“Sotto Voce”

Summary

Episode Summary: "Sotto Voce" - The Tony Kornheiser Show

Release Date: November 27, 2024
Host: Tony Kornheiser
Guests: Gary Braun, Jason Locking 4, James Carville, Jeff Ma
Produced by: This Show Stinks Productions, LLC

---

1. Host’s Health and Show Adjustments

The episode kicks off with an unusual start as Tony Kornheiser reveals that his voice is severely strained, leading to minimal speaking throughout the show. Michael introduces the unexpected format change, stating, "Tony just... His voice is completely gone right now" ([00:09]). Despite this setback, the show proceeds with an engaging lineup of guests, maintaining its usual dynamic.

2. Thanksgiving Plans and Family Updates

The conversation shifts to Thanksgiving, with guests sharing their family traditions and updates. Jason Locking 4 discusses his grown children: "Spike and Ike are 20 college sophomores... Sydney is in grad school, she's 23" ([03:17]). Gary Braun mentions the anticipation of hosting his family, adding humor about their Thanksgiving dynamics: "They have never been to the States before... So she'll see how we celebrate" ([05:24]). The discussion highlights the generational gap and the evolving nature of family gatherings.

3. Vacationing and Cruises

The trio delves into their perspectives on vacations, with Jason reminiscing about past cruises: "We did the Aleutian island thing... It was beautiful and magnificent" ([07:07]). However, he expresses skepticism about future cruises, aligning with Tony’s negative views: "I don't really understand the physics... So I don't... I don't really understand the physics" ([08:24]). The conversation underscores a shift from traditional family vacations to more localized or sport-centric activities.

4. NFL Analysis: Baltimore Ravens vs. Los Angeles Chargers

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to an in-depth analysis of the recent game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Los Angeles Chargers. Gary Braun provides a thorough breakdown of the Ravens' strategy and performance:

• Ravens' Offensive Prowess: "They run eight times on third and fourth, three yards or less... averaged 11.8 yards per carry in short yardage situations" ([19:38]).
• Lamar Jackson’s Performance: "He has a quarterback rating of 102 or higher in nine of his last 10 games... he's already done it more than that" ([20:35]).

The analysis highlights how the Ravens capitalized on the Chargers' defensive weaknesses, particularly in short-yardage scenarios, and credits Jackson's exceptional quarterback rating for the victory.

5. Houston Football Team's Struggles

Gary Braun critiques Houston's football tactics and organizational issues. He points out the team’s inability to make effective second-half adjustments: "They don't make second half adjustments. They don't score in the second half at all" ([20:41]). Braun attributes their struggles to a lack of vertical threats and poor offensive line coordination, emphasizing the team's reliance on Joe Mixon: "They live or die with Joe Mixon running the football" ([20:41]).

6. Jets vs. Giants: Organizational Missteps

The discussion pivots to the comparison between the New York Jets and the New York Giants, both perceived as struggling teams. Gary Braun shares his frustration with the management:

• Ownership Issues: "Ownership seems incapable of understanding the process by which you evaluate the personnel" ([24:26]).
• Player Performance: Critique of key players like Sauce Gardner: "He's really kind of done nothing... the tackling has been even more exposed" ([24:54]).

Braun expresses skepticism about both teams' futures, highlighting systemic issues that hinder their performance and potential turnaround.

7. Coaching Changes and Team Morale

The conversation turns to potential coaching changes within the NFL. Braun anticipates a wave of firings, stating, "There's a list of coaches who are going to get fired in your mind" ([26:34]). He predicts significant shifts in coaching staff as teams attempt to rectify their underperformance, drawing parallels to the WNBA's extensive coaching turnovers: "This WNBA where they fired everybody" ([27:35]).

8. Betting and Picks Segment

The episode features a lively betting segment where guests share their game predictions and spreads:

• Jason Locking 4’s Picks:

  • "East Carolina is minus 2.5... Take East Carolina." ([31:03])
  • "Take Miami -3 and a half over Arizona." ([38:20])
  • "Take Tampa minus six over Carolina." ([40:06])

• James Carville’s Picks:

  • "Take Ole Miss -25 over Mississippi State." ([37:03])
  • "Take Oklahoma plus six over LSU." ([37:23])

The segment showcases the guests' confidence in their selections, blending sports analysis with predictive betting insights.

9. Mailbag and Listener Interactions

In the latter part of the show, Tony and his guests engage with listener emails and stories, adding a personal touch to the episode. Topics range from humorous anecdotes about babysitting with Gary Braun to quirky listener suggestions like "Fish milk," which Tony dismisses humorously: "Fish milk. That's a terrible idea" ([46:07]).

10. Community and Local Insights

The show also touches on local developments, such as the emergence of "North Bethesda," reflecting on commercial growth and community changes: "When did North Bethesda become a thing? It has everything to do with commercial development." ([48:27]). This segment highlights the evolving landscape of local communities and their impact on residents.

