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“Not an ice cream night” - The Tony Kornheiser Show | Wave AI Podcast Notes

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“Not an ice cream night”

The Tony Kornheiser Show

Thu May 29 2025

Summary

Podcast Summary: "The Tony Kornheiser Show" – Episode “Not an Ice Cream Night”

Release Date: May 29, 2025
Host: Tony Kornheiser
Guests: Steve Sands and Ann Hornaday

1. Rory McIlroy's Absence from the Memorial Tournament

Timestamp: 20:39 - 24:40

Tony Kornheiser opens the episode discussing Rory McIlroy's decision to skip the Memorial Tournament, drawing insights from guest Michael Wilbon.

Tony Kornheiser expresses his surprise and disappointment:
"[22:58]... for me, I think, wow, is there some sort of implosion going on in the life of Rory McIlroy?"
Michael Wilbon shares his perspective on McIlroy's responsibility as a leading figure in golf:
"[23:42]... you have a responsibility to the sport... you could debate whether it should be mandatory... but Rory is so good at it..."
Discussion Highlights:
- McIlroy's Decision: Tony and Michael delve into whether McIlroy's absence stems from personal struggles or dissatisfaction with PGA rules, particularly the ruling on his driver.
- Golf Rule Changes: They debate the fairness and consistency of equipment checks, emphasizing the need for uniform enforcement to maintain integrity in the sport.
- Tour Championship Adjustments: The conversation transitions to recent changes in the Tour Championship, including the removal of the 10-stroke lead advantage, which both hosts support as a move towards fair competition.

2. Tour Championship Rule Changes in Golf

Timestamp: 25:37 - 30:04

Tony and Michael discuss the significant adjustments made to the Tour Championship format, moving away from granting stroke advantages based on previous performance.

Tony Kornheiser advocates for equal starting conditions:
"[28:07]... you don't stagger the start... it's the right move by a million."
Michael Wilbon agrees, comparing it to track and field events:
"[28:07]... you can't give somebody a staggered start... it's what you're supposed to do in sports."
Key Points:
- Fairness: Both agree that starting all players on equal footing ensures that the best performance determines the winner.
- Player Engagement: Emphasize that all 30 players have an equal chance to win, enhancing the competitiveness and excitement of the tournament.
- Historical Context: Reference past tournaments where rule inconsistencies led to confusion and dissatisfaction among players and fans.

3. Washington Commanders' Name Change and Public Reception

Timestamp: 30:04 - 32:18

The discussion shifts to the Washington NFL team's rebranding from the Redskins/Skins to the Commanders, highlighting changes in public perception and approval ratings.

Tony Kornheiser expresses his strong dislike for the new name despite the team's recent successes:
"[31:07]... I think the name stinks. I can't stand it."
Michael Wilbon provides a nuanced view, acknowledging the historical attachment while recognizing the growing acceptance due to the team's performance:
"[31:30]... I like football team better than I like Commanders."
Discussion Highlights:
- Approval Ratings: Transition from 25% to over 50% approval, largely influenced by the team's performance rather than the name itself.
- Cultural Shift: The renewed success under Coach Jaden Daniels has softened some of the initial resistance to the name change.
- Personal Preferences: Both hosts express a preference for the traditional names and discuss the emotional attachment long-time fans have to the team's legacy.

4. Ann Hornaday's Project on "All the President's Men"

Timestamp: 33:00 - 50:00

Ann Hornaday joins the conversation to discuss her year-long project centered around the iconic film "All the President's Men," offering an in-depth look at its creation and impact.

Ann Hornaday shares her experience researching and interviewing key figures:
"[46:07]... Bob Woodward still has one of the copies of the script... They were very generous with their time."
Insightful Quotes:
- "[48:03] Ann Hornaday: Jane Alexander's portrayal... one of the most beautiful scenes ever filmed."
- "[49:22] Ann Hornaday:... discussing with supporting players and crew members who take pride in the film's legacy."
Key Points:
- Historical Significance: The project explores how the film captured the essence of investigative journalism and its role in depicting real historical events.
- Collaborations: Ann highlights her interactions with original cast members and crew, shedding light on behind-the-scenes narratives.
- Cultural Impact: Emphasizes the film's contribution to American cinema and its enduring legacy as a masterpiece that blends entertainment with substantial storytelling.

