“I’ll have the oysters”

Summary

The Tony Kornheiser Show

Episode: “I’ll Have the Oysters”
Date: July 15, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this wide-ranging episode, Tony Kornheiser and his roundtable of regulars (Wilbon, guest analysts, Steve Sands, and Jeff Passan) dive into summer sports highlights, including a spirited postmortem of the baseball All-Star Game and Home Run Derby in Philadelphia, the changing landscape of sports streaming, and a comprehensive primer on the upcoming Open Championship with on-site insights from golf broadcaster Steve Sands. As is tradition, the conversation veers into nostalgic sports stories, sartorial sidebars, and a healthy helping of banter about Philadelphia fans.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. The Streaming Wars in Sports TV

[03:06] - [05:31]

• Tony reads an email from listener Jim Gentile about the migration of major sporting events to streaming platforms, referencing the Home Run Derby’s appearance on Netflix.
• Key statistics:
  • 83% of Americans subscribe to at least one streaming service, while only 36% have cable; just 8% have only cable and no streaming (citing Pew Research Center).
  • Streaming now surpasses cable and over-the-air TV in total viewership.
• Wilbon, Tony, and their co-host lament the loss of the channel-flipping experience and debate whether streaming helps keep subscribers engaged year-round or creates barriers for fans.
• Memorable Quote:
  • Tony: "I subscribe to one or more streaming services. I do. I just don't know how to use them." [03:26]

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2. All-Star Game and Home Run Derby Recap

[08:17] - [14:46] | [36:09] - [43:39]

Home Run Derby:

• Philadelphia fans endured back-to-back heartbreaks as local hero Schwarber lost in the Derby finals to Jordan Walker, who hit six home runs in a row in sudden death.
  • Tony: “If he needed eight, he’d have hit eight.” [09:30]

All-Star Game:

• The Phillies’ Christopher Sanchez struggled as the National League starting pitcher, giving up three runs in the first — and the game “felt over” immediately.
• The American League’s pitchers dominated, combining for 15 strikeouts, three hits allowed, and a shutout.
• Discussion of key NL pitchers who didn’t participate due to MLB rules on pitching just before the break (e.g., Skeens, Mizarowski, Chris Sale, Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani).
• Jeff Passan joins from Philadelphia, reflecting on the display of modern power pitching and the problems it presents for baseball’s entertainment value.
  • Passan: “Half of the 54 outs in the All Star Game yesterday came via strikeout.” [37:47]
  • Passan: “The National League is clearly a superior league to the American League. I would be extremely surprised if an American League team wins the World Series this year.” [39:22]

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3. Tony & Wilbon on Philadelphia

[08:17] - [10:02] | [43:10] - [44:38]

• Wilbon can’t help but needle Philadelphia and their fans after a rough two days.
• Tony discusses his affinity for Philly as a New Yorker and lightly roasts Wilbon’s Chicago chauvinism.
• Jeff Passan offers a nuanced take on Philly’s “grimy” charm:
  • Passan: “Philly's got this griminess about it... I like a little grime in a city. I kind of feel alive knowing that somebody could be walking around the corner with the intent of punching me in the face.” [44:19]

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4. Washington Football Nostalgia & John Riggins’ Legacy

[19:41] - [22:17]

• Steve Sands joins from Royal Birkdale and shares memories of John Riggins — legendary Washington running back — as the team finally retires his number 44.
  • Sands: “To me, that's the most famous play in the history of... professional sports [in Washington]... John Riggins is an absolute legend in Washington, D.C.” [19:41]
  • Tony: “I would make the case that he is the number one player ever... I would say that Riggins is the number one guy.” [20:32]

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5. Open Championship Preview with Steve Sands

[22:17] - [34:10]

• Live from England, Steve Sands details the frenzy over the impending soccer semifinal (England vs Argentina) and the Open at Royal Birkdale.
• Discussion on Scotty Scheffler missing his first cut in four years—Sands believes it’s significant, but could be an outlier.
• Defending Open Champs: Unique difficulty since it’s not on the same course every year (unlike The Masters).
• This year’s Open is likely to play firm, fast, and low-scoring due to hot, dry weather; three-irons could roll 400 yards.
• Potential contenders:
  • Colin Morikawa (best irons in the world)
  • Tommy Fleetwood (hometown favorite)
  • Rory McIlroy, Chris Gotterup
  • Discussion of strategy: Don’t expect pros to hit many drivers due to course doglegs and speed.
  • Sands: “If you only have to hit irons off the tee here... give me a guy who's a great ball striker.” [26:20]
  • On Fleetwood: “He's such a good guy... if he's in contention... there's gonna be a lot of pressure on Tommy to perform this week. All they're talking about here... is Tommy winning here in his hometown and England playing Sunday night for the World cup title on the same day.” [31:46]

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6. Baseball’s Second Half & Trade Deadline

[45:47] - [48:07]

• Jeff Passan lays out his top three storylines:
  1. Who will buy/sell at the trade deadline, given “parity and competitive balance.”
  2. Uncertainty about bad teams trading assets: Royals, Red Sox, Marlins may keep pieces to contend.
  3. AL Wild Card race is wide open and messy; “the mess of all messes” is looming in labor negotiations (CBA).
• Passan: “I've tried to be optimistic... but there's a lot of very strong rhetoric at this point from both sides about where this thing is going. And at this point, it is nowhere good.” [47:50]

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7. Podcast Shoutouts & Paul Skenes’ Hidden Talents

[48:07] - [49:47]

• Passan plugs his show Sources Tell Jeff Passan, teasing a recurring “American History with Paul Skenes” and other behind-the-scenes All-Star musings.
• Passan: “Paul Skenes is like one of the most interesting and hilarious people in baseball... he's extremely intelligent... Good comedy can come in all sorts of different tones and Paul Skenes is actually that man.” [49:31]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Streaming Real Talk:
  Tony: “I just don’t know how to use them.” [03:26]
• Old-Timer Grumbling:
  Tony (about RedZone): “If that is on a streaming service where I have to climb a mountain to get it, I'm going to that.” [05:24]
• Classic Sands on Soccer:
  Sands: “Oh, soccer sucks. But the World cup is a spectacle.” [23:35]
• Open Championship Forecast:
  Sands: “First time we're going to see an open championship where three irons are going to run 400 yards.” [26:22]
• Passan’s Gritty Take:
  Passan: “I like a little grime in a city. I kind of feel alive knowing that somebody could be walking around the corner with the intent of punching me in the face.” [44:19]
• Oyster Moment:
  Tony (on his grandson): “He ordered oysters. He's nine. He is. And as a starter, as an appetizer... unbelievable.” [54:57]
• Philly Schadenfreude:
  Tony: “Philadelphia fans, what a miserable two days. Your players did. Squadoosh. They did nothing.” [13:48]
• On All-Star Game’s Relevance:
  Tony: “It's the only valid All-Star Game. So I want to keep it as the only valid All-Star Game.” [41:40]

