“Some things never bleepin’ change”

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Some things never bleepin’ change" - The Tony Kornheiser Show

Release Date: May 15, 2025
Host: Tony Kornheiser
Guests: Andy Beyer, Steve Sands, Tim Kirchen
Production: This Show Stinks Productions, LLC

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1. Introduction to Today's Topics

Tony Kornheiser kicks off the episode by outlining the main discussions for the day:

• Horse Racing: Insights on the Preakness Stakes with Andy Beyer.
• Golf: Preparations for the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow with Steve Sands.
• Baseball: The controversial reinstatement of Pete Rose and the Black Sox into the Hall of Fame with Tim Kirchen.

Notable Quote:
Tony Kornheiser (00:00): "On today's show, we'll check in with Andy Beyer... and we will chat with Tim Kirchen about baseball..."

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2. Horse Racing and the Preakness Stakes with Andy Beyer

a. Overview of the Derby and Preakness

Andy Beyer provides a detailed analysis of the recent Kentucky Derby, emphasizing the performance of the top horses, Sovereignty and Journalism.

Notable Quotes:
Andy Beyer (02:45): "There were no really huge extenuating circumstances... Sovereignty won fair and square."
Tony Kornheiser (09:01): "So there is no Triple Crown this year."

b. Concerns Over Scheduling and Triple Crown

Tony and Andy delve into the implications of not running the Derby winner in the Preakness, criticizing the outdated scheduling that hinders the possibility of a Triple Crown.

Notable Quotes:
Tony Kornheiser (04:23): "This has become common. I think it's bad."
Andy Beyer (05:36): "Changing it proved very difficult... It just seems ridiculous to me."

c. Future of the Preakness and Track Pressures

Andy discusses the resistance from tracks like Pimlico and the Pennsylvania venue to adapt the schedule, highlighting the need for modernization to preserve the sport's prestige.

Notable Quotes:
Andy Beyer (10:09): "They have been. I think that some pressure is going to come on them..."
Tony Kornheiser (11:15): "You liked Journalism in the Derby. Do you like Journalism again here?"

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3. Golf and the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow with Steve Sands

a. Weather Conditions and Course Challenges

Steve Sands provides a weather update, noting the wet conditions at Quail Hollow due to recent rains, which could lead to challenging play with "mud balls."

Notable Quotes:
Steve Sands (24:41): "The weather's gonna be all right... the golf course is really soaked."
Tony Kornheiser (25:14): "Do you know who's a member of Quail Hollow? Mitch Kupchak."

b. Course Prestige and Major Championship Hosting

Discussion centers on Quail Hollow's status as a major championship venue, comparing it to traditional courses like Augusta and Pebble Beach, and debating its suitability and prestige.

Notable Quotes:
Andy Beyer (26:14): "Quail Hollow is a newer... but it is a worthy venue."
Tony Kornheiser (26:52): "Is this not the least predictable of the majors?"

c. Player Insights and Expectations

Andy shares his thoughts on top golfers like Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, and Scottie Scheffler, analyzing their prospects in the upcoming championship.

Notable Quotes:
Andy Beyer (31:49): "I'm huge on Rory this week because... there's no way that he doesn't come in here with great vibes."
Tony Kornheiser (33:31): "...if I give you Rory and Justin Thomas... Do you take them or the field?"

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4. Baseball and Hall of Fame Controversies with Tim Kirchen

a. Reinstatement of Pete Rose and the Black Sox

Tim Kirchen discusses the recent announcements by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred regarding lifting lifetime bans on Pete Rose and the Black Sox, exploring the implications for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Notable Quotes:
Tim Kirchen (38:59): "There is no way at all that the baseball writers would put Pete Rose in."
Tony Kornheiser (47:29): "Should Pete Rose be in the hall of Fame? Sure."

b. Committee Dynamics and Voting Processes

The conversation delves into the voting mechanisms of the Hall of Fame, debating whether special committees could override traditional writer votes and the potential resistance from former players.

Notable Quotes:
Tim Kirchen (40:45): "It's the makeup of the committee that matters most."
Tony Kornheiser (43:12): "Someone is going to stand up... and say, we should let him in."

c. Ethical Considerations and Legacy

Tony and Tim debate the ethical ramifications of reinstating banned players, contrasting Pete Rose's actions with historical scandals like the Black Sox, and discussing how legacies should be managed.

Notable Quotes:
Tony Kornheiser (48:23): "You don't have to love him, but you have to admire how much he loved to play."
Tim Kirchen (44:58): "Maybe that's just Frank Robinson being so passionate."

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5. Mailbag and Listener Messages

a. Listener Emails and Comments

Tony reads various listener emails, ranging from personal anecdotes and humorous stories to questions about sports and life experiences.

Notable Highlights:

• Key Lime Thyme Cheesecake Offer: A listener offers to send homemade cheesecake to Tony (54:08).
• Golf Grip Advice: A listener seeks Michael's opinion on unconventional golf grips, with Tim providing expert advice (57:40).

b. Humorous Exchanges and Personal Stories

The segment includes light-hearted banter about family sizes, stand-up comedy attempts by intern Chris, and amusing mishaps like lost golf balls.

Notable Quotes:
Tony Kornheiser (53:00): "I got nothing catchy, witty or clever to say."
Michael Wilbon (57:57): "Yeah, I think you're describing left hand low crosshanded grip."

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6. Advertisements and Sponsorships

Skipped as per guidelines.

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7. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Tony wraps up the episode by reflecting on the day's discussions, expressing appreciation for the guests and listeners, and teasing upcoming segments.

Notable Quote:
Tony Kornheiser (53:36): "It's like you just get me. I feel like my true self with you."

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Key Takeaways:

• Horse Racing: Current scheduling issues impede the possibility of a Triple Crown, with track organizations resistant to necessary changes.
• Golf: The PGA Championship at Quail Hollow faces challenging conditions due to recent rains, potentially affecting player performances and tournament outcomes.
• Baseball: The potential reinstatement of Pete Rose and the Black Sox into the Hall of Fame sparks intense debate over ethics, legacy, and the integrity of the sport.
• Listener Engagement: The show maintains strong interaction with its audience through diverse and engaging emails, fostering a sense of community.

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Notable Quotes by Speakers:

• Tony Kornheiser (09:01): "So there is no Triple Crown this year."
• Andy Beyer (05:36): "Changing it proved very difficult... It just seems ridiculous to me."
• Steve Sands (24:41): "The weather's gonna be all right... the golf course is really soaked."
• Tim Kirchen (38:59): "There is no way at all that the baseball writers would put Pete Rose in."

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This episode of "The Tony Kornheiser Show" offers a comprehensive exploration of current issues in horse racing, golf, and baseball, enriched by expert insights from seasoned guests and vibrant interactions with the audience. Whether you're a sports enthusiast or a casual listener, the lively discussions and relatable anecdotes provide valuable perspectives and entertaining content.

Transcript

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hey, it's Tony. On today's show, we'll check in with Andy Beyer to see who he likes in the Preakness. We'll also talk to Steve Sands, who's at Quail Hollow getting ready for the PGA Championship. And we will chat with Tim Kirchen about baseball, reinstating Pete Rose and the Black Sox, and whether they'll make it into the hall of Fame. But first, kids, let's do some commerce. Do you think astronauts fight over elbow room?

[Michael Wilbon]

Probably because advanced tech doesn't always mean more space.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Until now.