11. Conclusion and Future Teasers

As the episode wraps up, Tony hints at future content and expresses hope for his voice's recovery: "I'll be better next week, brother" ([28:17]). The guests promote their platforms, ensuring listeners stay connected beyond the show.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Gary Braun on Ravens' Strategy:
  "They destroyed them on short yardage. They had no [offense]. The Ravens ran eight times on third and fourth, three yards or less." ([19:38])

• Jason Locking 4 on Coaching Changes:
  "I think there's going to be a significant change in [coaches]." ([26:34])

• James Carville on Tournament Seeding:
  "The way they were set up to be seated, the way they're set up to be seeded right now... these rankings are just a mess." ([35:10])

• Michael on Small Business Banking Fees:
  "Every time the card is used, the bank takes 3% on its fees. And slowly the entire $50 makes way to a big bank." ([46:15])

---

Key Takeaways:

• Tony’s Health: Tony's voice issues significantly impacted the show's format, leading to guest-driven discussions.

• Team Performances: Detailed analysis of the Ravens' victory over the Chargers, with emphasis on Lamar Jackson's leadership.

• Organizational Critiques: Persistent criticism of the Jets and Giants' management and player performances, indicating broader NFL concerns.

• Betting Insights: Guests provided confident betting picks, reflecting their expertise and predictive acumen.

• Community Engagement: Active listener interaction and local community discussions enriched the episode's relatability.

• Future Content: Teasers suggest continued improvement in Tony's health and more engaging content in upcoming episodes.

---

This episode of "The Tony Kornheiser Show" offers an insightful blend of sports analysis, personal anecdotes, and listener engagement, all navigated adeptly despite the host's vocal challenges. Guests bring depth to discussions, particularly in NFL strategies and organizational critiques, making it a valuable listen for sports enthusiasts and regular followers alike.

Transcript

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, so this is the cold open for the show. Obviously, this is not Tony speaking, Michael, because Tony's voice is completely shot right now.

[Michael]

Is that Michael's music in the background?

[Tony Kornheiser]

So we are going to do a show. It's packed with guests, including one special surprise. Yes, one special surprise. We think you love it, but we're doing this because Tony just. His voice is completely gone. But enjoy the show. Happy Thanksgiving. And as I said, enjoy the show.

[Advertisement Voice]

Why get all your holiday decorations delivered through Instacart? Because maybe you only bought two wreaths, but you have 12 windows. Or maybe your toddler got very eager with the Advent calendar. Or maybe the inflatable snowman didn't make it through the snowstorm. Or maybe the twinkle lights aren't twinkling. Whatever the reason, this season, Instacart's here for hosts and their whole holiday haul. Get decorations from the Home Depot, CVS and more through Instacart and enjoy. Free delivery on your first three orders. Service fees and terms apply.

[Michael]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Whether you love true crime or comedy, celebrity interviews or news, you call the shots on what's in your podcast queue. And guess what? Now you can call them on your auto insurance, too. With the name your price tool from Progressive. It works just the way it sounds. You tell Progressive how much you want to pay for car insurance and they'll show you coverage options that fit your budget. Get your quote [e-mail] to join the over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive, Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Price and coverage match limited by state law. Previously on the Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And Chicago is on a terrible losing.

[Jeff Ma]

Streak since the Hail Mary, but Caleb.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Williams showed out pretty well the last two games. This is a divisional game. Do I think Detroit? I don't want to just keep monopolizing this.

[Jeff Ma]

Detroit's maybe 20 points better, but 11 is a lot of points, isn't it?

[Michael]

And it's the first game of Thanksgiving.

[James Carville]

And how often have we seen, you.

[Michael]

Know, sort of like used to be an automatic.

[Gary Braun]

You get up, you bet against Detroit.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Gary Braun]

Go check the church.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Michael]

The Tony Kornizer show is on now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. This is my voice and this is the best it's going to be all day. And so I need help.

[Michael]

You turn out that NPR voice.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I need help with the show. Michael, explain what you did before we started the show. The various remedies.

[Michael]

Oh, we did a saltwater gargle and then we did some classic hot water with a very old lemon And a bit of honey.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, it was an aged lemon.

Wrinkled. Why should I age appropriate lemon at my age?

[Gary Braun]

Right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Why should I do that? I might not live long enough to use it.

Feels overly optimistic to get a new lemon. Yeah.

So I thought that what we would do. Did that come out? Could you hear that? So I thought that what we would do.

Yes.

Is just let me not talk and bring on people who could talk. So we bring you. You know, if we just gave you Chuck Todd, it would be great, but we give you a monkey. No, we give you Gary Braun. And because it's Thanksgiving and because Gary and Kim used to babysit my children and their children are now grown or at that age. Yeah. At school. How is everybody and where are the children?

[Jason Locking 4]

More importantly, how are you? You sounded a little raspy yesterday. How's the voice doing today?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, it's worse.

[Jason Locking 4]

Shalom aleichem, my brothers. Everyone's fine. The children are almost people. Spike And Ike are 20 college sophomores, which I'm sure makes a lot of people listening to this feel quite old. And Sydney is. She's in grad school. She's 23. So, you know, it's good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Where are they? Where are they? Where are they in school?

[Jason Locking 4]

The boys are at. I'm trying to remember which kid is which. Spike is at University of Georgia in Athens, and Ike followed in his sister's footsteps as a Wolverine at University of Michigan, where they are both majoring in football and parties and doing quite well. Sydney is. Sydney's getting a master's in sustainability management, which maybe she can explain to you next. You see her at Columbia. She's in New York and loving it. It was very hard to get her home, even for Thanksgiving, so that's lovely. So she has left the nest and that's worked, which is good. Just got two more to get rid of. You know, we're all good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What do you do on Thanksgiving? Do they all come down for Thanksgiving and are there Gary Braun household Kim Braun traditions and Thanksgiving?