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Timestamps by Topic

| Segment | Timestamps | |----------------------------------|-------------------------| | Streaming in Sports | [03:06] - [05:31] | | Home Run Derby Recap | [09:09] - [09:41] | | Phillies & All-Star Woes | [10:02] - [14:46] | | Philly vs Wilbon Banter | [08:17] - [10:02] | | Riggins & D.C. Football Legends | [19:41] - [22:17] | | England Open/Soccer Frenzy | [22:17] - [23:58] | | Open Championship Preview | [24:18] - [34:10] | | All-Star Game Technicals | [36:09] - [43:39] | | Passan’s Trade Deadline Storylines| [45:47] - [48:07] | | Podcast Teaser / Paul Skenes | [48:07] - [49:47] | | Mailbag / Oysters Anecdote | [54:57] - [55:17] |

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Tone & Style

As always, the show blends lighthearted, sharp analysis with classic rapid-fire banter, peppered with nostalgia, self-deprecating wit, and inside references. Wilbon and Tony each defend their city roots, while guests bring granular, anecdotal knowledge and humor.

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Summary

This episode is a quintessential slice of the “Show Stinks” universe: topical sports, a bit of cultural handwringing over technology, plenty of affectionate mockery of Philadelphia, true sports storytelling from multiple generations, and an on-the-ground Open Championship tutorial. If you missed the show, you’ll come away knowing why the All-Star Game felt both dazzling and oddly empty, who to watch at Royal Birkdale, and why, if you’re dining with Tony’s grandkids, you might be splitting oysters with a nine-year-old.

Transcript

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hey, it's Tony. On today's show, we will go across the pond to preview the Open Championship with Steve Sands. We'll also talk about the All Star Game with Jeff Passon. But first, commerce.

[Show Announcer]

You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Wilbon]

That was it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That was it. Because you say to yourself, well, what am I doing right? I can't. Because I can't fight this guy again. What am I doing here? Yeah Anyway, that's.

[Wilbon]

Oh, by the way, also Anders Yarit. Remember him?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Tennis player?

[Wilbon]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He wasn't much. Swedish tennis player.

[Wilbon]

Swedish. I never really won anything. I just love the name.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He wasn't like the other Swedish.

[Wilbon]

No, no, he wasn't. Edberg and Vlander and those guys.

[Tony Kornheiser]

How about Borg? Was he Borg? Because if you're not Borg, get, get off the list. Get out of the show. The Tony Corner show is on now. So I got this email overnight and I need to read it because it shows you how completely out of touch I am with the world. This is from Jim Gentile. Not that Jim Gentile. People who are my age remember Jim Gentile as a baseball player. First baseman, I believe.

[Wilbon]

Yes. I think you're right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Different Jim Gentile. This is in Brooklyn, says Jim Gentile here to follow up on your most recent tirade about major sporting events being shifted to streaming services for telecast. This would be the Home Run Derby going to Netflix, which actually worked for. Okay, but what are you doing? Is my position, he writes. I thought you would be interested to know the following. According to the Pew Research Center, 83% of Americans subscribe to one or more streaming services while only 36% have cable subscriptions. 83% now I subscribe to one or more streaming services. I do. I just don't know how to use them. But only 36% have just cable. Breaking those down. This is further. Breaking down those numbers further. Only 8% have cable and no streaming. Only 8% while 55% have streaming and no cable. That's the Wilbond position.

[Wilbon]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Bring Derek in. Streaming and no cable. In terms of actual viewership levels, according to ad wave, total viewership of streaming services exceeds the total viewership of cable and old fashioned over the air access combined. I don't have numbers specific to Americans 40 and under, but can only presume that the skew towards streaming is even more pronounced there, perhaps significantly so. You often say correctly, that sporting events are TV shows. Part of the business of putting on TV shows is to place them so as to maximize viewership. That is why sports are being placed on Netflix and other streaming platforms. This appears irrefutable by me. I don't know what I'm supposed to say to it.

[Commercial Voice]

Sure.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

Yeah. I would say you're missing the point a little bit that it's about the experience where again there are certain sports sporting events like the Sunday afternoon where you're going back and forth from baseball.

[Wilbon]

Yes.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

To do that, golf. And you want to be able to

[Wilbon]

go back when you're on those, when you're on those platforms, you can't.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

Now when you think about if you're the streaming service and you see how many people leave, even if it's for just a couple of months, maybe by having more of these sporting events, you keep them as year round subscribers.

[Tony Kornheiser]

There's a larger question here. Where is, where's the red zone going to be that I don't get the red zone at the moment on Comcast. It is closed out to me. This, they say this station is, is unavailable. Same with NFL Network.

[Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So what do I need? Where am I going to get the red zone from? Because I'm going to that.

[Wilbon]

That's.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I'm going to that. If that is on a streaming service where I have to climb a mountain to get it, I'm going to that. Just so we know.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

Climb every mountain. Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Ford every stream. Okay. Little inside baseball. Yesterday on the PTI program, we were, we were put in a position. Yesterday we are in the exact same position today. The lead story of our show will be the end of the soccer game. If the soccer game ends on time or in time to get on our show full time. Yesterday Spain beat France to nothing in regulation time.

[Wilbon]

That's right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It was over by 5 o'. Clock. We were, Frank and I were able to do the show in a normal manner, but if it is tied at the end of regulation and it goes to the overtime periods, which I believe are like 20 minutes or 30 minutes, whatever that. And it's not sudden death. No, it's like the NHL.

[Wilbon]

No, they play it out.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You play the whole thing out. Everybody gets a chance. 15 then. Yeah, 30. It's total of 30 minutes.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

Correct.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I mean, I'm sure there's a hydration break, the silliest thing in all of sports, which ends too. Yeah. But if that's going to happen, then we are unlikely to be able to start PTI with a soccer result. And so we will do something else.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

How nervous were you before that second goal?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I mean, I was sort of resigned to the fact that something stupid was going to happen. We were going to have to do the show in a manner that I didn't want. But then I was very, the second goal made me very happy and I was talking with Kelleher and a two goal lead that late is rarely overcome. Yes. And plus Spain's good. Yes, Spain is very, you know, France is very good. Yeah, but Spain is very good. I mean it's, this is not, this is not France, you know, the borough, Staten Island. It's not, you know, I mean, there were. So that's. That's what happened. I thought Spain got a third goal, but they waved it off. I didn't understand what happened because it's offside.

[Steve Sands]

I don't know.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Offsides in soccer. I don't really understand it. That's why Frank is on the show.

[Wilbon]

Yeah, Frank.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Because Frank understands soccer.

[Wilbon]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is very important for me, you know. But do you know what I found out yesterday? Kelleher told me this before the show started, sufficiently before, so I would have it in my notes, that going into this game, Spain had beaten France eight out of ten times. Oh, wow. So now it's nine out of eleven. They own France.

