us your music by emailing it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

To jinglesonyconisershow.com and the band plays in Paul Feinbaum. Because we are now down to the final two teams in college football. You would never know it on a weekend that features the NFL. Which is okay. It's okay. But college football is the second biggest sport in America. Nothing else is close to football in any way that football is presented. Unless it's the UFL that nobody actually cares. But let's start with this. Notre Dame and Ohio State are in the finals. They are seated according to the committee, wildly, ridiculously 7 and 8 and Notre Dame is ahead of Ohio State. But which team getting there surprised you more or neither surprised you?

[Listener]

Tony? It's Notre Dame. Ohio State started the season as the best team and they managed to screw up along the way, but they ended up the best team. But Notre Dame lost the second game of the season not to a powerhouse, but to Northern Illinois. And all the pundits thought that they may have been out of wiggle room because they didn't really have a lot left on their schedule because Southern Cal, usually the biggest game, was faltering already.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Listener]

Their journey back has been one of the most remarkable stories I have ever seen.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I, you know, I get that. I'll get to them. I just want to amplify something you said six or seven or eight weeks ago. You were on this program and you said you felt before the Michigan game and you said you felt Ohio State was the best team in the country. So if you want to gloat a little bit, you can gloat right now because not everybody was saying that then and you were.

[Listener]

Well, I work at espn, Tony, so it's hard to get in the front of the line when it comes to gloaters. So I appreciate your comments.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm usually at the top of that line, Notre Dame being in the final. This is an off topic question, but it's one that everybody really should ask themselves. How does Brian Kelly feel? Paul.

[Listener]

Feels terrible because he is getting. He is a pinata right now. Now, let me remind the audience, I realize everybody doesn't swim in this stuff like I do, but three years ago he announced he was leaving Notre Dame to go to Baton Rouge where LSU is. And he said, I want to go somewhere where they have the resources and the ability to win a national championship. He has not come close in Baton Rouge, Tony, as you all know, this year he lost four games and won some pop tart like bowl in Texas that nobody watched.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, the frog's leg invitation or something like that. No. And I would say, Paul, that he's not a disaster. He's not a disaster, but LSU can't be thrilled. Would you anticipate at any point them trying to buy him out if he.

[Listener]

Has another terrible year? And to make matters worse, not long after he got to lsu, he was able to convince a young man named Jaden Daniels, you may have heard of him, to come over. And I mean, and Daniels was good. I mean, they were able to beat Alabama, Nick Saban in an overtime game. They got to the SEC championship game where they promptly lost by, I don't know, 30 points to Georgia. But the last two years have been incredibly disappointing. This year he was. He was blown out by Alabama by about 30 points at home. He lost to Southern Cal, which really couldn't beat anyone this year. So I think if he has a. I would say that number. If he, if he, if he has another four lost season, I think the buyout talk will be@Defcon1.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, as William Shakespeare once said, he was hoist on his own petard. I mean, he went out there and he basically said, I can't win a national championship at Notre Dame, but I can at lsu. Well, the guy who replaced you, who'd never been a head coach before in his third year, is in the national championship. But. And there's always a but. Paul, the quarterback runs great, but he doesn't throw. He doesn't seem to have an NFL arm. Riley Leonard, is he the vulnerable point for them or is he just such a good leader that he can get away with it?

[Listener]

He's one of the vulnerable points. And one more thing on Brian Kelly. He. He led Notre Dame to a national championship game in 2012. Notre Dame played Alabama. He promptly lost by 28 points. And as far as Leonard, who came over from Duke. Yes, Duke, Duke to Notre Dame, he's a very serviceable quarterback. He's smart. I'll skip all the YMCA bravado, but he just doesn't have much around him. His top running back, a guy named Jeremiah Love, has a nag. He lost. He lost. One of his best linemen in the Penn State game. They have a very good defense, but they don't have any offense to speak of. And you knew that by the way. I know we'll talk about Ohio State, but they played like a B minus C game the other day and still won by 14.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, they're much more powerful. They have, it seems, better players than Notre Dame. Notre Dame's overall body of work, and I love Notre Dame. I mean, you grow up in New York City, there are no other college football teams around. Everybody roots for Notre Dame, and I've done it my whole life and I really do love Notre Dame, but their overall body of work is not particularly impressive. Even taking away that terrible loss to Northern Illinois, the teams that they have beaten in the playoffs are not particularly good. I mean, Penn State is never going to win with James Franklin. This is not a small sample size, Paul. As you know, 1 in 15 against teams ranked in the top 5 and 0 and 11 most recently as an Underdog. They're not going to win anything.