[Michael Wilbon]

Introducing the Hyundai Ioniq 9, a three row electric SUV with over 300 miles.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Of range, ultra fast charging capability and lots of space. The all new Hyundai Ioniq 9 space in an EV. Visit HyundaiUSA.com or call 562-314-4603 for more details. Ioniq 9 is available in extremely limited quantities at select dealers in select states only. Epa. Estimated range based on fully charged battery for comparison purposes only. Actual range will vary based on several factors. You know, there are a lot of passions. Some days it's sports. Other days it's cooking or music or just diving into a great documentary. The thing is, whatever you're into, it's on Prime. Amazon prime isn't just about fast delivery, though. Getting stuff the same day is pretty great. But it turns out it's so much more Prime. Video, Amazon music, the whole range of services. It's like a hub for all kinds of curiosity. Prime helps people stay connected to what matters and keeps the journey of exploration going. Whether watching something inspiring, listening to a new artist, or getting gear delivered fast to chase a new hobby, prime makes it easier to dive in. So yeah, whatever you're into, it's on Prime. From streaming to shopping, it's on Prime. Visit Amazon.comprime to get more out of whatever sparks your interest. Amazon.comprime previously on the Tony Kornheiser Show. He tanked. He devalued your ticket. That team wasn't trying to win. That team was trying to lose. They were coaching to lose. They were general managing to lose. They were director of basketball operation to lose so that they could get the best odds. And they got the best odds. 14%. The longest they could fall. After finishing with the second worst record in the entire league, the longest they could fall was to sixth. Boom. They fell to six. So they can go get another guy from France at 6.

[Steve Sands]

The Tony Kornheiser show is on now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I have no rage today. That was yesterday. I have no rage today. And we're Going right to Andy Byer, because this is the thing you do. If Andy's ready to talk, we are ready to talk to Andy. At the Derby, your choice was journalism. At one point in the Derby, Journalism and Sovereignty were very, very close. Sovereignty pulled away and beat journalism and journalism came in second. Your thoughts on the Derby and the two best horses being together at some point?

[Andy Beyer]

Yeah, I thought it was a very good race in a lot of respects. One, I mean, it was despite the mud. I mean, it was fairly run race. I mean, a couple horses had excuses, but there were no really huge extenuating circumstances. And when it came down to, you know, to the, you know, the top two, Journalism and Sovereignty, you know, they both had similar trips, rallying wide. You know, they were alongside each other. And Sovereignty won at fair and square. But I would say they both ran well. And I think when months down the road, when we look back on this Derby, we will see that not just the top two, but also the third place horse, Baeza were are going to prove themselves to all to be very good horses.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I am not invested in horse racing the way you are. I don't look at it from the inside out. I look at it from the outside in. And a Triple Crown, as a sports writer, always meant a tremendous amount to me. This horse, Sovereignty, is not going to run at the Preakness. I'm told the trainer doesn't really ever want to run in the Preakness. There's no pressure from ownership to do this. This has become common. I think this is bad. And I ask you what you think and if you think it's bad, how would you fix it?

[Andy Beyer]

Well, I have answers to all those questions. First, it is bad, and I think it's in many ways a disgrace. The Triple Crown is the most recognized event in the racing industry by the general public. I mean, people are. The average sports fan is still kind of oblivious to the Breeders cup, but the Derby, the Preakness, the Belmont, everybody wants to pay attention to and, you know, and the industry should be, should be showcasing it as much as they can. And instead, you know, we've got this embarrassing Preakness on Saturday with a field of. And no Kentucky Derby winner. The problem is not, you know, is no mystery. I mean, I started writing about this issue like 20 years ago in the modern day, you know, horses race more sparingly than they used to and they need more time between races.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Not unlike pitching. It's. It's not. I mean, now you start, you used to start every fifth day. Now it's every sixth day and they pull you after five or six innings. It's not unlike pitching. Right.

[Andy Beyer]

Well, that's, that's a good analogy. And I mean, and you know, in, in the old days, you know, horses would, you know, well, the, the main prep race for the one main preparation for the Kentucky Derby used to be the Derby trial, which was run on the Tuesday before the Derby. So, you know, horses were coming back after four days to run in the Derby. Now they need 28 days. So this, it was well known that this schedule of, with two weeks between the Derby and the Preakness, you know, was, you know, was out of step with modern racing. But changing it proved very difficult at first. I mean, Pimlico balked at pushing the Preakness back because it would run into the start of beach weekend and the beach season and you wouldn't have those tens of thousands of drunken college students in the infield. They might be drunk on the, on Rehoboth Beach. So Pimlico didn't want to change. Now that, that's no longer an issue. I mean, the whole infield scene at Pimlico was dead. New York doesn't want to change the schedule because, you know, they have crafted a, you know, a, you know, a stake schedule going into Saratoga, you know, which is their big event of the. And, you know, they thought pushing the dates back would impact their schedule. It just seems ridiculous. That seems ridiculous to me. The, you know, the, you know, the track should be, you know, you know, making the Triple Crown, you know, as visible and successful as possible. And the other players in the industry, you know, should, you know, should feel the same way. You know, we want this game to be. Everybody wants this game to be healthy. And I was, I'm really appalled that Bill Mott decided just so quickly, you know, not to run the Derby winner in the Preakness. And I said, there's nobody in the game that I respect more than Mott. He is, you know, he's just a first class guy with unassailable integrity. But, you know, he's a more. His style of training is very patient. And, you know, almost immediately after the Derby, he indicated he wasn't interested in running back and forth.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So there is no Triple Crown this year.

[Andy Beyer]

There's no possibility that, you know, as long as the horse was healthy, which as it turns out, he is. I mean, you know, according to news reports, he's just looked like he's in robust shape since the Derby. Under those circumstances, I think he and the owner, Sheikh Mohammed should have put the interests of horse racing first rather than the, you know, Bill Mott's preferred training style. I mean, this would have been a really good race with a match between Journalism and Sovereignty. But, I mean, I'm afraid this Preakness is falling flat.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. And there's no chance for a Triple Crown winner. Everybody you talk to says the same thing. Just elongate the schedule a little bit. So you're saying that the tracks themselves are the biggest impediment here.

[Andy Beyer]

They have been. I think that some pressure is going to come on them. I mean, the TV networks that are paying for these races have really got to be fed up. And you know, and also, you know, we've got a, you know, in a couple years, you know, the state of Maryland is making a huge investment to build a new, A new Pimlico and to, you know, and to really make sure that horse racing continues to thrive in the state. And they're not. They're spending 100 million or whatever it is I don't think there they have in mind, gee, maybe we could get a nine horse field in the Preakness without a Kentucky Derby winner. And it. No, I mean, I think there's going to be increased pressure on the tracks to get their act together.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, well, let's go to the race itself. Nine horses, I think we learned yesterday only three of them had been grade one stakes winners. Obviously, Journalism is one of those. You liked Journalism in the Derby. The conditions may be sloppy as well as they were in the Derby. Do you like Journalism again here?

[Andy Beyer]

Yeah, he's, you know, going into the Derby, I said, you know, he's the best horse. He is a very good horse. I mean, he had, I mean, all three of his races as a three year old have been excellent. I mean, Sovereignty, I think was, you know, was, was just. Was cranked up for a, you know, for a career best effort and as I say, beat him fair and square. But it would have really been a rematch. But there's. To me, it seems there's nobody in here who is a real threat to Journalism. I mean, the more the tracks. Morning line, the second choice is Sandman. Yeah. Who finished seventh in the Derby, you know, more than 10 lengths behind journalism. I mean, how much credibility, you know, is he going to have? I mean, if Journalism, you know, runs his usual race, he's supposed to win.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you play Journalism with other horses to get.

[Andy Beyer]

I'm going to play one exact Journalism on top of River Thames. River Thames has run just four times, but I Mean, he ran in the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland against what I thought was a very solid field. Got beat by less than a length. He's trained by Todd Pletcher, who's certainly overdue for a Preakness win. He's the only horse that I can really make a little bit of a case for. So a two six exact. Will. Will. Will be my. My rooting interest in the Preakness.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Thank you, Andy. We will call before the Belmont. Okay.

