“Happy Steve Spurrier Day!”

Summary

The Tony Kornheiser Show — “Happy Steve Spurrier Day!”

Date: May 11, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of "The Tony Kornheiser Show" delves into a mix of sports topics with Tony’s signature wit and dissenting takes. Featured conversations include Michael Wilbon sharing sharp NBA playoff analysis and discussing the controversy of the Wizards securing the number one draft pick, as well as Richard Justice reflecting on the passing of sports icons Ted Turner and Bobby Cox. Expect classic Tony rants, nostalgia, and the ever-present undercurrent of skepticism about modern sports media and management.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cruises Are Not for Tony

• [02:53–03:39] Opening Riff: Tony laments the popularity of cruises, saying he’s fielded many anti-cruise opinions and finds the idea wholly unappealing.
  • Memorable moment: “Those who talk to me, stay away. Seem to think cruising was not the world’s greatest.” (03:09, Tony)

2. Golf Woes & The Infamous Hole 16

• [03:39–05:14] Tony’s Golf Game:
  • Tony played four rounds over the long weekend but is haunted by consistently failing at hole 16—repeatedly losing balls in the water and racking up “snowmen” (golf slang for an eight).
  • He blames mental tension and overthinking and welcomes listener and co-host fixes.
  • Michael Wilbon and contributors joke about golf “swing thoughts,” Tin Cup, and mental blocks.
  • Quote: “My only swing thought is it’s going in the water.” (05:34, Tony)

3. The Great Peacock Debacle: Sports Streaming Frustrations

• [05:52–07:42] Outrage Over Streaming Access:
  • Tony vents about not being able to watch his home team, the Washington Nationals, because games are on Peacock, an NBC streaming service not included in his $327/month cable bill.
  • He highlights the disconnect between high cable prices and limited access, echoing a sentiment many sports fans face with fragmented viewing rights.
  • Quote: “If you put this game on Peacock, I ought to get it. That’s my home team. I’m not trying to go out of market... That seems outrageous.” (06:45, Tony)

4. Nationals’ Ineptitude & Challenge System

• [07:55–09:15] Nats' Bad Weekend & Poor Analytics:
  • Recap of Nationals’ blown leads and bullpen woes.
  • Tony ridicules the team for being dead last in challenge success rates: “Stop challenging because you don’t know what you’re doing.” (08:38, Tony)
  • Anecdote about other teams’ broadcasters laughing at the Nats’ challenge decisions.

5. The NBA Draft Lottery: “Tanking” Rewards & Ethics

• [09:19–11:47] Wizards’ #1 Pick—A Systemic Problem:
  • Tony criticizes the NBA lottery system for rewarding teams for “deliberately losing,” particularly the Wizards, Jazz, and Nets.
  • He pushes for Adam Silver to implement reforms immediately, not next year.
  • Notable: “It’s a disgrace that you can be rewarded for deliberately losing games as the Wizards did... and defrauding their customers. This goes all the way up to ownership.” (09:19–10:30, Tony)
  • He explains that new rules are intended to prevent teams from getting top picks repeatedly, but the Wizards have benefited before changes take effect.
  • The expectation now: “With Trae Young and Anthony Davis and the number one pick... the least you could do... is make the playoffs.” (11:19, Tony)
  • Humorous aside about infamous former Wizard Kwame Brown’s wasted suits (11:51–12:01).

6. Remembering “Derby Bob”

• [12:03–13:52] Story of Kentucky Derby’s Superfan:
  • Tony reads a heartfelt reflection from Chuck Culpepper about “Derby Bob,” who attended 75+ Kentucky Derbies and seemed to will himself alive to make one final trip before passing.
  • Culpepper’s text: “Human determination triumphing over the accrued limitations of flesh and blood.” (12:32, Chuck Culpepper via Tony)

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Featured Segment: NBA Playoffs & Draft with Michael Wilbon

[16:30–33:53]

- NBA Playoffs: The Good, The Bad, and The Knicks

• Two current playoff series are deemed “awful” by Tony and Wilbon (Knicks vs. Sixers; Lakers on brink of sweep).
• Wilbon: “The Knicks are playing the best they’ve played in the playoffs, I don’t know, in 40 years.” (17:17, Wilbon)
• Tony expects Lakers to be swept, doubts LeBron’s Lakers tenure: “Do you think LeBron will stay with the Lakers next year?” (19:32)
• Wilbon posits that LeBron might leave or retire, depending on his health and contract worries.

- Playoff Matchup Details

• Cleveland vs. Detroit: Wilbon thinks Detroit has the edge; Tony laments having predicted a Cleveland win given Harden’s spotty performances.
• San Antonio vs. Minnesota: Discusses Wembanyama’s flagrant foul and ejection, agreeing it was a fair call (24:10–24:33).
• “Wembanyama is going to beat you in the next game after losing; he’s going to take responsibility.” (25:30, Wilbon)

- Wizards Win Draft Lottery: Trade Possibilities and Tanking Talk

• Wilbon shares inside talk: Utah wants to trade up for Debanza; Washington could cash in for a “mini haul” of young players.
• Wilbon: “Do the Wizards have the savvy and the stones to do that?... Or do you go what seems to be the easier and automatic route and take Debanza?” (29:09–31:02)
• Both agree: The system is flawed; tanking culture is widespread, and rule changes should happen now, not later.

- Revisiting the Kwame Brown & John Wall Drafts

• Both recall former Wizards #1 picks and their failures.
• “Everyone thought, oh, we’re getting Moses Malone. No, you’re not!” (33:33, Tony, on Kwame Brown.)

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Featured Segment: In Memoriam – Ted Turner and Bobby Cox with Richard Justice

[36:13–48:58]

- Legacy of Ted Turner

• Ted Turner remembered as a “force of nature” in sports broadcasting and ownership (CNN founder, Braves owner).
• Anecdotes: Turner once managed the Braves for a game; brought Bobby Cox back to transform the franchise.
• “Ted was irascible, he was unpredictable, but he had his employees’ back. They loved him.” (37:49, Justice)

- Bobby Cox: Hall of Fame Manager & Mentor

• Described as both a player evaluator and a manager beloved by players and staff, credited with building Braves dynasty.
• “There are certain guys that can take you to another level. That was Bobby, the evaluator.” (41:43, Justice)
• Cox’s record for ejections (“thrown out of 162 games — 41 more than any other man” (42:22, Justice)) and why he did it: “He did that to have his players’ back.” (42:34)
• Stories about developing talent (e.g., Chipper Jones, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine).
• Tony’s minor pushback—Braves only won one World Series with three Hall of Fame starters—but Justice and Wilbon defend the consistency as historic.