[Listener]

No, Tony, I spent a good bit of time on your network's morning shows Friday blaming James Franklin and all the experts wanted to blame Drew Allard, the quarterback. Yeah, I mean James Franklin made the decision. I don't care whether that was the third progression or not. And I love when I get talking to, to the, the experts and they start giving me all the different progressions of a quarterback, like I would really know. All I know is that James Franklin blew the game. That's, that's my takeaway and that's the nation's takeaway.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, yeah. I mean he's not, that's not. Penn State is a fine team. They're a real good third or fourth place team and a real good conference, but they are not a threat to win a national championship. When you, when you have these numbers, they don't ever beat anybody as good as them or better than them. Why is that?

[Listener]

Well, I think it's really, I think it comes down to him. He's, he's just one of these guys that. He used to be very patient and he lost all the games because he didn't take chances. Now he's being aggressive. Think about this, Tony. Against Ohio State, which was a home game, and against the game the other day against Notre Dame, both times Penn state had a 10 to nothing lead and they managed to vaporize. And again, to me you can blame a lot of things, but the one, the one constant over his tenure at Penn State is him. All the other guys have come and gone and he has one win over a top five team. And what was, what's the statistics of 16, 17 losses? And that was the most inexplicable because you know, I know this is cliche, but he had the better team and he let it slip away. So he's never going to beat one of those big time teams when he, when he faces them. That's not even possible. Notre Dame was a gift and he let it go.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I mean, I would give this analogy and I love Doug Collins, I love Doug Collins as a person. But Phil Jackson had to come in there and win with that team, with those players, those same players. And sometimes that stuff happens. All things being equal, I assume that you think that Ohio State should win this game.

[Listener]

I do. And I don't think it will be close. And I know the other, you know, being in Dallas for the Cotton Bowl, a lot of things went wrong. I think that was just a slog for them. I mean, Texas is a Very good team. I mean I realize that's not. Shouldn't become as a surprise, but they're elite in many areas and once again, for some reason Ryan Day and Chip Kelly decided they didn't need the best player in the country.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The wide receiver in the game.

[Listener]

Yeah, Jeremiah Smith. And he was a non factor and he just opened. Here I go again sounding like I'm on get up here. He opened up the passing lanes, Tony, for everyone else but I mean they were able to win the game without him. Shows you how good they are and how deep they are.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, I would get to this, you know, and I grant you all of this and I think as you think that Ohio State is the best team in the country, but they were an inch or two away from being tied late in the fourth quarter. I mean, you know. Right. Texas is right there and that's going to be a tie game. And look, you know, we. The scoop and score. That's lovely. That's, you know, a dollop of whipped cream on a Sunday. That's lovely. But it is not relevant to what actually could have happened there. So they were close with Texas. Did that give you any pause?

[Listener]

Yeah, I mean for those who didn't get to the end, think about this. Texas was first, first down on the go on the one yard line and they ended up losing by two touchdowns. The scoop and score. It was that close. And again, I don't, I don't know the statistical odds of an overtime. It is a tie game though. And it shows you that all the pundits were not correct when they were predicting a blow. I just think Texas is an elite team. Notre Dame is not. And I don't think Notre Dame defensively can do what I mean, Texas had the best cornerback in the country on the field. They were able to do things to Jeremiah Smith that Notre Dame can't. Notre Dame is very good. I mean they're, you know, back to Marcus Freeman for a second. Tony, the reason he got the job is that Brian Kelly was trying to. He was Brian Kelly's defensive coordinator and he was trying to hire him. And then. And the players on the team started saying we want.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, they wanted him.

[Listener]

And that. And that usually influences an athletic director who was afraid if he brought in one of the big name coaches, everybody would go and leave and go to lsu. So that was a smart decision by Jack Swarbrick. But back to your question. This looks like such a mismatch. I know the lines. Nine and a half. I don't think, I think what you're going to see here is like, is what we saw in the Tennessee game and obviously in Ohio State, second game against Oregon, when they just come out like Mike Tyson in 1992. I mean, it's over in the first round and I think that's what's going to happen a week from tonight.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I am, I wanted to bring this up to you because I am thrilled that these two schools have two of the most recognizable and revered helmets in all of college football. I would add Michigan to it, certainly. I might add Penn State because they never had anything but a number on the side. I might add ucla. I remember when I was a kid seeing the UCLA helmets, what I like the most. But certainly the Buckeyes on the one side of the helmet and the golden helmets of Notre Dame, they are almost iconic. Who would you put in that category with them?