[Wilbon]

Yeah, apparently. Right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I mean, they may not own anybody else. I. I don't know. You know, I don't. You know, I don't care either. When this is done, this is lovely, meaningful.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

Is that if it's not with the

[Tony Kornheiser]

same players, you know, when it's done and you have the next one, God bless.

[Wilbon]

I don't. We know where the next World cup is.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's in three countries again.

[Wilbon]

Okay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think this seems to be what they like to do to go to threaded out, but I don't know where.

[Wilbon]

I get more bribes that way.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't know where. Let me get to the All Star game. What a terrible two evenings in a row for Philadelphia fans. It's just awful. This makes Wilbourne so happy. Wilburn cannot start any conversation about sports in Philadelphia without saying, I hate Philadelphia. He says it all the time.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

It looked hot there last.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He knows it bothers me because Michael went to school in Philadelphia, so. And I like Philadelphia. I do. I like Philadelphia. You grow up in New York, you like Boston, you like Philadelphia, you like Washington. So, you know, you like those.

[Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Like Baltimore. You like. Wilbourne has a deep and abiding resentment for anything on i95 because he knows in his heart that it makes Chicago the second city, which is what Chicago called itself for, I don't know, 100 years. The second City. It ain't the first city.

[Jeff Passon]

No.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. So he's so happy that Philadelphia fans watched Schwaber play great in the. In the Home Run Derby. Great. Just great. Get to the finals, post a number,

[Wilbon]

had every expectation he should have won that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And then Jordan Walker hit six home runs in a row in sudden death.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

No. Down to the last ball. Okay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Hit six in a row and he won. And if he needed eight, he'd have hit eight. Yeah, He. He Hit what he needed to hit, and he walked off. Philadelphia fans left the ballpark. Left. Is it still the vet or is it the link?

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

What is it? Bank?

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's the vet. It's not the vet.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

I said it's Citizens Bank.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Citizens Bank.

[Wilbon]

Right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I keep. We'd used to be the vet.

[Wilbon]

Used to be the vet. The old.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't know. Well, one of them. The football. Either the football or the basketball or the baseball. They're all, you know, they're all together.

[Wilbon]

It's not the Palestra.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's not the Palestra. I know the plaster is in town. These things are down on the highway.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

They've done a beautiful Renault at the Palestra.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, they have, yeah. Yeah. So they. So they left. They were angry because their boy got beat. Not only did their boy get beat, their number one boy, Bryce Harbour, didn't make it. Didn't get to the finals, didn't get to the second round. Then they come in to the All Star Game and it's the correct place to be. It's where the Declaration of Independence was signed. It's the right place to be on the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. It is. It's the right place. And they got their best pitcher out there. Maybe you would argue. Maybe you would argue that their best picture pitcher is actually Lowry. Right. Maybe you'd argue that because he's 10 and 1 and he's got a better record and he's got a better ERA than Sanchez. But he's not available because he told baseball to shove it. He wasn't going to go and pitch, you know, back off baseball. And he left and they put in Sanchez, who I believe deservedly started that game because earlier in the year he had a streak of 50⅔ consecutive innings without giving up an earned run. It's great. It's phenomenal. It's like third all time. It's wonderful. And he gets up there and he got the first out and he started. He was sweating profusely. I have no idea how hot it was in Philadelphia yesterday, but he was drenched. He walked at least two batters, gave up key singles to Cody Bellinger for two runs and Ben Rice. Yankee team, Alvarez single it start. So he gave up three singles.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

The exact same single.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right. Right up the middle.

[Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And. And nobody on the National League deployed their defensive players. Right up the middle. Didn't do that. Three singles and two walks and it's three nothing. It's three nothing with two out. And I'm sitting watching the game with my son. And the boys had gone to bed. Walker hadn't came back.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

They snuck back downstairs. So you have to trick the littlest one that the big boys are going to bed, but they go right back downstairs to watch baseball.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So it's three nothing and. And there Sanchez isn't out of the inning yet. And there's activity in the bullpen. And we both say to each other, you're not going to take the guy out. It's too, you can't do that. It's too embarrassing. Home ballpark, if he gives up 10 runs, you have to let him in. Nothing you can do. And I say to Michael, you know, this could be over right here. This game could be over right here. And I left an inning later and woke up this morning and it was over. Right?

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

It was over.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right. What did you say? How much did you and go ahead.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

No, I stayed up late. It was just, it was a rinse and repeat of, you know, bringing in a new pitcher who's touching 98 to low 1/00 swing and miss stuff. And was. It was very interesting because I'm more of a Schwarber fan after the last two days just for how, just how praising he is of the game of baseball, of, of his host city, these fans who came out to support him in Harper.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

And he, he was miked up for one of his early at bats, swinging so hard the earpiece just pops up. But you know what? He's game for the interview. He's trying. And then Harper gets miked up later again. He's just sitting there going, are you guys seeing what I'm seeing? This stuff is nasty.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So 15 strikeouts. This is, look, the National League. We'll talk to Jeff Passon about this. The National League has dominated the American League this year in interleague play.

[Wilbon]

Very much so.

[Commercial Voice]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Domination. Holmes and the American League pitchers, one after another after another after another, struck out National League batters. They gave up a total of 3 hits, no runs, I don't know how far the furthest runner got. And they struck out 15 and they won four to nothing. Ultimately, there was another home run by somebody I was unfamiliar with completely.

[Wilbon]

There's no doubt about that one.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. And. And you just say to yourself, wow. Yeah. I mean, Philadelphia fans, what a miserable two days your players did. Squad douche. They did nothing.

[Jeff Passon]

Nothing.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

Great to see Foster Griffin have a clean ending with, I think two strikeouts. And the question I had for you was, you know, this is an all star game where you're Sort of you, you're put best out there. Is that good for the game or bad for the game? If you're trying to just get general interest, it's, you know, 8, 40 and the game is over.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's bad for the game. What's really bad for the game is the amount of National League pitchers who are recognizable who did not pitch.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

And was that just sort of where you were with the schedule the last two days going?

[Tony Kornheiser]

They deliberately pitch on a Sunday because they know the rule is if you pitch on Sunday, you cannot pitch in the All Star Game on Tuesday. Rob Manford, concerned about this. We'll ask passing about this as well. Skeens, Mizarowski, Chris Sale, Yamamoto, Shohei didn't pitch. Yeah, that's a facts didn't pitch.

[Wilbon]

I mean that game if those guys.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But I don't know that it changes the game because, you know, the nationally got no hits. You have three hits and no runs.