- Comparing Cox, Torre, and La Russa

• Brief debate on managerial greatness.
• Justice differentiates the three, emphasizing his close connections and the unique qualities of each.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Streaming Sports Headaches:
  “I pay $327 a month to Comcast for cable... But how can I not get Peacock? What is Peacock?” — Tony (06:19)

• On NBA Tanking:
  “It’s a disgrace. If Adam Silver was any kind of a commissioner, he would say this out loud.” — Tony (09:19)

• On “Derby Bob’s” Last Derby:
  “This was the case of human determination triumphing over the accrued limitations of flesh and blood.” — Chuck Culpepper via Tony (12:32)

• On Bobby Cox’s Leadership:
  “A small part of Bobby Cox changes you as a player. 20 years with the man changes your life.” — John Smoltz via Richard Justice (43:04)

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Important Timestamps

• 03:39: Tony’s golf disasters (“Snowman is an eight”)
• 05:52: The Peacock/cable rant (“$327 a month... what is Peacock?”)
• 09:19: The Wizards’ #1 pick critique (“It’s a disgrace....”)
• 12:32: Chuck Culpepper’s “Derby Bob” tribute (“Human determination triumphing...”)
• 16:30: Michael Wilbon segment starts (NBA playoffs breakdown)
• 29:09: Wizards’ #1 pick/possible trades with Utah
• 36:13: Richard Justice segment (Ted Turner & Bobby Cox tributes)
• 42:22: Cox’s ejection record
• 47:31: Managerial greatness debate (Cox, Torre, La Russa)

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Tone & Style

Tony’s tone is grumpy but amused, with quick, informed rants about modern inconveniences and the current state of sports. Wilbon remains sharp, skeptical, and insightful, while Justice brings reverence and warmth to his remembrances.

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Closing Thoughts

This episode stands out for its blend of nostalgia and gentle gripes about both the sports world and broader changes in entertainment access. Tony combines practical fandom with cynicism, Wilbon offers savvy basketball insight, and Richard Justice’s eulogies remind listeners of the legacy behind the headlines. The banter is fast, funny, and full of character, perfect for long-time listeners and newcomers alike.

Transcript

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hey, it's Tony. On today's show we will talk to Michael Wilbon about the NBA playoffs and also about the Wizards getting the number one pick in the draft. We will also chat with Richard justice about the passing of Ted Turner and Bobby Cox. But first, commerce I keep seeing celebrities

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Richard Justice]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Richard Justice]

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[Michael Wilbon]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

exclusions like taxes and fees apply.

[Commercial Announcer]

CT mobile.com this is the Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Commercial Announcer]

Previously on the Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What have I said about cruises? What is my position on cruises? You don't go on a cruise.

[Michael Wilbon]

No.

[Show Contributor]

There's not enough ice cream that they could give you to do this.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And so on this boat, all the ice cream is gone. Now on this boat, they were giving out ice cream right away. All the ice cream is gone because they need the freezer for the dead people.

[Commercial Announcer]

The Tony Kornheiser show is on now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

A lot of people talk to me over the weekend about cruising. Hardly anybody wants to go on a cruise. I know there are thousands and millions of people that want to go on cruises. But those who talk to me, stay away. Seem to think that cruising was not the world's greatest.

[Show Contributor]

So you're not going to Nebraska this week?

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, not going to Nebraska. You can get cruises everywhere. You know, everywhere abuts the water.

[Richard Justice]

Sure.

[Show Contributor]

River cruises, things like that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

River cruises is not what we're talking. No, we're talking about high open seas, ocean seas. No, we're not. Yeah, okay.

[Show Contributor]

Disney character cruises.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I'm not gonna go on those. It's May 11th, but you're a cast member. Happy Steve Spurrier Day. 5 11.

[Show Contributor]

You know, today's not very good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's not very good, but not the worst. Find out that there are worse days so that, you know, that makes you feel a little bit. Because we're not in the worst day. So just everybody internalize that. It's Steve Spurrier day. All right. I. I played golf every day. I played golf Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I played three times at Columbia. Three times in a row. I get to number 16, which is at. At the tees that I play. It's 100 to 120 yard shot. A little downhill, but it's over water.

[Show Contributor]

Oh, no.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And each of the three days, and it goes back before this, I dump

[Show Contributor]

two balls in the water, Set the scene. Where is the pin?

[Tony Kornheiser]

The pin is in the lower left. Yesterday, pins in the lower left. It's probably a 100 yard shot. They have moved the gold tees back a little bit. It's a hundred yard shot.

[Show Contributor]

That's the weekend.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But I supply. Yeah, I can. I never had this trouble before. Even if I bailed out left, went over the water left and not going out the pin. I've at least four times in a row. I've lost eight balls this way. At least four times in a row, I put. And then I don't even go to the drop area.

[Show Contributor]

So I like to imagine I just.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Jordan, give me an 8.

[Show Contributor]

Just still dropping on the other side of the creek.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I just. I just.

[Show Contributor]

What do you guys call an eight? A snowman.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Snowman is an eight. I. I put two in the water. I mean, come on. It's just every single time. It has to be mental. Can't be physical. It has to be mental. I approach the shot. I tense up.

[Show Contributor]

I gotta.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Put your hat on backwards. Laid it. I do everything wrong. Look like Bill Murray.

[Show Contributor]

Think of Tin Cup.

Yeah, he's got all the weird fixes.

Who hit that?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Just really bad. Can you help me?

[Show Contributor]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What am I. What do you think I'm doing?

[Show Contributor]

I think you just gotta. You gotta change the club. We just gotta. We have to commit to one swing thought. Get up there and just bang it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't have. My only swing thought is it's going in the water.

[Show Contributor]

That might be.

I think for you just. We're always going to be aiming at that left third, no matter where the pin is.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I. I do, but I just. Really bad. So I have a small complaint. I. I couldn't watch the Nats yesterday. I apparently don't get Peacock.

[Richard Justice]

Yep.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It wasn't on Nat's channel 1261 on my cable system. It was on Peacock. Does that mean. Did Dan Coco do the call?

[Show Contributor]

He was not.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So they put in their own people. That's an NBC affiliate.

[Michael Wilbon]

Peacock.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Who was doing the call?

[Show Contributor]

I don't. I think it was Franzen doing it with someone else.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. I couldn't.

[Show Contributor]

He's an NBC.

We had it on mute for much of it. It took us a while to find it as well. But we do get Peacock through a shared account.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't. I don't know. I don't understand this. Let me just put this in simple terms that people will understand. I pay $327 a month to Comcast for cable. Let me Repeat the number. $327 a month. I'm not complaining about that. I'm sure it's higher than most people. I'm not complaining. But how can I not get Peacock? What is Peacock?

[Show Contributor]

Well, Peacocks all the NBC stuff.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So why don't I get it?

[Show Contributor]

You actually should probably should get it through Comcast. Yes, through Comcast. Because I get. I have Comcast. Probably a very similar package. What you have. And I get it for free. So why.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But I don't get it. I couldn't it. They asked me to do a QR code. I don't know what that is they asked me to fill in my pass. I don't know my passcode is. And there's no guarantee I would have gotten it. And then they wanted me to sign up where they were going to charge me extra money. Yeah. For $327 a month. Now if you, if you put this game on Peacock, I ought to get it. That's my home team. Yeah. I'm not trying to go out of market. I'm not trying to watch the Dodgers. I'm trying to watch the team that is available to me. I thought on 162 games on channel 12, 61. That seems outrageous to me that I would pay that kind of money. And I'm not alone. I'm speaking for thousands of people here who probably don't.

[Show Contributor]

Yeah. I'd go one step further and just say for a Sunday midday one o' clock start, that game should be available for everyone in the dmv, not just cable subscribers.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Show Contributor]

I mean if they want to put it on Pico.

[Michael Wilbon]

Right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That they're leaving again like they did on Saturday.

