The Tony Kornheiser Show

Episode: "Prepared for a siege"

Date: November 5, 2025
Host: Tony Kornheiser
Guests: Michael Wilbon, Chuck Todd, Larry Keith, (with “Reginald the Monkey” football picks)

Overview

This episode captures quintessential Tony Kornheiser: a mix of sports banter, personal storytelling, and a deep dive into the nostalgia of great sports journalism. The featured interview is with Larry Keith, longtime Sports Illustrated editor, about his memoir chronicling the golden era of the magazine. Regular guest Chuck Todd joins for NFL picks, interspersed with trademark banter, while recurring comic relief comes from Reginald the Monkey. The episode opens with a comedic story about Tony's water outage, swings into NFL talk, analyzes the cultural impact of Sports Illustrated, and closes with nostalgic listener mail and trademark musical signoffs.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Tony's Water Outage Saga

• [10:00] Tony recounts his home losing water, prompting panic and late-night faucet checks.
  • “This kept me up all night because I was afraid she had opened up every faucet, and if the water came back on, there'd be this explosion of water. And it cost $10,000 on the next bill.” — Tony ([10:29])
• Advice from neighbors, Michael, and a call to 911 unfolds, peppered with Tony’s neurotic humor.
• “So I was prepared for a siege. Okay, I was prepared for siege.” — Tony ([12:33])
• Resolution comes at 5:15 a.m. when water returns, but Tony’s bemusement remains.
• Light banter about the temporary logistics and aftermath (e.g., sediment in pipes, running appliances, neighborhood repairs).

2. The Value and Nostalgia of Fall Golf

• [06:00] Extended back-and-forth between Tony and Michael about recent rounds at D.C.-area courses, with vivid autumnal imagery.
  • “I played three of the most beautiful courses in this area in Washington, D.C.-Baltimore area... This is the best time. It's the best looking fall golf.” — Tony ([07:19])
• Reflections on playing styles, club selection, and the peacefulness of the season.

3. Sports Roundtable: NFL, Ratings, and Sports Media

• Tony and guests discuss NFL overtime games and a listener correction about Pete Carroll’s decision (continuing Tony’s “memory failing” bit).
• Conversation on U.S. sports ratings: World Series Game 7 outdrew NBA Finals Game 7 by 33%, surprising the panel.
  • “Baseball crushed the NBA. Yeah, crushed it. Which I wouldn't have ever thought.” — Tony ([08:58])
• Global viewership and the nature of fandom (Japan, Latin America, Europe) are debated.

4. NFL Picks with Chuck Todd and Reginald the Monkey

[23:40] onward

Chuck Todd’s Picks

• Dissects last week’s losses and provides new picks with analytical banter.
  • “You gotta assume they [Colts] bounce back here, so. I’d rather be at the Colts than the South.” — Chuck ([27:19])
• Addresses home vs. road favorites, the nature of team resilience, and coaching decision-making.
  • “You play to win the game. Hello. You play to win the game.” — Tony ([26:04], quoting Herm Edwards)
• Tony keeps count of Chuck’s faith in road favorites, ribbing him throughout.

Comic Relief: Reginald the Monkey

• Chuck visits the “zoo” for Reginald’s picks, delivering absurd jokes and anecdotes (Reginald running for a non-existent “Ward 10” D.C. council seat, with Rita Moreno’s endorsement).
  • “There wasn’t any voting in D.C. and there is no Ward 10. So this wasted all the celebrity endorsements…” — Chuck ([38:12])
• Reginald’s picks are delivered through elaborate stories about old photographs and famous personalities, blending sports and parody.

5. Feature Interview: Larry Keith on Sports Illustrated and Sportswriting

[41:37] onward

Early Career and Joining SI

• Keith narrates his journey from a local North Carolina paper to national recognition and joining SI.
  • “I applied at Sports Illustrated when I was still at Carolina… three days later I was hired.” — Larry Keith ([44:29])

Editing Legends and Magazine Operations

• On editing giants like Frank Deford and Dan Jenkins:
  • “Frank was not one of those who liked or needed to be edited.” — Larry Keith ([47:15])
• Explanation of the “horses for courses” SI culture — matching writer strengths to assignments.
• The anticipation of the Sports Illustrated cover: the most important decision each week.
  • “...that would be a cover story for us and we’d put the three of you on the cover.” — Larry ([48:53])
• Behind the scenes of famous stories, including the George Plimpton/Sid Finch April Fool’s hoax and breaking investigative pieces.

The Decline of Print Journalism

• Tony and Larry reflect on the demise of the print magazine, missed opportunities (ESPN purchase), and the end of a “dream job” era.
  • “His children, my grandson, will never understand what I did for a living. They’ll never understand the lure of being a sports writer. They'll never know what print is...” — Tony ([54:40])
• Larry on the limited future for sportswriters, loss of physical media, and shifting reader habits.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• On SI’s Glory Days:
  “Sports Illustrated was ... the most important thing that anyone could read about sports. More important than your local newspaper. More important than anything on television or radio anywhere.” — Tony Kornheiser [41:37]

• On Editing the Greats:
  “Frank [Deford] was not one of those who liked or needed to be edited.” — Larry Keith [47:15]

• On Modern Sports Journalism:
  “What will become of sports writers? ... The sports writer with a press card stuck in his cap and gnawing on a stogie. Those days are gone.” — Larry Keith [55:47]

• On SI’s Missed Opportunity:
  “At one time we were offered the opportunity to buy—are you ready for this? ESPN.” — Larry Keith [53:11]

• On Tony’s Water Crisis:
  “I went to the Safeway. I picked up two jugs of water. Why am I doing that? To give the dog water and also to flush toilets.” — Tony ([11:49])

• On SI Covers:
  “I wrote 19 cover stories and some of those cover stories were because of the event—the Final Four cover, the Magic Johnson/Larry Bird cover...” — Larry Keith ([48:00])

Important Segment Timestamps

• [04:50] – Correction on NFL overtime game/Pete Carroll memory confusion
• [06:41] – Golf tales and autumn leaves
• [08:35] – College football playoff/NBA/World Series ratings chat
• [10:00–16:00] – Tony’s water outage saga
• [23:40] – Chuck Todd’s NFL picks segment starts
• [37:12] – Reginald the Monkey’s NFL picks
• [41:37] – Larry Keith interview begins (SI legacy and memoir)
• [48:00] – Inside SI covers and famous stories
• [54:40] – End of the print sportswriter era
• [57:07] – Listener mail highlights and running show inside jokes

Memorable Moments

• Tony’s unique approach to household crises: neurotic, methodical, always ready for a siege.
• Nostalgic, heartfelt discussion of SI’s impact and lament for vanished careers in print.
• Reginald the Monkey’s “D.C. political campaign” and celebrity backers.
• Chuck Todd and Tony’s ongoing bit about road favorites in NFL picks.
• Mailbag stories with personal connections across generations and listeners discussing Halloween “potato” handouts.

Tone Summary

The episode is a blend of nostalgia, self-deprecating humor, and fond reflection—classic Kornheiser. The banter oscillates between irreverent (water troubles, monkey picks), analytical (sports ratings and NFL debates), and poignant (the fading era of print journalism). The show feels like a conversation among old friends, deeply informed and rich in both sports knowledge and life experience.

For new listeners, this episode is a perfect showcase of Tony Kornheiser’s wit, warmth, sports expertise, and the unique mix of humor and heart that has defined the show for decades.