[Wilbon]

I'd like to think Shohei might have put one out if he'd been playing. But he's. He's hurt. So. Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So anyway, so that's all I got. That's all I got. So we'll get out of here now. Steve Sands will join us. Steve Sands is in Royal Burkdale in England. Yes. And he'll join us and we will talk to him and to Jeff Passon. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

[Steve Sands]

You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser show

[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Steve Sands]

You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Jingle/Music Voice]

Wow. Wow.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is great. They play in Steve Sands and this segment with Steve Sands is brought to you by FanDuel. Play your game. I'm going to read something that is going to make you happy. It's not about golf, says Dear Tony. Thanks for paying tribute to John Riggins, one of the most dominant and colorful running backs of all time. His career 11,352 rushing yards, still ranks 20th among the NFL players. That probably understates his true stature, considering the jets drafted him and used him largely as a blocking back over five seasons he also sat out a season with Washington due to a contract dispute. Riggins is probably best remembered for his performance in the 1983 Super bowl when he shed the hapless corner Don McNeil near the line of scrimmage and sprinted 43 yards to seal the championship. But I remember an even more breathtaking play when he was a senior at Kansas University, and in a game against, I believe, Iowa State, he took the ball in the cyclones 15 exploded through the line, throwing away tacklers like children, lost his helmet and crossed the goal line on his feet, dragging a couple of tacklers with him. As I recall, the crowd didn't cheer so much as we gasped. We knew right then the guy was headed for the hall of Fame. This is from Richard Cowden in Beacon, New York. I'm just going to start with your you grew up in Washington, your recollections of Riggins, and your thoughts about the fact that he's finally long overdue getting number 44 retired.

[Steve Sands]

Well, Tony, one of the great memories I've had ever in my entire life, that first super bowl when Rigo converted that fourth and one and the Skins won for the first time against Miami out of the Rose Bowl. My dad went to the game, I think because of his relationship with the Washington Post. But my dad was at the game and the rest of us, my mom, my grandmother, my aunt and my brothers and sister were all watching the game and we were all on our hands and knees when Joe Gibbs decided to go for it on 4th and 1. To me, that's the most famous play in the history of not only that franchise, but probably our our city of Washington, D.C. as far as professional sports goes. And I was surprised that 44 wasn't retired already. Believe it. When I heard that, I assumed that it was already retired. I mean, John Riggins is an absolute legend in Washington, D.C. yeah, I mean,

[Tony Kornheiser]

I am not someone who grew up in Washington, but I've been here almost 50 years now and I have some sense of the Washington football team. And I would make the case that he is the number one player ever. And including Sammy Ball and Darryl Green and, you know, and a lot of other people, I would say that Riggins is the number one guy. And I was also surprised. You know, they don't retire a lot of numbers, but they have retired some numbers. I was surprised it took this long and from what I've read, that he had a bad relationship with Dan Snyder and maybe it was blocked on that executive level. Had you ever heard anything like that?

[Steve Sands]

I mean, I Can't believe it. I've never heard in my life that anybody had a bad relationship with Daniel Snyder. That's. That's remarkable. I mean, that guy. I mean, that guy stench continues to just hover around Washington D.C. until it just kind of floats away.

[Jeff Passon]

I.

[Steve Sands]

It's remarkable to me what he did to that franchise for three decades, alienating some of the greatest players in the history of the franchise, alienating that incredible fan base. But Rigo, I mean, my gosh, I mean, look, Daryl Green's probably the greatest redskin of all time. Sammy Ball, there's a lot of other players, but John Riggins is the most famous, the most beloved. Yeah, I mean, he is a beloved. He's a 100 out of 100. When you talk about the curating or belovedness, John Riggins is. I mean, I got. He's. He's Washington D.C. sports royalty for sure.

[Jingle/Music Voice]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I mean, I would, again, I come to it later than you come to it, but I would put Wes Uncell there. I would put Alex Ovechkin there. There are certain players on the Nationals, certain moments on the Nationals, home run moments where you say, well, maybe that guy is there, but Rigu. Rigor's number one. He's number one.

[Steve Sands]

Absolutely. There's any question about it?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. You're in England at eight o' clock tonight. England time. England plays Argentina to get to the finals of the World Cup. Do you have any. Now you're involved in a golf event, but do you have any sense of the frenzy there or is there no frenzy there?

[Steve Sands]

Oh, Tony, there is a massive frenzy here. They're afraid the country is going to shut down here later today. And as it gets closer to 8pm local time and if they win and they beat Argentina and they play Sunday at 8pm that's right after the Open Championship, there's a little bit of chatter that they might move tee times up here a little bit because they're afraid no one's going to be here beyond 4 or 5 o' clock to make sure they're home or in a pub or wherever they're going to go watch with their family and friends. If England is able to try to win for the first time in 60 years. You think it was a big deal in New York City, Tony, to wait 53 years for the Knicks. This country is on edge, man. They can't wait for tonight. I can't imagine how jacked up Nigel must be for tonight's game.

[Wilbon]

Oh, yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Are you still. I hope this is true. Please tell Me? You're still anti soccer. Please tell me.

[Steve Sands]

I'm sorry.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Please tell me you're still anti soccer. You still don't love soccer.

[Steve Sands]

Oh, soccer sucks. But the World cup is a spectacle. It's. It's incredible drama in the pageantry. I love the fans. I love that it brings the world together, all that. But I won't watch another soccer game until at least L. A in the Olympics in 28, and maybe not even until 2030, if the United States is even in it. Yeah, soccer blows.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, good. That's good. That makes me happy. Let's move to golf. It seems to be a very big deal. Maybe it isn't anymore, but when it happened, a very big deal. That Scotty Scheffler missed the cut at the Scottish Open. He hadn't missed a cut in almost four years, in truth. How important is that?

[Steve Sands]

I don't put a lot of importance into it, but I do think it's significant because it's been so long, and Scotty is one of these guys who is grinding on every single shot. He is not one to be at the turn on Friday afternoon, three off the cut line, and just pack it in and, you know, does it speak to where his game is? Perhaps?

[Jeff Passon]

Yeah.

[Steve Sands]

You got to wait and see what it's like here this week. Is it an anomaly, or is he not playing great?

[Jeff Passon]

I mean, he.

[Steve Sands]

He came close at the US Open a few weeks ago at Shinnecock. I'm not worried about Scottie's game per se, but I do think it is definitely a footnote for sure that he missed his first cut in almost four years.

[Tony Kornheiser]

A lot of people talk about how hard it is to defend the Open Championship, to defend the US Open Championship or the PGA Championship. We should point out this is different than the Masters. The Masters is played at the same place all the time. There are Tour stops. They the same place all the time. I don't even think it's fair to say defend it because you're not. You're at a different track, right? It's different.

[Jeff Passon]

Yeah.