[Andy Beyer]

Thanks, Tony.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Andy Beyer, who's. He's the best. Like, everybody knows. Who knows more about horse racing than anybody? The answer is always Andy Beyer. It's always Andy Byer.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah. When you have something within this buyer.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Speed fix named after him. Yeah. It's like Jeffersonian democracy. Okay. He's a player in this buyer speed fix. All right? So just because we're still in the open, I. I gave up on the Nats lesson. I was 4:1, Atlanta was 1. And I didn't stay with it. I just said, I'm done with this.

[Tim Kirchen]

I was watching replays of old PGA championships.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, is that right?

[Tim Kirchen]

Locked into the 99.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. So I was, you know, I stopped on that. I went over to the basketball, and the Celtics were considerably better than I thought.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Frank Cornett, a guy who's a guy. Yeah, just a guy.

[Michael Wilbon]

Just a guy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Normally, all of those minutes would be eaten up by Porzingis.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But Porzingis didn't play at all in the second half.

[Michael Wilbon]

No, he didn't. You know, there's something. Yeah, something. He's a miss there.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's been sick or sick with the virus or something, whatever he's got, you know, that finally somebody took the reins and decided to be a coach and said, you can sit over here near me. And then we're gonna put this other guy in the game. He had seven blocks.

[Michael Wilbon]

It was the most ever for a guy off the bench.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He shot five for five and had seven blocks. So if you're looking for the guy whose contribution changed everything, you know, I understand Jaylen Brown. I understand, you know, Brown and White. I understand what they did, but it's this guy. It's this guy.

[Tim Kirchen]

Because you think it's to change the game or change the series.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Change the game. I know. I don't believe it's over in six. You think I don't believe they can beat the Knicks three games in a row. I, you know, down three one. Now it's three two. No, I don't believe that. Without Jason Tatum. No, I don't I don't believe that in the other game, the Golden State warriors are done. And they're done because of injury. Steph Curry, you know this. You know, Wilbon says, I think they can get it. No, they can't. No, they can't. He's their. He's their best player as Tatum is their best player. The difference is they don't have a supporting cast around him as good as the Celtics have around Jayson Tatum. I mean, Draymond Green is no longer a great scoring threat. Jimmy Butler, fine, but I don't know what he did last night. Jimmy Butler failed in the previous game. He's the best player on the team in a home game playoff. Jimmy Wilbond loves him. Took nine shots, scored 14 points. It's. No, it's not enough production. It's not enough production. And now they're going to sign him to a three year, 400 zillion dollar deal. Just. Okay, you know, this is a guy who destroys teams at some point. Is he a great player? He was a great player. Sure he was. He was not a great player in that game. And I doubt he was a great player last night. And Minnesota, the team of Allen and Nathan Bubis.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Moves on for the second year in a row to the conference finals in the West.

[Michael Wilbon]

This should be a lesson for our new intern.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Chris is here.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yes. That a former intern is now what, what is his position on the team?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Assistant coach.

[Michael Wilbon]

Assistant coach.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So assistant coach on the Minnesota Timberwolf.

[Michael Wilbon]

You got a lot to live up, young man.

[Chris]

I got a pipeline.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, well, you can do that at some point. The next time Chris is here. Chris, for people who don't know this, which is everybody listening because you don't know who he is. For everybody listening, he does stand up comedy. Where do you do it In Washington.

[Chris]

In D.C. i do it at Solly's Tavern on the corner of you and 11th, I believe.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, so. And you just do five minute. Minutes. In other words, you don't headline.

[Tim Kirchen]

It's five good minutes.

[Chris]

Some may say great, some may say great minutes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Chris]

The Solly's is usually a seven minute set. I'm gonna be back there June 14th and.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And then this. This is essentially an open mic night. Or are you paid for this?

[Chris]

I'm not paid for it, but like there's a guy who runs it who I had to contact and be like, I would love to do the show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And a bunch of people do this. Yeah, like you're not it. That's what I'm getting at.

[Chris]

Yeah, there were.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So you got on the stage, you get off the stage, someone else gets on the stage. That's what they do.

[Chris]

I think there were 12 people performing last night.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's a lot. Yeah, it's a lot. It's a big night that's bigger than the Preakness. Only has nine.

[Chris]

Well, here's the thing I was talking to. I had some family members come. My Uncle Pat came, and it's like a $15 ticket. And they said it's surprisingly worth it. Like, you go to a comedy show in D.C. of people who aren't paid, and you expect a comedy show in D.C. and, like, nothing special, but everyone there did great.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's wonderful. And what is. What is the trajectory? If you do really well at Solly's, do you go to the improv as a paid guy or.

[Chris]

I think you kind of have to build up a portfolio of, like, different videos where, like, you need a good five, a good 15, good 10.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, so somebody is. Is. Is taking pictures of this.

[Chris]

You have to do it yourself. You have to, like. Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What do you. How do you do it yourself? What do you go to Lowe's and you say, get me to diy?

[Chris]

I mean, people have, like, tripods set up and, like, their phone or it's our recording.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you. So you bring equipment onto the stage?

[Chris]

Oh, I don't. I didn't bring any recording last time. I just went up there, super nervous, absolutely crushed.

[Michael Wilbon]

Look, have you seen the comic will, like, have his phone and put it down on the stool and hit record and just walk away and then sort of recording that. You know, they're set for themselves.

[Tony Kornheiser]

In every movie I ever saw about stand up comedy, they make fun of the guy who brings up the tape recorder. They always do, right? They always say, look at this guy, you know, and everything always goes wrong. Of course, you know, I. Look, if you're not Rodney Dangerfield, why are you doing it right? Do you know who Rodney Dangerfield is?

[Chris]

Oh, I get no respect.

[Michael Wilbon]

There we go.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Good to know. All right, we'll take a short break here. We'll come back with Steve Sands, who is at Quail Hollow, where the PGA starts today. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

[Unknown]

You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Now, let's talk about that car you own but don't use, the one you're paying to keep registered and insured that's taking up space out front and is just sitting there doing no one any good. Let me tell you what you should do about that car. You should give Cars for Kids a call and have them take care of it for you. That's right. Just give them the info. They will come to you as soon as the next day. Take that car off your hands at no cost to you. Even better, they will turn that car into funds to help kids. So visit cars4kids.org Tony that's cars with a K and the number 4. To donate or call cars4kids directly at 1-877-cars4kids.

[Michael Wilbon]

You don't want to sing it?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm not singing it.

[Tim Kirchen]

Donate your car today.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Now. I will never get that out of my head for the rest of the day. And they will get that car picked up in a jiffy.

[Tim Kirchen]

Join the band.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Plus you can get a tax deduction, vacation voucher and life will be just great. They've been around for 30 years and have done this over a million times. Call now or head over to cars4kids.org Tony right now and get this done. That's cars4kids.org Tony remember, that's cars with a K.

[Unknown]

You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Michael Wilbon]

I do. And you know, I have an extensive collection of Picasso paintings that need to be protected.

[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Michael Wilbon]

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[Steve Sands]

You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Steve Sands]

Take me back in stereo to 1984. Smoking in the bathroom of the local record store Dancing on the countertops while Johnny plays our song we shred guitars in basements we can't fake it Cause the neighbors sing along this is more than just a case of bad nostalgia.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I love this girl. This is Mercy Danger. That's her name? Yeah. She's the lead singer of Hot Pink Hangover. This is called 1984 and this group broke up.

[Michael Wilbon]

It did.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Sadly plays in sans. Why would a group with a singer like that break up?

