Podcast Summary: The Tony Kornheiser Show

Episode: “I’m not an eggplant guy”

Date: August 19, 2025
Host: Tony Kornheiser (with regulars Michael, Chris Clary, and guests Ryan McGee)

Main Theme/Overview

This episode of The Tony Kornheiser Show centers on late-summer sports, focusing heavily on college football drama—including Michigan’s recent NCAA punishment and the Big Ten’s playoff ambitions—with ESPN’s Ryan McGee providing expert insight. The second half of the show features New York Times tennis writer Chris Clary previewing the upcoming US Open, highlighting format shake-ups in mixed doubles and forecasting men’s and women’s favorites for the tournament. Throughout, the tone is conversational, wry, and classic Tony—mixing sports, banter, and cultural riffs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tony’s Weekend Golf Saga

[03:00–07:13]

• Tony recounts a frustrating, weather-challenged day on the golf course, marked by wet “cloud bank” conditions and dwindling player numbers.

• Describes the camaraderie with familiar playing partners (Mark Hocker, Ronnie Barrows, Rick Judge, Ralph Desena) and ultimately accepting smaller losses just for the joy of being out.

  “It was not bad enough to stop. There was no lightning. Nobody was going to blow you off the course. But...weren't any fun. So a bunch of people left.” – Tony Kornheiser [05:12]

• Notes he lost $9 but enjoyed the price of admission for good company.

2. Washington Football Team Preseason Talk

[07:13–12:47]

• Tony and Michael discuss the previous night’s Washington Football Team preseason game, focusing on rookie QB Jaden Daniels’ impressive, confident play, and rumblings about player trades (e.g., Brian Robinson).

• Compares QBs, asserting Joe Burrow is the best in football, even if Patrick Mahomes is the greatest player.

  “I think Joe Burrow is a better quarterback. They got to him...knocked him down...three, four times right early on.” – Tony Kornheiser [09:08]

• Discusses ongoing dilemmas, especially the status/future of star receiver Terry McLaurin:

  “If I'm Terry McLaurin, I'm not leaving this kid [Daniels]. I'm not going anywhere else. If you want to franchise me, I'm going to make so much more money than I made last year on the franchise tag.” – Tony Kornheiser [11:10]

3. State of the Commanders, Franchise Tags, & NFC Outlook

[12:07–12:47]

• Michael and Tony agree McLaurin's situation is likely negotiating, not true unrest.

• Discuss how strength of schedule affects the NFC East, and general unpredictability in team performance.

  “If they franchise him, he’s going to make...the average of the top five at the position...over $40 million for one year. Ask Kirk Cousins how the franchise tag worked out. He made like $100 million in like three or four years.” – Tony Kornheiser [12:47]

4. Interview: Ryan McGee – Michigan's NCAA "Punishment" & Big Ten Playoff Expansion

[16:00–28:23]

Growing Up in College Football Country

[16:05–18:45]

• Ryan discusses growing up on the North/South Carolina line, where college football and NASCAR eclipsed pro sports.
• Amusing anecdote: "Dale Murphy could have run for governor...and won at any point in the ‘80s." – Ryan McGee [16:21]
• How his Southern accent made him instant ESPN NASCAR expert.

Michigan NCAA Punishment Discussion

[19:36–23:36]

• Tony asks about Michigan’s recent NCAA discipline for illegal advanced scouting.

• Ryan: The main punishment is financial (~$30 million loss of postseason revenue), not eligibility or forfeit.

• Key figures (Coach Jim Harbaugh, Connor Stalions) are gone/ineligible.

• Frustration: No public apology from Stalions, who remains unapologetic and hurt the program’s reputation.

  “If you cost this school that you say you love so much more than $30 million...you’ve added this asterisk to this national championship...and not once has he said, ‘I’m just sorry I created such a hassle.’” – Ryan McGee [22:00]

• Tony’s response: “I’m not adding to that. That’s perfect.” [23:37]

Big Ten Playoff Expansion

[23:37–28:15]

• Tony asks about the Big Ten/SEC power grab and push for a massive playoff.

• Ryan warns against college football “becoming the NFL,” reflecting on Roy Kramer’s warning that 16 teams is a governance maximum.

