The Tony Kornheiser Show
Episode: “She Cursed Well”
Date: November 17, 2025
Host: Tony Kornheiser
Notable Guests: Michael Wilbon, Pat Forde (“Pat40”)
Episode Overview
This episode finds Tony Kornheiser reflecting on a sports-packed weekend—golf, NFL, college football, and more—with his signature mix of self-deprecation and sharp wit. Regulars Michael Wilbon and Pat Forde join to unpack emotional wins and losses (notably for Northwestern and the Bears), analyze the shifting college football playoff picture, and swap both big-picture league musings and granular details about particular games and teams. As always, the conversation veers from serious sports takes to the absurdities of modern convenience and nostalgia for simpler times.
Key Topics & Discussion Points
Tony’s Weekend: Golf, New Friends, and Good Company
[01:29 – 07:08]
- Golf with Strangers: Tony relays stories about being a walk-on fourth with various golf groups, notably witnessing excellent personal bests from his playing partners, including the memorable description of Jack’s “career round” and Tony’s own contentment shooting his usual “92 from the Gold tees at Columbia.”
- “When you are there with someone who has the best round they’ve ever had, it’s joyful for them and for you if you’re not playing terribly.” (Tony, [02:58])
- Highlight Shot: Tony shares pride in executing perhaps his best shot ever with a 7-wood “into a 30-mph gust on 9,” even though “nobody saw it but me.”
- A Notable Playing Partner: Susan Lash, owner of Ridgewell’s Catering and “a woman who curses well,” earning Tony’s appreciation:
- “A woman who curses well is a treasure... when you curse well, not just randomly, but very, very specific and really pointed.” (Tony, [06:22])
NFL Roundup & Takeaways
[07:11 – 14:22]
- Disinterest in the Commanders: Tony bluntly admits, “I didn’t care about [the Commanders game] even a little.” ([07:14])
- Game Highlights & Rants:
- Points out how major games ended on last-second field goals, especially for teams salient to Wilbon (Bears, Northwestern).
- Critique of overhyped teams: “Don’t tell me anymore how good the Chargers and Atlanta are... Stop. Shut up. Both fans of these two teams. Leave me alone.” ([09:43])
- Observations about inconsistent performances, fantasy football follies, and the trend of Philadelphia’s competence in close games.
- “Philadelphia is so competent. Like, it doesn’t matter... they do miraculous things to win.” (Tony, [11:06])
- Discussion of NFC playoff picture: Seahawks, Rams, Lions, Eagles as likely “final four.”
- Thanksgiving Preview:
- Quick rundown of holiday matchups: Packers @ Lions, Kansas City @ Dallas, Bengals @ Ravens.
Age, Nostalgia, and Identity in Sports Clubs
[12:54 – 14:53]
- A Locker Room Encounter: Tony laments being addressed as “Mr. Kornheiser” even in familiar settings, feeling age’s encroachment:
- “I would like to be Tony. I don’t want to be Mr. Kornheiser.” ([13:19])
- Connections Among Alums:
- Story about meeting a Blair alum and relaying the connection to his daughter-in-law’s family.
Michael Wilbon: Emotional Highs and Lows
[16:52 – 30:04]
The Northwestern-Michigan Heartbreaker
[16:52 – 19:32]
- Wilbon, exhausted by “fanaticism,” is “as angry over Northwestern’s football loss... as I have ever been.”
- Context: Northwestern forced five turnovers but still lost on a last-second field goal.
- “There has never been a game in NCAA Division 1 history where a team had the benefit of five turnovers and lost.” (Wilbon, [19:21])
Bears Win, but Skepticism Remains
[19:33 – 22:24]
- Discusses the narrative about the Bears, who improve to 7-3 largely by beating sub-.500 teams.
- “Nothing on the team is great, but they’re 7-3.”
- Tony credits the Bears’ coaching staff for the turnaround:
- “For the first time in 20 years [the coaching staff] is great.” (Tony, [21:03])
- Wilbon outlines their challenging upcoming schedule and possible “four playoff games” to finish the year.