[Unknown]

I don't know. Why would anybody go to Five Guys and not enjoy it?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I thought it was fine. Are you a Five Guys devotee? I thought it was fine. I just didn't think it was as great as I was led to believe.

[Unknown]

What do you mean it was fine? It was just Shake Shack, Burger Fi in and out. I mean, give me a break. Five Guys is number one with a bullet.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What do you have? The French fries. Was that my mistake?

[Unknown]

Michael's right. You put the French fries in that bag, they start spilling out of the bag. If you order a medium fries, there it is. A double xl.

[Michael Wilbon]

Oh, yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you think it's possible that when I made my order and it was just this limited little cheeseburger, bacon cheeseburger order, that they knew I was a rube and they said, the hell with this guy. Just give him what's laying around. We're not gonna try to impress them. You think that's possible?

[Unknown]

I will say, when I was listening the other day, I do take issue with a grown man getting a little bacon cheeseburger.

[Tim Kirchen]

It's a single.

[Unknown]

If you're gonna go with the little bacon cheeseburger, then the hot dog is a must. A must. The hot dog there is fantastic, but you've got to get just the regular double bacon cheeseburger that you can't get. A little bacon.

[Tim Kirchen]

$11 seems to go Cajun fries.

[Unknown]

No, I don't mind the Cajun fries, but I'd rather have the regular fries and a chocolate shake. If you're going to do it, just destroy yourself.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, the next time I go to Home Depot to buy plants, I'll try it again.

[Unknown]

I will say the only problem with Five Guys is that it'd be less Expensive to go to Ruth's, Chris, but it is a great bacon cheeseburger.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. All right. All right, Here we go. You are at Quail Hollow. The PGA starts today, 8 o' clock in the morning by real time, so it's probably started already. Number one question, weather conditions.

[Unknown]

The weather's gonna be all right. It's gonna be warm and humid. But, you know, the big, big rain that came through Charlotte on Monday really soaked the golf course. The golf course is wet for sure. They're not going to play the ball up. Kerry Hagga, the PGA of America. You know, they did that one time in 2016 at Baltasarol in the final round. The only time a major championship has been played that way. The golf course is really, really soaked, but they are going to play the ball down today.

[Tim Kirchen]

Get ready for some mud balls.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, mud balls, right.

[Unknown]

There will be a lot of mud balls they could probably use. As Michael knows, the thing about mud on golf balls is people think of it with rain. If it rains, it will actually reduce the number of mud balls. If it gets drier after having early week rain, that's when you get mud on the golf ball. So it'll be a really challenging day with some mud balls today is my guess. But I do think you're gonna see some good scoring as well, because I think the golf course is a little bit soft because of that rain on Monday. And I think that, you know, you said you could see some guys throwing some darts at these hole locations.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you know who's a member of Quail Hollow? Where I found out yesterday? Mitch Kupchak. Mitch Kupchak is a member.

[Unknown]

Oh, love Mitch Kupchak.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, he's a member there. He's a member of Bel Air, and he's a member of Quail Hollow.

[Unknown]

So that's maybe cornella. It's not Rehoboth Country Club and. And Columbia, but that's a pretty good CORNELLA for Mitch.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think it's pretty good. The odd thing to me, of course, is that this is a regular tour stop, that all these guys, with the exception of Scheffler, who for whatever reason doesn't really play there often, most of these guys play there often and it becomes the site of a major, which seems odd to me. I had my friend David tell me the other day that Riviera and Torrey Pines and, you know, pebble, it's the same with them. I said, yeah, but those are old, glamorous, you know, almost certainly in Pebble's case, iconic courses and they do the Opens, not the pga. What are your thoughts on this? Of taking a regular stop and making a major?

[Unknown]

Yeah, I'm with you on the old school thing. It's kind of like old money versus new money. Quail Hollow is a newer, if you will, quote, unquote venue for major championship golf. But it is a worthy, worthy venue. It's too bad it's not firm and fast this week for the world to be on display for the course to be on display for the world. And, you know, back in 2017, people were wondering, okay, it's a regular PGA Tour stop. Can it host a major championship? Well, you know, Justin Thomas, Adeki Matsuyama had a really nice battle. Then it hosted the President's Cup a few years ago. Quail Hollow, the founder, Johnny Harris, who's also a member at Augusta. There'll be a lot of similarities the next four days. If you're watching the PGA to Augusta, I'm not saying it's the same golf course, but the grass is incredibly green, is manicured beautifully, and then there's the pine straw and the trees and the white clubhouse. It has an Augusta type of feel to it. It's a very, very good golf course, a very popular golf course among the players. And I do think it's major championship worthy. I think it's going to be a very good week.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, well, I'm curious about this. It is the least prestigious of the majors. Everybody would agree to that. But it has the best field all year, the deepest field. It has the best field. I think you would know better than I that it has more first time winners in majors than any other of the three. And so in my mind, it's the least predictable. I know everybody thinks Rory or Scheffler or Justin Thomas, you know, there's a small list at every tournament. But is this not the least predictable of the majors?

[Unknown]

Yeah, I think like, like tennis's Grand Slams, the four major championships in golf have their own identity. You know, you have the red clay coming up at Roland Garros, and then you have the, the grass at Wimbledon and the elegance of Wimbledon. Like a Masters, like an Augusta National. And then the US Open is raucous and loud. And I think that, you know, the PGA of America, you know, kind of likes the way they go about their business. You think of it like the Australian Open as the fourth of the four Grand Slams in tennis. By the way, it's still a Grand Slam, and no one's taking those away from Novak Djokovic. No one's taking away Davis Love, the third PGA Championship in 97 at Wingfoot, even though that's his only major championship. It does have its own identity, and the identity is not nearly as high in stature as the other three major championships. But the random nature of it, it's a. It's kind of a US Open light, Tony. You know, they don't destroy you with the rough, but they do grow it up, you know, grow it out and make it difficult. The greens are fast, but they're not as fast as they will be next month at Oakmont. So, yeah, you get more of a random winner at a PGA Championship than you would at probably the other three. But it's still a major championship. It's still one of the biggest four events in the sport. And again, if you win this, you are a major champion. There is no doubt about that. You could say that it's the fourth of the four, but.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, it counts.

[Unknown]

It still counts.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It counts. Yeah. I mean, it counts. I know people want to say that the Players Championship is the fifth major. There is no fifth major. There are four majors, and this is one of them. And this counts. In your mind, do the conditions of the course, the soaked nature of it, at least today and tomorrow, does this create more people who can win this tournament, or does it create less people who can win this tournament because of the conditions?

[Unknown]

To me, it makes the golf course longer. It makes it wider as well. So if you're errant off the tee, you know that ball's not going to bound on a firm and fast golf course. It's going to bound into the rough, into the pine straw, into the trees. Yeah, not this week. The balls are basically plopping in the fairway. I think it favors the long, long hitters, and I do think it kind of shortens the number of players who can win. And by the way, that does not mean that anybody can't go out there and go low. But I do think the advantage goes to the guys who really destroy it off the tee, who can really hit their irons crisply as well. And I think that, yes, it does lessen the amount of players who, over the course of four days, can get to the top of the leaderboard.

[Tony Kornheiser]

One of them is obviously Rory. He hits it further than everyone else. He's very accurate with Driver. He's won here four times. It leads to every question, we did this yesterday. How bullish are you on Rory McIlroy? What I would point out is this isn't tennis, where you have to win seven matches. And it's just the person in front of you. You have to beat everybody. You have to beat everybody. What are your thoughts on that?