[Steve Sands]

100. 100%. You could almost make a case that Jordan Spieth is the pseudo defending champion because he wanted to hear the last time it was played here in 2017. But that's nine years ago. Jordan Speed is completely different person, completely different player. So there really is no true defending champion. I was actually talking to Padraig Harrington yesterday, walking around, ran into Padre Carrington, who won the second of two in a row here at Berkdale, which is what Scotty's trying to do. He won his first a Carnoustie in 07 when he beat Sergio in the playoffs. And then he won here at Berkdale. Was in the final group with Greg Norman, if you remember that as well. Credible drama. And I was asking Padre about defending at a different place, and he brought up the exact same point you did.

[Jeff Passon]

It's.

[Steve Sands]

It's just not. It's not apples to apples and it's not one year to the next. It's from one course to the other. And, you know, last year, Royal Port Rush, completely different deal than here at Royal Burkdale. So, yes, Scotty is the official defending champion, but there really, truly isn't one this course favors.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What kind of player?

[Steve Sands]

Well, it's really warm and it's really baked out. It's the first time we're going to see an open championship where three irons are going to run 400 yards. You know, like 2013 at Muirfield, 2006 at Liverpool, when Tiger famously never hit a driver. I was talking to Justin Rose about 20 minutes ago during a practice round, and he was saying, you really don't even have to hit driver here at all on any of the 18 holes. The ball rolls out forever here, Tony. So if you're accurate off the tee, if you're like a great iron player, like Colin Morikawa, for instance, who won at Royal St. George's in 2021, he's the best iron player in the world. If you only have to hit irons off the tee here because of the way the ball is rolling out, give me a guy who's a great ball striker, a great iron player, like a column or gala.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So this is interesting to me because I think. I think golfers in the main, I'm not talking about pros, but those of us who try to play golf are excited when we take out the big driver and see how far we can get with the big driver. Would pros. Do you think there will be a lot of pros or a significant amount of pros who will say, you know what, keep it in the bag. I'll take a three wood around with me if I need it, but I'm going to hit irons all the time. Are they that much more accurate with irons?

[Steve Sands]

They are that much more accurate with irons, but the difference here is that you don't necessarily have to hit driver when the ball rolls out this way. There are a lot of dog legs. You'll see the next four days. What's interesting about Royal Birkdale a lot of interesting things about royal birthday, but one of the things is that it has more dog legs than any other course on the rotation as far as the Open Championship. So driver could punish you here at certain points because you could drive it through right fairway because of those dog legs. So I think you're going to see more irons here, hit off the tee more, less than driver situations with hybrids and, you know, maybe some three woods here and there. But I do not think you're going to see someone go out and hit driver all day long. Even the best driver in the world, you just don't. Not only do not need it here, Tony, this week because it's so dry, so firm and fast that it's almost unnecessary. And it's also too punishing perhaps to hit a driver here because it's so dry down.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Even Rory. Even Rory, who hits it, is the best driver in terms of distance. You think he'll go to irons, Rory?

[Steve Sands]

Well, I think he'll hit less drivers here than anywhere else we see him hit drivers. Now, I don't know exactly what his game plan is going to be, but after walking around this golf course the last two days and talking to dozens of players, you almost can't hit driver in certain spots. If you're the best driver of the golf ball in the world, which Rory McIlroy pretty much is, it's not just an accuracy issue, it's a distance issue. And if you are unable to put it in places that are going to make it advent just for your second jobs, then he'll have to dial it back.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Any weather concerns at all in terms of wind and rain, or is it just going to be parched like it is now?

[Steve Sands]

Unfortunately, it's just partially. The last two weeks has been a big heat wave here in Europe. It's about 80, 82 degrees here right now. You know, there's a little bit of a breeze. If the wind can kick up, that would help a lot as far as the scoring, but it's hot, it's not a cloud in the sky. And it's going to be like this pretty much throughout the rest of the week. So unless the wind kicks up, I don't see how these guys don't get lower. They're going to. They're going to have some low scores because there's just not a lot of defense of the golf course when you're hitting wedge after wedge after wedge with the best players in the world. But if the wind kicks up, Tony, then you know the scores will get higher. But right now the wind isn't too much of a factor.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So these courses have been around for 3,000 years. In a situation like this, are we likely to see 20 under win or even more than 20 under winning?

[Steve Sands]

Well, it's predicated on the weather, and with the weather forecast this week, I think you're going to see better scoring. The wind, if the wind can just pick up a little bit, I think you'll see higher scores, like I said earlier. But it could be one of those weeks. It could be one of those weeks where guys are in the teens at least under par and maybe close to 20 under par. That doesn't make it a bad. It doesn't make it a bad Open Championship. It just means it's not going to be one of those, you know, grind it out, par, par, par, par, par type of situations. You know, Sometimes when it's 52 degrees here, blowing 25 and raining, you know, the scoring is going to be really high. Place like this, when you have weather like this over the course of four days, someone's going to go. Someone's going to go low for sure.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. You mentioned Morikawa as somebody who stands out on a course like this under these conditions. I would ask about Tommy Fleetwood, who I think grew up right around there and has a great iron game. Is he another one that you think about?

[Jeff Passon]

Yes.

[Steve Sands]

Oh, for sure. Although there'll be so much pressure on him. Remember when 2019, when he went back to Northern Ireland for the first time in a long time and Roy McElroy had all that pressure on him at Royal Rush?

[Tony Kornheiser]

He didn't make the cut.

[Steve Sands]

Pressure very well. Exactly. Didn't handle that pressure very well at all. It's a. It's an overpowering pressure. I just actually spoke to Tommy just before we chatted on this. On this, when we connected on this phone call. And I was talking to him and he's such a good guy and he's

[Jeff Passon]

such a cool cat.

[Steve Sands]

It doesn't seem like the pressure is building, but if he's in contention and this entire area is ready for him, he still lives here. He lives about an hour from here. He knows the area very well. He's very well known in the area because he stayed at home. Not everybody always does that. Some, you know, he's got a place in the U.S. but for the most part, this is where he lives. And, you know, he's one of their own here and they love that. And it's. It's going to be a lot of heat on Tommy. But he can handle it the way his game is. It's perfectly suited to Royal Brookdale. And I just talked to him. Like I said, it's so interesting, Tony, he lives about an hour from here, and obviously you can play here whenever he wants. He's played here twice. Twice since 2017. The last time, the held here nine years ago. Yeah, he's not.

[Jeff Passon]

He goes. Nah, he goes.

[Steve Sands]

I don't play Berkdale. You know, Burkdale's for, you know, other folks. I don't play brick dust. Oh, okay. But he loves the place, and he knows he's going to get a lot of love from the fans, and he's looking forward to that, and he handles that kind of stuff well. But there's gonna be a lot of pressure on Tommy to perform this week. All they're talking about here, Tony, is Tommy winning here in his hometown and England playing Sunday night for the World cup title on the same day. That's what they. That's what they're desperately wanting right here.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That would be fun. That would be fun. Is Tommy Fleetwood still wearing those pants that don't fit and going into a pro shop and buying a shirt?