5. The Evolution of Summer Blockbuster Movies

Timestamp: 35:09 - 44:02

Tony Kornheiser and Ann Hornaday engage in a deep discussion about the current state of summer blockbuster movies, examining their evolution and cultural relevance.

Tony Kornheiser laments his disconnection from modern blockbusters:
"[35:52]... I haven't been to the movie theater in five or six years and I doubt I'm ever going."
Ann Hornaday reflects on the shift from diverse storytelling to effect-driven films:
"[37:07]... Jaws was the opposite... focus on characters and realism rather than special effects."
Discussion Highlights:
- Historical Context: Comparison of early blockbusters like "Jaws" and "Star Wars" with contemporary releases focused more on visual effects and super-hero narratives.
- Cinematic Quality: Concerns about the decline in diverse genres and substantive storytelling, with a preference for character-driven narratives over spectacle.
- Audience Engagement: Observations on how younger generations consume media differently, favoring serialized television over standalone films, impacting the nature and quality of movies produced today.

6. Listener Interactions and Community Engagement

Timestamp: 50:50 - 63:29

Tony Kornheiser fields emails and listener interactions, addressing various topics ranging from local businesses to personal anecdotes.

Tom Brown Tribute:
"[53:00]... Honoring the legacy of Tom Brown, a pioneer two-sport athlete and community builder through his youth sports organization."
Local Recommendations and Personal Stories:
- Home Depot Flowers: Listeners share positive experiences based on Tony's recommendations.
- Golf Highlights: Recognition of college golf achievements and local team successes.
Key Points:
- Community Focus: Emphasis on supporting local businesses and celebrating individual achievements within sports and community service.
- Personal Touch: Tony connects with listeners by sharing personal stories and responding to their contributions, fostering a sense of community and engagement.

7. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Timestamp: 63:29 - End

The episode wraps up with musical segments and final remarks from Tony, blending reflections on the day's discussions with light-hearted interactions.

Musical Dedications:
"Can I help it if I fall in love with you... Suzanne this is our time tonight."
Tony concludes with a heartfelt rendition of a song dedicated to a listener’s sister, adding a personal and emotional closure to the episode.
Final Remarks:
"[68:06]... It's a special kind of power that cinema has..."
Tony thanks guests and listeners, encouraging continued engagement and support.

Notable Quotes:

Tony Kornheiser on Tour Championship Changes:
"[28:07] 'You don't stagger the start... it's the right move by a million.'"
Michael Wilbon on Fairness in Golf:
"[30:04] 'Whenever you watch track and field in the Olympics... you don't give someone a staggered start.'"
Ann Hornaday on "All the President's Men":
"[46:07] 'It has been a wonderful dive into that creative process and just the genius that went into making that movie.'"

This episode of "The Tony Kornheiser Show" offers a rich blend of sports commentary, cinematic exploration, and community engagement, providing listeners with insightful discussions and personal connections that highlight Tony's distinctive perspective and his guests' expertise.

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Transcript

Tony Kornheiser (0:00)

Hey, it's Tony. On today's show, we will talk with Steve sands about Rory McIlroy skipping the memorial. And we will catch up with Ann Hornaday about the project she's been working on over the last year. And also about what are the big movies coming out this summer. But first, let's do some commerce at Designer Shoe Warehouse. We believe that shoes are an important.

Steve Sands (0:18)

Part of, well, everything from first steps to first dates, from all nighters to all time personal bests, from building pillow.

Tony Kornheiser (0:27)

Forts to building a life for all.

Steve Sands (0:30)

The big and small moments that make up your whole world. DSW is there and we've got just the shoes. Find a shoe for every you from brands you love at brag worthy prices at your DSW store or DSW.com I.