[Unknown]

Well, I totally agree with you. It's completely different than tennis. The only similarity is that it's an individual sport as opposed to a team sport. But, yes, I totally agree with you on that. And then there's, you know, the school of thought on Rory now is fascinating to me. There are some people who will tell you, well, the burden's been lifted now that he won the Masters, won the career Grand Slam, after winning a major for the first time in 11 years, by the way. And now the lid's going to come off, and he's just going to go crazy here and have, say, a bunch of majors the next 11 years that he did not have the previous 11 years after winning his first four major championships. And there are other people who will tell you, man, I don't know. You know, it's really hard to win these things. You only get four cracks out of the year. He might. Might win one or two more, but he's not going to go on this crazy run here. So I'm huge on Rory this week because I just think when you step up to a golf course at this level and you're just so comfortable on it, and the sight lines are perfect for you, for whatever reason, and you've had so much success at this venue, there's no way that he doesn't come in here with great vibes. And now that he has that major championship earlier this year for the first time in 11 years, which is, you know, not equally as important as winning the career Grand Slam, but finally winning a major.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

You know, after all those years, to me, has to make his confidence even higher on a golf course where his confidence must be soaring. So I think he's playing some great golf, and I think that he is absolutely, unless something weird happens, I think absolutely is going to be in the mix this week.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So yesterday on pti, I suggested that it's possible that I am one of those people who thinks that winning the Masters unlocks the golden door for Rory, and he brings a whole lot of more majors, but it's also possible he's satisfied because he's done something that only six other guys have ever done. He's got the Grand Slam and he's got the Masters. And I said this to Wilbon going out. I said, if I give you Rory and Justin Thomas, who has won a major here, and Scotty Scheffler, who's the Best player in the world. Do you take them or you take the field? And he surprised me. He said he would take them. I'll make you the same offer. That's against 180 other people.

[Unknown]

So I was watching that and I saw his face. You guys were on a double box when you were asking that question. And I saw his face. Come take a breath. I actually agree with Michael on this one.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Really.

[Unknown]

I think if I had to bet my house on 153 guys versus those three on this course right now. Scheffler coming off an eight shot win a couple of weeks ago. Best he's played all year, trending way, way, way in the right direction. Coming into a major. Justin Thomas first win in a few years earlier, you know, last month. First time he's done that in a while. He's trending in the right direction. And McElroy, of course, winning the Masters is clearly trending in the right direction. And to me, I've said this to you before, Tony. Jack Nicklaus famously told us on the set at live for the Masters years ago, you do not find your game at a major championship. You bring your game to a major championship. Those three guys are bringing their game to Charlotte and it is going to be a lot of fun to watch them play. But if I had to bet my house on one or the other, I would take those three over the other 53, which is crazy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

But I think, but I think I would. Although I do think Bryson DeChambeau is going to have a big week on this golf course. He might be upsetting the apple cart as far as those three are concerned. But yeah, I'd go with Michael on that one.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, well, listen, have a wonderful time. If you see Mitch Kupchak, say hi for me and we'll talk to you soon. Thank you, Steve.

[Unknown]

Bullet fever. We got by the Iceman. Love, Mitch Kupchak.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's good. There you go. There you go. Steve Sands, boys and girls. We'll take a break. We will come back with Tim Kirchen and we will talk to Tim about Rob Manford's declaration a couple of days ago that all these guys who were banned for life are no longer. Well, they're dead, but they're no longer banned. So we'll see what that means. I'm Tony Kornheiser, guys.

[Unknown]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Dan Byrne]

So long as he is dead so long as he's a goner so long as he's not capable of enjoying the honor now that he can't make a speech our precious minds be warped. Now the hall can honor him now that he's a corpse the oddsmakers betting site bookies hall of Fame is letting the betting guys back in the game. They get to have a spirit ceremony, get to have a feast now that they can't join in now that they're deceased maybe Sosa and McGuire and Bon some future season will finally get their honor. Once they're no longer breathing the hall of Fame doors will finally be a Pierto Once the greatest players are finally weto.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The brilliant Dan Byrne. We hear this from Lee Gordon, Boynton Beach, Florida. As you have stated countless times, Dan Byrne is a genius. But it seems he's more. He's also prescient. I quote from the lyrics of his song Pope Deep Dish that you featured on Monday's podcast. Maybe he'll absolve the Black Sox. Then mere hours after the show, the Commissioner of Baseball declared Shoeless Joe Jackson's lifetime ban is over because his lifetime is over. So he is now eligible for the hall of Fame. I believe Dan had that. So Tim Kirkton joins us now. And this is I don't want to say it's monumental, but it's a big deal, it seems to me. Or is it not a big deal to you?

[Unknown]

No, it's a big deal to me, Tony. It's a big deal to baseball. There's no Way around that. And. But now we have to see what happens next. Tony, I got a text from a friend of mine who's a doctor, really smart guy, grew up in Ohio, of course. And the text the other night said, my prayers have been answered. Pete Rose is in the hall of Fame. And had to write back that, look, I understand how happy you are about this, but he's not in the hall of Fame yet. So to me, the big question is, what happens next? Is he going to be on this ballot? I'm sure he is. But what happens after that? Tony, I've been on those committees four different times. I've sat in those rooms with 15 other people as we voted on players and executives going into the hall of Fame. It is a fascinating process. And if anyone thinks that Pete Rose is just going to, like, waltz his way into the hall of Fame, now, I'm not so sure about that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let me just state that if people want to read about this in the Washington Post today, Sally Jenkins kills it. She kills it. And she says people have terrible influences over existing institutions after they're gone. Don't, don't be foolish about that. So let me get to this part. Most people, when they are eligible for the hall of Fame following their career, are voted in or out by the Baseball Writers of America Association. I'm going to suggest this to you, Tim. Please tell me if you think I'm wrong. I don't think there's any way at all that the baseball writers would put Pete Rose in. I think it's got to come from a veterans type committee. Do you think I'm wrong on that?

[Unknown]

No, I think you're right. I don't think Pete rose would get 75% of the vote from the writers. But, Tony, I'm not sure he's getting 75% from a special committee in which former players are on the committee.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right.

[Unknown]

Keep in mind, Tony, that. That Bonds and Clemens both got 65, 66% in their 10th year on the ballot with the writers, and then they went to a special committee and each got fewer than four votes out of 16. So my, it's my understanding from the people I've talked to, it's the players that are more upset about steroid use than the writers are. And it's also possible it's the former players who are more upset about betting on baseball than the writers are. I told you this, Tony, that 20 years ago, I told, I said on ESPN that I would vote for Pete Rose for the hall of Fame and Frank Robinson, with whom I had a great relationship, screamed at me and said, I can't believe you're gonna vote for that guy. He broke the number one rule in baseball. You do not bet on baseball. And if he gets in the hall of Fame, I'll never go back to the hall of Fame for any other function if I'm in the same club as him. And this is Frank Robinson talking about a former teammate. So maybe that's just one guy, Tony. Maybe it's just Frank Robinson being, you know, Frank Robinson, who's just so passionate about so many things. But it's also possible that the former players, who will make up roughly half of that committee, may look at it and say, no, there's the sign. When you walk in every day, you don't bet on baseball. He violated that. So it's possible he'll have an even harder time getting in on a special committee. That's at least.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But someone is going to stand up in that meeting, and they're going to say, but the world has changed. We now are partners with gambling institutions. We now, as a sport, encourage people to bet on our sport. And even though Pete Rose did what he did before that, we have to account for the changing mores in society, and we should let him in. Right? Someone will say it like that.

