“Get out the antenna”

Summary

The Tony Kornheiser Show: “Get out the antenna”
Released April 21, 2025

Hosts and Guests:

• Tony Kornheiser – Host
• Michael Wilbon – Guest
• Neil Greenberg – Guest

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1. Opening Remarks and Casual Banter (00:00 - 03:17)

Tony Kornheiser kicks off the episode with light-hearted conversation about a cracked table, referencing a previous segment where he contemplated what to do with an unused table. The discussion humorously touches on the idea of turning it into a hat, leading into playful exchanges with his guests, Michael Wilbon and Neil Greenberg.

Notable Quote:

• Tony Kornheiser (03:00): “Maybe that was the charm. Maybe I got it in the thrift shop 30 years ago. I don't remember.”

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2. Rehoboth Beach Centennial and Local History (03:17 - 06:27)

The conversation shifts to Rehoboth Beach celebrating its centennial. Tony and Michael delve into the historical significance of the Rehoboth Beach Country Club's 100th anniversary, discussing the creation of a new logo inspired by a 1920s Conestoga wagon story—the same type of wagon famously associated with the Oregon Trail.

Notable Quotes:

• Tony Kornheiser (04:30): “It looks like a video game. He is planting people.”
• Michael Wilbon (06:16): “Yep, that's exactly what comes to mind.”

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3. Neil Greenberg’s Hiking Experience (06:27 - 08:12)

Neil Greenberg shares a personal anecdote about hiking at Great Falls, where he encounters someone resembling Tim Kirchen. This encounter leads to a pleasant conversation, highlighting Neil's appreciation for unexpected interactions and the beauty of nature.

Notable Quotes:

• Neil Greenberg (06:32): “Saturday was a beautiful day. Not a lot of sunshine, but very warm. It's a great day to be out there.”
• Tony Kornheiser (07:35): “Oh yeah, yeah. Golf course, unbelievable amount of naps.”

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4. Analysis of the Washington Nationals’ Bullpen (08:12 - 16:42)

Tony delves into baseball, specifically criticizing the Nationals' bullpen performance. He discusses the inconsistent performances of players like Sims, Pooch, and Jose Ferrer, while praising Kyle Finnegan's role as the sole reliable closer. Tony expresses frustration over Finnegan's proximity to becoming the Nationals' all-time save leader and the team's overall defensive struggles.

Notable Quotes:

• Tony Kornheiser (08:02): “The only major league bullpen guy on the Nats is Kyle Finnegan.”
• Tony Kornheiser (09:27): “He gets the save. He saved every game they've won.”

Michael and Neil concur, analyzing the Nationals' strategic decisions and Finnegan's critical role.

Notable Quotes:

• Neil Greenberg (10:16): “Nathaniel Lowe's the best pickup they have made in the last five years.”

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5. Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas in Golf (16:42 - 19:57)

The discussion shifts to golf, celebrating Rory McIlroy's recent success at the Masters and Justin Thomas's victory at the Hilton Head Tournament. Tony and Michael express their admiration for both golfers, highlighting Rory's potential to break age-related records and Justin's perseverance through sponsorship losses and caddy changes.

Notable Quotes:

• Tony Kornheiser (12:47): “Everybody who doesn't think Rory's gonna win more Masters and more majors.”
• Tony Kornheiser (13:13): “Justin Thomas, he's one. Two majors, two PGA.”

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6. Listener Emails and Musical Submissions (36:50 - 51:31)

Listeners submit letters and musical pieces, with Tony reading submissions from fans like Brandon (Igono), who shares his upcoming performance at Miamisburg Springfest. The hosts engage with humorous and heartfelt listener messages, integrating fan interactions seamlessly into the show.

Notable Quotes:

• Brandon/Igono (36:50): “I'm a singer, songwriter, musician, located in Dayton, Ohio.”
• Neil Greenberg (52:29): “Bagel sandwiches today, even with a slightly ripped bag, we love the bagel sandwiches.”

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7. Betting Analysis: NBA, NHL, and Kentucky Derby (37:15 - 51:28)

NBA Playoffs: Tony and Michael analyze the first round of the NBA playoffs, discussing surprising outcomes like the Lakers' loss to the Timberwolves and Golden State's unexpected performance against Houston. They debate the structure of playoff series, suggesting a two-out-of-three format to increase competitiveness.

Notable Quotes:

• Tony Kornheiser (25:18): “This is why, if I ran the NBA, the first series would be two out of three.”
• Michael Wilbon (26:37): “He is now second all time. He passed through store and he's behind Chad Cordero at the moment.”

NHL Playoffs: Neil Greenberg provides insights into the NHL playoffs, focusing on the Washington Capitals' chances amidst concerns over goaltending and puck luck. He also highlights betting trends, advising bettors to consider underdogs like the Golden Knights and Maple Leafs for potentially better returns.

Notable Quotes:

• Neil Greenberg (39:22): “Puck luck... games where goal scoring is estimated to be as high as 70% luck, 30% skill.”
• Tony Kornheiser (40:53): “The latest mock draft has you guys taking Cooper Flag.”

Kentucky Derby: As the Kentucky Derby approaches, Neil identifies strong contenders like Rodriguez and Sandman, emphasizing the significance of breeding and track conditions (e.g., sloppy tracks) on betting outcomes.

Notable Quotes:

• Neil Greenberg (46:06): “Rodriguez is impeccably bred to win the Kentucky Derby.”
• Tony Kornheiser (46:06): “If there's rain or if it's a sloppy track, I think Sandman would be very, very lucrative on a sloppy track.”

Betting Partnerships with Sports Leagues: Tony raises concerns about the integrity of betting partnerships between major sports leagues and betting organizations. He speculates on potential tanking behaviors, particularly referencing the Wizards, and questions whether teams are intentionally losing to influence betting markets.

Notable Quotes:

• Tony Kornheiser (47:40): “I believe they should have been investigated in the last month of the season.”
• Neil Greenberg (48:26): “The NBA needs to have the current system that they have for the number one pick... is obviously not a big enough deterrent.”

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8. Final Thoughts and Closing (51:28 - End)

Tony wraps up the episode with reflections on listener submissions and humorous anecdotes, maintaining his signature blend of humor and sports commentary. He addresses various listener emails with wit, reinforcing the community aspect of the show.

Notable Quotes:

• Tony Kornheiser (53:09): “Thank God every day for being the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”
• Tony Kornheiser (54:55): “You and I could sit and guess and say, oh, wasn't that an ABC show?”

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Conclusion

In “Get out the antenna,” Tony Kornheiser masterfully balances sports analysis with engaging conversations and listener interactions. From deep dives into the Nationals’ bullpen woes and the nuances of playoff betting to celebrating golf luminaries and addressing listener stories, the episode exemplifies Tony’s ability to blend humor, insight, and a personal touch. Notable discussions on the integrity of betting in sports and strategic analysis of various leagues provide listeners with both entertainment and thoughtful commentary.

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Notable Quotes Summary:

• Tony Kornheiser (03:00): “Maybe that was the charm. Maybe I got it in the thrift shop 30 years ago. I don't remember.”
• Tony Kornheiser (08:02): “The only major league bullpen guy on the Nats is Kyle Finnegan.”
• Neil Greenberg (10:16): “Nathaniel Lowe's the best pickup they have made in the last five years.”
• Tony Kornheiser (25:18): “This is why, if I ran the NBA, the first series would be two out of three.”
• Neil Greenberg (46:06): “Rodriguez is impeccably bred to win the Kentucky Derby.”
• Tony Kornheiser (47:40): “I believe they should have been investigated in the last month of the season.”