[Show Contributor]

Yeah. They did not take advantage of some mid ending chances against Alcantara. But you know, it was not as bad two out of three as the second game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Second game they had a big lead. They blew it. They were leaving was terrible. One guy got out there, Parker got out there and faced five guys, had like two walks, a hit batter, a home run. You know, it just. He got all earned, all. He left the game and then it was another run scored. That was his. His ERA probably doubled based on that. And it was very bad. And the gnats were lousy. They were.

[Show Contributor]

My takeaway for this is through espn they're doing a ranking of every team's success rate with challenges, you know, by if that's a catcher or if it's, you know, a hitter team.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, that's your last.

[Show Contributor]

In almost every category, that's the last.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So stop challenging because you don't know what you're doing.

[Show Contributor]

I'm listening to the manager.

[Tony Kornheiser]

A 33 year old manager should call the team together and say, you know what, we're behaving badly on these challenges. So let's stop analytics.

[Show Contributor]

It seems like we're. It seems like we are below the chance level on this one. So I'm listening to the radio broadcast which has the Marlins, you know, the Marlins radio team. And they're laughing at Milos who challenges something that's like three, three to four inches outside the plate. So they go, it's so far out. They're not even giving the distance away and the umpire's looking at him and go, really? Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So, I mean, if it's. If it's within an inch, you say, okay, okay. But, you know, don't stop.

[Show Contributor]

And depending on the pitcher's delivery, there's things that definitely make that worth it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You're going to want me to talk about the Wizards winning the lottery pick. I'm going to talk about it with Wilbon, but I'm going to state my position now because Wilbon is going to shout down the position. It's a disgrace that you can be rewarded for deliberately losing games as the Wizards did, as the Utah Jazz did, as the Brooklyn Nets did, among others. It's a disgrace. If Adam Silver was any kind of a commissioner, he would say this out loud. You know, we decided to change this next year. Why are we waiting for next year? If there is a mistake here, if there is injustice here, why are we waiting for next year? Let's do it this year. Now, Wizards could still have gotten the number one pick. Mathematically. They could have, but their odds would have been a little bit less. So they have been rewarded. They break the rules on a bunch of levels because you're not in the new rules. You can't get a top five pick two out of three years or something like that. It's. You're not allowed to. They got SAR two years ago at 2, and now they'll get whoever they get at 1. Maybe DeBancer, maybe the kid from Kansas who seems to never play. Oh, yeah, Physical problem. That's right. Peterson, I think.

[Show Contributor]

Yeah, I think.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Patterson.

[Show Contributor]

Peterson.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It doesn't matter. You won't know. You might know right away. If the guy's great, you're going to know right away it was a great pick. But most of the time it takes two years to figure out if it's a good pick or not. But they are being rewarded for losing. Not just this year, but losing three years in a row. Deliberately losing and defrauding their customers. This goes all the way up to ownership because you couldn't do it if the owner said, I don't want to do it. Yeah, Pittsburgh Steelers don't do this. The owner gets up and says, we try to win every game. You didn't hear anything from the owner of the Wizards. So complicit. He's complicit in it. There's no question about that. And this, and maybe it'll work out. And they have Trae Young, who was an all star player, who, however, his team was better when he left. So that's. You have to wonder about what he brings to an organization. You have Anthony Davis, who's a great player whose nickname is street clothes because he's never actually in the game. But you have the number one pick and Trae Young and Anthony Davis, and the least you could do, the least you could do before firing everybody is make the playoffs. You should make the. I'm not saying you should win a Syria. I'm not saying that. But you should improve with Trae Young and Anthony Davis and the number one overall pick added to what you have, you should at least make the playoffs.

[Show Contributor]

Speaking of clothes, in anticipation, are you going to bring out a Kwame Brown suit?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Kwame Brown, who? Sally Jenkins once wrote a story about Kwame Brown. He had all these suits. When he wore them once he threw them on the ground in his apartment like that. Never wore them again. Never.

[Show Contributor]

The shirts.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Michael Wilbon]

All right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I have one other thing to talk about. Remember when Chuck Culpepper was on and he talked about. What's the man's name? Bob.

[Show Contributor]

Bob.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Why Bob? Why Bob? Why? I'm sorry, Bob.

[Show Contributor]

Derby Bob, as he was called.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And he went to what, 75 straight Kentucky derbies or something like that?

[Show Contributor]

75 or 80.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. And he got to this one even though he was in very, very bad health. Got to this one. He died the other day. I don't think it was yesterday. I think maybe Saturday.

[Show Contributor]

Saturday or Sunday?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, yeah. I didn't think it was Sunday.

[Show Contributor]

Maybe Saturday.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. So I heard about it Sunday morning. Okay. Anyway, we contacted Chuck, and this is Chuck's writing. There's always something I forget to say that always bugs me afterward. And with Tony last week, it was in the party after he asked me to summarize the story, I summarized it, but one thing I didn't clarify enough was the idea that the thought of an 80th straight Derby actually seems to have restored Bob's health for a spell. I think your audience should know that when he was he elected to go home from the hospital after four months and when he got home and when they took his blood pressure sometime after that, they were startled to see the reading of an impeccable 12080. I really do believe it's clear to the verge of inarguable that this was the case of human determination triumphing over the accrued limitations of flesh and blood. And so his death soon after the Derby seems to have confirmed how he willed himself to that last exhilaration. His family is mournful of course, but also so grateful. That's how Chuck Culpepper writes.

[Michael Wilbon]

That's a text.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's a text that you could nominate for a prize. But. So that is the end of the story. And while someone's passing makes people sad, it does feel triumphant that he got to the derby for one last time. Yeah. And he apparently had a trifecta ticket, apparently won some money.

[Show Contributor]

We saw some local news report that he went out of winner.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So that's, you know, that's the rest of that story, as they say. We will come back with Michael Wilbon. I'm Tony Kornheiser. You can't reason with the sun. Trust us, we've tried. This summer, it's time to put that angry ball of fire on mute. Colombia's Omnishade technology is engineered to protect you from the sun's harsh rays that can burn and damage your skin. The sun is relentless, but so is our gear. Level up your [e-mail] to spend more time outside and less time slathering on aloe lotion. You're welcome, Columbia. Engineered for whatever.

[Richard Justice]

You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Michael Wilbon]

I think you wrapped it up right about that. I mean, there's not a lot to their play. Each one is playing. Not that Philadelphia, you know, isn't ready in terms of this group of guys played together like 20 times. Not enough. And the Knicks are playing the best they played in the playoffs, I don't know, in 40 years.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Yeah, they look great.

[Michael Wilbon]

So that, that's, that's that. And so that series is over.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I even. I wrote down a note. I said I didn't know if it was 30 or 4 0. I said it couldn't get to 40 fast enough because it's just terrible. It's terrible.

[Richard Justice]

Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

Well, it's four. Oh, yeah, it's done. And so the Knicks have maybe too much time off now before they meet either Detroit or Cleveland. But the other series, it may be a blowout, but it's fascinating because it's the Lakers who are on the getting Blowed out into this series and LeBron James getting swept.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yep.

[Michael Wilbon]

And so they don't, you know, let's not fool ourselves, okay? It doesn't matter if Luka Doncic was playing in the series.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They'd lose.

[Michael Wilbon]

They'd lose because they'd lose. And they take it. They don't like the Lakers. I told you this last Monday. Oklahoma City doesn't like them. Oklahoma City is politely ruthless. It's a ruthless outfit. They come out, they smile, they say the right things. They don't have particular trash talkers. You don't see guys scowling?