[Unknown]

Absolutely, Tony. And it's possible, depending on the makeup of the committee. Because that's the most important thing, is the makeup of the committee, who's on it, and what are they thinking about when they walk in that room. But yes. And if somebody stands up and says, look, everything has changed since Pete did what he did. We have to let him in. It's possible 15 others follow after that. My guess is it's not going to be that simple. But, yes, it all depends on who's in the room, who stands up and makes the statement, who follows that statement. I know I was in one of those meetings. We're not allowed to talk about what happened in those meetings. So I can't. But I went in there thinking, this guy is a Hall of Famer and a former player. Hall of Famer stood up in that room and said, we cannot elect this guy as a Hall of Famer. And everybody fell in line after him because he was such a respected player in the game. And he said, we can't put this guy in, and he didn't make it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I find it hard to believe that anybody associated with the Black Sox and even Shoeless Joe Jackson, and I know there's literature that says he didn't do this, and he didn't do that. They're not getting in. They dumped that World Series. Right? This is Pete Rose we're talking about, isn't it? It's not anybody else.

[Unknown]

Right.

We're talking about Pete Rose here. And it just seems a little bit odd to me that the Black Sox are thrown into this same group. Cause you're right, Tony. And I'm just. Just not comfortable being the moral arbiter of all these things. What is worse? Cheating, throwing a game, Steroids, all that. But you're right. The Black Sox took money to lose the World Series on purpose.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And.

[Unknown]

And that's way different than a steroid or even what Pete Rose did. At least it is to me.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I agree with that. I can't help but notice that. That President Trump and Rob Manford had a meeting about a month ago. Afterwards, Trump came out and talked about his affection for Pete Rose. And then within a month, Manford, who was against all this, comes out and says, you know, I've rethought it, and, you know, they can't hurt us from the beyond, and so we're gonna change policy. I am surprised by that. Are you?

[Unknown]

Yes, I am surprised by that. It was my understanding that there was no way, as long as Rob Manfred was the commissioner, that Pete Rose was going to get any sort of path to getting, you know, getting the suspension lifted and getting at least a path to the major leagues. And then the president spoke up, and things changed. So exactly how much pressure was put on him, I don't know, but it just seems a little bit odd to me. I was surprised when this. When Rob Manfred said, we're going to. We're going to look at this. And then once they looked at it, I wasn't surprised after they looked at it that. That they changed their mind, and that that's a bit disconcerting on some level.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you agree with the notion that lifetime bans exist only till the end of your lifetime because you can do no further damage to the game?

[Unknown]

I'm not sure I agree with.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't agree with that.

[Unknown]

Yeah, I mean, but that's what Rob Manfred said. He called Pete rose in 2015 a risk and said, but now at that, he's a risk of further violations, but now that he has passed, he is no longer a risk, so therefore, we can put him in. It's either I just have a hard time. It's either permanent or it isn't permanent. Tony, this is the hardest discussion that I've had in 45 years of covering baseball on what to do with this. There is so much gray area here. And there are so many people who say, put them in now. And there are a bunch of others, not as many who say, no, you can't put them in. It's really. Tony, every speech that I've ever made, and I've made hundreds of them to baseball people across the country. This is one of the first five questions that comes up.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Should Pete Rose be in the hall of Fame? Sure.

[Unknown]

Rose in the hall of Fame. Always top five, usually first, but top five every single time. That's how passionate people are about this topic.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, I mean, my. My position has always been the same. And it's the same for all of these guys who should be in, Clemens should be in, and Bond should be in by merit of what they've done. It said you put their sins on the plaque and you put their accomplishments on the plaque. And I mean, to me, that's how it goes. You may even want to have a separate wing for guys who were in the hall of Fame, who've been shady in their careers. But I do know that a lot of people don't want him in. They don't want Pete Rose in because he. He violated the single cardinal rule. He did that, right? He violated it. He admitted it.

[Unknown]

That's why if he does get in, Tony, if he gets in, then it has to be on the plaque. Because 80 years from now, some little kid is going to be walking through the hall of Fame and he's going to recognize. Wait a minute. This guy had more hits than anyone in the history of baseball. And it took him over 40 years after he retired or after he stopped playing to get in the hall of Fame. It has to show on the plaque. He was, you know, he was ineligible for X number of years and then he got in. Otherwise, the plaque doesn't make any sense.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, no, no, that's 100% right. And by the way, if you didn't know that he had the most hits, you could look on the collar of his shirt where it said Hit King embroidered in red, right? He had all his shirts said Hit King.

[Unknown]

Yeah, well, Tony, I've told you the story. I'll tell it quickly. Pete Rose got out of prison. Five months for tax evasion.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What a line. Pete Rose got out of prison, okay?

[Unknown]

His son picks him up at the prison, and the first thing Pete says to his son is, is there a baton cage near here? And his son says, yeah, there's one right down the street. So the first thing they do after Five months in prison is. They go to the batting cage. Pete asks the proprietor, what's the fastest machine you have here? And the guy goes right there. 85 miles an hour, which we know, Tony is still flying. Especially when you're 50 years old like Pete Rose was. He steps in the cage. And now everyone at the batting cage recognizes the hit king is in the batting cage. First pitch comes in, incarcerated for five months. He whistles a line drive right back at the pitching machine. He looks at everyone around him. He throws his bat to the ground, he says some things, never effing change. And then he walks away. That's who Pete Rose is, Tony. You don't have to love him, but you have to admire how much he loved to play, how much he loved to hit, and how much he loved being Pete Rose.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm gonna say this at the risk of everything else I have said. He was the greatest player in the world. If you were a sports writer, right, Tim? He always talked. He didn't just talk about him. He talked about everyone else. He talked about himself and everyone else. He never stopped. He filled the notebook every time. Right, right.

[Unknown]

And he did it until his death. When Willie Mays turned 90. I did a gigantic story for ESPN.com and I must have called 50 people. And nobody was better talking about Willie Mays than Pete Rose. That's. That's how good he was. And not like it matters. Tony, the first story that I ever wrote about a Major League baseball player for the Washington Star back when you and I worked for the Star and the Post at the same time was on Pete Rose and the game real fast. The game was in Philadelphia. There was a three hour rain delay. They started playing again at 1:30 in the morning. Cold, Rainey, like 40 people in the stands. And Pete Rose, like, singled, stole second and third, scored on a fly ball to win the game. Like everyone wanted to go home except for him. And yes, he was talkative after that game. He was a sports writer's dream delight.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Absolutely. Tim. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Talk soon.

[Unknown]

Okay, Tony. See you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Tim Kirchen. Boys and girls, a fabulous show today. A wide variety of people on the show today. We will return with email and jingle. I'm Tony Kornheiser. I've never felt like this before. It's like you just get me. I feel like my true self with you.

[Steve Sands]

Does that sound crazy?

[Tony Kornheiser]

And it doesn't hurt that you're gorgeous. Okay, that's it.

[Steve Sands]

I'm taking you home with me.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I mean, you can't find shoes this good just anywhere. Find a shoe for every you from brands you love like Birkenstock, Nike, Adidas and more at your DSW store or dsw.com.

[Unknown]

You'Re listening to the Tony Kornheiser show.

[Steve Sands]

Here comes Tony's mail bag. Got your email, faxes and your notes. Here comes Tony's mail bag. Gonna read some for all you folks hey Tony, come on, come on hey Tony Read that mail now, baby Mercy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Danger this is the greatest singer in the world. What's happened? She's not singing anymore.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah, we gotta find out. We'll do some.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't know her, but we need to find that out. You wanna do the Bethesda Bagel?

[Michael Wilbon]

Yes, Bethesda Bagels. We love them. You will as well. Just go to bethesdabeagels.com for the location in the DC area nearest you. Then pop on in and you'll be thrilled.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Before we get to the mailbag, Let me just say it's a quarter to three there's no one in the place except you and me so set em up Joe, I got a little story I think you should know. We're drinking, my friend to the end of a brief episode so make it one for my baby and one more for the road that's Francis Albert Sinatra, the chairman of the board. That song is great.