  “This obsession with college football trying to be like the NFL—if I wanted to watch the NFL, I’d watch the NFL.” – Ryan McGee [25:54]

• Tony admits the lure of blockbuster matchups early in the season (Texas–Ohio State).

  “You’re giving me Texas at Ohio State in the first week...that’s unbelievable to me.” – Tony Kornheiser [26:30]

• Ryan notes this year’s college schedule is full of “ridiculous” Week 1 matchups, like Alabama–Florida State and Clemson–LSU.

5. Interview: Chris Clary – US Open Tennis Preview & Mixed Doubles Shake-Up

[30:37–42:12]

US Open Format Changes & Mixed Doubles Overhaul

[31:00–36:59]

• Chris explains the US Open now officially stretches 15 days and has revamped mixed doubles into a quick-tournament “event” within Fan Week—shorter sets, tiebreakers, TV coverage, top singles stars (Alcaraz, Osaka, Pegula) signing up.

  “It’s going to be sets to four games, not six...match tiebreaker. Only 16 teams...bunch of wildcards. A combination of stars. So it’s a whole different thing.” – Chris Clary [33:18]

• Tony notes how radical this is, in effect pushing career mixed doubles specialists out for star power.

• Chris points out the concept was spearheaded by Eric Butorac—a former doubles specialist—which ironically hurts current doubles pros.

  “Honestly, the top players are buying in and ESPN has bought in by showing it on TV, which they didn’t do with mixed doubles before. But the doubles players...are suffering.” – Chris Clary [36:20]

• Tony is excited: “I like the idea. If I were a doubles player, I wouldn’t like it...but...let’s go get Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi and put them in the draw.” [36:36]

US Open Players to Watch

[38:08–41:58]

• Men’s draw: Sinner retires in Cincinnati final, Alcaraz in form; Tony questions Djokovic’s chances.

  “Can Djokovic beat both these guys?...Can he muster it up?” – Tony Kornheiser [39:05] “Nope. Simple answer. Nope. I don’t see that happening...In this kind of heat, grueling two-week event...I just don’t see it for him.” – Chris Clary [39:06]

• Women’s draw: Wide open; Swiatek is in form, Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and young outliers like Canadian Vicky Mvoko also named.

  “The player in form is Iga Swiatek...won Cincinnati...I think you’d have to pick her as a favorite.” – Chris Clary [40:24]

• Tony praises the drama and unpredictability of the US Open, especially due to its night matches.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On QBs:
  “Joe Burrow is a better quarterback...not the greatest player in football...but [he is] a better quarterback.” – Tony [09:08]
• On Franchise Tags:
  “Ask Kirk Cousins how the franchise tag worked out. He made like $100 million in like three or four years.” – Tony [12:47]
• On Michigan's Penalties:
  “If we never hear the name Connor Stallions ever again...that'd be fine with me.” – Ryan McGee [23:36]
• On College Football Imitating NFL:
  “If I wanted to watch the NFL, I’d watch the NFL...Everything you do to make it look like the league, I just don’t get.” – Ryan McGee [25:54]
• On Tennis Mixed Doubles Overhaul:
  “If this is a real live title, I would imagine there are a lot of people who play mixed doubles that are going, hold on a second, what are you doing to us?” – Tony [35:27]
• On Djokovic’s Chances:
  “Nope. Simple answer. Nope. I don’t see that happening.” – Chris Clary [39:06]

Segment Timestamps

• Golf & Washington Football: [03:00–12:47]
• Franchise tags, NFC East: [12:07–12:47]
• Ryan McGee interview, Michigan/Big Ten: [16:00–28:23]
• Chris Clary, US Open preview & mixed doubles: [30:37–41:58]

Tone, Language, Style

The episode remains classic Tony: conversational, candid, and quick-witted. Banter among panelists and guests is good-natured yet incisive; sports analysis is knowledgeable but accessible, blending seriousness (e.g., NCAA punishment, tennis reforms) with playful digressions (kitchen gadget obsessions, grill ribbing, and “I’m not an eggplant guy”).

Summary for New Listeners

This episode provides sharp takes on ongoing controversies in college football (Michigan's punishments, Big Ten ambitions), insider tennis talk—including the seismic shake-up in mixed doubles at the US Open—and the usual helping of Tony's sports-life storytelling. If you like your sports with side dishes of humor, ritual, and the occasional culinary diatribe, this is a quintessential Kornheiser episode.