[Tony Kornheiser]

No.

[Michael Wilbon]

They're leaving any of that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They don't flex when they make a basket? They don't do that.

[Michael Wilbon]

They don't flex?

[Richard Justice]

No.

[Michael Wilbon]

They don't glower at you? Nope. They come out and they crush you. Okay, everybody. And so they did. They. They've done this with the Lakers in three games. LeBron has played really well in two of them.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They just can't really.

[Michael Wilbon]

Well, it doesn't matter. And so if Luka was there, he'd be doing what the rest of the team is doing, which is whining about the officiating and. And getting beat back down the floor on defense because they're looking up with palms up. And it's like. It's like, you can. You can. This ain't Magic Johnson's Lakers.

[Richard Justice]

Okay.

[Michael Wilbon]

It's not Kobe's Lakers. And so they're going out. Could the Lakers get one game? I guess they could get one at home. I don't. I don't expect that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No. I think they'll be sweep. I said on the air last week that I thought the knicks would sweep 76ers. Yeah, I think. I think it's a sweep. The only relevant question, honestly, is, do you think LeBron will stay with the Lakers next year?

[Michael Wilbon]

You know, Tony, not necessarily. I mean, you know, LeBron has not been Tom Brady when it comes to how much money he's willing to leave on the table. I'm not suggesting he should be, but he hasn't been. And if I'm the Lakers, what. What am I doing if LeBron is going to be year to year, how do I build that roster out around Luka Doncic to make it more like the Dallas roster was two years ago when they got to the finals and Luka was at the center of that. You have to have a different kind of team. You have to have young defenders, and you have to pay for them. And so if LeBron wants, you know, you know, $50 million. Yeah, I know it's not 75. He could leave some on the table, but this is a hard issue for the lakers. They've won one with LeBron in the bubble. I don't. I don't assign that sort of. I don't devalue it, but it was different. They have not gotten close since. And I don't know. I mean, there's going to be. If they go out, they get swept out. There's going to be a cry from some quarters for him to go back home to Cleveland, especially if Cleveland goes out 4:1 to Detroit. Then Cleveland can say, OK, we need to try this, but Cleveland can still win. That series is 2:1. They're equals. They've got, you know, players on that. On that Cleveland team. Charles says they're the most talented team in the East. Still talented. Just talented. Not the best team in the East. The Knicks are that. But LeBron could plug in. I don't know how big a boost they would get because you got to make concessions, and if you got to pay him, then, you know, you got to subtract somebody. So, you know, it's a. It's an interesting situation. There's also a possibility LeBron could say, you know what? I'm tired of sciatica. I'm tired of doing all the things you have to do to get ready at this stage and age. I'm done. I don't know. I don't expect to hear that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't either. Let me get to Cleveland because, as you know, when they made the trade for James Harden, who is the very definition of dog, I said. I said that they're going to win now. They're going to win the East. They're going to win the East. And Harden waited, I don't know, 44 minutes of the game to be good. And he was good at the end. He was very. He showed you what he can do. He can. He's one of the few guards who can take over a game. Brunson is that kind of player, too. And they share a body type. They're strong. They're both very, very strong. So Cleveland finally won. They were up by 15 in the second quarter. I watched this game. I couldn't believe that they almost lost that game. Who do you like in that series? I can't like Cleveland. I know I said they would win, but I can't like them.

[Michael Wilbon]

I can't. Tony. I think I like Detroit. I like that that series has got some back and forth in it. Cleveland tonight. And they need to win.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They never went on the road. They Never make it.

[Michael Wilbon]

2. 2. This has been home stuff.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

So I. I think I like Detroit. I think I do. And that, you know, Kate Cunningham is the best player on the floor. But, you know. You know, this is. This is a. That's a real series. Like. Like the other. Like the. Like the.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Minnesota.

[Michael Wilbon]

Oklahoma. I'm sorry. Like San Antonio and Minnesota is the most entertaining series of.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I was watching. I don't usually watch. I was watching. I saw the elbow.

[Richard Justice]

Okay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

If you ask me what I saw, I saw Wembanyama being sandwiched and being fouled repeatedly. Not by Reid. He was fouled occasionally by Reed, but repeatedly by the other guy. And at 7 5, when you try to clear it out, you hit a guy in the head and he hit him in the head and he didn't. Reid didn't act going down. No.

[Michael Wilbon]

No, that was not a flop.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So I think it's the right call, but it wouldn't have happened if there had been a call on Minnesota, you know, one or two seconds before that. But I do think it's the right call. I think they had to toss him. I do. What do you think?

[Michael Wilbon]

Exactly what you think it was the right call? It was. It wasn't malicious as much as it was reckless. It was reckless at that size. He understands. He's been that size for a while.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right.

[Michael Wilbon]

So he knows that his elbows hit in different places than a guy who's six six. So they had to do it. I don't think that the league will go beyond that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Nor do I. They lost that game as a result. They lost the game.

[Michael Wilbon]

That's right. Yeah, they lost the game. And they. They played. Wow. They played well without him. They really did. And they almost won that game. They. They would. They could. They got the position. Look, they almost. They almost had a shot at the end of the game after missed free throws and making. And making Minnesota turn it over, where they got a shot to win the game anyway. But that series is compelling. It's irresistible to me because. Because Minnesota's not afraid.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Minnesota has not got to the finals of the conference three, two years in a row.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yep. Yep. And they got players who understand what it is they have to do. They're well coached. They're disciplined. I really like Minnesota again, as I have said. If they didn't have I.O. or DiVincenzo for the first couple of games, I think they'd be just as good as San Antonio right now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Who do you like to win the

[Michael Wilbon]

I think I like San Antonio now. What we've seen Victor, when Banyama do after a loss is come back, you know, with his own sort of ruthless, smilingly ruthless behavior. He in Oklahoma City, they have the same sort of stuff. He'll come back and he's going to beat you in the next game after losing and after he's going to take responsibility because that's what he seems to do. And I have a hard time seeing Minnesota win. They won game one in San Antonio, but I have a hard time seeing them win game five.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, let's get to the lottery. I am, you know, I acknowledge that the Wizards have won it. I, as you know, I'm against this. I don't think tanking, deliberate tanking over a three year period should be rewarded like this. I don't, I think if you're going to change the rule next year, change the rule this year. But what are your thoughts on the lottery? Because your team, the Bulls, jumped up, they got in the top four. What are your thoughts on all of it?

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah, we jumped up into a spot where the Bulls have been, have had historically the worst number four overall picks in the history of all. Really?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Who've they had?

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah, there were Patrick Williams most recently.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right?

[Michael Wilbon]

You tell me something about Patrick Williams. Tell me anything about Patrick Williams.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I can't.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah, I know because, because I've watched him play for four years and even dumber than drafting him when you could have had Halliburton just. I just want to mention Halliburton's name because you could have had Halliburton, you drafted him and then you watched him stink for four years. And the gm, which is why he was fired a couple weeks ago, gave him a $95 million second contract. So the Bulls have had the worst. It's a litany of number four picks, not number three picks. Michael, Jeffrey, Jordan, number four picks, the worst spot we could possibly be. But this is a draft in which there are at least 10 players of consequence and that's before we know the Euros and Asian and African players.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right.

[Michael Wilbon]

Who now make the NBA what it is and certainly gangster. The MVP award for the last decade.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right.