[Gary Braun]

Yeah, there's. So there's nothing.

[Jason Locking 4]

I don't have any, like, great stories of, like, political battles. We've sort of weeded out the people we don't enjoy for Thanksgiving. So I'll spend it typically eating by myself. But, yeah, they're all coming home. Sydney actually has a roommate in New York who is from England who's also in school there, but who's never been to the States before. So she's coming home to do an American Thanksgiving with us, so she'll see how we celebrate Winning the war against them or whatever Thanksgiving is. I don't remember anymore.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't think it's the Revolutionary War, but maybe and you know, and they'll.

[Jason Locking 4]

Come and do this D.C. stuff. Maybe I'll have her bring you some matzo ball soup. Still bothering you? And then our moms are both coming by, both of my dads, my dad and my father in law are passed as you know. So you know, it'll be a smallish family thing. Kim's sister and her family come over. My brother and his family are not welcome. So, you know, how are you guys? Tony, I was, I was so surprised to get the call from Nigel when he said because of my command of the mask, she wanted me to come on and explain tariffs to you. I thought that was very weird. But I'm happy to be of assistance. I just told him the one stipulation was I'm not sharing a segment with Greg Garcia because that's, you know, that's a losing proposition. Greg is too funny prepared.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Did you know that Greg was that funny? Like when we met Greg when we met him, Was he that funny as.

[Jason Locking 4]

My predecessor, you mean? No, no. I mean you can't claim to have known that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No.

[Jason Locking 4]

Do you? No, I mean he was funny.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes, we knew he was funny, but not this funny.

And I believe it was Andy Poley that said we'll see him in six weeks when he comes when he fails out in Hollywood.

Right.

[Jason Locking 4]

The funny thing is, and I realized that, that when we think of Greg now we see like Tom Hanks from the end of Castaway with the beard and all that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right.

[Jason Locking 4]

But when I say Greg, I still picture the 20 something year old in the jams in like December. Do you remember he used to wear jams? Remember those shorts?

[Tony Kornheiser]

He wore those and flannel shirts. That's all he wore.

That was the uniform.

That was it every day. Flannel shirts. And he didn't wear pants. He wore.

[Jason Locking 4]

Love me some Greg Garcia.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I know, that was great. So there are, this is terrible. There are a lot of commercials on television now. We've never talked about this, you know, my antipathy towards cruises, but there's a tremendous amount of commercials on television right now. You know, holiday season, take cruises. Have you, you've been on a cruise, right?

[Jason Locking 4]

No, I haven't been on a Cruise in probably 20 years. My father liked them so we went. I'm trying to think if my kids were. Yeah, my, the last cruise we went on my. So it was probably about 15 years ago and we did the Aleutian island thing where you do like Vancouver and go up through Alaska in the summertime. And it was beautiful and magnificent. But I am not in. I'm more aligned with you and, and Kip Sheeman on those. So that is nothing I think I would ever do again. And in fact, the ships. Now to your point about the ads, if you.

[Gary Braun]

They are so big.

[Jason Locking 4]

They are like, it's. They're terrifyingly big. And I don't. I'm not going to pretend to understand the physics of it. I don't know how they stay afloat and don't capsize, but I feel the same way about many small islands. So I don't. I don't really understand the physics like they said.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So do you take family vacations or. No, I don't do that. My children hate me.

[Jason Locking 4]

We used to do a lot of that.

[Michael]

But.

[Jason Locking 4]

But I like them better holding out for that river dinner by myself.

[Michael]

No, Tony's got his turkey dinner for one coming up.

[Jason Locking 4]

Kim and I actually talked about this recently. I mean, Kim and I traveled a bunch when we were younger, which you may recall, and, and did some fun and super exotic stuff. And we traveled a lot with the kids too, when they were little kids. But since I guess 2020, you know, since COVID which happened to coincide with my oldest graduation from high school, any free time we've had, especially where they've been at school, since those are kind of fun towns with plenty to do, we've spent just sort of chasing them around. You know, I'll catch a game or two both at Georgia and Michigan in the fall, and then we try to get to each in the spring. So it's been a long time since we've gone on anything that I would consider a vacation. Tim's mom takes the family somewhere. We'll go to a beach somewhere that we can drive to on the Eastern seaboard, somewhere between Virginia beach and Jersey Shore every year.

[Gary Braun]

But that's.

[Jason Locking 4]

It doesn't feel like a vacation, candidly. It's more like a trip just sort of moving. Moving everything to a different location.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I have no idea what vacations are. I haven't. It's. I can't even remember taking a vacation because I like. I like what I do. But I mean, if I knew anybody, for example, who had a house on Fishers island and they invited me, I'd be happy to go.

[Jason Locking 4]

Well, what do you consider the beach house? Not. That's not a vacation.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, that's just. That's this house in Delaware that's, you know, that's how I look at it. That's this house in Delaware. And I'm fine with that. I just have now. I mean, I know that most of the world probably dislikes their jobs and waits with great anticipation to take a vacation and goes somewhere and has that mindset, I'm on vacation. I'm not that guy. I'm just not. Do I appeal to me.