[Steve Sands]

I should have told him. I said, I got to go, Tom. I got to go talk to Tony Klondraiser and I'm going to send you a Johnny O Code. He needs help with his clothing, man. He. He's looking for a really sponsor. I think he. He's waiting to win a big one before a sponsorship comes his way.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, pick a couple. Besides Morikawa and Fleetwood, give me a couple of others you think might win.

[Steve Sands]

Well, you mentioned Rory. I didn't play great last week in Scotland, but.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right.

[Steve Sands]

Remember how he is the most American European player? Well, in these conditions, I think. I think Rory McElroy is perfectly suited for these conditions. I think Tommy is. I think Colin Morikawa is. I think, you know, Chris got her up, who just won a couple of weeks ago. He could also. He won the John Deere Classic. He could definitely come here and hit that low stinger, that type of player, a guy who control his golf ball. So I'll take those four guys.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. Have a wonderful time. Enjoy it, and we'll talk to you when you come back. Thanks, Steve.

[Steve Sands]

John, you're the best. Take care.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This segment with Steve Sands has been brought to you by FanDuel. Play your game. And we will come back with Jeff Passon. We'll shift from golf to baseball. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

[Steve Sands]

You're listening to The Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Steve Sands]

there. This is the Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Jingle/Music Voice]

Tony Kornheiser Show Somebody Someday

[Tony Kornheiser]

this is a song called Someday. It's by a group called Hale's Corner and Wesley Cook writes. A friend recently turned me on to the podcast and I'm really enjoying what you guys do. Just so happens I recently released a song under my project's name, Hail Corners Hales Corner. After a rather long hiatus, I thought I'd send it along again. It is called Someday and Michael. If independent artists like Hales Corner want to send their stuff in, how do they do it?

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

Send us some music by emailing it to [e-mail] and we do have the the promo code TKBDAY at Johnny O. But again, I don't think it. I don't think you can double dip if if they have a summer sale as well.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Just an FYI, my grandsons are the best dressed kids in the world because of the Johnny O stuff. I don't get it, but they better

[Wilbon]

than Scotty Fleetwood, right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Just great. I place in Jeff Passon and I need to read this. Now it's time for the All Star recap sponsored by five Hour Energy's Firework Freeze flavor. Ignite your taste buds with a red, white and blue freezer pop classic reimagined as a delicious firework freeze. Five hour energy shot. Find firework free shots online at www.fiveourenergy.com or Amazon today and plays in Jeff Hasson. Are you in Philadelphia, by the way?

[Jeff Passon]

I mean, you hear the sirens in the background, so. Indeed I am.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, that's good. So you were at. You were at the game. That's good to know.

[Jeff Passon]

I was, yes, sir.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So I told the story before, you know, at the. At the top of the show that I'm sitting with my son and a couple of his kids, and it's three nothing in the top of the first. And I say to Michael, I think this may be it. This may be it. And it was it. What did you make of that?

[Jeff Passon]

This, to me, Tony, was the most perfect encapsulation of modern baseball in a game played by the best in the world. And it wasn't just the American League throwing 11 pitchers and combining for 15 strikeouts. If you look at what happened after Christopher Sanchez left, the National League also pitched extraordinarily well. They gave up only one more run, and they struck out 12 themselves. So half of the 54 outs in the All Star Game yesterday came via strikeout. And when you put together our stuff and the vast majority of guys knew they were pitching only one inning and could really let it go, it's almost impossible for even the best of modern hitters to hit against modern pitching right now. And that. That, to me, says a lot about where baseball is. And I don't know that that's necessarily a bad thing, but in terms of an entertainment product, yesterday's game wasn't exactly the most exciting.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And the National League did not pitch Skeens or Mizarowski or Chris Sale or Yamamoto. They didn't do that. I guess. I guess the most surprising thing to me in the context of the season is the National League has dominated the American League in interleague play and did nothing last night. That surprised me. Surprise you? Or I guess it didn't surprise you because of what you're saying about pitching versus hitting?

[Jeff Passon]

Yeah, that's. That's just baseball, man. And the National. Here's the thing. The National League is clearly a superior league to the American League. I don't want the All Star result to skew anything for anybody because, you know, I would be extremely surprised if an American League team wins the World Series this year. And I don't know which team from the National League is. Is going to win. Maybe it's Atlanta, maybe it's Milwaukee, maybe it's the Chicago Cubs. I would take all of those teams, plus, of course, the Dodgers, over any of the teams in the American League.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right now, but the American League wins the All Star Game and people remember that. And I. My other question is, is there, is there a problem here with teams deliberately pitching their guys on the Sunday before the All Star Game to take advantage of the fact that they are not going to be allowed to pitch on Tuesday? It seems that Rob Manfred has been, you know, has been upset about this. Do you see some. Something in the future, a change of rules here?

[Jeff Passon]

I find it hard to say to teams that are playing games that matter. No, no, no, no, no. You're not allowed to pitch the guy so he can go in an exhibition game. And that's. Yeah, yeah, like that. That's always how I look at the All Star Game. The All Star Game, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter the 162 games that are played. They do. They're. They mean something. And, you know, when home field advantage in the World Series mattered and was being determined by the All Star Game, they tried to deliver meaning to it, so to speak. But it always was just an exhibition game. And even though I would argue that it's certainly more competitive than the Pro bowl or than the NBA All Star Game, you know, NHL does it. Does it all right, sometimes. But even. Even though MLB's All Star Game is, you know, quote unquote, the most meaningful, it's still at the end of the day, just an exhibition game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I agree with that. Except when I get to the last line, the last line for me is it's the only valid All Star Game. So I want to keep it as the only valid All Star Game. It's the best.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

I.

[Jeff Passon]

That's a, That's a totally reasonable thing. And I've never been a fan of. You started Sunday. You can't throw an inning on Tuesday. I like, I get it. Most guys are throwing bullpen sessions two days after their start. Not one day or off. Two days rest as opposed to one day's rest. But I talked to Jacob Mizorowski, who was out with, with arm fatigue, and I said, you okay, man? He's like, yeah, I'm fine. So all these guys are capable of doing it and not having those big names in it. I don't think it ruins the All Star Game. I just think it's a little different experience when you see the All Star Game. It's. It's really nice, Tony, to see the stars. And yes, a lot of stars were missing yesterday.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. Yeah. And I think they should do something about that. The only. I think that the large. Well, not the larger headline, because it's a subsidiary headline, but, boy, did the Philadelphia fans take a beating two days in a row with the Home Run Derby and the All Star Game. Right? They got crushed.

[Jeff Passon]

Got crushed how?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Because. Because they didn't win in the first night. They had all their hopes on Harper, who didn't make the second round, and Schwaber, who did great but got caught and passed at the end. And their starting pitcher comes out last night, gives up three runs early. And their hitters don't, you know, their hitters don't hit. You know, there's a. There's a sizable amount of people out there who take the Wilbop position that he hates everything about Philadelphia, and he's gleeful today. He's gleeful.