---

This thorough summary captures the essence of the episode, highlighting key discussions, insights, and the engaging dynamic between Tony and his guests. Whether you're a regular listener or new to the show, this overview provides a comprehensive glimpse into the topics covered in “Get out the antenna.”

Transcript

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hey, it's Tony. On today's show, we'll talk with Michael Wilbon about the start of the NBA playoffs. We've got some betting angles on the NBA, NHL and the Kentucky Derby from Neil Greenberg. But first, commerce. Let's shift to another topic that's always on my mind, the future of golf. Today's most impactful players aren't just on the pro circuit. They're everywhere. For starters, there's one, a 14 year old, one armed golfing prodigy Tommy Morrissey since the age of three. Yes, three. This kid could drive it down the fairway like a legendary. Then there's pro golfer Gabby Barker, who's inspiring more girls to get in the game. And Renee Fluker is giving kids in our community life lessons through golf lessons. Her midnight golf program has helped thousands of kids build brighter futures. Right now, we're seeing the game grow in ways some never thought possible. I, on the other hand, always knew that golf had limitless potential to bring people together. Bank of America supports everyone determined to find out what's possible in golf and in life. Meet more game changing [e-mail] MastersGolf what would you like the power to do? Bank of America NA Member FDIC Copyright 2025 bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

[Unknown]

You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Unknown]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

I think so. Which is what I usually do. Or throw the blankets off. It's designed with athletes in mind. It helps you fall asleep faster and wake up recovered. Like having a personal recovery coach for your sleep. And it works with your existing mattress. Visit www.sleep.metony to get your Chilipad and save up to $315 with the code Tony. This offer is available exclusively for listeners to this high quality program and only for a limited time. Order it today with free shipping and try it out for 30 days. You can return it for free if you don't like it. With their sleep trial, visit www.sleep that's s l e e p.me Tony and see why cold sleep is your ultimate ally in performance and recovery. Previously on the Tony Kornheiser Show. I'm not upset about any of the other things. Although there was a table that I thought was nice, but nobody had any use for it, so not even me. You know, what was I gonna do? Walk home, put it on my head? Who's what?

[Unknown]

Cracked table.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, it was cracked.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, maybe that was the charm. Maybe I got it in the thrift shop 30 years ago. I don't remember. The Tony Kornheiser show is on now. Thank you to Shad for this particular haiku. A fine line between maybe that was its charm and hoarding broken crap. That's I don't know.

[Unknown]

Or the latter.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I don't know. The house. I'll go look at the house this week and we'll see what kind of job Michael and Liz did at clearing it out.

[Unknown]

And cue up the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I mean, I'd like to. It's too bad I don't have those cushions that were the favorite thing I ever got in my life. Those cushions. Surprised I'm some of them.

[Unknown]

We made it up for you, though. We brought you a gift.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Gave me a gift.

[Neil Greenberg]

What was the gift?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Glassware. Oh, glassware. The new glassware.

[Unknown]

Thank you to George for the help.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

From Silent George, reaction as expected.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Rehoboth beach is a very long story. I don't want to go into it, so why don't I just go into it? Robot beach is celebrating its centennial. It was founded in 1925, and in order to properly commemorate its centennial, a committee was formed to come up with centennial. A centennial identification. Maybe a logo, maybe something else. But I said, right? Centennial identification.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yes.

[Unknown]

And in all, to appreciate many communities, the alt mark has really risen in popularity in the last couple years.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right. So everybody has the thing that is the thing that is Rehoboth beach is an eagle. And this is a secondary thing. And Michael says that the all means alternative. The alternative shirts or hats or whatever. Okay? So they. As time goes on this particular committee, and I don't think I know anyone on the committee. If you're on the committee, stop listening now. Stop listening now. I don't think I know anyone on the committee, but they came up with a series of hints as to what the new logo, not what the new Logo would be. But what the emphasis would be on the 100th year anniversary of Rehoboth Beach Country Club. A worthy goal. And in the reveal, they talked about at some point in the 1920s or 1930s, right, Michael? Yes. There was a meeting, a necessary meeting of the stewards of Rehoboth Beach Country Club. And the weather was bad, maybe, or something went on that they. They had to send transportation out for everybody to bring them in.

[Unknown]

Yeah, I think there was no ability to get people to the club. I think there was a gas shortage.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Maybe, or something had happened. This is again in the 1920s or 1930s. And so they went out and they hauled the people in with a Conestoga wagon. Everybody knows what a Conestoga wagon is. Everybody usually associates a Conestoga wagon with the taming of the west, the exploration going across the Mississippi river, going into the west, the Oregon Trail, for example. Right. You think in your mind a Conestoga wagon would be used on the Oregon Trail as people, you know, everybody sort of looks like Michael Landon and they get in the wagon and they go out west and they conquer the West. That right? Yes. That's a Conestoga wagon.

[Neil Greenberg]

Yep, that's exactly what comes to mind.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And that's what we got. We got Conestoga wagons now. And so Michael got me glassware with beautiful representations of the Conestoga wagon.

[Neil Greenberg]

That's fantastic.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Speaking of trails, you have a story?

[Neil Greenberg]

I do.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You have a story.

[Neil Greenberg]

I.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And then I'll get to the Nats bullpen, which everybody wants to hear me talk about. Yes.

[Neil Greenberg]

So I like to go hiking out at Great Falls. I do it religiously, you know, several times a week if I can. And, you know, Saturday was a beautiful day. Not a lot of sunshine, but very warm. It's a great day to be out there.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And I'm parking better without a lot of sunshine.

[Neil Greenberg]

Yeah, much better. Much better. Yeah. It was a lovely day to be out there.

[Unknown]

And so I park in a lot.

[Neil Greenberg]

And I look over, you know, my shoulder and there's a nice family there. And I say, well, that bloke looks an awful like Tim Kirkshen. But it couldn't be because it's Saturday. I'm sure he's at a game right now. It's his doppelganger. So, you know, I said, well, that's just odd. You know, I'll make a note of it. And then I was. We our paths cross again with right where the trail begins. And I said, that's got to be Tim. It Looks exactly. I've got to get near him to hear him actually speak. And he said something. I said, well, that's Tim Kirchen.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Neil Greenberg]

And I turned, I turned around and said, tim. And he didn't recognize me. Said, you know, sunglasses and hat on. And when I took them off, Nigel. And so he was there with his wife, his daughter, son in law and two grandkids and.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Lovely.

[Neil Greenberg]

Yeah, we just had a lovely chat. Gave him some bug spray because it was very buggy out.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh yeah, yeah. Golf course, unbelievable amount of naps.

[Neil Greenberg]

Oh, it was terrible.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Unbelievable.

[Neil Greenberg]

But it was just lovely to chat with him. He is a big walker now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, that's great.

[Neil Greenberg]

Yeah, he's.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He was telling me he was good athlet athletes kid.

[Neil Greenberg]

Yes, yes. And he's. He said, I don't want to. Well, I won't tell tales out of school, but he is now a big walker. Has talked to like Craig Bijio, like former players who were like, oh, I never run, I only walk now. So he's a big proponent of it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It was lovely. Nice. Lovely. Yes, nice.

[Neil Greenberg]

No avocados.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, you know, is there an avocado stand on the trail?

[Unknown]

Any binoculars? Did birds out yesterday?