[Jason Locking 4]

Do I recollect correctly? I seem to want to say that I feel like once upon a time, I thought that if you could snap your fingers and be. I mean, going somewhere was always.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Jason Locking 4]

A problem because of the flying. But were you into Italy? Do I remember that right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I've never been. It's. It's the one place that I've never been that I'd actually like to go. Michael, you've been there, like, three times.

[Michael]

In a short period. Before the kids. We won two times, including a couple summer trips. And then the week before Christmas, which was just such an unexpected joy. But you've been around so many different pockets of the world because of big sporting events. You've had that. You've had your Asian trip. I don't think you've really ever done Australia. No. But, yeah. Italy is this one pocket that you have not been to.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And I just want to go for the food because everybody says, nigel, you went for the food.

I hate all food. And I mean, I'm a really tough guy to eat stuff and everything there was just the best. It was just amazing.

Yeah. And I don't want to have people say, well, go to Disney World. They have a Sbarro.

[Michael]

Either of the world.

[Jason Locking 4]

Well, man, to be clear. Can we be honest now, though, about the trips with little kids when you're going. Well, or maybe it's too. Maybe too soon for Michael.

[Michael]

We need to make sure we lock it up while we still have a cast member in the house.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Michael]

Gotta get that fast pass.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I can get you to Disneyland.

[Gary Braun]

Those.

[Jason Locking 4]

Who are those? Fun for the kids. I guess we do it for the kids.

[Michael]

Yes.

[Jason Locking 4]

Always.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I thank you. I can't talk.

[Michael]

Gary, how many birds do you have going for tomorrow?

[Jason Locking 4]

Just. Just one. There's only 12 people. So I got a. I got a spatchcocked beauty brining. Quick cook.

[Michael]

Okay, so we won't see on the local news with the brown sugar cayenne pepper. I'm sorry, we won't see you on the local news with the deep fryer.

[Jason Locking 4]

Hopefully not. No. No deep frying of turkeys in the Braun household.

[Gary Braun]

Great.

[Jason Locking 4]

To catch up with you guys.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Give my best to everybody and I'm sorry for my voice.

[Jason Locking 4]

Will do. Happy Thanksgiving. Take care of yourself.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Isn't that nice to talk to Gary? That's very pleasant.

[Michael]

I was thinking about Gary the other day. Well, obviously because of the fugitive speech, which is Gary's specialty. But we did this. We try and do a traditional. We take the boys out to dinner as a way to celebrate the end of this first stage of the school year and get ready for the holiday. And we just see these, you know, these adult kids going out to dinner. And you just think about it's the first time you've seen your kids in months. Maybe you're coming back from the first semester at school. And we looked at our little guys and just realized how quickly they're growing.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It. It does go quickly. I mean, to think that Gary's kids are all in their 20s, that's.

That's beyond possible. It just doesn't seem real.

[Michael]

When. When Bootsy was a little guy, we went up to his house and Gary and Kim told us this great story about how they used to make enchiladas for the kids. And it's the, you know, traditional. You end up with two pans. It lasts for the week. As the kids get a little bit older. You barely make it out at night one with them. Right. Then you got to start doubling the recipe.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And I should. I should remember, of course, that when we get Spike on to pick the games, Joe Oklahoma started out as.

Yeah.

And he knows everything. He's won it a bunch of times. It started out as great because it's this cute kid's voice and you're like, oh, this is adorable. Now he's a man.

[Michael]

He's a man, man.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So. All right, let's get out of here. That was a good open.

Yeah.

I mean, I didn't have to talk much.

[Michael]

The voice sounds a little bit better.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We do have lots of guests, so hopefully they'll do most of the talking.

I hope so. Jason, lock in for when we return. I'm Tony Cornhage.

[Advertisement Voice]

The DSW Black Friday sale is on. Take 30% off almost everything in stores and online right now. Yep, you heard that right. 30% off. Stock up on new shoes, bags, and extra for you and yours from all the gift worthy brands you love. But hurry. Black Friday can't last forever. Get to your DSW store or dsw.com asap to save big exclusions. Apply [e-mail].

[Michael]

You'Re listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show. The Tony Kornheiser show.

[Jeff Ma]

Does the Indochina. Read this. Black Friday. Instead of just looking for good deals, get a deal that'll make you look good. Get custom made clothing at the best prices all year from the global leader in made to measure apparel. Their Black Friday sale runs November 18th through December 1st, so it's on now. And their cyber sale goes from December 2nd to December 8th, [e-mail]. you guys have these?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Jeff Ma]

You got three of them, right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, three suits. Love them. Fit like a glove. Especially now that I've been going to the gym again and. Yeah. And it's just you really, when you walk into a place and you're wearing a custom fitted suit like that, you just feel like a million bucks. But you didn't pay a million bucks. It's a great deal.

[Michael]

Mine looks so good, it feels like three suits.

[Jeff Ma]

Check out these great deals. Door crasher shirt starting at $49. Custom suits start at just $329. Outerwear is up to 40% off and accessories starting at $19. Indochino lets you design the suit of your dreams and fine tune every detail, including lapels, linings, monograms, pocket flaps and more. You get a tailored fit from home.

[Michael]

All about the pen pocket by setting.