Tony Kornheiser (0:45)

Found a kid who swings a golf club like a dream. I'd like to try to qualify him for the US amateurs coming to Apple tv.

Ann Hornaday (0:51)

Plus, what's your name?

Tony Kornheiser (0:52)

I'm not into older guys, but I'm flattered.

Michael Wilbon (0:53)

A new comedy series.

Tony Kornheiser (0:54)

Stick. I don't want to go on this trip.

Michael Wilbon (0:56)

Your mouth's saying one thing, but those.

Tony Kornheiser (0:57)

Eyes are saying something else.

Michael Wilbon (0:59)

From the home of Ted Lasso, you.

Tony Kornheiser (1:01)

See your shot at redemption. This is your mulligan, Owen Wilson.

Michael Wilbon (1:03)

This game takes and it takes. The game's finally giving me something back.

Tony Kornheiser (1:08)

Stick. You know, Arnold Palmer iced tea, lemonade. Mix it. I'm missing a nap for this. Streaming June 4th on Apple TV.

Unknown (1:17)

Previously on the Tony Korneiser Show.

Tony Kornheiser (1:21)

You cannot continue on the sidewalk, which I believe is a public thoroughfare. The sidewalk. You cannot on the sidewalk because this guy parks his Tesla so it covers the sidewalk, covers the end of the driveway and forces you to go into the street. While he may or may not be charging his car, I find this incredibly obnoxious.

Tony Kornheiser (18:30)

This is a song called if I Fall in Love with youh by Terry St. Clair. And if you wonder, will Terry St. Clair be any good? Well, Michael Granberry sent the music. Michael Granberry is hitting a thousand. Okay, so Terry St. Clair is lovely and Michael writes the dictionary defines busker as a person who performs music or other entertainment in the street or another public place for monetary donations. That may be technically accurate, but in the case of Terry St. Clair, it barely scratches the surface. I first heard Terry in 2009 when my wife and I were visiting London and found ourselves drawn romantically to a magical voice in Covent Garden. Terry happened to be singing if I fall in love with you. We stayed for the rest of Terry's set, and then I asked for Terry's card, which I'm so happy I did, for we have been in touch ever since. I soon learned I am hardly the first person to have been drawn to Terry's music. If I fall in love with you as part of the soundtrack of a Kevin Costner movie called the Upside of Anger, co starring Joan Allen, Terry has given his permission in the email below for you to play if I Fall in Love and Our Time Tonight, which in honor of songs sung to women named Suzanne. Thank you forever, Leonard Cohn. I wish to dedicate to my beloved sister Suzanne, who celebrated her birthday on May 27th. This guy can sing. And Michael Granberry has another hit, and it plays in Steve Sands. And this week is the Memorial. And I mean, it's one of those tournaments like the Arnold Palmer at Bay Hill because it's Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. It's one of those tournaments that people pay attention to. It's not a major, but it's something that people pay attention to often because Jack Nicklaus at some point in the telecast on Saturday or Sunday, shows up in the booth and begins to talk, and he is, after all, Jack Nicklaus. Rory's not playing in this thing. Nicholas was asked about it a few days ago, and if I'm not mistaken, Steve basically said, look, I love Rory. I'm not going to say anything bad about Rory. People have to make their own schedules. I understand that. But yeah, I was a little surprised. Do you have. You have thoughts on this Rory not playing at a tournament that he plays in almost all the time?