[Jeff Passon]

So I do not hate everything about Philadelphia. Philadelphia. You walk around Philadelphia at night, and in parts of it that I've been to, it reminds me of New York city in the 80s. And I look back, maybe perhaps because I was, you know, in the 80s, I was 1 to 10 years old. I romanticize what New York was like back then, but Philly's got this griminess about it. I know that's a word that has negative context. It's not meant negatively in this situation. I like a little grime in a city. I like a little action in a city. I kind of feel alive knowing that somebody could be walking around the corner with the intent of punching me in the face. Why am I gonna get punched in the face? I don't know.

[Jingle/Music Voice]

I.

[Jeff Passon]

You know, sometimes I've been accused of having a punchable face. I try not to, but if somebody looks at me and they're like, look at that smug. I'd like to punch him.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I get it.

[Jeff Passon]

It's fine. Sometimes, you know, I came out the day of the Home Run Derby, Tony, and went on one of the ESPN morning shows where you're supposed to have interesting opinions. And I said, the derby's gonna stink. And I thought it was going to because of the change.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, it was great.

[Jeff Passon]

I know.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Great.

[Jeff Passon]

I understand. Yeah. I felt like, you know, that when within 12 hours of offering an opinion on something, if your opinion has changed entirely and you are being dragged and shamed for that, it's probably a bad opinion.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, that. Yeah. But it's good. It's always good to have an opinion. It's always good to have an opinion. What are your thoughts about the second half of the season? Is there anything that you are highly anticipating, or do you think it's going to be much like the first half of the season and that we have established which are the better teams.

[Jeff Passon]

I think this is a second half that has three stories and the first one is what does the trade deadline look like? Because of all of the, however you want to phrase it, parity, competitive balance, cross Major League Baseball this season. I don't know who is going to be selling. I don't know who's going to be dumping some of the best guys out there. And you know, we know that Luisa Rice, for example, is going to go from San Francisco. We know that Robbie Ray is going to go from San Francisco. But Tony, even teams like Kansas City, they really don't plan at this point on trading Michael Waka or Seth Lugo, even though, you know, both would be valuable assets because the Royals want to win next year. And so the notion that even bad teams and like, really bad teams are not going to sell the inventory, I fear at the deadline this year because the Boston Red Sox have thrust their way back into playoff position because the Miami Marlins are a good team and probably are likely to buy themselves. That is a story that lends into who's going to be in the playoffs in the American League right now. The last wild card, Tony. The two teams tied for it, the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins, are under.500. So the American League is a complete mess. And then, of course, the mess of all messes. Labor. Yeah, I'm just. I don't feel great about where things are right now. I've. I've tried to be optimistic that there is something that can be worked out, but there's a lot of very strong rhetoric at this point from both sides about where this thing is going. And at this point, it is nowhere good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Plug your podcast for us so everybody knows where they can hear you.

[Jeff Passon]

Well, you can see the All Star episode of Sources Tell Jeff Passon on YouTube. You can hear it on all of your favorite podcast platforms. And you can learn things like why Ernie Clement, Buffalo Bills fan, loves going through tables, Paul Skins is American History Lesson and many, many more. But the Paul Skins, I haven't actually seen this because we filmed it yesterday. The Paul Schemes segment, I think is going to turn into like a regular thing on this show. And I almost want to do a completely separate show called American History with Polski because we went up to all the players who we were talking with and we didn't come to them with prepared questions. We said to them what would make you happy to talk about and they told us. And then we asked questions and the, the Answers were pretty great.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, that's good. Well, I'm happy to think that Paul Skeens has more than just a live right arm.

[Wilbon]

I am.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I sort of like him. Thank you, Jeff.

[Jeff Passon]

Tony, I'm. I'm sorry to continue this on. Paul Schemes is like one of the most interesting and hilarious people in baseball.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And that's cool.

[Jeff Passon]

Everyone just doesn't realize that he's extremely intelligent. And people don't realize this because he talks in a monotone. Do not let that fool you. Good comedy can come in all sorts of different tones and Paul Schemes is actually that man.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Thanks, Jeff.

[Jeff Passon]

Thank you, Tony.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Jeff Passon, boys and girls. That was the all Star recap sponsored by five hour Energy's Firework Freeze flavor. The iconic red, white and blue freezer Pop flavor you crave with none of the sugar. Spark a tasty flavor sensation with fireworks. Firework freeze. It's hard to say this. Firework Freeze 5 hour energy shots available online at 5hourenergy.com and Amazon. And we will come back with email and jingle. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

[Wilbon]

Evening.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Buyer's remorse. Buy a new car. I'll be moving in. Let's get started.

[Show Announcer]

Sorry, I think there's been a mistake. I bought it from Carvana.

[Jingle/Music Voice]

You what?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Show Announcer]

Great price. I even have seven days to love it or return it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So there's no.

[Show Announcer]

No, no buyer's remorse. More like buyers rejoice.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I guess I'll let myself out. Congratulations. I mean it.

[Show Announcer]

Buyers rejoice. Buy your car today on Carvana. Limitations and exclusions may apply.

[Tony Kornheiser]

See our seven day return [e-mail] you're

[Steve Sands]

listening to the Tony Kornheiser show. The Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Jingle/Music Voice]

Here comes Tony's mailbag. Got email, faxes and you know. Here comes Tony's mailbag.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Gonna read something for all of you. Eric DeLong and the Slappy Boys. The Slappy Boys makes me so happy. You want to do the Bethesda Bagel then?

[Wilbon]

Yes. Bethesda Bagels. We love them. You will as well. Just go to Bethesda Bagels.com for the location in the DC area nearest you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Then pop on in and you'll be thrilled. Before we get to the mailbag, let me say, Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids. In fact, it's cold as hell and there's no one here to raise them if you did. And all the science I don't understand. It's just my job. I've been days a week, a rocket Man A Rocket Man Honky chateau hit number one on this date in 1972. That's like what, 54 years ago. First of six straight albums to go to number one for the former Reg Dwight. Thanks to our guest today, Steve Sands and Jeff Passon. Thanks as well to today's sponsors. Remember, you can listen to us on Apple Podcast, Spotify and Odyssey if you get the show through Apple Podcast. Please leave us a review. Got birthday salutations here. Here's one. David Fellenius I'm a 27 year old high school teacher and baseball coach from Long Island. I sent an email to you this evening for no other reason than to say Happy Birthday and I wish you nothing but continued health and success. My mother and I are huge fans of PTI for the past 15 years or so. We find that 5:30pm window on ESPN and the incredible work that you and Wilbondo, along with the humor and tremendously entertaining informing banter to be a bright spot spot of our day regardless of the circumstances. Next time, Pablo needs to give you a shout out during the Happy Birthday segment at the end of the show. Many blessings to you and wishing you a great rest of the summer and beyond. Go nats. Jim Neal Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth, Texas. Shout out to Mr. Tony and he says happy Birthday. You got me by seven. Actually, I got you by eight. I got you by eight.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