[Jeff Ma]

Up your measurement profile on Indochino's website and choose customizations without ever leaving the house. Upgrade your closet and shop discounted custom pieces and [e-mail] during their Black Friday sale November 18th through December 1st and their cyber sale from December 2nd to December 8th. That's I N--O-C-H-I-N-O.com youm're listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Michael]

Hello, Mr. Tony. Thank you again for your continued support playing my music and the music of many other independent artists over the years. I grew up listening to American football religiously and one of the first songs I learned on guitar was a Dan Burns song. It's still wild to have all that converge on this show decades later. Attached is my newest song, perhelion, which is available at whateverpenny.bandcamp.com and all other major streaming platforms. Erickster Lawrenceville, NJ.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's where the prep school is, right, Blair?

Yeah, that's right.

[Michael]

It is.

[Jason Locking 4]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Lawrenceville.

[Michael]

Lawrenceville.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's where Bob Ryan's father was the ad.

Yes, that's right.

[Michael]

I have many memories losing JV girl squash matches in that we were undefeated. Except against Lawrenceville.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Then you weren't actually undefeated.

[Michael]

Well, I. They're In a different class.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Come on.

[Michael]

We are joined by Odyssey NFL Insider Jason Locking 4, host of the podcast in the Huddle covering the entire NFL. And he'll be happy to know my second grader was wearing a Lamar Jackson T shirt to dinner last night.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So my voice is gone. I'll do this the best I can. Just you talk, you do radio, you know how to talk. Here we go. That was. It struck, it struck me that that was a big win for Baltimore out in California against the Chargers on Monday night. Right?

[Gary Braun]

Absolutely. You know, they're in a tricky little wicket here where they've got, you know, a week 14 by which is as late as they come. Yeah, they're a team that's dealing with some bumps and bruises and a lot of their key players have been on the injury report lately. And some of them, like a Roquan Smith didn't even play in that Chargers game. And you've got the Eagles looming and they're coming off a loss against the Steelers, so. And look, they've got some AFC losses now already. You know, you start to look at the tiebreaker scenarios and how do they differentiate between these teams? And they'd already lost to the Browns, they'd already lost to the Raiders, they'd already lost to the Steelers. Like, you start having those AFC losses pile up, that can be a big deal. So, yeah, I mean, they got back.

[James Carville]

To who they are.

[Gary Braun]

And look, styles make fights and there are certain teams that just don't have the weight and heft and two gappers and run stuffers that you probably need to beat the Ravens if they're anywhere close to their best running the football. And while they had not been very efficient lately running with Derek Henry and the 300 pound fullback, and there were some teams like the Browns and the Steelers who were built to stop that stuff, the Chargers are not. And the Chargers had really struggled. They were 32nd in the league in yards per carry allowed. When you had two or more tight ends on the field. And these guys kept a couple of tight ends on the field and they kept the fullback on the field. And Derrick Henry ran 24 times. 21 of those times he ran with Lamar under center. Not in the pistol or the shotgun, but old school eye formation, quarterback under center, fullback running back in the eye. And those 21 carries went for over six yards per carry.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It was really something.

[Gary Braun]

And they destroyed them on short yardage. They had no the Chargers on short yardage. The Ravens ran eight times on third and fourth, third down and fourth down, three yards or less. They ran eight times in those scenarios. They picked up 96 yards and a touchdown. They averaged 11.8 yards per carry in short yardage situations. And that was the difference in the game I felt like. And Lamar continues to operate like an MVP. He had a slow start, but in the second, third and fourth quarter, he was 15, 18, almost 10 yards per attempt, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 144 something. He has a quarterback rating of 102 or higher in nine of his last 10 games. Like, he did that nine times in its entirety in 2019 when he won the first MVP. And he only did it like six times last year. So he's already done it more than that. And I'm old enough to remember him winning an MVP last year.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You mentioned AFC losses. What happened to Houston? What happened to that team?

[Gary Braun]

Well, you know, I wrote about this in the post this week, and it's something I've been kind of gathering some string on for a while and talked to a D coordinator who's faced them and some executives who've watched them. They don't make second half adjustments. They don't score in the second half at all. They're not able to sort of sustain things for four quarters. Like, they've got eight offensive touchdowns in the second half all season, 12 games. Like C.J. stroud and their young coordinator, Bobby Slovak, they don't seem to have the answers. And really, I mean, you know, they. They don't beat cover two, and they kind of struggle against cover three. And you could say, well, some of that is not having enough vertical threats. And Nico Collins missed some time, and he absolutely did. But, like, he's been back and Tank. Tank Dell's been back for a couple weeks. They get nothing out of the tight ends. They don't stretch defenses. Like, if you want to be covered too, like, you could send a, you know, move tight end down the seam route, like, and hit some vertical stuff there. Like, they're not really capable of doing that. Their tackle stinks. They kind of live or die with Joe Mixon running the football, which is not how they were constructed last year at all. Last year, they attacked people early, early down play action, hitting deep shots, no matter what defense you were in. And they kind of dictated to you. And there isn't that same confidence. There isn't that same swagger. I think, you know, there's a lot. There's a book on them now, and people know their tendencies, and they know that coordinator's tendencies, and it's a Game of constant sort of punches and counter punches, and they don't have a whole lot of answers right now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Will Bowen has them in the AFC Championship game, but even he has backed off that at this point. I can't do this. I'm going to do it, but I can't do it. We talk a lot, you and I, about the jets and what a mess they are, but in the same stadium. I think the other team's worse. I think it's a bigger mess. I really do. What do you think, boy?

