Podcast Summary: "L’Hiver Est Mort"
The Tony Kornheiser Show — March 23, 2026
Host: Tony Kornheiser | Guests: Michael Wilbon, Pat Forde ("Pat40")
Episode Overview
This episode captures the end of winter and the energetic arrival of spring in Tony Kornheiser’s world. Tony is joined by Michael Wilbon and Pat Forde for wide-ranging conversations, centering on the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, the Valspar Championship’s Northwestern success story, and the evolving landscape of college athletics. There's also plenty of classic “Tony” — weather musings, golf misadventures, and snappy banter.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Spring Has Sprung in the DMV
[02:14–07:11]
- Tony opens with vivid observations of blossoming trees and rapid weather changes in DC and Rehoboth Beach.
- “There's a cacophony of white and pink blossoms on a bunch of trees lining the street.” (Tony, 04:34)
- The famed cherry blossom festival is underway, and local urban forestry decisions have led to prettier spring streets.
- Banter on the fleeting nature of these blooms and anticipation for more stable spring weather.
- Tony laments his inability to purchase lined pants at Eddie Bauer, jokes about clothing sizes, and recaps a less-than-stellar round of golf.
2. Nationals Baseball & Streaming Woes
[05:19–06:46]
- Frustration over “cord-cutting” and the challenge of streaming Nationals games following MASN’s dissolution.
- "If you're the Nats, don't you want to be seen?" (Tony, 06:32)
- Discussion of top prospect Dylan Cruz being optioned — viewed as a significant development for the franchise.
3. The Valspar Championship & Northwestern’s Big Day
Featured: Michael Wilbon, Pat Forde | [16:58–21:41]
- Both Matt Fitzpatrick and David Lipsky — Northwestern alums — contend at the Valspar, thrilling Wilbon and Forde.
- Wilbon shares pride and “conflict” rooting for two Wildcats in contention:
- “But at some point, you gotta, you know, you gotta root for somebody. And Lipsky's never won.” (Wilbon, 20:10)
- Tony adds context about Fitzpatrick’s redemption after a near-miss at the Players Championship.
- Northwestern’s steady rise as a golf power highlighted.
4. NCAA Men’s Tournament: Predictability, NIL, and Power Shifts
[09:22–13:28 | 22:21–31:02 | 33:14–44:48]
Gonzaga Rant
- Tony delivers a classic take:
- “Gonzaga is the most overvalued, overrated program in the United States of America in basketball... They will never win the NCAA Tournament as long as they remain in the conference they're in.” (Tony, 09:22)
- Mark Few gets due credit, but Tony insists “they’re not equipped to win.”
“No More Cinderella”
- All Sweet 16 teams are from major conferences; the days of George Mason or VCU-type upsets seem gone.
- NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) & Transfer Portal are changing the game:
- “Basically, Tony, it's pro sports... the average budget for a Big Ten team in just salary payout is over $10 million.” (Pat Forde, 26:01-27:15)
- “The power and money is rewarded more than it ever used to be.” (Tony, 30:50)
- St. John's, Nebraska, and Iowa are the closest things to underdogs, but even they are solidly “big conference” stories.
- Wilbon and Forde express disappointment:
- “It's fascinating. There's going to be some great games. It's also devoid of charm... no plucky underdogs.” (Pat Forde, 34:01)
Standout Players & Teams
- Pat Forde: Loves seeing young individual stars breaking out.
- Praises players like DeBancer and Acuff, noting pro futures.
- “Acuff, who I see a bit of Allen Iverson in, except he's 6'4.” (Pat Forde, 24:36)
- Praises players like DeBancer and Acuff, noting pro futures.
- Iowa State, Iowa, and St. John’s noted for exceeding expectations.
- UConn’s strong finish, Illinois and Houston’s size/power, and Alabama’s resilience highlighted.
- Discussion of future tournament structure:
- “It's almost like there should be another tournament... for amateurs.” (Pat Forde, 31:03)
5. Women's NCAA Tournament: Consistent Predictability
[12:16–13:28]
- Tony calls the women’s bracket “very predictable.”
- “It’s just... very predictable. The arc of the women’s tournament is at this point, very predictable.” (Tony, 12:26)
- Top seeds and powerhouse programs dominate. Occasional upsets happen, but rarely beyond the first weekend.
6. The Future of Mid-Majors and College Hoops
[34:01–36:27]
- Transfer and NIL money have decimated the Cinderella tier — even traditional mid-majors have “moved up” to bigger leagues, further thinning the field for tournament upsets.
7. Around the Horn: Coaching Carousel & News
[44:46–45:34]
- Tony and Pat Forde advocate for Syracuse to hire Jerry McNamara as head coach after Adrian Autry's struggles, calling it the “obvious and right thing.”
8. Lighthearted Asides & Classic Tony
Various Timestamps
- Tony’s golf complaints — “I didn't break 100. I was rancid.” (Tony, 13:34)
- Running jokes: Eddie Bauer’s empty racks, lined pants, Bethesda Bagels, and mailbag zingers.
- Banter on new music submissions and shoutouts to small bands.
- Joking about van sightings (Frostburg, Mizzou), saltine cracker debates, and Waymo self-driving cars.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On March Madness predictability:
“It's fascinating. There's going to be some great games. It's also devoid of charm.”
(Pat Forde, 34:01) -
On Gonzaga’s ceiling:
“Gonzaga is the most overvalued, overrated program in the United States of America in basketball. They will never win the NCAA Tournament as long as they remain in the conference they're in.”
(Tony, 09:22) -
On NIL and the death of Cinderellas:
“Basically, Tony, it's pro sports... the average budget for a Big Ten team last year... is over $10 million.”
(Pat Forde, 26:00–27:15) -
On the transfer portal:
“Let's say you're a late bloomer... Now you can play your second, third or fourth and fifth years for that power coach, and that coach will come and get you from the portal and you will be paid handsomely.”
(Pat Forde, 28:02) -
On the Valspar Northwestern finish:
“At some point, you gotta, you know, you gotta root for somebody. And Lipsky's never won.”
(Michael Wilbon, 20:10)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Segment | Start | End | |--------------------------------------------|---------|---------| | Spring Weather & Blooms | 02:14 | 07:11 | | Nationals/Dylan Cruz/Streaming TV | 05:19 | 06:46 | | Tony’s Rant on Gonzaga | 09:22 | 10:29 | | NCAA Men’s & Women’s Tournament Analysis | 12:16 | 44:48 | | Valspar Championship/Northwestern Golf | 16:58 | 21:41 | | St. John’s under-seeded, future matchups | 39:10 | 42:12 | | NIL/Portal impacts on college basketball | 26:00 | 31:02 | | Syracuse Coaching Search | 44:46 | 45:34 | | Mailbag & Banter | 46:26 | End |
Episode Tone & Style
As ever, Tony’s conversational approach mixes wit, affection for his guests, and a signature blend of skepticism and nostalgia. With Michael Wilbon and Pat Forde, the analysis is knowledgeable and candid, but always relatable and laced with humor and friendship.
For New Listeners
This episode is a timely deep-dive into current college hoops, spring rituals, and the transformation of amateur sports — all through Tony’s idiosyncratic but expert lens. The podcast rewards both dedicated fans of Kornheiser’s universe and those following the shifting landscape of American sports.