[Michael Wilbon]

So there are players who are going to matter that we don't know yet, who were not in the room being photographed. They were not on, you know, the NBC telecast. No, that was us. That was ABC and ESPN telecast. So. But I. Congratulations to the Wizard. So let me tell you what. I have been involved in conversations already and I did call to Ask about this. I like the notion of the Wizards. I don't believe they're one player away. I do believe in Debanza as a great potential, great NBA player. I do believe in that. AJ Debanza, 6, 9, 610 BYU. Just unbelievably studly player.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He would be your number one pick.

[Michael Wilbon]

He would be my overall number one. But. And it should be the Wizards overall number one. But if you're the Wizards and you can. Utah desperately wants the band. So who has been in Utah this year?

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right.

[Michael Wilbon]

Who came out a month ago and said almost tearfully, I want to stay here. I want to live here. This is a fascinating declaration for all sorts of reasons. One, from a basketball sense, two, from a cultural sense. This kid from nowhere near Utah, black kid, goes to Utah, falls in love with it. Danny Ainge is a mentor. It's all set up for Utah, which is tanked longer than the Wizards.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, same amount, but.

[Michael Wilbon]

But they got the number two pick. So if you're the Wizards, do you go to Utah and say, okay, you want. And by the way, Debanta is going to sell. He's going to sell 12 years of tickets every seat in Utah. That's not going to be the case in Washington. Not early on anyway. But if you're the Wizards, do you say you want Debancer? How about this? You're going to give us, you know, a 22 year old Keonte. I'm drawing a blank on his last name. You're going to give us him. He averaged 23 points a game last year. Or you're going to give us Ace Bailey. You're going to give us that. And Filipowski under rookie contracts, the Wizards could take one or both of those guys and then you swap the picks and the Wizards could then draft, say, Caleb Wilson so you can wind up with. Even if they. Even if the. If you toss it. Okay, wait a minute. We'll give you Ace Bailey. We'll give you Keonte George. KEONTE George again, 23 points a game at 22 years old. The Wizards could wind up with Keonte George or Ace Bailey and Caleb Wilson from North Carolina, who. Some people have. I know this because I've talked to them. Some scouts have him as high, if not higher on their board than Debancer. So the Wizards could come away with a mini haul. But when you get. If you have two players who could have been chosen 1 and 4 or 1 and 5, do you do that? Do you think that. Do the Wizards have the savvy. And the stones to do that, or do you go what seems to be an easier and automatic route and take the bance?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think you sit down and you say, who's the best player in the draft? Who are we convinced is the best player in the draft? And how close is the second player? And if you say the second player is very close, then you think of that deal. That would be interesting. My feeling, as you know, is the Wizards have been rewarded beyond what they should have been rewarded. But I can't say anything different about Utah as Utah's done the same thing.

[Michael Wilbon]

You can't say anything about different about nine teams that were in there yesterday.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, I can't.

[Michael Wilbon]

Because the team that was in the lot, the only team that, that, that whose ball was ping pong balls revealed was Miami, who tried to win. They're all the same. They're all the same tone.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, it's terrible. If you're going to change the rule next year, change the rule this year. That's all.

[Michael Wilbon]

Well, they didn't. And so somebody is going to get the bands. Just like San Antonio Tank that got went by Yama. I was reminded what that rule did.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I was reminded seeing John Wall there because he was their last number one pick. So there was a certain symmetry to that. But I was reminded what a terrible dick he was because he was, he was a player of enormous talent who never made anybody else better, which is what a point guard is supposed to do. Never made anyone else better, never waited for anyone else, ran ahead of everyone else and ended up in his career being paid not to play by the team that was paying him. It was a failure.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah, I never thought John Wall was that player. I didn't think it was a fit. I didn't think John Wall was really a point guard. I know he had some point guard skills. And by the way, one year when John Wall got later after four, five or six years of his career, he, if he didn't lead the league in assists, he was in the top three. So he, he, he got better at that, but he wasn't, it was, it was not a fit that I liked and didn't think that John Wall was particularly not good at something he was expected to do that shouldn't have been expected. So I didn't think that. I never thought that was a great fit, even though I like John Wall and. But yes, he was the way he was. He was the last number one overall. The Wizards have chosen one twice, five or so years.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Kwame Brown.

[Michael Wilbon]

Kwame Brown, which was which was a ill advised pick and would have been an ill advised pick at number one for anyone. Yeah, he was not ready. He was the first high school player chosen at number one. And it was. It was awful. And he was not ready to be.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That was a Jordan, psychologically. That was a Jordan. Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yes, it was. So you want to say he would not have been.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You say to Mike, we love you.

[Michael Wilbon]

Real player.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Don't pick this kid. Yeah, don't pick this kid. Don't.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yes. Don't pick this kid. Because they should have picked.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Because everybody thought. Because Kwame Brown was very big. Everyone thought, oh, we're getting Moses Malone. No, you're not. No, you're not.

[Michael Wilbon]

No. No.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Moses Malone. Moses Malone doesn't come along. Wembanyama is a Moses Malone pick. Not. Not Kwame Brown. Not Kwame Brown. All right, I'll see you later.

[Michael Wilbon]

No.

[Richard Justice]

So it's been good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'll see you later.

[Michael Wilbon]

Talk to you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Michael Wilbon, boys and girls. We'll take a break. Richard justice will join us when we return. I am Tony Kornheiser. Focus features in Blumhouse present Obsession.

[Michael Wilbon]

When I have a crush on a

[Tony Kornheiser]

guy no one knows. Be careful. I wish Nikki loving more than anyone in the entire world.

[Michael Wilbon]

Who you wish for?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Obsession is 96% fresh on rotten Tomatoes. I love you so, so, so, so much. It's blood soaked nightmare Fuel brook Hunger spills.

[Richard Justice]

You put on her.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You have been warned. Obsession. Rated R under 17. Anime without parent.

[Michael Wilbon]

Only in theaters May 15 with special

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Michael Wilbon]

there.

[Richard Justice]

This is the Tony Kornheiser show. Tony Kornheiser show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is a group called the Paradise Motel Lounge. This is a song called Just because you care. It's sent to us by Nathan, who writes. I'm a longtime listener based in North Carolina. I've been listening since the old radio show was made available on Apple podcasts way back when. I almost sent a song in many times over the years for various bands I've had, but never got around to it for one reason or another. After some egging on by a few friends who Are littles. I thought now was as good a time as any. So please take a listen. Our band is called Paradise Motel Lounge and the song I've included is called Just because you care. It's very beautiful song, isn't it?

[Show Contributor]

Yeah, I love the name of the band too.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, it's really good. It's really good. Michael, if people like the Paradise Motel Lounge want to send in their original music, you know, how do they do it?

[Show Contributor]

Send us your music by emailing it to jinglesonycornozzershow.com and we're now at graduation session. So go check out Johnny O Tkplant. Hope your potatoes are ready.

[Tony Kornheiser]

How are have you gotten the potatoes?

[Show Contributor]

I have to go back to the grocery store again.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I told you the issue between gold

[Show Contributor]

potatoes and Yukon gold.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And then we will put water on them or like damp cloth. And Richard justice joins us. Do you grow potatoes by any chance? Buster only grows potatoes. I wondered if all baseball writers grow potatoes.