[Michael Wilbon]

Not a member of the board.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The chairman of the board. Thanks to our guests today. Andy Byer, Steve Sandstone, Tim Kirkjian. Guest loaded today. Thanks as well to today's sponsors. Remember, you can listen to us on Apple podcasts Spotify and Odyssey. Get the show through Apple. Please leave us a review.

[Tim Kirchen]

Big news for you and Steve Sands. As of Christmas Week 2024, five guys in downtown Rehoboth beach permanently closed. Still, one of you can visit down in Bethany.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's a bit of a drive. Yeah, I mean, you wouldn't think that. No, you wouldn't think that would close.

[Tim Kirchen]

Right on Fries Place.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right on Rehoboth Avenue. Yeah, like, I don't know, 100 yards from the beach.

[Tim Kirchen]

And they actually let you order ketchup with your fries?

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's just. Oh, they don't usually.

[Tim Kirchen]

No, the other places are Thrashers. You can't get ketchup.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, right. I like Thrashers fries.

[Tim Kirchen]

They're great.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I like them a lot. So we get this note from Michael Lorenzo. Okay. Who is the owner of something called Think Think Cheesecake. Yes. Good day. What can I say? I don't have anything catchy, witty or clever to say. But I've enjoyed this podcast, PTI Sports Talk 980WTEM, especially the columns and the Post and I mean the sports and style columns. So thank you for being such a deeply ingrained part of my life without even realizing it. On a recent episode where you had dinner for the president of Binghamton University, you remarked that there was no dessert. Right. I didn't go out and buy dessert. I had no dessert at the moment. I had to reach so that this would never happen again. I'm hoping that you and your family are cheesecake fans, because if so, this is what I do. And I'm pretty darn good at it, if I say so myself. But I would love to send one your way if you would like. I have many flavors to choose from, but the latest one I think would be perfect as it's called the espresso. And yes, it's a coffee flavored cheesecake. Please have someone reach out to me and we could work out the particulars as a small token of thanks and appreciation for all that's been given to the Washington metropolitan area.

[Tim Kirchen]

Now I got carpenters stuck in my head.

[Tony Kornheiser]

How nice is that?

[Tim Kirchen]

Big news for you. They have a flavor time for key lime thyme.

[Tony Kornheiser]

For key lime.

[Michael Wilbon]

Key lime cheesecake.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But he wants us to try the espresso. So we should try the espresso.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yes. We'll reach out, don't you think? Absolutely.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's really nice. We reach out. That's very nice. I'm. I love cheesecake, but it's like a bite. Yes. It's something I eat every 25 years and. Because it's very rich.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Serious thing.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tim Kirchen]

You know, it's a dense cake.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah, it is.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Really? Yeah. I love it. Tim Cree, Fort Collins, Colorado. You didn't get the fries. Rookie mistake. Order the small fry. You get a bag of 700 french fries and you love it.

[Unknown]

Very accurate.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Rich Barajas, El Paso, Texas. 37th grandchild with 11 kids. Irish Catholics. Got nothing on Mexican American Catholics. I'm 35th out of 41, but coming from only nine Catholics. And that's just on my mom's side. My dad is the youngest of 13. We don't even know that side. This is the new game. This is the new game. How big is your family? Mark, Lovettsville, Virginia. So the new podcast. Cliffy has 37 first cousins. 1137. That's an impressive 297 average. Can I interest you in a cool 303? My grandparents, Dick and Mary Louise Gil. Mary Louise Gilday of Hollidaysburg Pennsylvania went 10 for 33 over a 30 year period. That's the kind of solid reproductive efficiency that'll get him into the ring of honor somewhere. When you factor in second cousins, we're in the 60s. The truly scary part is that we're doubling the family size each generation. By 2040, we'll need Jose Andres to fly in relief supplies for the family reunion. And in case you're wondering, I'm number five on the list, so I'm squarely in the top three. This is such a brilliant email. Just so brilliant. David Andrews in Adelaide in South Australia I have a golf question for Michael. I've recently started taking golf lessons. The grip that feels most comfortable to me is right hand over left, which I believe for a right handed person is the wrong way around. The golf pro is teaching us. My wife is also taking lessons, says if it feels most natural to me, I should run with it. I would love to know Michael's views on this. In other news, you previously read a couple of my emails when I was at a different government agency. I've now moved to the Department of Education. This is my first email.

[Tim Kirchen]

Yeah, I think you're describing left hand low crosshanded grip. If you look at Matt Fitzpatrick, he chips that way. It's a very effective way to level out your shoulders for your pitching motion. Chipping. If you struggle with getting the correct bottom to your arc, definitely practice with that. It's a little bit harder as you go to a full swing, but swing it if it works.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Tim Kirchen]

The hammer likes to go left hand low right now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

There you go. Brad Ayer, Henderson, Kentucky I know you're not able to make it out here to Kentucky, but I wanted to share something truly special that Michael and the boys might enjoy if they ever get the chance to visit. Out in eastern Kentucky, there's a place called Cumberland Falls, sometimes referred to as the Niagara. The south it's beautiful by day, but something extraordinary happens there at night. On clear nights with a full moon, the mist from the falls catches the moonlight and creates what is known as a moonbow, a rainbow that appears in the darkness. It's one of the rarest natural phenomena in the world. In fact, there are only two places on Earth where you can regularly see a moonbow like this here at Cumberland Falls and at Victoria Falls in Africa. There's something peaceful and almost magical about standing there at night, watching a rainbow shimmer across the falls under the moonlight. It's the kind of thing that sticks with you. If Michael and the boys ever find themselves in this part of the country, I'd highly recommend making the trip. It's a moment you don't have to.

[Tim Kirchen]

It looks like an inspirational poster.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. It looks beautiful. Yeah. Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

That is amazing.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Go. How long a drive is it to Kentucky? Probably 12 hours.

[Michael Wilbon]

Well, Eastern the way we would at Wilbourne.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, Wilbur can make it four hours. Normal people, not so much. Jim Hickey, Springfield, Virginia Long time Little from the Style section days. Recently saw my second opera, Loving vs. Virginia, about the interracial marriage case. It's directed by Denise Graves. Didn't see her there, so I refrained from issuing a Hardy with Cheese. Thought the opera crowd might boot me out. How great is that? That's lovely. Yeah. Elliot Olshansky, our friend now in Del Mar, needs York.

[Michael Wilbon]

No longer comac.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No longer. No, he's up in the Albany area now. He's not in Suffolk county anymore. This alert came across my phone last Wednesday. Mets to add bullpen depth by signing left handed pitcher Colin Pochet. Given that Pooch had been the bane of your existence for the first month of the season, I'm sure you can imagine my horror at the thought of him in a Mets uniform. Horror that ultimately dissipated when I learned he was signed to a minor league deal and assigned to AAA Syracuse, where our friend Jason Smorel probably has him. At that point, my horror turned to fascination. After all, Syracuse, Elliot writes, is the home of our good friend Jason Smorell and the site of the upcoming LecheeSerie Night Part 4 on September 9th. Which leads to a number of questions. Will the Littles assembled at NBT Bank Stadium that night actually get to see Pooch pitch? If they do, will they cheer or boo him when he comes to the mound? Is there enough time for Jason and his team to have commemorative Pooch bobbleheads given away at that game? Speaking of Jason, was he thrilled or horrified to learn that Pooch was on his way to Syracuse? Inquiring minds want to know. Best regards from Albany county, where we recently welcomed a second dog to our family, having adopted Rolo like the candy from the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society. She weighs about 23 pounds, less than half the size of her big sister Patches, but she doesn't have any less personality. From Dina, now Dina, near Donora, Pennsylvania. My daughter just had our first masculine grandchild, wanting to avoid Littles from giggling at his birthday his whole Life, he avoided 5 and 11 by less than two hours to arrive on May 12.