[Neil Greenberg]

There were. There were some good birds, yes. There's always a few out there.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let me get to the Nats bullpen. You know that I think that Sims and Pooch and Jose Ferrer are not major league players and they should be dfa. Just get them out of here. The only major league bullpen guy on the Nats is Kyle Finnegan. Kyle Finnegan was an All Star last year, but the Nats didn't want him back and they gave him the ability to sign with anybody else. And he couldn't find anybody who wanted him because his statistics after the All Star game were bad. They were bad for a guy you're going to pay a lot of money to as a closer. So he's the Nats closer again. And I watched him yesterday in the early game. First of all, I have to say this and Chuck Todd and Chris Cillizza will know this. I thought, I knew it was a doubleheader yesterday, so I thought it was a day night doubleheader. And I thought they could start as early as 10 o'clock in the morning in Colorado. So I come home, I played golf, I come home, had a Lovely time around 2 and the Nats game is on. It's in the 9th and it's like 12:10 in the 9th and I realize, okay, wow, they're doing it again. They Got a game like this again, a high scoring game again. And Finnegan is in and he, you know, he walks the first guy. Of course he walks the first guy.

[Unknown]

Probably a pass ball situation.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So he gets to third and they're up by two. He gives up a triple. Now they're up by one.

[Unknown]

There's so many triples at that ballpark.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He gives up a triple, they're up by one. And he finally closes it out. And I, you know, I write to Chuck and to Chris. He drives you crazy. And then I realize, wait, that's. That's last night's game.

[Neil Greenberg]

What's the replay?

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's the replay of the other game. And I write, what a stupid person I am. I'm so stupid. So anyway, but I get another chance at Finnegan in the day game yesterday. I didn't stay up for the night. Kevin get another chance at Finnegan. Finnegan walks the first guy. Of course he walks the first guy gets a strikeout on a gift call. A gift call on a 3, 2 pitch or he's going to.

[Unknown]

Could have used those in the evening game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Throws a wild pitch and the tying run ends up on third.

[Neil Greenberg]

Of course it does.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And it does. And he gets the out. He gets the out. A ground ball to first. Nathaniel Lowe's the best pickup they have made in the last five years. He's the best guy they ever had in the last five years. Pitcher or hitter, he's it. And he throws and Finnegan covers. And it's just like we go back and forth. It's never 1, 2, 3. He gets the saves. He saved every game they've won. He's saved.

[Unknown]

He's quickly approaching Nats all time save leader.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He, he's now second all time. He passed through store and he's behind Chad Cordero at the moment and. But it rips your guts out. Then they lose the second game. I didn't stay up for that. Colorado's the worst team in baseball. The Nats are close. There was a statistic yesterday that Colorado's bullpen has the worst ERA in baseball. The only bullpen with a worse ERA than the Nats. And that's what Carpenter and Franson were saying yesterday. So, I mean, it was just no.

[Unknown]

Reference to the, to the first game of the series where there was a little bit of a reaction by one Dylan Cruz.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No. So your theory is that TK Salute game to you? Yeah. You, you're Dylan Cruz, who had no RBI in 57 at bats, had a couple of home runs, couple home runs. In Colorado. And everybody hits him out in Colorado. But so what? He hit him out.

[Neil Greenberg]

Yeah, it's good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He hit him out and he's up.

[Unknown]

To 180, 187 now I believe he's.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Ahead of Josh Bell, isn't he? Yeah, yeah, he's out of Josh Bell. So my criticism was, what's going on here? Josh Bell's a wonderful guy. Can no longer hit major league pitching. Dylan Cruz, overall number two pick, maybe they rushed him up. Maybe he needs a little bit more season.

[Unknown]

So, anyway, there's a lesson about patience by someone in the booth, which I also think was directed at you, but I will check in with one Dan Kolko when I. When I go to the game on Thursday.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So Franson maybe took a shot at me. Oh, that's fair. It's fair. I say it's totally fair.

[Unknown]

Not you directly, just the sentiment.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, you express. So. But I. Because I want Dylan Cruz to be great. I want Dylan Cruz and James Wood to be great. Yeah. You know, I want that to happen. So anyway, that's my Nat stuff. And then just. It was all right. I wanted to mention one other thing in the world of sports that we're not going to get to in any other way, just as I was extraordinarily happy last week for Rory McIlroy to get off the Schneid at the Masters. And. And there's nobody you talk to in golf, really? Honestly, nobody. And I don't mean like pros. I mean like guys you play golf with. There's nobody who doesn't think Rory's gonna win more Masters and more majors. That this is the freeing up of Rory. Matt. Right.

[Unknown]

Everybody thinks, oh, totally. I think now he's on pace where he could break Phil's record for oldest male winner of a major. I mean, this is 20 years down.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The line, but so he's. Yeah. Everybody is attracted to the notion that this is a great thing for Rory McElroy, just as I was buoyed by that last week. I am similarly uplifted by Justin Thomas winning yesterday, who seems like a very nice guy. Justin Thomas, he's one. Two majors, two PGA.

[Unknown]

Quick, PGA's.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The least of the majors is the PGA. Nobody would argue that. But he's got two. And he seems nice and he's competitive, and he's gone through caddy changes, a number of caddy changes. And he went through an unfortunate thing where he lost some sponsorship. He's remained very loyal to the PGA Tour, and his friends have remained Very loyal to him. His dad was a golf pro. His dad is a friend of Bob Dolan's. Golf pro at Columbia, Longtime golf pro at Columbia. His grandfather was a golf pro. He came up through the ranks. It's the family business. And he got caught yesterday. He Got caught on 17 by Andrew Novak, who was the sort of sentimental homeboy there, because he is from Charleston, South Carolina. The tournament, which is a lovely tournament every year after the Masters, is the Hilton Head Tournament. And it looked like a playoff for sure. And it ended up as a playoff. And if I'm not mistaken, and correct me if I'm wrong, Michael, Justin Thomas lost the last playoff he was in just a couple of weeks ago.

[Unknown]

Sure, I'll trust you. You watch every week.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I think so. Could we look that up? I thought he lost a playoff, but maybe not. In any case, he hadn't won in three years. Hadn't won in three years.

[Unknown]

20, 22. Right around when he won the PGA.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Which is sort of a long time for a good pro. It's like what Ricky Fowler goes through, and you go, wow.

[Unknown]

It's what you've seen with Spieth. And you put all players together. I mean, this is what ages someone like me. I think of these guys as college players coming out and getting their first wins and winning early, winning often. And there's an attitude that Justin Thomas plays with, and he lost some of that with his actual finishes on the golf course. And there's something about the way he went into that playoff. He could have made the putt on 18 that would have. You know, you see that with Andrew as well, but you look at how he teed off. He actually gets to hit first, which I think put all the pressure on the other guy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's 30, 20, 30 yards behind Novak.

[Unknown]

Yeah, they both had great drives, but he hits it first. He puts it to about what looked like 12 or 15ft. Andrew just.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I would have said 18ft or something like that.

[Unknown]

The other guy barely gets over the hazard. No real chance to make the putt. But rather than waiting for him to, you know, to see if he makes the three or four footer, he goes in and just makes that left edge putt. Ends it right there. DFC.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Yeah. So 20, about 18ft or something like that, and he wins first playoff.

[Unknown]

I feel like that tournament goes to a playoff often.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It does. I think they said three years in a row. Three years in a row. So I was very happy, very confident with that.

[Unknown]

The baby hold he had.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, he had his he had a daughter with him, a wife and a daughter and a dad. And it was really quite nice. Was really quite nice. So good for him. And Andrew Novak will win because he's been contending for the last five or six.

[Unknown]

Yeah, he had a really good look to win in regulation.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He didn't come near that putt. No. He had an 8 foot on 18. An 8 foot putt to win on 18. And he was 6 inches left. Right. It was not on the hole. So what are you looking up?

[Neil Greenberg]

I was trying to look up when Justin Thomas.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, maybe I'm wrong.