Unknown (41:22)

I think I. Well, I'm with you. I mean, I do think that we're aging out of, you know, like when everything everywhere all at once won. I realize, like, oh, this is so not made for me. You know, I mean, just the grammar of it, you know, the actual visual language of it is so chaotic and pinging around. And I'm thinking like, that is for a generation that grew up pinging around and scrolling and double screening and, you know, they just have a different attention span. So I think that's true to a certain extent. But I do agree with you that the. And this gets back to the 70s era where we had this. Kind of the reason why that was such an interesting era was that you had kind of classical narrative filmmaking. You know, people like the Sydney Lumettes and Sidney Pollock's and Alan Pakula's making movies about cutting edge material, you know, topical, timely content. And it was a marriage made in heaven, you know, and that's why I feel like we just got these great movies out of that because they were making things of substance and that resonated with the culture. And now I just feel like that if we're going to see stuff like that, it's more likely to be on television and in series, you know, And I think that's what I am missing is, you know, my favorite movie of the year last year was this movie called September 5th, which actually I would send you to. You know, it's streaming now. It's about the Munich Olympics, but it's not about the act. It's about how ABC Sports covered that event and how it invented a grammar, it invented a way, it kind of. That's how we, you know, that's how the news then covered, you know, those event, those real time Events from there forward. And that was all Roon Arledge. I mean that, you know, so it's inadvertently. He helped kind of invent a way of doing news which I think that would interest you on so many different levels and it's so well done. But those things are rare, you know, those kinds of movies that are really engaging us intellectually at the same time as just being incredibly well made and great entertainment.

Tony Kornheiser (52:54)

From Ben Carton. Not Ben Carden, but Ben Carton. I knew it was a long shot to see this name mentioned on pti, but I wanted to share the passing of Tom Brown. A common name, but an uncommon man. Most sports fans are familiar with Bo Jackson, Brian Jordan and Deion Sanders as two sport professional athletes before they took the field. Tom Brown was blazing that trail. He played for the Washington senators in 1963, holding down multiple positions on a team that included names like Don Zimmer, Minnie Minoso and Claude estein. After the 63 season, Brown left baseball to pursue football. Back then, with both the NFL and AFL competing for talent, Brown was drafted by two teams in 1963. The Green Bay Packers 28th overall and the Buffalo Bills, 20th over overall. Packers, of course in the NFL, the Bills in the AFL. He ultimately chose the packers in 1964 and found even greater success on the gridiron as the team starting free safety helped Green Bay win three consecutive championships from 1965 to 1967. In the 1966 NFL championship, he made a game saving interception of Don Meredith in the end zone during the final minute. A play that sealed the victory paved the way to the first Super Bowl. But where I grew up in Salisbury, Maryland, Tom Brown's greatest impact came after his playing days were over. He founded the Tom Brown Rookie League, a youth sports organization for kids aged 5 to 12. At a time when access to organized football or basketball was limited unless you were already talented, Brown created an inclusive league that welcomed everyone. It wasn't just about playing, it was about learning. He often served as referee or umpire and if a kid committed a foul or struck out, he would stop and explain why. He taught as he officiated. What made it magical was how he celebrated those moments. Each weekend, standout players had their names printed in local paper. For a 10 year old, seeing your name in the sports section was pure joy. There are many athletes who give back. Every one of them deserves credit. But I just wanted to make sure Tom Brown received a little recognition. Not just as a pioneer of the two sport athlete, two sport athlete, but as someone who built something meaningful for an entire community. That's lovely. Yes, it is. I was unfamiliar completely with Tom.

Tony Kornheiser (55:55)