[Gary Braun]

I think. I mean, they're both perpetually sinking ship.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Gary Braun]

I mean, which is worse? I don't know. I mean, they're kind of similar. It starts with ownership, and ownership is rudderless, and ownership doesn't have much of a feel for this, despite the fact that they've done it for a long time. Ownership seems incapable of understanding the process by which you evaluate the personnel and the coaches available to you, and you select one and you're both one of each. Although moving forward with the Giants, it might just be one, because if it's Belichick, it's really only one, which would be a change for them, a drastic change, but one that's probably required. Like, if that doesn't work, at least you tried it with Belichick, but neither seem to be able to handle that part of the process. And then once you identify those people, there's also, you know, the providing of infrastructure and kind of staying out of the way, which is worse. I mean, I don't know. Like, some people would say the jets have more talent. Like, I don't know, though, because I know people who think Sauce Gardner was pretty damn overrated in the public eye even before this year, where he's really kind of done nothing. The tackling has been even more exposed, and the refs know that he's so handsy that, you know, you could throw a flag on almost every down. And they're throwing quite a few on him, you know, like Quinn and Williams. A great player. Like, I don't know, is he better than Dexter Lawrence? And, like, which one's going to earn their money more over time? Like, I don't. I don't know. I kind of like the Giants D line more than the Jets D line.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You know, they look pathetic when they. When they didn't sign Saquon Barkley, who could very well be the mvp, and then their quarterback just says, get me out of here. I mean, I understand why everybody looks at the jets the way they do, and the owner is Terrible. And Aaron Rodgers is that magnet that draws all the eyes. But the Giants with D ball, it's a terrible collapse to me. It really is. Really is.

[Gary Braun]

It's bad. I mean, but I don't know. I mean, this guy was, he wasn't firing the coach three weeks into the season or whatever.

[Jason Locking 4]

I don't know.

[Gary Braun]

I mean, neither's good. I don't, I don't vouch for either. I don't have faith that either has hit rock bottom and can actually course correct and get it right, you know, in the Saquon thing. Like, I just have to say Saquon wouldn't be doing that in New York. Like, he wouldn't. Because that's not the team that they built. They don't have Jalen Hurts and that offensive line and two of the best downfield wide receivers in the league. Like, and that defense, like, they don't. Like they're running the ball really, really well. Like, I know it didn't show up last week against Tampa because there wasn't much volume there because the game was over, you know, 13 minutes in and the young running back, you know, Tyrone Tracy fumbled. But if you look at any advanced metrics about their run game, you look at success rate, you look at, you know, expected points added over the last six weeks, the Giants are top five running team, though the Giants don't have is the quarterback and the offensive line and the tight ends. And so. And you know, I don't know, man. Like, I don't, I don't know. For me, the Aaron, the Aaron Rodgers thing is a special level of incompetence because his play told you his last year in Green Bay, it told you he was broken. And it's not a young, you know, broken guy you can fix. It's an old broken guy who's a stubborn mule who's also going to be the biggest distraction in the league, especially if he can't play anymore than the mouth does. You know, all he is is a mouth. And I don't know, man. That's, it's, it's, it's kind of ridiculous. I mean, they redid his contract again, you know, last year. Like, I don't know.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you have a list of coaches who are going to get fired in your mind?

[Gary Braun]

Yeah, Yeah, I think there's, you know, 10 that you can at least look at something of a critical eye. Some 10 that will have merit conversation or debate within their, you know, within ownership, within the front office. And yeah, I mean, I think there will be, you know, seven or eight. I don't think we're going under. Like, I think we're going to be, you know, even though there were a bunch last year. Yes. When you see this many people fired in season, it's a copycat league. These guys are sitting there saying, well, man, I don't, I don't know, like, if, if I wait and these other guys hire eight guys this year, who's left for me next year? You know what I mean? Like, if we don't think there's enough guys for eight this year, who's going to be there next year? Yeah, I think there's, I think there's going to be a significant change in.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This WNBA where they fired everybody.

[Gary Braun]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So many. Wow. Wow. That seems like a lot. Plug your radio show for us. Thank you, Jason.

[Gary Braun]

You can check me out on two to six weekdays on Inside Access on 1057 the Fan in Baltimore. You can also listen to that on the Odyssey app. You can read my NFL stuff in the Washington Post. And on the gambling side, if that, what's your whistle? You can check me out writing online and making pics at Sportsline and also on CBS HQ on our sports line segments doing live betting and previewing NFL and NBA games through the week.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I apologize for my voice. I'll be better next week, brother.

[Jeff Ma]

Hang in there.

[Gary Braun]

Happy Thanksgiving, all you guys.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You too.

[Michael]

And I'm guessing that that list of coaches names will be in the paper at some point in the next few weeks. So thanks for teasing that. That was Odyssey NFL Insider Jason Lockin for it. Make sure to follow in the huddle on the Odyssey app or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So we will get to our celebrity betters after this. Yes, Carville, who's hot red hot 80 in the last two weeks and Jeff.