[Neil Greenberg]

Was it Val Spar? Did he, did he. I'm trying to.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Valspar. Hasn't happened yet. Hasn't.

[Unknown]

No, that did, that was a couple weeks ago.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Did he lose that?

[Neil Greenberg]

He came in second. I can't tell if he.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, then maybe he was in a playoff. Who won a playoff?

[Neil Greenberg]

Victor Hovland won that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think it was a playoff, but I could be wrong again.

[Unknown]

I'll defer to you on this one.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't know. I don't know. I, I, you know, I am not burdened by memory. I'm not burdened by memory. All right, so that's the beginning of the show. We're gonna have Michael Wilbert on, we're gonna have Neil Greenberg on to talk about betting trends in betting as the playoffs now begin and Wuban will follow us when we return. I'm Tony Kornheiser. Mom.

[Unknown]

I need to lay low for a few days.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Lay low. What's going on? I only paid for this. Hyundai Tucson.

[Unknown]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser show. Here's the letter that comes with this. My good friend Jordan told me to email you to submit songs. My name is Brandon, but I go by my artist's pseudonym, Igono. I'm a singer, songwriter, musician, located in Dayton, Ohio. Currently putting together a show at Miamisburg Springfest. That's Miami of Ohio, I guess, where I'll be performing these songs for the first time, among other originals and covers with Elle and Murrell. That show is free. It's May 18th at 1 to 3pm at the Riverfront Park Amphitheater in Miamisburg, Ohio. It's very nice. He submitted two songs. This song by Agono is called Free for you. You get another one later. It plays in Michael Wilbon, who sent me a note overnight. We're going to get to the playoffs. Send me a note overnight about the ratings, About NBA ratings, NFL ratings, NHL ratings, NBA ratings were down about 2%. Not bad. NFL ratings down about 2%. NHL ratings down about 13%. That is bad. And one of the things that was evident in this was that the ratings are down on ESPN and Turner. They're down 8 or 9 or 10%. But because ESPN, for example, broadcasts a lot of games on ABC, ratings are up because that's still free, Mike. I mean, I know you believe in streaming and believe in cable and cord cutting ads to this and people stream and they don't get cable, but every television set in the world gets abc, cbs, Fox and NBC. They get them for free. So strategically, NBC will do this next year with the, with the NBA, abc. ESPN is doing it this year with the NBA. Strategically, you put these things over, over the air networks and they still draw bigger numbers than everything else. Right? They draw big numbers.

[Michael Wilbon]

No, no.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Michael Wilbon]

No, not. That's not the reason. That's the bottom line. You're stating accurately. Nobody gets anything for free. I sound like hollows. You don't get it for free. Nobody gets over the air TV like it's 1957.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You don't. And Ricky, like, if you, if you plug in the set, don't you get that?

[Michael Wilbon]

Nothing. No. And no one plugs in a set.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No.

[Michael Wilbon]

No.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What do they do?

[Michael Wilbon]

You get something that brings the programming into your home. Now, people still. There's. There's enough older people still alive that they can bump up that number. It's not a tremendous bump.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It was about an 8% bump, they say.

[Michael Wilbon]

So that represents people over 70 who know what a network is. And maybe their TVs are slightly. Is that prehistoric? Wait, plug a TV in.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So if I buy a TV, let's stop. Hold on. If I buy a TV, which everyone has to do, you have to buy the set.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And I plugged the set in. Are you telling me I don't get abc, NBC and cbs?

[Michael Wilbon]

You don't get anything. What would it look like? It looks like 1950s. No, really, what would you. What would. What would bring the reception into your. It's like saying if you get a cell phone but you don't have service, you have to buy service.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I didn't know that on tv. I understand that on a cell phone.

[Michael Wilbon]

Unless you're one of the people who make any difference. The same technology. Now, what would. What would bring it into your home? You got to have cable or satellite or street. Something.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, there. It's a lot of people. Wait, there's a lot of people who have TVs who don't have cable or satellite or something.

[Michael Wilbon]

No, no, the. Something stick. What is that thing?

[Tony Kornheiser]

An antenna. The fire stick.

[Michael Wilbon]

No, no, no one has it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You go up on the roof, you move the antenna, you bring in television.

[Michael Wilbon]

I'm sorry, did you bump your head and wake up in 1966?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I just sort of thought this is. This doesn't exist.

[Michael Wilbon]

No, no. You can still get. You can like. I have no idea. I do have an idea because I'm old enough to know where it comes on. No1under40 knows what it comes on. They don't. You and I can sit and guess and say, oh, wasn't that an ABC show?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, yeah, the free show.

[Michael Wilbon]

We. You and I could.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

No, no, no, it is. It is. If you. If you were to. Let's just say, if you were to have a TV just 30 years old, you plugged it in.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

And it just came in your home.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

Then what percentage of people have that? People over 94 years old.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No. Okay. All right. First round of the NBA playoffs have started. Everybody has played one game. What is the most surprising result to you? Single most.

[Michael Wilbon]

Tony. I think it's gotta be the nature of a couple of things, not the result. Right. Like. Well, that the Lakers lost to the Timberwolves. But the result of that game is not surprising necessarily. I still would think the Lakers can win that series. I don't like. That's a series that. When it started and you said, okay, what series do you just go. It's a pickup. And you can't. You. You just can't come. Arrive at a decision. I would have told you that series is one of them. Maybe Denver and the Clippers, too. But that, that and that bore out because it was overtime in a two point game. But the 51 point game you and I talked about. Yes, the result. Not the result. Not that Oklahoma City one at home, but 51 points. What are we talking about?

[Tony Kornheiser]

It was up to 54 at one point in the game. I think, I mean you just say this is. What is. How is this possible that Memphis could be this terrible?

[Michael Wilbon]

Well, it could be possible in that they were just drained after two from beating Dallas.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, well, not losing to Golden State.

[Michael Wilbon]

Right. Losing the Golden State and then going home to Memphis and beating Dallas and then going back on the road. Nothing. It's a long trip. But to Oklahoma City. So that the nature of that was insane. It just. You and I talked about it. Everybody, people looking at the score going what?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, it's not possible.

[Michael Wilbon]

And so I didn't even. I wasn't going to consume that game. I wasn't. The games I wasn't. The games I wasn't going to watch were that Boston. I thought I better watch them in Cleveland and it was worth watching. Not, not that they were. Not that it was so close that they were about to get beat. But it was, you know, Miami. Miami's not some outfit they professional basketball squad and they know what they're doing and they can still win a couple of games in that series even if you have Cleveland beating them and most of us do. So that. That was it. But the. But look the Lakers in a situation now where tomorrow night. Tomorrow night have to win. I don't want to say it's. It is Tony, you know we'll start at the Lakers in a must win situation already. Yeah, it sounds like you think they are and I think. I think it's close. I would tell you down oh 2.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But I would tell you that, that if this was the question on PTI today, if it was what is surprising result and it was a game I did not watch at all. It was the late game last night. The fact that Golden State went on the road and they beat Houston and they showed a young team. Really, you think you can beat us? Get out of here. That was the most surprising and I also think significant result of the first games, which is to say I would.

[Michael Wilbon]

Say it's the most significant.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's what I would.

[Michael Wilbon]

That's what I. Yeah, I agree with you on significant and Tony, that was the tone of it because Houston came out. They're like trapeze artists. Golden State looks so old. You talk about prehistoric. Golden State looks like they have five guys at least on the floor, who do have TV from the 1960s. I mean, it's funny, whoever was doing the sideline last night, I guess it was Ally said to Jimmy Butler afterward, you know, something about, you know, how do you feel? And Jimmy said, oh, yeah, we, we, we. We're still young. We're still young. I'm. I'm 35. Steph is 38, you know, Draymond, 37. And. And Jimmy couldn't help but laugh like he's. And you watch it, though, Tony. And here's what I will say, though. And you're right, it is the most significant.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That doesn't mean they won't lose. Four to one, by the way. Doesn't mean that. But it was.