[Richard Justice]

No, Buster ships potatoes to all his steers. We don't need to grow them. Would I thought about having a garden but I listened to you talk about yours and Buster's an artist at it,

[Tony Kornheiser]

but yes, he is.

[Richard Justice]

I just don't. I tend to watch a lot of Andy Griffith reruns.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, good on that. A couple of people passed on in the last. Yeah. Ted Turner, who was incredibly important in communication and television and stuff like that. And Bobby Cox, who's a Hall of Fame manager. Let us start with Ted Turner. Did you run into him in sports on any level? Did you know Ted Turner?

[Richard Justice]

I can't say I knew him. I was around groups with him. Ted was a force of nature. All the stories you've read about. Ted owned the room. But also, you know, and he was. I said I covered a Bullets LA Bullet. I covered a Bullet Hawks game a few years ago, many years ago, I guess now. And they're sitting directly across from me was Ted Turner and Jane Fonda. And you just looked over there and said there's two people. There's one guy at least that's got it going on, you know.

[Michael Wilbon]

But. But you look.

[Richard Justice]

So he bought the Braves and

[Michael Wilbon]

a

[Richard Justice]

couple of years ago, as he started to suffer from dementia, people like Stan Cast and went back to his. I'm going to get emotional talking about this. To go back to his Montana ranch basically to say their goodbyes to Ted. Ted was irascible, he was unpredictable. But he had his employees back. They loved him.

[Michael Wilbon]

I know.

[Richard Justice]

I have a friend that works has been worked for the Braves for 25 years. Ted Turner, Hank Aaron worked across the hall from them. And to say beloved. I mean, people don't understand that. You know, Ted did things like he fired Bobby Cox in 81. And he said the perfect guy to, you know, I'm looking for would be Bobby Cox. But I just fired him. Well, okay, that's. That's a funny line, except he brought Bobby back four years later. And putting Bobby in charge of the baseball operation changed the Braves forever and created one of the great franchises in the game. Ted sign. Remember, Ted signed Andy Messerschmith, the really the first free agent in baseball.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Three years, put on his back channel 17.

[Richard Justice]

Right.

[Michael Wilbon]

And.

[Richard Justice]

And you would have thought the world was going to end. We're giving this guy three years, a million dollars, insane money, what turned out not to be a really good deal. They had to sell the contract, but. And he, he did fire managers. Put himself in the dugout one time during a 16 game losing streak, which became 17 after. After Ted managed one game. And Bui Kuhn told him, no, you can't do. But it was just. And I think his legacy and in baseball is that he put in place these guys, Paul Schneider, a legendary scouting director, Bobby Cox, John Shierholz came in and they finished first. Tony, they finished first 14 years in a row. You're not going to see that anymore now. They only won the World Series once. And it got to the point where John Shiros was having to have a toast every spring just to remind the employees what you've done is historic and will be remembered in this game for a long time.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Just as a coincidence, because I wrote the script yesterday. Today is the anniversary of Ted Turner saying to his manager, Dave Bristol, why don't you go on a scouting trip for 10 days? I'm the new manager. And then Bowie Kuhn. First, Chubb Feeney said, get out of here. Turner appealed to Buoy Kuhn, the commissioner. Chubb Feeney was the president of the National League at the time. And Kuhn turned him down as well because he came, he was ready to manage when the Braves came back from a road trip. But that was this year. Bobby Cox, you mentioned him. You were around him, obviously, covering baseball. What are your thoughts about him?

[Richard Justice]

One of the most important and beloved figures in the history of the game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Really.

[Richard Justice]

You know those, those four. One was Bobby. There are two sides to Bobby Cox, both genius. One was the general manager, the evaluator. He's the one that took chipper Jones in 1980 with the first pick in the Draft when the whole world told him to take a Texas high school pitcher. And he go, he takes Paul Snyder, the scouting director, down to Jacksonville, Florida to see a high school game with Chipper. And he tells Paul, don't tell me which one is Chipper Jones. I want to figure it out for myself. Well, there was a skinny kid in the game who hit a home run right handed and hit a home run left handed, and Bobby figured it out. This is the guy that traded for John Smoltz. This is the guy that refused to trade a young lefty named Tom Glavin. When the whole world said, you've got a terrible team, you're on your way to 97 losses, you can get a bucket of prospects. And Bobby said, when I was in Atlanta, when I was in Toronto, the Phillies offered us 10 players for Dave Stieb one time. And I just decided, you don't trade guys that can get you to a certain place. Bobby told that story in the Atlanta dugout as Tom Glavin had just pitched an 8 inning, 10 shutout, 1 hit shutout to win the World Series in 1995. As they dogpiled each other, he said, there are certain guys that can take you to another level. That was Bobby, the evaluator. Now, the other side of Bobby is the players that. The ones that, when he went into the hall of Fame, the players talked about, you know, he. He never uttered a negative quote about his players. Tony, as you know, he got thrown out of 162 games.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, the most. Most ever. Yeah.

[Richard Justice]

41 more than any other man.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I would have figured Earl. I would have figured Earl had that one locked up, but no.

[Richard Justice]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Richard Justice]

Well, a lot of times umpires didn't throw Earl out just to annoy the hell out of him.

[Michael Wilbon]

But.

[Richard Justice]

But he. He did that to have his players back. He said, look, a lot of times players have strong feelings and they want a manager that has their back. I know they're not right a lot of times, but I think they appreciate that. And when he was done with that, the confidence he gave guys. Chipper tore up his knee one year, and Bobby never stopped believing in it. Small Smoltz, he said, a small part. John Smoltz, a small part of Bobby Cox changes you as a player. 20 years with the man changes your life. Glavin said, I learned more about. He told us one time, I learned more about baseball, about business, about how to be a good person, how to be a good teammate. Learned all of that. And, you know, Bobby had just simple rules Be on time. He never, you notice, he never, you see, managers now don't wear the uniform. They wear a top.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Richard Justice]

And sweatshirt. Bobby would never do that. And he never wanted the sunglasses over the A on the Atlanta Braves hat, things like that. He just was a powerful, powerful person. A couple years ago, more than a couple of years ago, it's the first, it's the day in spring training, I'm with spring training with the Braves, it's the day the pitchers throw batting practice. And like Tony, if you, you want to understand, you've been down there close to the field, what it's like to watch major league pitchers throw batting practice. It is an amazing thing. And in walks, one by one to throw around a batting practice. Tommy Glavin, Greg Maddox, John Smoltz. And then a non roster player that was beloved at the time, Steve Avery, who had been with the organization. And Bobby just strolls over, looks at me and goes, and that's how you win games. In other words, deflecting. He always. The post game interviews with Bobby were not good because he deflected credit to the players all the time. And when things were going badly, he would just accept the blame and you know, go, go about his business. He was a part of that old school. He was with the, he was with the, the Yankees in the minor leagues. His roommate was Scott McGregor, became a great lefty pitcher for the Orioles.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Richard Justice]

And Scotty said that Bobby's the one that told him, hey look, you keep trying to throw the ball harder and harder, you need to throw it softer and softer. You need to start throwing changeups. And Scotty said it changed my life, the things, the things he taught me that I'd never, the way he looked at the game, I had never seen, seen it from those eyes before. But we're sitting, we're gathered around him in the stands of Candlestick Park. I believe it's Candlestick Park. It could have been the new park downtown in San Francisco. And Bruce Bochy had been fired by the Padres that day. Now this is the way a guy like Bobby Cox, who before he became a manager never really made any money in the game and never had any money in the game. He goes, he says, Bochy, he got fired with two years left on his contract. Man, that's the way to go. But that's the way those guys that never had anything, that's the way they thought about it. And I think that created a blue collar mentality that translated to his players. And I'm telling you, after he had the Stroke. You know, Bobby really struggled with his health the last few years, and when he would. The rare times when he come around to the ballpark, the outpouring of emotion from players, from coaches, from the other team. Just told you what people in the game thought of Bobby.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is very small pushback, but he had Smoltz, Glavin and Maddox. Three hall of Fame pitchers. Maddox.