Carry the one.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Mark lynch in Camby, Indiana. Why didn't you call me on your birthday? That's funny. That's funny. And Jason Bullet, belated birthday greetings, Dr. Porthouser. This would have arrived yesterday, but you didn't call to remind me it was your birthday. I like when people do that. Okay. From Glenn and Allen and Norwegian Soft Kitten, our dearest Hot Bagel. For those who may be wondering why we're still awed by the stage presence of the flowering potatoes during the Battle of the Point reenactment tour of 1989. Nothing before for since our 199192 winter tour of colleges and universities when you played bass for us matches our time with you. It wasn't just your virtuosity as a bass player, it was also your impetuous attitude which led to all kinds of unforgettable shenanigans. Remember that late night in the Waffle House in Pensacola? Pure insanity to steal from Lakers legend Hot Rod Hundley. You may have been number 33 in our program Hot Bagel, but you'll always be number one in our hearts. From Brett Hobbs in Linton, Indiana, I will be heading out Friday to my summer job. Three days on the road. I will give the TK salute to Patrick Sitter as I pass through Sioux Falls. I will be shutting down in Bozeman, Montana, before heading into human resources. To check for work. To check in for work. I thought I would send you pictures of what our local prisoners sent to the food pantry for distribution. Their potato crop is doing very well, P. S. Thanks to the woman to whom I'm related by marriage for holding down the fort while I'm away on my Yellowstone adventure. And he sends pictures of potatoes. And I can only hope. I mean, look, it's 100 degrees today and, you know, potatoes can die.

[Wilbon]

Potatoes can die.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So we don't know. We hope. Here's a haiku for the home run derby from Shad. Philly holds its breath. Coiled snake unleashes power. Wall says, not quite Kyle.

[Jeff Passon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Kyle Caldwell in Edmonton, Alberta, in Canada, one of the most exciting home run derbies in rich recent memory. Good thing it was on network tv, where most people have easy access to watch it, right? P S. It was on cable in Canada. Oh, it wasn't on Netflix in Canada. From Jared Schoeffer in Exeter, New Hampshire, I think I've come up with a perfect nickname for the Nats manager, Blake Butera. Baby boy Beauty. Beauty. That's it. That's the email from baby boy.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

Boots is very happy with his oysters.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Last night he ordered oysters. He's nine. He is. And as a starter, as an appetizer, I'd like. I'd like some stared at you while

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

he did it, too.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It was unbelievable.

[Wilbon]

You get a chardonnay with that as well.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Unbelievable. He's ordering oysters.

[Commercial Voice]

Wow.

[Co-host/Guest Analyst]

When it comes to ordering, he's.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That kid was raised right. From Brandon Borzelli in Lebanon, New Jersey. So Jordan Walker had a big comeback to beat Kyle Schwab in the home run Derby by homering on the final six swings. Which Nats bullpen guy did he have pictured to him? From Steve Gilm Moore in San Angelo, Texas, you mused on how the Nats have the third worst home record on Monday's show. Perhaps it's a potential fear of an angry potato farmer showing up and sitting behind the dugout, decked out in overalls and airing his grievances to everyone from Meatball Nicholas to the baby manager. Or maybe it's Saliza's fault. From Lee Gordon in Boynton Beach, Florida, it was interesting to learn in Monday's mailbag that Cincinnati is about to add a third major concert venue. Just one question at which one can we expect to hear the piano silence of Tony Beeson from Nakama? I omitted a piece of information on the Jim Steinman trivia. He's the only person to have both the number one and number two songs in the charts without being a part of either musical act. And of course, the Beatles are the exception to everything. Anyhow, I just want to give props to your guy Jim, as I'm a fan of his work. I blame the error on many years of listening to a bald orange man talk incessantly about the gnats, which I don't care about, golf, which I also don't care about, and soccer, which neither one of us cares about. Thanks for the entertainment. You keep my feet light on the mail trail. Patrick Sitter Sioux Falls, South Dakota Picking up goose feathers brings Good Luck no, no, Tony, you've got it wrong. It's picking up goose poop that brings good luck. Give it a try. Maybe another matter. The World cup still blows, so never. Jeff Barci Hillsboro, North Carolina Did Taylor Twellman earn shop credit?

[Wilbon]

We hope we don't know top 10?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I hope he did from Bobby Gottfried. Elita Olshansky is correct about the main inspiration for Animal House being the school that he went to that I can't remember the name of. But I need to stand up here for my alma mater and feel Neal in Rockville would want me as well, since he went there too. Elliot failed to mention as co writer the great Harold Ramis of Ghostbusters, Caddyshack Stripes and Groundhog Day fame, who drew his inspirations at ZBT at My Alma Material of Washington University in St. Louis. His contributions include hitting golf balls at the ROTC Go Bears. Wash you not Chicago. From Barry Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. Tony from this point, anytime forward that someone asks me to do something that I would never do, my response will be, I'm not going to sit on the bacon.

[Wilbon]

You know what? That's a good phrase.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And from Scott Napier in Madison, Wisconsin, golf cart Breakfast sandwiches are not as cool as pocket pancakes, but the chances of random intestinal issues make them far more exciting. If you're out on your bike tonight, everyone, as always, do wear white.

[Jingle/Music Voice]

Today for the podcast we'll be recording about baseball, We choose a path of history. It all becomes a mystery, like desert sands slipping through your hands, and all your tears and sympathies drop into an endless sea of hopes and dreams. But nothing's what it seems. I'm not the one to hold you. I'M not the one to scold you I'm not the one to be a friend I can't be that to say you I can't be there to make you see that everything's all right In a world of evil you blend into the scenery Just don't get tossed into the wash don't believe in all you're here through the darkness and the fear in the light you're going to be all right I got the one to roll to I got not the one to scold you I'm not the one to be a friend and I can't be there to save you I can't be there to make you see that everything's all right.

[Jeff Passon]

It.

[Jingle/Music Voice]

I'm not the one to hold you I'm not the one to scold you I got the one to be a friend and I can't be there to see you I can't be there to make you see everything's all right

[Steve Sands]

so

[Jingle/Music Voice]

young so soon to set you free My time is short and I must leave and say goodbye no need to cry I'm not ashamed of priest Love is pure My heart bleeds from deep inside you gotta be alright it. Sa. Sam. Sa. Sam. Woke up wrestling with the anvil on my brain Sunlight warming nothing but dusty flows and be a stage is to not something that I s for God it used to be easy to push on through without a thought.

[Steve Sands]

Today.

[Jingle/Music Voice]

But I do imagine that I'm stuck in the wrong decade but if you put me back there all my problems would be the same I try to claim that the. Someday some changes I want to be something in some way. Going to be somebody today. Sam.