Ma, by the way with new walk up music.

Walk up music. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

[Michael]

You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Jeff Ma]

This is the Omaha Steaks read. Nothing delivers comfort and joy quite like the unrivaled quality and taste of Omaha Steaks this year. Skip the holiday hustle and bustle and save 50% off site wide during their cyber sale at omahastakes.com plus get a $30 reward card when you shop early and score an extra $30 off with promo code. Tony. Wow. With five generations of experience, Omaha Steaks consistently delivers the world's best steak experience. And their gifting experts have made it easy to deliver the perfect gift with thoughtfully curated gift packages starting at 89.99 from legendary steaks to mouthwatering desserts and more. Save 50% off site wide during the cyber sale at OmahaStakes.com plus our listeners get an extra $30 off with the promo code Tony and a $30 reward card when you shop early. That's 50% off at Omaha Steaks.com and an extra $30 off with promo code Tony. Minimum purchase may apply.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Want to shop Walmart Black Friday deals first. Walmart plus members get early access to our hottest deals. Join now and get 50% off a one year annual membership shop Black Friday deals first with Walmart plus see [e-mail].

[Michael]

Youm'Re listening to the Tony Kornheiser show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I feel like I should be standing.

Up for this philharmonic orchestra. Carville has new walk of music, God save the King and by the way, 20 on the week. He wasn't on 6 0.

Yeah.

Last week.

Yeah. Verified 6 0.

Now only three under 500. James, you've been great. What happened?

[I]

Well, under the my team, ACL sports high speed AI computing of Palantir, we've merged together and we went eight and oh, and I looked it up, Tony. The odds of blowing eight head, eight heads in a row are 256 to 1.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Wow.

[I]

So hats off to the whole Carville team here, but we got. We gotta keep exploding here before we.

[Michael]

Get to the picks. This week's picks with James Carville and Jeff Maher brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. Make every moment more so.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I saw a clip today of you explaining what you want in a political campaign and who you would fire if they did anything that bothered you.

[Michael]

It's not.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And I loved it. I loved it.

It was the best.

It's great.

[I]

Yeah. I love these 23 year olds that say if you don't do this and we'll quit.

[Gary Braun]

We'll carry carry you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What do you got? What do you got for us?

[I]

Okay, Navy, East Carolina. East Carolina is minus 2.5. Eat the points and take East Carolina. Minus 2.5.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Over Navy.

[I]

Over Navy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[I]

It will sink the Navy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[I]

Okay. A game that I think you and I go forward to. We used to see it and come back as Texas versus Texas A and.

[Tony Kornheiser]

M. First time in 16 years. Yeah.

[I]

Yeah. A M. Take a M and six points.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Plus six. Okay.

[I]

Okay. Then we got Fresno State and UCLA. All right, it's eight and a half. Take the dog. Fresno State, UCLA is not that good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Plus eight and a half. Got it right.

[I]

It distance is almost a Pit at Cincinnati. Cincinnati is minus 2.5. This is the ultimate. They're begging you to bet Pitt. So therefore Bet Cincinnati at minus 2.5.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[I]

And the Titans and the Commanders take.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The over 44, Tennessee Washington. Over 44.

[Gary Braun]

Yes, sir.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You hit the over last week by a lot. You did great on the over.

Yes, you did. Yeah.

[Gary Braun]

Well, let's try.

[I]

Let's see. Let's see if the King can come back next week. If I go. If I go four, what have I got? I got five pictures.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[I]

If I go four and one, we'll redo God Save the King.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Fantastic. We may do it anyway. Just on the regular show.

Yeah, absolutely. That's great.

Thank you, James. My voice will be better then.

[I]

I understand. Go ahead. See you guys.

[Gary Braun]

Thank you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So, I mean, I just can't talk. If I could have talked, you know what I would have done in the open after Gary, I'd have talked about Mack Brown being fired. Oh, yeah. I mean, who does North Carolina think they are? Like, do they have some tradition of being a great football program? This guy was 12 over 500 in five years. Six years. And went to six straight bowl games and they fired him. Like, I mean, come on, you're a basketball school. You should be happy that he came back to coach and they just canned them. I was very surprised at that. I thought it was wrong. You know, we have to ask Chan about that.

[Michael]

Yeah. Do you have any comparisons as to how that would look in a different sport? Like, do you see basketball schools doing the same?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think it's because of his age and then the fact that they gave up 70 points to James Madison this year and lost 70 to 50 and he's 73 years old and they said, how long are we going to go down this road? Well, since I'm further down that road.

[Michael]

Yeah, it seems like it's time for a new contract.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, that's something that concerns me. Right. Give him a three year bump. Do we have Jeff Ma?

We do indeed have Jeff Ma.

You can hear that my voice is terrible. Jeff was 3 and 2 last week. 34, 29 and 1. I'm just going to let you go and talk about the games because I can't help it all.

[James Carville]

Okay, no worries at all. We get the. We gave you a couple of call up games. The latest college rankings are pretty interesting because they have to change. I don't know if you've seen the way that they're set up to be seated, the way they're set up to be seeded right now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I saw it this morning.