[Richard Justice]

Well, not just that. He had a Hall of Fame center fielder. And Andrew Jones.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Andrew Jones. And Chipper Jones. And Chipper Jones.

[Richard Justice]

Chipper Jones. And he won one.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And he got in all the time. God bless.

[Richard Justice]

Right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

But he only won one. What does that say?

[Michael Wilbon]

That's true. That. That.

[Richard Justice]

Well, part of that was he had a bad bullpen a couple of those years. But I think that's why John Shierholz would have a toast to the staff every year to say, hey, what we're doing is in. What we're doing has not been done before because there was so much. What you call pushback in Atlanta. We're underachieving. So that all that is true. And I think Bobby. Bobby would accept. Would agree with you on that, that they should. They should have won more. But every year has. Has circumstances. Some of those years, bullpen let him down.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, they were in it all the time. I mean, so his contemporaries basically at the top of the chart were La Russa and Tory. Now, Tory failed in a number of places. In a number of places.

[Richard Justice]

He replaced Bobby in Atlanta. Ted hired one, fired one hall of Fame manager, Bobby Cox, and hired another, Joe Tory.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you put them all in the same category? Does one stand above the other?

[Richard Justice]

Well, no. I mean, Joe Tory got in the right situation with the Yankees, and he'd be the first to tell you that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Failed with the Mets, failed with the Carts.

[Richard Justice]

Like, to me, the person I knew the best was Tony La Russa. So much of what I know about managing and dealing with players and managing bullpens in games and preparing player, preparing teams to play for the game, came from LaRussa. We had. I had long talks with him throughout. Through the years about it. And it just. What I know about the game, even more than from Earl Weaver, was. Came from Tony. He was curious, always curious and so competitive. It was nuts. I knew him better than I knew Bobby. But for baseball writers, the Braves were a magic time because they were a model organization from the people Ted put in place. Terry McGurk. Stan Cassen is the team president. He was president of both the Braves and the Hawks for a long time. And John Shierholtz who Bobby brought in to be the general manager, and Bobby decided he wanted to go to the dugout. And John's in the hall of Fame, too. Yeah, he's in the hall of Fame, too. So it was a model organization and, you know, you just, you liked being around the Atlanta Braves.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's great to have you. We needed to talk about these things. Thank you, Richie.

[Richard Justice]

Thank you, Tony.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Richie justice, boys and girls. We'll take a break. We'll come back with email and jingle. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Michael Wilbon]

The Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Musical Guest / Performer]

Here comes Tony. Here comes Tony.

[Commercial Announcer]

Here comes Tony Smith.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Got your emails, fax.

[Commercial Announcer]

I sent your notes.

[Musical Guest / Performer]

Here comes Tony. Here comes Tony.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Here comes Mr. Tony Smith. That's Annie Cress. I mean, she's just better than you. She's just brilliant. She's better than you, Annie Chris. She's better than you. That's just wonderful. You want to do the Bethesda bagel yet, please?

[Show Contributor]

Yes. Bagel sandwiches today. Very happy about that. Just go to BethesdaBaggles.com for the location in the DC area nearest you. Then pop on in and you'll be thrilled.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, before we get to the mailbag, let me just say there is a house in New Orleans they call the Rising sun. And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy. Poor boy and God, I know I'm one. That's been done by a lot of people. It's been done great by a lot of people. Nobody ever did it as good as Eric Burton with the animals. Nobody ever did it that good. Eric burden is 85 years old today. Thanks to our guests today, Michael Wilbon, Richard justice. Thanks as well to today's sponsors. Remember, you can listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Odyssey. Get the show through Apple Podcasts. Please leave us a review. So I want to do these things with the names. I want to finish up the names. I don't know if I'm being repetitive. I forget everything. I have no memory. So we'll See if it sounds like I've done these before.

[Show Contributor]

Okay, I think this is.

[Tony Kornheiser]

First of all, this is another one. This is from Matthew Johnson and the official poet of the show who writes. As a millennial sports fan who grew up in Westchester in Fairfield County. John Sterling has been a much as much a voice in my head as Mike Breen and Walt Frazier with the Knicks, Howie Rose with the Mets, Mike Francesa and Chris Russo with Mike and the Mad Dog. Watching PTI on last Monday, it was interesting to hear your connection to Sterling and how he put you on the radio. Your voices, along with those of Mr. Wilbon and the sports reporters in around the Horn helped shape not only how I experienced sports as a fan, but but also how I developed my own voice, first as a journalist and now as a poet. Also as the official poet of the show. I must commend Philip Martin for the wonderful sonnets that he wrote that you shared on Monday. This is very nice. It is very nice. From Matthew Johnson. Thank you. From Andrew in LA. Almost 20 years ago, after a stint as the American ambassador to the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, my aunt took a position as head of Adopt a Minefield, a non profit organization that removed land mines in six countries. They raised most of their budget with a charity dinner concert in Los Angeles at one of the hotel ballrooms. Paul McCartney. Yes, that Paul McCartney was the headliner each year because his then wife Heather was a fervent supporter. He always brought a second prominent musician to perform. Nepotism. Nepotism allowed me to jump to the front of the line to buy tickets. And I was fortunate enough to see Sir Paul along with Tony Bennett one year. James Taylor one year. Brian Wilson in the the Beach Boys one year. Wilson's health was not good and it was just short of amazing that he could perform, but it was really something. Topped by McCartney coming out at the end of Wilson's set to join him singing a duet the second time the two of them had ever sung together. Could anything have gotten better? Well, at the end of McCartney set, Wilson came out and they sang another duet. Greatness, royalty, sublime talent. All in support of a noble course cause how lucky was I? That's a lovely one. Chris Garner. Bill Garner. Bill Garner in North Potomac. Chris. Chris Hillman. He whistled the National Anthem at Camden Yards a couple of summers.

[Show Contributor]

Chris Ulman. Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Chris Ulman. Yes. What did I write?

[Richard Justice]

Hillman.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hillman, yeah. Chris Hillman used to be the bass player on the Birds. I think maybe something like. Chris Hillman. Yeah. He whistled. Chris Ulman whistled the National Anthem at Camden Yards a couple of summers ago. Was great. Go for it.

[Show Contributor]

Chris Hillman, the original bassist of the Birds.

[Tony Kornheiser]

How about that? Thank you.

[Show Contributor]

1964-68.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh yeah, this is great. This is. This is. I'm reading the entire email. Yeah, my name is Tim from Scranton. What did I miss?