Yeah, yeah. Eric at Earthbrew Compost in Chevy Chase it's not too late for your potatoes. The emailer who planted on St. Patrick's Day harvested in July. You can have a plentiful October, November harvest with those potatoes. Pretend it's 1932. Yes, that's what we should all do. Taking food and growing seriously. Pretend it's 1932, the Great Depression, which we are closer to than we've been in a while. Tom Targonsky, Sioux City, Iowa thanks for the tip on Home Depot for flowers. Like a lot of people, my wife goes flower shopping at this time each year, but never to Home Depot. After a recent episode of your podcast, I told my wife Tony Korniser gets his flowers at Home Depot and says they have good prices. Yes, my wife knows who you are. So off we went to the local Home Depot on Memorial Day weekend. My wife was impressed with your recommendation. Bought a bunch of flowers. I wish I had some funny line to make the story more interesting, but I don't. It's the simple things in life. Jeff Rickson, Fairfax, Virginia your segment with Tony Reality last week brought back fond memories of my own time meeting him at Fordham University. I graduated from Fordham in 2007, and during my four years there, Tony became a fixture of my afternoon sports, viewing both around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption during my junior year, Fordham hosted Charlotte in a men's basketball game that was broadcast on espn. Reali, having worked as a sports reporter for WFUV Fordham University, I assume that means came back to campus to do a radio spot during the game. At one point, Tony came over to the student section, shaking hands and taking pictures with everyone. I've attached a picture of me and my friend Greg with Tony. I'm the one on the right. As Michael said on Tuesday's show, Tony brings a boundless energy and enthusiasm to all of his endeavors. And while I'm saddened to see the end of a round the horn, I know that stat boy will land on his feet somewhere. And P.S. tony Reali is part of an incredible lineage of sports broadcasters who went to Fordham. You mentioned Mike Breen, but two other broadcasters, Fordham alumni, Michael K. Yankees, Play by Play voice, and Vin Scully. Yes, Vin Scully, greatest of all time. Tony Reali is. Yes, boundless enthusiasm. Yes. Right, That's. I think that's fair to say, boundless enthusiasm from Paul Thompson. It probably didn't make SportsCenter this weekend, but on Saturday, Aberdeen pulled off a huge upset by beating Glasgow Celtics in the Scottish football soccer to you guys cup final on Saturday to win the trophy the first time in 35 years. After the game finished 1:1 in 90 and after extra time, Aberdeen won 4 to 3 on penalties. Why am I telling you this? Well, Aberdeen's second penalty in the shootout was scored by Dante Polvara, who was a soccer player at your Georgetown University. Whilst he actually writes. Whilst whilst playing for the Hoyas, he was awarded the Herman Trophy for the best college player in the US he's been at Aberdeen since 2021. Is a huge fan's favorite. Can I put myself forward as the Aberdeen FC correspondent for the show? Paul Thompson? Absolutely, yes, please. Again, Neil Ayervase, he's in everyday. Neil Ayervis.

Tony Kornheiser (59:28)

From Dennis Bounds in Redmond, Washington. The woman to whom I'm related by marriage and I are at the Nats Mariners game. It's the second inning. Are you asleep yet? Oh yeah. Oh sure. It's like after 10. Oh sure. Mike from Mo Rather, Mo from Wethersfield, Connecticut. I have a very low hit rate on my emails. It's not just below the Mendoza line, it's below the menesses line. But I won't quit. I'll have to be dfa. Love you guys. That's great. Another Fordham alumni of note is Larry Limbo. Larry Lembo was a great official. Great official. He played basketball for them and became a big time referee in college basketball. He was also my gym teacher at Queensborough Community College in 1967. DG, of course. DG Don Hammock. Good morning old sport. All this talk about national championships has me wanting to toot my school's recent repeat. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community Colleges just won its second straight NJCAA Division 2 Men's Golf Championship in Plymouth, Indiana while Stanley Campbell from London, England won medalist to complete a sweep. The Bulldogs golf program has won five individual titles since 2017, and I'd hope you'd consider making them the official junior college golf team of the Tony Kornheiser Show. As I'm the Sid for the school by transit of property. That would make me the official something or other, I'm sure. Isn't that nice? That's really nice. So that's Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Mark Hughes, Ashton, Maryland. Next week I will be heading to Falls Road to play a round of golf. As I recall, it was at this course that your exploits as a charter boat captain first came to light here with Neville. Yeah, I do a charter boat. Is there any chance that you'll be holding court in the pro shop, regaling all with tales of the high seas and the mighty fish you landed? If not, I suppose I will have to settle for seeing the first photo of you on the wall with your record breaking sailfish, Dennis from the Rock, Conception Bay, South Newfoundland. Just thought you would like to know. While in Toronto last week visiting my family, we stopped into the Hockey hall of Fame. I was surprised to see they are sponsored by Haribo gummies. All guests upon entry receive a free bag of gummy bears. Wow. Yes. Haribo.