[Listener]

I mean, I've always probably been a big. The biggest fan of usc. Yeah, it's the whole, it's the whole package. I mean, and part of, part of it is also when you see USC play in the Coliseum, it's usually a sunny 75 degree day, unlike Penn State playing in this. But I think that, I mean, by the way, when you mentioned that you took me back to 1960, I think it was 1965, Gary Beeban winning the.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Highland Trophy over O.J.

[Listener]

Yeah, the reason, the reason I know that I was at that game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Wow.

[Listener]

Tennessee played not, not that game, but the game before Tennessee. Tennessee played UCLA in the last regular season game. And I was in Archie Manning's restaurant a week and a half ago during our show in New Orleans. And Archie Manning told me he was at that game as a high school senior. And I'm like. And I'm telling him the score and he's looking at me like, are you out of your mind? How would you know that? I said, well, I was a kid, my dad took me to the game too. Archie. But anyway, I couldn't help but think of Gary Beeman and I hope he's still alive.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What I heard about Gary Beeman was that he made, and he came up in a conversation last week that Gary Bean at one point made millions, if not more than millions in real estate. That at one point I think he was the head of Caldwell Banker. We are looking this up now. Gary Bibim, am I right on this?

[Jeremy Brandt]

He's still with us.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Still with us.

[Listener]

Good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Still with us.

[Jeremy Brandt]

Real estate company's global corporate services unit.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, yeah. Real estate made a lot of money. Yeah. Global real estate company made A lot of money. Thanks, Paul. It's a great pleasure to have you on. Thank you, Paul.

[Listener]

My pleasure. Thank you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Paul Feinbaum, boys and girls. We will take a break. We will have email and jingle when we return. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

[Paul Feinbaum]

You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show. Here comes Tony's mailbag. Got the email faxes and he knows. Here comes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Best band name in the World, Eric DeLong and the Slappy Boys.

[Jeremy Brandt]

Love those guys.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You want to do the Bethesda bagel ad for us?

[Jeremy Brandt]

Yeah, Bagel sandwiches. Very happy about that. Bethesda Bagels, we love them. You will as well just go to Bethesda Bagels.com forward a location in the DC area nearest you. Then pop one in, my friend. And you will be thrilled.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's going to be it for us today. Before we get to the mailbag, let me just say let the river run. Let all the dreamers wake the nation Come the new Jerusalem Silver cities rise the morning lights the streets that lead them and sirens call them on With a song that is what James Taylor's first wife. Yes. Carly Simon. That's from the movie A Working Girl, which is a great movie, Harrison. It's a great song. I think it won the Academy Award.

[Jeremy Brandt]

I think you may be right on that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let the River Run.

[Jeremy Brandt]

Terrific song.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Great song. Thanks to our guests today. Michael Wilbon, Paul Farndam. Thanks as well to today's sponsors. Remember, you can listen to us on Apple podcasts Spotify and Odyssey. You listen to show through Apple. Please leave us a review. We want to play something for you now. This is Tom Hart. This comes from John in Korea who says, does it count as a David Aldrich moment? If you're watching Tennessee Play by play on ESPN and you hear Tom Hart say flush the mouse during a broadcast, I've attached a video for those watching on News Channel 8. Also since Peter Jennings, not that Peter Jennings seems to no longer be in Japan or Korea. Can I be the official career representative? Yeah. I'll send you updates on things like if the Olympic Stadium visited 1988 is still standing. It is. Play this for us, Nigel. What a rocky start to the season on rocky top and conference play. They had a great win against Arkansas to get things going. Beat them by 24 in a top 25 showdown. And then they flushed the mouse against Florida. That was a total no show.

[Guest]

Whoa, whoa.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They flushed the mouse.

[Jeremy Brandt]

Oh, it makes me so happy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Tom Hart sounds like a play by Playhole. That sound authoritative, didn't born for that role. That sounded great. Thanks. Tim Cree, Fort Collins, Colorado did the Capital One guy who represents banks and banking for the younger generation pull out any singles and make change for the team captains or officials? Now they don't use money.

[Listener]

Probably just offered you a coffee at the time.