[Michael Wilbon]

See, that's just it. Now, I don't think that will happen. But it's such a stark. Like, when you look at it, you're like, oh, yeah, the case of the dudes from the YMCA. They're up 10 in the series. How did that happen? And I don't know. Maybe. Maybe Jimmy Dick is over their heads. But IME Udoka, when he comes on, I listened to his whole post game last night. Wow, he's so impressive. He's so commanding. You see how they finished second. They're a year away from. They could win one series. I don't know, they could win another one. And by the way, they would get the Lakers next. But. But, yeah, Tony, it was impressive. And now I'm sitting there, I'm like, look, I'm not going to lie. I'm cheering for Golden State is if I'm from the Bay Area, I just. I love them. I know. I know those guys. I like and respect them and in some cases admire them. And I want them to win as many games in a series as possible. But I'm looking at Houston going, wow, I don't know that this is sustainable. Like, Jimmy Butler was letter perfect. Steph was close to that. I don't mean their shooting numbers. I don't mean that. I mean the way they played Draymond. Defensively, they were close to letter perfect. So what's going to happen? Like, in game two. So. Yeah, but I think you're right about that being the most significant.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is why, if I ran the NBA, the first series would be two out of three, because then you would have real live urgency for these teams. For the Lakers, I'll live with three out of five, but I don't think they should all be four out of seven. I don't.

[Michael Wilbon]

No, I don't either.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't.

[Michael Wilbon]

Three out of five would be so good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So let me ask you a question.

[Michael Wilbon]

He would be there. You're right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Ask your question. Dallas. Nico Harrison, long term, I thought they'd win. I did. I thought I said it on the air.

[Michael Wilbon]

I kind of did, too.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I thought they were going to beat Memphis in that one and they were going to advance. And now I'd fire him.

[Michael Wilbon]

I would.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'd fire him now.

[Michael Wilbon]

Unless you were the person who did see the notion that Nico Harrison acted alone. I'm gonna go straight JFK in the book depository. Now, I don't believe that. I don't believe that for one second that Nico Harrison alone decided to do this. And some new owner who's so bold and arrogant that he's going to move the franchise out of Dallas, a top 10 city in population, a top 10 market, he's going to move it out of that into Vegas, which is what he wanted. Or once actively, that Nico Harrison did that by himself. Really? Okay. See, this is coming from an old black man knowing how the world works for a younger black man, there ain't that much influence. Unless you're. Unless you are. That could happen if you were a famous ballplayer at one point. Elgin Baylor, and you were the gm. Okay, maybe you have that much cachet. Nico Harrison. I know Nico Harrison. Like him, respect him. Did one hell of a job in his full time, long time career at Nike in bringing in people, which is why he has relationships with people like Kyrie Irving. Nico Harrison, he did this on his own. I ain't buying that. Not for one second. Now, I'll spend some time getting to the bottom of this because I'm on the road now. And I'm on the road for the playoffs. Now that doesn't mean he's not going to get fired. Because just like that guy could have said, you make this deal, he's the boss of Nico Harrison even now. But if Nico Harris is going to take your bullets, don't tell me it's just Nico Harrison.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I mean, I do. I think he initiated it. I think it's him, and I think it's disaster.

[Michael Wilbon]

That is the world I grew up in and that ain't the world I live in.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's fine. I live in a different world.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah, I know. We live in different worlds in that way.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, draft, NFL draft. What do you want? What do you want the Bears to get?

[Michael Wilbon]

Well, there's about six guys that I can live with and be not just live with it. Be really happy with. I still. Look, I'm of an age where I grew up with people named Sayers and Peyton, running backs and know of the history of guys named Nagursky and Granger Gallimore and that's the history of that franchise.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yep.

[Michael Wilbon]

Okay. We may not know anything about quarterback. We know a hell of a lot about running backs. And so Aston Genti, if he's there, you know, people of a certain age in that market, that fan base, they're all sitting around no matter what else they say and they're praying for Genti thinking, this is what we know. And that kid can help Caleb Williams. But if we can't get him because the Raiders take him six and we pick 10, then I'll take. I love this kid. Armand. I can't pronounce his last name. Big Six 5, 330 pound lineman from Missouri who can play tackle and guard. And he looks like on video. I don't watch film, but I've seen some video. It looks like a video game. He is planting people.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

And he has risen up the draft board because it wasn't his play over the season that got him noticed as much as that. Plus people going back saying, wait a minute, did I really see this guy? I would love for him to continue to fortify the line in front of Caleb Williams.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Because Caleb Williams was sacked more than any quarterback all year. So you need a line.

[Michael Wilbon]

And we've revamped the line during free agency. But I'd like, I'd be really happy if they took that, if the Raiders took that decision out of our hands. Even though Ben Johnson is a guy who, who values and uses running backs. Tyler Warren, the Penn State tight end, there are a lot of people saying, okay, that guy will take as much pressure off your quarterback as a lineman because he can get open six yards down the field. He can also block. And that's. So that's three of my six. I'm not going to go through them all. Two or three other linemen. There's a running back, Omarion Hampton from North Carolina, who basically kind of is a Derrick Henry wannabe. And let's see if he's really. He's not that fast. He's fast and he, he's 6, 3, 2, 10 and runs you over. And he too could provide some relief for Caleb Williams.

[Unknown]

So.

[Michael Wilbon]

So anyway, there's about six people that if they, if they, if they're available and we get one of them and.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You'Re looking essentially at the offensive side of the ball.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah. Yeah, but there's, there's a couple of defensive players, edge rushers, you know, Jalen Walker, I think his name is from Georgia. There's a couple of defensive. The kid from Florida State who made that may be a little high for him to go. Edge rushers, sack artists, guys who can come in immediately and play opposite a guy you're.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I would take it if I, if I hired that quarterback at his age, I'd be on that side of the ball. I would.

[Michael Wilbon]

Well, they, they did that and they've done that. I mean, remember they last year, sorry, they drafted a receiver, Roma Dunze, with the ninth pick.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, it's a good player.

[Michael Wilbon]

So it's not like that side of the ball has been ignored. And so that's why I said I would be happy with any of six or seven people and a couple of them on the defensive side. So we are almost as wired in Chicago over this draft as we were last year. I say it was 75% as white because now we actually believe in this guy. Ben Johnson, a rookie head coach. We saw this with Caleb Williams last year despite getting sacked 68 times that he threw no picks, that he got up off the ground, he threw touchdown passes and he operated even without a head coach, essentially. So we've got a lot of those things in place now. So it's like, let's okay with the first. With the 10th pick in the draft we select.

[Neil Greenberg]

I think the latest mock draft has you guys taking Cooper Flag.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, Cooper Flag would be good for you. All right, I'll talk to you later.

[Michael Wilbon]

That'll be next.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'll talk to you later.

[Michael Wilbon]

Talk to you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Michael Wilbon, boys and girls. We'll take a break. Neil Greenberg when we return. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

[Unknown]

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Kornheiser Show Tony Cornheiser Show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Once again, this is Igono. That is the stage name of Brandon who sent us the original email. Brandon AKA Igono. He's got a lovely voice, really does, can sing. This is called Paths and Michael. If people like Igono want to send in their original music and have us play it on the show, how do they do it?

[Unknown]

Send us music by emailing it to jinglesonyconizershow.com he really is a good singer.