[Michael Wilbon]

That's really good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's Tim Welby. Andrew Zirkel, Andy in Fishers, Indiana. I feel compelled to chime in on the John versus Jonathan debate from a different angle and perhaps to join forces with all Jonathan's out there to stage a revolution against a silent H in first names. The woman name of the woman to whom I'm related by marriage is Rhonda. R O N D A no H. She was named after her father Ronald, who spelled also spelled with no H of course because nobody spells Ronald or Ron with an H except for the cold spunner from when they first moved to Indy, Ron Stark. Spelled R O H N. Weird. Anyway, I don't know who came up with the idea to insert the unnecessary H into Rhonda, but it was a bad one and needs to end. To this day my bride will get emails, faxes and notes from from seemingly very close friends who still spell her name with an H. It is an endless source of frustration and I feel that perhaps the time is right for all Rhondas with no H to align with all Jonathan's in this campaign to eliminate the silent H from first names. Thank you for spreading the word of this pending revolution. I don't know what this will mean for Michael, but every war has unintended collateral damage and it's a risk I'm willing to take from Michael Benedetti in Scottsdale, Arizona. Who cares about Mark, Tim or even Blake? Have you ever heard of Rockies Girl of fancy? Her name was McGill. She called herself Little but everyone knew her as Nancy.

[Michael Wilbon]

Fabulous email.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Bobby Gottfried writes. Michael is absolutely right about the resurgence of the name Owen. Our Owen will be six this Thursday. This is last month, April 30th. We thought it was a good but not overly popular name. Little did we know what lay in wait in the daycare class of 12. He was one of three Owens.

[Show Contributor]

Yeah, rest of the class was Liam.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They are. They were our O and G along with Owen. T and O and H. When ours learned to write his name, he insisted for years that it be spelled Owen G dot. That was very important when he entered kindergarten this year as the only Owen. We thought we had put that behind us, but no. There are two Additional Owens on his little league team. Combine that with a few older kids at school and a waiter at Woodmont and our Owen will now tell you that he knows 10 Owens. Bobby Godfrey P.S. when she was in college in early 70s, my mother shared an apartment with three women all named Debbie. She was the only non Debbie in the place. Yeah, there were a lot of Debbie's, a lot of Nancy's, a lot of Debbie's, a lot of Linda's. You don't, you don't see this. Jerry's girls named Jerry don't see it anymore. Bill Matfell, Fort Mill, S.C. mike Roseberry isn't alone in having a name that doesn't appear on his birth certificate. I was once friends with a Mike whose initials were rcs. We have no idea what the R stood for. I think the situation was one of his parents hated the birth name so they started calling him Mike and it stuck. I don't know how long that marriage lasted. Steve York. My name is Steve, but people often mistakenly call me Scott. Is that anything that's funny? From I'm a Drew, but also a part time Steve. My parents have a very friendly neighbor who thinks my name is Steve and I don't care enough to correct it. When visiting mom and dad, I'm always ready to be Steve. Also, out in public, if I hear someone call out Steve, I look around, I'll hang up and just claim my official part time Steve staff status. Yeah, I. My name is Anthony. If somebody yells at Anthony, I don't even pay attention to it. I don't. So, you know, that's, I mean, that's part of it. Keith Kirk, Captain, usn, retired. Dear Captain Tony, since the trend to be an official something at the Tony Cornheiser show is spreading faster than a fastball from Paul Skeen's travels to home plate, I humbly request to be the official Captain Kirk of your show.

[Musical Guest / Performer]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

My qualifications are that I serve 30 years, 7 active, 23 reserve in the U.S. navy. If it helps, I'm also a potato farmer. As you know, once you come back from the water, it's great to dig in the dirt. By the way, if Bill Shatner either has his designation or wants it, I can see. No, it's you. It's you. Speaking about potatoes. Where are we on the potatoes?

[Show Contributor]

We're working on the potatoes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We gotta get them in the ground in May.

[Richard Justice]

I'll take care of this. Okay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right.

[Show Contributor]

Yukon Gold.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. From Bret Hobbs in Linton, Indiana. I've begun a road trip to explore the desert Southwest. Can you ask Mike Wilbon if I may park his camper in front of his house in North Scottsdale for a few nights? Why? Do some sightseeing. P.S. i know I'm the only emailer named Brett with one T. Know that changed. That's changed since. So I'll declare ownership victory now unless Brett Maverick. No, that's changed from Ward K. Who I know in Vienna, Virginia. Regarding the names of Tim, Mark, Michael, it just so happens that the Census Bureau last week released the names data on the names listed in the 2020 census. Michael is by far the most common name in the United states. Nice with 3.4 million. Mark is 21st most common with 1.1 million. There's only 125,000 who spell mark with a C rather than a K. Anthony is the 23rd most common name with 1,075,000. Timothy is the 38th most common name with 800,000. And there are 14,000 with the name Nigel. What surprises me, There are only 7,000 with the name Ward. Ward K. I know Ward K. Dave Rivers, Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. You received a recent listener email boasting about five Blakes in the classroom. We had one less, but how about four Daves in the outfield of our 197912 inch softball team in suburban Chicago. Our team was the Rupert Mundy's, a name we borrowed from Philip Roth's the Great American Novel. Well, our Rupert Munday's was a collection of podiatrists, psychologists and sports journalists, some of whom went on to toll with Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, Sports Illustrated and Chicago Reader. Not bad for a team that had outfield crashes every time someone yelled, you got a date. That's funny. Not on your bike. Tight. Everyone is always do wear white.

[Michael Wilbon]

Okay, we wound up 5 and 11. Not very good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Steve Spurrier.

[Richard Justice]

But there were some worse than us. I guess that's one positive way to look at it.

[Michael Wilbon]

We weren't the worst team in the league. Yeah,

[Musical Guest / Performer]

Not exactly who I said I am I am feeling my antifa

[Michael Wilbon]

and

[Musical Guest / Performer]

if I took the time I could have the master plan but we both know that that is a lie

[Michael Wilbon]

so

[Musical Guest / Performer]

go to and fro here and there and I have to go away down

[Richard Justice]

the street to the corner took a

[Musical Guest / Performer]

turn to the highway Now I'm gone now I've gone Are. You not exactly who you said you are you are the girl that I've been trying to find Said I want to kick this corner give a flip in there you can cut out head to tails and I watch you land on his side it's wonderful to out of the doorway down the street to the corner Took your turn to the highway now it's gone now it's gone yeah. I'm not exactly who I said I am not exactly who I said that I am I am my best friend Best friend is his own best friend we all get out just by my best friend Best friend is his own best friend we all get along just found our best friend Best friend is his own best friend we all get along to find My best friend is his own best friend and we all belong just fine. Just because you can I feel that living would be wrong to do just Just because you can I feel I've been beaten to the bo. Just because you care there's no more mystery building to. Just because you care is the only reason I'm still here.

[Richard Justice]

Well, hand in hand we walk we

[Tony Kornheiser]

hold and hold we hold each other each other together together Feels like I could just fall from the stars this relationship has strong legs but lately I can't see a sin among two feet

[Show Contributor]

you know how the old saying goes

[Tony Kornheiser]

you know how the love grows longer the heart grows harder than that through

[Musical Guest / Performer]

a love love fading away fading away

[Richard Justice]

Fading away Fading away fading away.

[Musical Guest / Performer]

I feel that leaving could be the wrong thing to do Just because you

[Michael Wilbon]

can

[Musical Guest / Performer]

I feel I've been meeting to the body. Just because you can there's no more mystery building. Just because. I.