Eagles, Philly Fans, and Gratitude
[22:33 – 23:44]
- Wilbon pokes fun at Eagles fans:
- “The amount of moaning and whining is something I dismiss in very colorful language... All the Eagles do is win.” (Wilbon, [23:32])
College Football: Playoff Picture and Power Rankings
[23:44 – 30:00]
- Both hosts swap predictions and reactions for Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, and more.
- Wilbon is skeptical about Michigan’s ceiling—sees them as “like a lot of other teams ranked between 25 and 50.”
- Pro & College “best wins” discussion:
- Wilbon: “Probably Denver—because they dispatched a monster and a rival... If they didn’t get rid of them, they wounded them.” ([26:49])
Pat Forde (“Pat40”) on College Football Chaos
[32:08 – 45:23]
Baylor/Mack Rhoades Controversy
[32:36 – 34:07]
- Sudden resignation from the playoff committee and as Baylor AD, shrouded in investigation.
- “It doesn’t sound too good... I thought Mack Rhoades looked and sounded haggard, disheveled, a little disoriented even on the last playoff show. So I think this was looming over him.” (Pat, [33:59])
Playoff Rankings and Major Teams
[34:22 – 37:13]
- Alabama’s likely drop but survival in rankings.
- Texas as a possible “top three-loss candidate,” but the path is tough.
- Indiana praised for resilience; Texas A&M’s improbable comeback lauded.
Conference Power, Playoff Expansion & SEC Dominance
[39:20 – 44:59]
- Tony: “The committee hates the ACC. Like, loathes them beyond anything you could ever imagine.”
- Pat: “The ACC is a mess... Miami choked like dogs... Louisville blew it. Clemson is no good. Florida State is no good.”
- “I agree with that...the SEC is preeminent... If I was the SEC, I would just say to the chairman of the Big Ten: ‘Okay, we’re going to leave now, we’re going to make our own conference. You’re welcome to join!’” (Tony, [43:01])
- Inclusion in expanded playoffs discussed; “Gang of Five” drama continues—James Madison as possible leader.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- On Golf and Companionship:
- “When you are there with someone who has the best round they’ve ever had, it’s joyful for them and for you.” (Tony, [02:58])
- On Sports Fan Exhaustion:
- “I’m exhausted from my own fanaticism. That’s what fanaticism is.” (Wilbon, [16:52])
- On Philly Fans:
- “The amount of moaning and whining is something I dismiss in very colorful language… All the Eagles do is win.” (Wilbon, [23:32])
- On Being Called ‘Mr. Kornheiser’:
- “I would like to be Tony. I don’t want to be Mr. Kornheiser.” (Tony, [13:19])
- On the Illogic of Playoff Determinations:
- “The committee hates the ACC. Like, loathes them beyond anything you could ever imagine.” (Tony, [39:20])
- On the Weekend of Games:
- “Yesterday was the best slate of NFL games this season.” (Wilbon, [26:16])
Segment Timestamps
| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------|-------------------| | Golf stories & partners | [01:29 – 07:08] | | NFL weekend breakdown | [07:11 – 14:22] | | Age, nostalgia, club identity | [12:54 – 14:53] | | Wilbon: Northwestern & Bears | [16:52 – 30:04] | | Pat Forde: Baylor, Playoff talk | [32:08 – 45:23] | | Listener Mail & Notable Stories | [46:34 – 56:36] |
Listener Mail & Endnotes
[46:34 – 56:36]
- Stories feature legal tangles about cash at sports venues, nostalgia about regional ties, absurd youth sports victories, and generational changes in sports culture.
- Tony’s “Splish Splash” poetic sing-along and cheerful banter cap things off with warmth and nostalgia.
Tone & Style
Tony’s signature blend of humor, humility, and skepticism permeates the show: he pokes fun at himself, marvels at minor joys (like a good golf shot or a cursing playing partner), and voices frank opinions about sports and society. Wilbon and Pat Forde match his fun, insight, and candor, making for a lively, relatable, and sharply-observed sports conversation.
For Listeners Who Missed It
This episode offers an authentic slice of Tony Kornheiser—ruminations on aging, camaraderie, and sports agony and ecstasy—anchored by lively, insightful breakdowns of both NFL and college football action. Much like the best sporting weekends, it’s full of dramatic finishes, unexpected laughs, and really good company.