[Tony Kornheiser]

From Brian Sunix In St. Petersburg, Florida, is a 2006 high school graduate. I can say with the utmost confidence that Tony is without a doubt on Team Marissa. Why? Because in the season two finale she shoots someone, leaves the gun and takes the canola. Jason Bullitt, Chuck and Roxy number 31, Saratoga County, New York. I'm in the market for Skechers Slip in shoes. I was wondering if you could get Howie Long on the horn and send me a pair of men's size four. I'll hang up and listen.

[Jeremy Brandt]

Get in line.

[Tony Kornheiser]

His guy called me. I gave him an address. I never got anything and he hasn't called me back since. Never got it. Glenn and Allen, Norwegian soft kitten Steve the sycophant's email about the Norwegian themed Hallmark movie is the first we're hearing about the film. We want all Littles to know that Hallmark did not contact us about being part of the project and we are fuming. We have vowed to watch no more than 25 or maybe 30 Hallmark holiday movies during the 2025 holiday season. The gauntlet has been thrown down. Mark lynch in North Cambie, Indiana. My neighbor down the street just got a big screen golf set up in his garage. If you and Michael are interested, I can ask him if we can play. If he says yes, we can even go to Chipotle afterwards. There you go.

[Listener]

Make sure you clean your shoes before you enter.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Safe Motoring is sent to us by Steve Duhamel or Steve Duhamel in West Palm Beach, Florida. The first major milestone of the Golden Glades Interchange project will take place as soon as this Tuesday, January 14th. Tomorrow with the opening of the relocated exit ramp to northbound I95 or State Road 7, U.S. 441 Northwest 7 Avenue. The exit will move a bit south. This will create a new traffic pattern for drivers coming from Palmetto on the turnpike. Stay on the left lane, Continue to use SB I95 southbound. Stick to the 2 right lane to use the exit. Thank you for that. From CR in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. When looking for your sugar fix in Rehoboth, Core Brothers Custard or Candy Kitchen? That's it. That's question. Both are great. Yeah, I find Candy Kitchen easier to get to and easier to buy.

[Listener]

Things can't Customize your fruit slices.

[Jeremy Brandt]

Yeah, fruit slices.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Sticking me to the watermelons. Just awful.

[Listener]

You can't stand the rind.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I don't like that. I don't. Larry Sanders. Not that Larry.

[Jeremy Brandt]

That Larry Sanders.

[Tony Kornheiser]

In this age of hyphenated last names and other multi letter jersey identifiers, Gilgeous Alexander, for example, I've always appreciated the efficiency of Ed Ott, a player who needed only five letters to complete his whole name. Recently, Bo Nix has been added to this list. I'd welcome any further additions to this five letter name list. And we'd much appreciate it if there's any shorter pro athlete names anyone can come up with. That's a new game from Rick Pokorny. I'm writing for two reasons. First, the woman to whom I'm related by marriage. She's 4 foot 11 and I, 6ft 2, recently bought a Subaru. We test drove at least 15 other midsize SUVs, but found that the only vehicle that accommodated both of our sight lines was this car. I'm not sure if I'm writing to apologize, ask for dispensation, or request forgiveness, but I just don't feel good about myself right now. Also, you should know that the Jewel grocery store on Irving Park Road in Wood Dale has progresso soup for $1.88 a can. However, you must buy five cans. Have a good week.

[Listener]

Well, that's five cans will take you to the summer.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, it's two years, five cans. Because one or two in a row and then you forget.

[Jeremy Brandt]

Yep, you do.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Then you forget. Dan from Boston, did I hear you say on last Friday, say that bowl? Last Friday's show that bowl games no longer matter? Excuse me, did you not see the Duke's Mayo Bowl? You gonna tell me that Flava fave inside a Duke's Mayo mascot costume? Tubby jumping a cooler? Dumping a cooler full of Duke's mayonnaise on the winning team's head coach. Does not matter. I beg to differ. These are moments we live for. I saw it. I didn't. It was geeky. It was goopy. Yeah, it made me uncomfortable.