[Neil Greenberg]

I am continually amazed, blown away by the talent of our musicians.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, he plays in Neil Greenberg and we're going to go to Neil. Normally we would go to Neil and we would just ask about the chance of the Capitals in the playoffs and we're going to do that. But we want to talk about betting too, and trends, early trends in betting. But let me just get to the Capitals and address the question I think that everybody has, which is pretty simple. The entire year was essentially celebratory of Alexander Ovechkin and he broke Wayne Gretzky's record. And to me, if he actually won the Stanley cup, he should just walk, just drop the mic and walk. At that point, nobody's going to break his record. Really. I didn't think anybody would break Gretzky's. Why would I think anybody's going to break Ovechkin's? But the team was probably, I don't want to say consumed. But maybe as the season wore on, maybe as we got to the last fifth of the season and it became a day to day proposition Maybe the team was consumed. They didn't play as well as they had been playing before. What effect does this have on their legitimate chances, in your opinion, to win the Stanley Cup?

[Unknown]

Yeah, I think it's definitely something that's worth looking at. I don't tend to put a whole lot of stock into just a couple of games. I think the biggest challenge that Washington faces right now is the goaltending. They need their main guy, Logan Thompson, to be healthy. They didn't get very good goaltending from Charlie Lindgren, and I think that that ultimately is going to be with what. What ultimately drives their chances. And also, you know, Washington was a really good shooting team. We talked about this on the show before. Puck luck and how that factors in. You know, that's puck luck.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I've never heard that. Puck luck. Wow.

[Unknown]

Meaning, you know, we see a lot of fluky goals in the NHL. There's been some studies done where goal scoring is estimated to be as high as 70% luck, 30% skill. So, you know, that's a volatile situation in terms of being able to rely on it game to game. So when you have something like shooting and then goaltending also being volatile, that gives me a concern. But this team is deep, and I think Ovechkin kind of did them a solid in that. We didn't linger on, like, one goal to go very long. We didn't, you know, we didn't have to wait. It didn't have to become like, is he going to do it? Is he going to do it? With the exception of, you know, he broke his leg and had less chance, less games to do it, but we didn't have that, you know, that lull of goal scoring. He got it done. It was over. Big sigh of relief, I'm sure. And then, you know, they didn't play as well. That's probably to be expected. I think they're going to be fine going into the playoffs. You know, everyone's going to have a goaltending concern. Everyone's going to have a shooting concern. But the Capitals have shown they can win 10 to 1. They've shown they can win, you know, 1 0. They're very deep. They're good. They're obviously well coached. You know, I think that this is one of the better playoff teams we've seen from the Capitals, you know, in the Ovechkin era.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So let's just start with the NHL and where is most of them, not most of the money, because there's like, 16 teams in the playoffs.

[Michael Wilbon]

But.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But where is the money going in the NHL? What are people thinking in terms of wins? Where's the money?

[Unknown]

You mean on the capital specifically?

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, no, no.

[Unknown]

I mean overall, I think the gold. I think Golden Knights were the. Were the best value play coming into the. Into the tournament, and I think a lot of people agreed with that. People are shying away from the chalky picks like the Capital, then gravitating more towards value picks like the Golden Knights and the Toronto Maple Leafs. So far, they've been rewarded in that regard. Both are up a one nothing lead. But I think that, you know, in hockey especially, and I just talked about it, it's so fluky. It doesn't make a lot of sense to go with chalk in the NHL as a general rule, because we see some weird stuff. We saw it obviously, what, 15 years ago now when the Canadiens beat the capitals as the 8 seed and Halak stood on his head and didn't let anything get through. So I would, as a general rule, I would lean towards the underdogs and the plus money and the value plays like the Golden Knights and the Maple Leafs going in.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Why do you think the Winnipeg is in the situation this year? They won the President's Trophy. They had the most points in all of hockey. Why do you. The last time a team won the Stanley cup coming out with that credential was Chicago Blackhawks in 2013. That's a long time. Why do you think that is, Neil?

[Unknown]

Because I don't think records in hockey mean anything. I don't think that they're a good barometer of how good a team is or isn't. I think we have much better metrics now. We have the, you know, the shots for and against metric. We had the total shots, which, you know, including includes block shots, which was a proxy for puck possession. We now have better analytic tools to actually measure attack time and zone time and how pucks are getting into the zone, whether they're being dumped in or carried in. We have expected goals. How many goals does a team score versus how much we would expect them to score based on the shots they take. So I don't believe that the record has ever been a really good indication of team success, especially not now with the loser point and a lot of teams playing for that loser point.

[Michael Wilbon]

Right.

[Unknown]

So I don't think the President's Trophy is really telling us who the best team in hockey is. I think it's telling us who was able to compile the best record. And those are two very different things.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So let's shift to the NBA where I assume they have similar metrics, similar analytics and all of that. That, that is completely lost on me. But the records are a little bit more valid in the NBA than they are in the NHL. I'm sure you would agree with that. And where is the money going in the NBA?

[Unknown]

Yeah, so I, I think Boston's taking up some money. I think probably the Knicks as well and the Lakers. But like you said, the, the, you know, basketball is among the chalkiest of chalk in the first and second round, meaning the favorites usually just roll through. It's very rare to see upsets in the NBA in the first round or even the second round.

[Tony Kornheiser]

There's no goalie factor. There's no one single individual that can do something to blunt the other team. It doesn't work that way in basketball.

[Unknown]

Right. And basketball, one person can transform a whole team's outlook very easily. You know, they, they play a majority of the time as opposed to hockey, which takes these little shifts. So yeah, I mean it's just, it's more skill driven. Not to take anything away from how skillful the players are, but it's more skill driven. Individuals have more agency with how the team's prospects go. And I think that, you know, this is, the NBA is not a very good betting situation in terms of, you know, betting on teams to advance because it is so chalky. And I don't think we're going to see too many surprises, if any.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You mentioned Boston. I mean, I understand why Knicks money would come in because people are crazy. Knicks fans, even though they don't beat any good teams ever. But you mentioned Boston, which won last year, not Oklahoma City, which has compiled the best record.

[Unknown]

Well, no, we're looking for like, you know, where's the sharp money going? We're not going to see like a lot of money on the favorite in that regard. But yeah, I mean Oklahoma City has looked great this year, Cleveland has looked great this year. But you're not going to make, you're not going to make a whole lot of money betting, you know, on minus favorites to win a basketball title. Just like we wouldn't have won much money in those, what, that four or five year span where we knew it was going to be LeBron versus the warriors, right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Unknown]

You know, there's just, there's not a lot of money to be made in that regard. I think player props, you know, those that are legitimate and not rigged are really the best betting market right now to look for a profit in the NBA.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We're about a week and a half out on the Kentucky Derby. Is there money down on the Kentucky Derby that you look at and you say this is a horse you need to consider?

[Unknown]

Yeah, Rodriguez. It was double digits in the pool in the final Kentucky Derby pool, like a futures pool. I think this horse is impeccably bred to win the Kentucky Derby. Probably the best in terms of blend of speed and stamina. He's almost built to win this classic distance at Churchill Downs. I think that he's a really good horse. And if there's rain or if it's a sloppy track, I think Sandman is another very well bred horse out of Tapit, which would be weird for the Kentucky Derby. A Tapit winner, but they usually do well in the Belmont. But I think Sandman would be very, very lucrative on a sloppy track. And it rains a lot more often on the Kentucky Derby just because of the seasonality of it. So those are the two horses that I'm keying in on right now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Is, is there betting on the NFL draft?