[Michael Wilbon]

Well done.

[Tony Kornheiser]

How good?

[Michael Wilbon]

Well done job.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Mike Roseberry, State College, Pennsylvania I regret to inform you that despite being accepted to the public, ivy that is Binghamton, my masculine child has decided to be the fourth generation of the family to attend Penn State. In the immortal words of Judge Smales, well, the world needs ditch diggers, too. Yeah, I mean, if. I mean, Chris, you go to Penn State, Penn State's fine.

[Michael Wilbon]

That's okay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's got football. Binghamton doesn't have football. You know, so if you want to. If it's generational, sure, I understand that. Ryan Sweeney, Columbus, Ohio. Dear Grandpa Tony, Imagine my confusion when I realized my dad's chips were actually hers. That's funny. Robert Engelstad. When shopping at Home Depot, it says, print out the attachment place in the glove compartment attached to unattended cartoon while shopping at Home Depot. And it's a picture of me. It says, hands off. Reserved for Mr. Tony. Yeah, so I lost. I didn't take the cart with me. I didn't.

[Michael Wilbon]

Somebody grab it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think it's my mistake. Alex Lau, New York City. Maybe the reason a five guys burger is so expensive is because it somehow has more medicinal value than a big mall. Neil Ayervase, our lawyer friend in Littleton, Colorado. Your brief conversation with Chris the intern on Wednesday show demonstrated why he was the perfect choice for the job and how he serves to represent the very essence of the podcast. In response to your inquiry about what he anticipated to gain from his role, he responded, I have no expectations. The attitude that apparently has been adopted by every listener to this show and the reason for the show's continued success. Might I suggest a Johnny O line of casual wear bearing that motto? In that regard, allow me to share the most trenchant definition of the word expectation. Premeditated disappointment. As always, you and the gang never disappointed Don Ames in Canada. Kingston, Ontario. So you don't have much for the intern Chris to do. Maybe he could go get his shine box. That's funny. Dr. Tom O' Brien, Rockville, Maryland. They had two stores in Virginia. There's about five guys. Before franchising, there were huge lines. Back then. It was Mark Mosley, the former Washington kicker and MVP of the league.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah, that's right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Who put together the franchising deal. He's still the only kicker. Okay, Tom o' Brien rides to win the mvp. Nice combo if you ask me. Yeah, Mark Mosey got very rich.

[Michael Wilbon]

Did not know he was involved in 35 guys. Wow.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Alex Teneo or Tineo, Martinsburg, West Virginia. He's emailed us before. The front yard potato farm is freaking me out. Yeah, we're gonna plant them today. Alex Lau writes, I was somehow copied on an email from Michael Winger to Ted Leoncis, Pete Hegses style. Here's what it said. Dear Mr. Leonsis, I'm sure that, like me, you are disappointed by the results of the NBA lottery. I know I've already asked for patience and informed you that a turnaround on this franchise will take me at least five years, but that timeline assumed we'd be able to get Cooper Flag. Given this terrible result, I'm going to have to ask for another five years. Further, I was really banking on that move to Virginia. Given the emotional distress the whole debacle caused me, I think I'll need another five years on top of that. And now that the football team may be moving back to dc, I'll likely need another five years to make the Wizards the preeminent sports franchise in the District instead of them. I think you'll find these are reasonable ask with our exceptional team and your support, we should be able to right this ship. Or not. If you haven't realized by now, I'm not really sure what I'm doing. Alex writes that Peter o' Brien in Clonmel, County Tipperary in Ireland oh Penham, in regards to your mentioning the absence of Mr. O' Neill on TNT's basketball coverage on Wednesday morning's podcast, I may have the solution. Recently, much to my surprise, Shaq has been popping up all over UK media advertising for discount furniture retailers, dfs shilling beds and sofas. So presumably his absence can be explained by him making publicity appearances in the likes of Norwich, Runcorn and Dudley.

[Michael Wilbon]

Huge over in the uk does everything he does.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Michael Benedetti San Tan Valley, Arizona can't wait. This is Wilbon at the Vatican. Can't wait to hear about the celebrities Wilbon runs into at the Vatican next week. Bernie Goodman in Silver Spring, Spring Formerly pharmacist of the Stars in Potomac and was pharmacist to junior Gene McManus, Ted Koppel, Wonder Woman, numerous athletes. Wow, that's really something. Jason Rhodes, the little that married my daughter and then found his son in law to be a little going back to 1992 has written in to acknowledge my now too many birthdays so it's my turn. My oldest grandchild, a beautiful young lady, Ellie Bird Rhodes will step up to the bema on Saturday, May 17 and that is two days from now. Could you send out best wishes to Jason and Ellie and mom Alison Goodman Rose Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely from Matt in San Antonio, the woman to whom I'm related By marriage. Insisted that I take her golfing on Mother's Day. She also insisted I write you about it. Ezra Fisher from Arlington, Massachusetts. Never. Arlington, Virginia. My mom went to Harper College the same time as you. So I asked her if she knew you and she said, didn't know him. Don't want to know him. Or maybe that was Arch Campbell. I got them confused. Anyway, please tell Brendan Gilfilan to eat it. And one more. The rainbow. This. Oh, this is pictures of the rainbow from Todd Bowler. This. This evening in my backyard. Saw them several times a year here in northeast North Carolina. A bit windy today. He sends two lovely pictures of, you know, horizon to horizon.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah, really lovely.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Really nice. But now I'm. Now I'm gonna go to Kentucky.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah, we need to investigate that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We have to. Yes, if you have your bike tank. Everyone is always do wear white. Mr. Dorfman.

[Unknown]

Hello?

[Tony Kornheiser]

0.2.

[Andy Beyer]

Fat, drunk and stupid is no way.

[Tony Kornheiser]

To go through life, son.

[Steve Sands]

Take me back in stereo to 1984 smoking in the bathroom of the local record store Dancing on the countertops while Johnny plays our song we shred guitars in basements we can't take it cuz the neighbors sing along this is more than just a case of bad nostalgia I'm not ashamed that I thought that I should warn you A memorandum every song on my cassette takes still blessing in my car every time I'm on a first date.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Take me back in.

[Steve Sands]

Stereo to 1984 Smoking in the bathroom of the local record store Dancing on the countertops while Johnny plays our song we shred guitars in basements we can't fake it cause the neighbors sing along Satin up a change for the gas in the Camaro flashing lights flip the pedal to the owner spent the whole night in a cell but it was worth it I'll be back to racing hell you know I don't quit let's go take me back Instead Mario to 1984 smoking in the bathroom of the local record store Dancing on the countertops while Johnny plays our song we shred guitars in basements we can't fake it cuz the neighbors sing along they sing Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na N N N N N N Come on, take me back you know I gotta go back Come on, take me back to 1980 naked in the street and I got a reputation Doing what I want never felt this good this is not a hint this is not a flirtation Doing what I want baby it's all good Take me back in stereo to 1984 smoking in the bathroom of the local record store Dancing on the countertops while Johnny plays our song we shred guitars in basement we can't fake it cause they never sing along they sing Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na 1984.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So.

[Dan Byrne]

Long as he is dead so long as he's a goner so long as he's not capable of enjoying the honor now that he can't make the spirit our precious minds be warped now the hall can honor him now that he's a corpse the odds makers betting site bookies hall of fame is letting the betting guys back in the game they get to have a ceremony get to have a feast now that they can't join in now they with their deceased maybe Sosa and McGuire and Bon some future season will finally get their honor Once they're no longer breathing the hall of fame doors will finally be a virto Once the greatest players are finally muerto.