[Listener]

Just ready for the ranch mix.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We have gotten a lot of email about Jeff Ma talking about his dad. Yeah, I'm gonna go through a few of them. I'm not gonna go through all of them. We thank everybody who was moved by that. Yes, Brett Hobbs in Linton, Indiana, thank you for letting Jeff Ma talk about his late father. It's always great to bring out good memories as a way of healing when someone dear to them has gone through painful times. Thanks again for taking the time to make your podcast different from so many others. From Wayne Hickinbottom, Just wanted to say thanks for the Jeff Ma segment on Friday. I appreciate it that you gave some airtime to such a heartfelt tribute. Pavan Brahmadam in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan thank you for having Jeff Ma share his dad's story. As the youngest son of an Indian immigrant, I felt like Jeff was telling the story of my own two parents. I was quite moved by his story, and the lessons he learned from his father is the same that I've learned from mine. Education is the key to a secure life. You should love and sacrifice for your family and make the best of the situation you find yourself in. I was reminded by Jeff's father's story that the most perfect opportunity it was ever opportunity you take advantage of, especially in this time where mass deportation may become policy. I would encourage people to remember that the vast majority of immigrants share a similar story of Jeff and my family, regardless of the document status. Thank you for that. Isn't that nice? It is. My wife and I have been watching TV with subtitles for more than a decade, and we're 30 years younger than you. Yeah, I watch. I can't hear it. They can hear it, though. Landon Fisher in Knightdale, North Carolina, not only allowing but really engaging with Jeff Ma's remembrance of his father is another example of why we listen. You guessed it. Not just sports personalized. But you must. Well, I mean, we know Jeff. Yeah. And he, you know, wanted to talk about it. Sure. From Neil Ayervase in Littleton, Colorado, our lawyer friend. At a time when the topic of immigration generates far more heat than light, Jeff Ma's lovely remembrance of his father served as a wise counterpoint and allowed me to recall similar stories told by and about my grandparents, all of whom immigrated in search of better lives. As a bonus, fostering connection with Jeff relieves the pain. Next time I lose money in his picks and he didn't have a good week again.

[Jeremy Brandt]

Oh, he didn't.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Not having a good week at the moment. He's got one left. Mark lynch, one more time today. What a beautiful and stirring tribute to his dad, Jeff Margavet. So isn't that nice? That's nice. Yeah. Right? It is. That's really nice. Ben Thies, Salt Lake thank you for the Jeff Ma story. Letting him talk is very touching. I enjoyed it. Coming from Jeff himself. The. Yeah. The definition of the American dream. Yeah. See, that's what it is. Yeah, that's, you know, that's why people come to the United States of America. You know, they look at the torch and they go, yeah, that's. I got a chance there. What does it say on the inscription of the Statue of Liberty?

[Jeremy Brandt]

Give us your.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Tired, hungry, you're poor. That's something like that. Steve Hamblin, nice note. Kurt Unruh in Roanoke, Indiana. Nice note about all of this. It's always nice. It's always nice. And Jeff is our friend and he wanted to talk. Look, not everything when. When you lose somebody and you remember them well, you know, it takes away some of the pain of that. Yeah. Not everything takes away pain. There's pain now in California. There's pain. This is. People are dying. Hundreds of thousands of people are going to be displaced by this. Yes. In the second biggest city in America. And. And it's a terrible and sad tragedy. And I know. I mean, if people can contribute any kind of money, they should contribute. If they can't, if. If they can, if it's not a hardship. I have gotten in touch with many people I know in California, and their response is always the same. And it's very heartwarming. If they're. If they're safe or they're not safe, if their houses are gone or their houses are. Are intact, they always say, thanks for calling, thanks for checking, thanks for asking. Because in a way, we all. We don't go through it like they're going through it, but you see it every day on the news. It hasn't abated, right? It hasn't abated yet. We don't know when it will. No, no, it. And it is. It's a natural disaster. So if you can help in any way, please do. That's, I think, why everybody and all the games talks about it talks about helping if you can. If you're out on your bike tied everyone, as always, do wear white Flush the mouse against Florida. That was a total no.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I tell you that I need you When I can't find the words Please you find the words to keep you here how do I wither in denial? Every time feeling deepens Every time feel awaken and in the mountains high and in the valley slow go I know it in my mind See where I go Was a situation with no conclusion Was no longer a situation found my solution and in the mountains high and in the valleys Lord, I know it in my mind See where I go me I won't wither ending not this time. You're in my mind. You're in my mind? You're in my. Are you sure you want to stay? Got a feeling yesterday? As you're fading away? I'm fading away? I got to get away? I'm sailing to Mars? Don't know how I got this far? It's not the way you look at me? It's the way that you dream? I'm flying, so I'm telling Mom? I'm just trying to be what you'll never see? Take my hand down the road and watch me flow? I'm selling Mars? Don't know how I got this far? It's not the way you look at me? It's the way that you dream? I'm falling apart? Don't think I'll be back in town again? Turn my smile to a frown? Just being away from you?