[Unknown]

Oh yeah. Not in Virginia. Not all states allow it. But yeah, it's actually, it's actually one of the, it's an info driven market. So the books don't take a lot of money on a bet and it moves very, very quickly. I mean, if Adam Schefter sneezes the wrong way, the board moves quite a bit. So you really do need some, either inside information or you need to have a really good handle on who the GM targets in a draft in order to make it worthwhile.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So I've been saying this for a while about the Wizards, that they should be investigated by the NBA for tanking, for deliberately trying to lose. That doesn't mean individual players try to lose. It means a general manager of head of basketball operations says to a coach, don't play these people, let's not play to win. Coaches aren't stupid. They know how to make their own teams lose. And the reason I bring this up is because there's so much betting now and they have partnerships. The NBA, the NFL, you know, the NHL, Major League Baseball have partnerships with betting organizations. How. What is your opinion on that? I believe they should have been investigated in the last month of the season. I believe they don't deliberately tried to lose and in so doing defrauded the honesty of the market.

[Unknown]

Yeah, it's a challenge. Also, you know, the resting players thing is also something that obviously influences betting quite a bit, especially the prop markets. The NBA needs to have the current system that they have for the number one pick, lottery picks, etc. Is obviously not a big enough deterrent to stop these teams from, from, let's not say losing on purpose, but trying, you know, not to win. My, my. I've always had like. But the idea that I had was like, the third worst record is the one that gets the number one pick. Because then at least you have teams trying to win a little bit. Right. Like, you can't just tank it out. You actually have to try and, and be somewhat competitive. Competitive. I don't know how that would work in practice, but that's always just been something that I've thought of, which was, you know, maybe it's the third worst teams in each conference have the best chance at the number one pick so that at least no one is trying to lose on purpose.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's fraudulent. It's fraudulent. The Wizards conducted themselves in a fraudulent manner. They took a long term goal instead of a short term goal. Let's play the game to win.

[Unknown]

Right? They're, they're, they're not trying to be competitive. And, and like you said, I mean, how does that impact a team like Cleveland? Like, you know, if you get timely wins against Washington, how does that impact the playoff race? How does that, you know, impact these other teams that get, quote, unquote, free wins, you know, at opportune times? You know, it's a whole strength of schedule thing as well. Yeah. I mean, it's just not working. Right. Like, there's too much of an incentive not to be competitive. In the NBA, you get rewarded for not being competitive. And, you know, I wouldn't care if.

[Tony Kornheiser]

There was no gambling. I wouldn't care.

[Unknown]

Right? Well, yeah, that's the thing. Like someone once asked me, you know, with the Wizards, like, they're over under was set at like 20 games. And it's like, oh, every, every NBA team can reach 20 games. I'm like, not a team that doesn't want to win. Like, they have no interest in winning 20 games like that. That would be a disaster for a team like Washington that's, you know, in a, in a complete rebuild and trying to clear.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's clear that this comes from the guy Winger who's running the team. It's clear. You know, and every comment from the general manager as well, we're not good yet, but we're getting better. And it's like, please give us five to eight years to be horrendous. Let us continue to make all this money on our salaries. And then, you know, then you can let us go when we haven't delivered. I just, it's not honest. It's not honest.

[Unknown]

No, I agree. It's definitely, you know, you're not, you're not being competitive. Like you're not there's, it's a challenge and it trickles down from, you know, the title hopes of teams to the individual better, you know, actually wagering on a team to win or lose, you know, players get taken out, prop bets, etc.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Sure.

[Unknown]

It's a challenge.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Sure. All right. Thank you, Neil. It's always good.

[Unknown]

Thank you, Miss you guys. Talk to you next year.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Neil Greenberg. You'll talk to us before that. Talk to us before that. Neil Greenberg. Boys and girls, we'll take a break. We will come back from email with email and jingle. I'm Tony Kornheiser. I've been counted out, dismissed, passed over, told I'd never be a golfer with just one arm. But the only thing that feels better than proving people wrong is out driving them. I'm 14 year old golfer Tommy Morrissey and I want to be remembered for my ability as a champion partner of the Masters.

[Igono]

Bank of America supports everyone determined to find out what's possible in golf and in life. What would you like the power to do? Bank of America. Bank of America.

[Tony Kornheiser]

NA member FDIC.

[Igono]

Copyright 2025 bank of America Corporation.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All rights reserved.

[Unknown]

You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Michael Wilbon]

Here comes Tony's mailbag. Got your emails, faxes and your notes. Here comes Tony's mailbag. Gonna read some for all of you folks.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The great Denise Graves. So good. The great Denise Gray. So you want to do the Bethesda bagel ad for us, please?

[Neil Greenberg]

Yes. Bagel sandwiches today, even with a slightly ripped bag, we love the bagel sandwiches.

[Unknown]

Who would notice that?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I did.

[Neil Greenberg]

Just go to Bethesda Bagels.com for the location in the DC area near you. Then pop it in and you'll be thrilled.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right. Before we get to the mailbag, let me just say your day breaks, your mind aches, you find that all her words of kindness linger on. When she no longer needs you. She wakes up, she makes up, she takes her time and doesn't feel she has to hurry. She no longer needs you. That's the Beatles. That's for no one. That's just a great, great Paul for Paul song.

[Neil Greenberg]

We think it's Paul wrote about Jane Asher. One of the.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's possible.

[Neil Greenberg]

One of the down points of their relationship.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Thanks to our guests today. Michael Wilbon, Michael Wilburn, Steve Scurrier would say, and Neil Greenberg. Thanks as well to today's sponsors. Remember, you can listen to us on Apple Podcasts Spotify and Odyssey if you get the show through Apple. Please leave us a review before we get to the mailbag itself. Nigel has something to read clarification on what happens when you buy a television set.

[Neil Greenberg]

An over the air antenna allows you to receive local network TVs for free without needing a cable subscription or Internet connection.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Thank you. It's my position all along.

[Unknown]

So for HD you could go to any big box store and get a plug in that will get you over the air high def channels what I.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Thought It's Sunday afternoon, I'm sitting in my daughter's backyard in sunny California getting ready to go back to New Jersey tomorrow after a fabulous winter. PG and I thoroughly enjoyed Florida. The visit here in California for a few weeks gave us some quality time here with the west coast contingent. Truthfully, I'm really looking forward to getting back home in New Jersey where I can get into my routine of sunrise at the Boardwalk, nine holes at Jumping Brook, taking my granddaughters on the bus, and 5 o'clock martini or Jack Daniels, depending on outdoor temperatures. I like Tony. I'm 76, go to bed early and love coffee ice cream. Thank God every day for being the luckiest man on the face of the earth. DG Lee Gordon Episode 80 Boynton Beach, Florida writes Happy Passover. In response to George Melay's request, I'm attaching the Tony Kornheiser Sea Captain action figure for those for Whom News Channel 8 is not available. I also posted on various social media platforms, Please tell former Cliffy Jared Kotler to eat it. It is Tony Kornheiser. It's just.

[Neil Greenberg]

Oh yeah, turn the page. Crazy photo.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's just insane with Johnnie Walker and the Masters and it's fantastic.

[Neil Greenberg]

It really is real Star production. I don't think it's real. Need to start production on those immediately.

[Tony Kornheiser]

For my friend Tim Wildsmith, my guess is that you don't have any idea how chat GPT, which is how everyone and their brother are creating AI generated action figure versions of themselves. So I thought I'd go ahead and make one for you. So he did. Tim Wildsmith did this? Yes, he did. Oh, he's got another one. Yeah, he's got me and a Canadian flag and a microphone and some golf clubs and what looks to be the orange pants. Yeah, I'm wearing the orange pants. That's so people can do this Something's wrong with the world that people can do this just craziness. Richard Vorder Bruge in Fredericksburg I had to share this shocking and potential life altering event with you and the Littles this morning. I sat down to pay my bills in much the same way as you. I opened my American Express bill and discovered a $29 late fee because my check, written and mailed one week before the deadline, did not get cast by Amex before the deadline within two days. Perhaps whether this delay should be attributed to the U.S. postal Service or American Express is not relevant. What is shocking is what happened next. I called the customer service number to object and was greeted by the automated system after they verified they were talking to the proper account holder, I followed the instructions given by the robot overlord and pushed nine, at which time I was given a set of options including a disputed charge. I selected that option, was subsequently asked if I could identify the date of the charge where I was going to dispute a fee, and I said fee. The system asked me, calling about a late fee charge on April 7 and I responded yes. After a couple of seconds I could almost hear the gerbils running on their wheels to power this AI monstrosity. The system returned to the line and stated something to the effect of I reviewed your account and based on your long association with us, I can waive that fee. You should see a credit on your account in the next couple of days as is there anything else I can assist you with? No human being. Automation accepted my objection and gave me my money back. Would that all customer service could work so well. I know my little story is unlikely to change your attitude and it has not changed mine much, but I will now give a little more slack to an automated system until the next time they do something outrageous. P.S. when I emailed about singing My Girl in a Detroit courtroom, I failed to ask if I could be the show's official forensic image analyst expert. Sure you can do that. This is why I say that American Express is the best company in the world. I didn't get that with at&t. I didn't get that American Express which you pay money to.

[Unknown]

There's barriers to Amex. You will they would have the best AI experience.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That sounds phenomenal. Glenn Winters, Newport News, Virginia Chuck and Roxy number 237 I was curious about Jason Lock and for his surname, so I pasted it into a translation app. It turns out that Lock and forever is Italian for the camphor. Seriously, I'm not making this up since camphor can be used as a topical pain reliever. Jason's mafia name could be Jason the Analgesic La Conforma. Not only that, but my Google machine revealed that there's a bistro in Los Angeles called Camphor la. Okay, Gary Van Geesen Inquiring minds need to know the hate list. The sans hate Duke does Jason hate Rogers does Tony hate let's see, squirrels, chipmunks, mice, moths, Scott Boros, Cigna AT&T. Paul George, Jimmy Butler Live aka Saudi Tour Parking all technology yelling representative for $8 driving over bridges, Daylight Savings times and schmutz to name more than a few, but not nearly all things. Tony loves the gnats though, not the bullpen or the hitters. The caps but not the owner. Coffee, ice cream, a box of anything but no more toothpaste please. The bagel sandwich especially wrapped in foil suit jackets if on sale. Golf although he stinks at it and of course course his grandkids. Sounds like a very happy, stress free, balanced lifestyle. We love to watch and listen. Thank you Neil in Rockville I am used to being derided by email from the likes of Mike, who used to be from Burke, Virginia or even occasionally within a haiku from Shad. But I am not aware of the Steven character's oeuvre who though respectfully challenged my reply about the difficulty of hitting a baseball. So in the words of Jules from Pulp Fiction will allow me to retort. I believe I need only say the email came from Steve Read on a Friday Florida man. Now go home and get your shine box. Mark Lynch, Camby, Indiana I drove through Missouri this weekend. I wasn't impressed. Eric Spade Godfrey, Illinois Let me get this straight. Tony knows the words comestibles but not bezel? Is it bezel or bezel? I'm 49 years old. I believe this is the first time I've heard comestibles. Meanwhile, there's a bezel on your watch, phone, TV, car, stereo, headlights, etc. If I may, I would like to use comestibles in a sentence for the first time when the little tells the lizard to eat it. I don't think they're referring to select to comestibles. Brandon, West Lafayette, Louisiana Lafayette, Louisiana It's Ron Guidry in it.

[Neil Greenberg]

I gladly it is yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Big fan here. I've been watching PTI and tuning into your radio shows and podcasts for ages. Always a highlight of my day. Your insights on D.C. culture and events keep me sharp in conversations with my co workers. Got to keep up. You know, since I'm a government consultant working remotely with a lot of folks in dmv, but I have to tell you, when I heard the April 16th podcast and that letter referencing T Boy Slaughterhouse, I had a full on David Aldrich moment. As a proud Mamu, Louisiana native, I actually know that place. And let's be honest, there's a solid chance I might be related to D Boy. Fun fact, T Boy is a Cajun French nickname for little boy, typically given to the youngest in a family with the same name. Think Big John and T John. Thankfully I dodged that nickname. Speaking of Louisiana guests, Carville always cracks me up. Pretty sure I'm one of the few who can fully understand everything he's saying. One of the few times of being Cajun has worked out for me. Anyway, I just want to say thanks for the years of laughs and entertainment. I listen to you in the crew daily while I work outs one of the best parts of my routine. Isn't that nice?

[Unknown]

It is nice.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Rich Modco Modco Modco I have good news and bad news concerning your favorite health insurance company. The good news is that Healthcare Services Corporation HCSC of subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield has bought out Cigna. The bad news is it was only for Cigna's Medicare Advent Advantage and Part D prescription service. Hopefully some big company will buy out the rest of Cigna's health insurance business, which will give you peace of mind. And he's my official health insurance agent. He's in Durham, North Carolina. Scott Gurney, East Selkirk, Manitoba in Canada. I don't know where the orange pants are. That's the other problem. What house they're in. Haven't heard those words since university. Thanks for taking me back. Neil Ayerves, of course. In Littleton, Colorado. Let me get this straight. Bracket prizes include a brand of toothpaste that is so unpopular you need an archaeologist to find it in stores and used sport coats that are given away at outlet stores. And Michael threw out the beautiful cushions. What are we doing here? And one more from Matt in San Antonio. I always found scotch paired best with shame and self loathing. You're out on your bike tonight. Everyone, as always, do wear white.

[Michael Wilbon]

Okay? We wound up 5 and 11.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Not very good, not very worse.

[Michael Wilbon]

But there was some worse than us. I guess that's one positive way to look at it. We weren't the worst team in the league.

[Igono]

I have been trying to face it oh night oh night that you are the one I'm a stay with tonight tonight so I'm going to stay Stick to the basics if that's all Right. If that's all right, I say. Cuz I didn't come here to waste it.

[Michael Wilbon]

No, no.

[Igono]

Your time. Your time. I came to this party for you. Came to this party for you. Just to the 9th at this function for you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Igono]

To have this discussion with you. I came to this party for you. Now I'm just dancing with you. Came to this party for you. To spend the whole evening with you. For you. I knew you couldn't be faking. I knew all this time. I knew all this time. You know darling, you got me thinking. That love's a lie. Love's a L. I came to this party for you. Came to this party for you. Just to the 9th at this function for you. To have this discussion with you. I came to this party for you. Now I'm just dancing with you. Came to this party for you. To spend the whole evening with you. What you do. I came to this party for you. Came to this party for you. To have this discussion with you. I came to this party for you. Now I'm just dancing with you.

[Michael Wilbon]

You.

[Igono]

It's not like I tried to put myself in the way. I stay on my path almost every single day. So why, oh why did this happen to me? How am I falling down? When When I'm around you I don't even know or what do I do now the road, it doesn't show. How could I stay when you walk away? How could I leave you? How could I leave you? This path ain't the same now every day. Why can't I leave you? Why can't I, I leave you? It's not like I try to put myself in the way. I stay on my path almost every single. Almost every single day. So why, oh why did this happen to me? How am I falling down? Went. When I'm around you I don't even know oh, it all feels different now. My heart knows where to go. My heart knows where to go. All my heart knows where to go. I go, I go, I go. My heart knows where to go.