[James Carville]

The way they were, Oregon, Ohio State, Georgia and Tennessee would all be on the same side of the bracket. They're arguably the top three teams by odds and maybe for the top 18. So, you know, these rankings are just. I wonder what they're really trying to do with these because they don't make a ton of sense. But I guess Georgia is going to play an SEC championship, so, you know, whoever wins, your team member in Texas will probably be obviously the top one or two seed.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hey. Hey, Jeff.

Jeff.

Sorry to interrupt you. Are we on speakerphone? Is this tilt to hear you? Yeah.

[Michael]

Sounds like a hotel banquet room.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Sorry, Mike.

[James Carville]

Is this any better?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, yes.

Oh, it's a hundred times better.

Yes.

Yes.

[James Carville]

Okay. I was. You were on this company called Apple, makes these, like, AirPods that don't. Don't seem to work that well when you're trying to talk. So we're gonna. We'll switch off of those.

[Michael]

So Tony just completely missed the Apple reference, which makes my day.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's like, I like apples.

Yeah.

[Michael]

Goes for honey crisp.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So the point you're making is they're setting up a bracket with too many good teams. Right. What are they doing?

[James Carville]

Yeah, what are they doing? And they just seem to be kind of, like, in love with the. Again, like. And maybe some of the issue is that they have these rules for what they're trying to do with, like, the Power 5 and Group of 5 and conference championships. And, you know, it's. It's kind of. It's kind of a mess. Hopefully it all will shake itself out and we get a really good top 12 because, I mean, this could be very exciting. But if they. If they, you know, stick all these good teams on one side.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We're stupid. Pointing stupid. What do you got for us?

[James Carville]

Okay, we're going to take Ole Miss -25 or Mississippi State, obviously. Ole Miss, very disappointing. If they just beat Florida last week, they'd be in this thing. And if you look at someone like Bill Connolly and SC plus, he has them ranked as the number two team in the country, they're minus 25 or Mississippi State.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's a lot.

[James Carville]

I think they. 25 a lot. It's a lot for a rivalry game, all that kind of stuff. But Mississippi State is not good. Ole Miss is very good at blowing teams out, and I think they're going to try to show as well as they can with, you know, an outside chance of still making the thing. It's important to happen.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[James Carville]

I'm going to take Oklahoma plus the 6 over LSU. I think again Oklahoma proved that they are a good defense, a great defense. Shutting down Alabama last week.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What a terrible loss by Alabama, three points. What a terrible loss. Really?

[James Carville]

Yeah. It's interesting again from a standpoint of with that loss, people still have them as an outside chance to make it three losses. They're still ahead of Ole Miss. Everyone kind of is like thinking that Alabama has that nine lives, that somehow they're going to work their way into this thing again this year.

[Jason Locking 4]

So.

[James Carville]

But yeah, no, Oklahoma plus six over lsu.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[James Carville]

And then we're going to hop into the NFL. I've been on Miami quite a bit talking about how sort of elite their offense is with tua. Obviously in Green Bay and bad weather. It's a little bit worrisome with this team. So. But plus three and a half I think is enough for me to want to support Miami in a game that they absolutely need. And Green Bay coming off probably a very emotional beat down of San Francisco. This is a game that I think Miami is in a good position and getting three and a half.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I like cold weather, cold weather, night game.

[James Carville]

Yeah, I mean it's definitely worrisome and if Miami shows up there and this cold weather thing is. It's definitely real. Right. Because teams from these warm weather climates, they're just not acclimated when they get to these cold weather. But again, like that's reflected in the spread here, I believe. And I think the lines just a little too high. Okay, I'm gonna take Miami -3 and a half over Arizona. I'm sorry, Minnesota minus the three and a half over Arizona. I'm not sure how Arizona became thought of as sort of this elite team, but against Seattle they showed they're a reasonable team, but they're not better than a lot of these teams like Seattle and the Rams and whatnot. And I think Minnesota is a step above. Obviously they had that game won pretty easily and Chicago was able to sort of sneak back in, had an onside kick, et cetera. Minnesota didn't need to go to overtime, but I like them at home minus the 3 1/2 over Arizona team that they will likely be able to handle defensively and put some points up against.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Got one more for us.

[James Carville]

I got two more. I got Tampa minus a six over Carolina. Tampa has really been a strong team offensively even without Godwin and Evans and getting Evans back last week and really thrashing the Giants. I think they'll thrash Carolina. Obviously Carolina played much better last week and against the Kansas City team who everyone seems to be challenging at this point. But like, like that minus the six and then I'm going to take the commies minus the five and a half over Tennessee bounce back here. Obviously people are like thinking that this season is over. They've lost, you know, a bunch of games, lost last week in a tough, very tough way. But if this is going to be any kind of season for them, this is a game they got to win. And Tennessee, you know, despite what they did last week, I think it's still not a very good team.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, they're not a very good team at all. They're the lousy team.

Yeah.

I mean, Washington's lost three in a row, but they're better than Tennessee.

Yeah.

I gotta go gargle with saltwater. This is awful. Thank you, Jeff. I'm sorry.

[James Carville]

Thanks, guys.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'll be better next week, I promise. Jeff Ma. Boys and girls, this week's picks with.

[Michael]

James Carville and Jeff Ma have been brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. Make every moment more.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We will have email and jingle when we return and you'll get the treat of a lifetime. Michael will read the email. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

[Michael]

This episode is brought to you by US Cellular. Some things are worth waiting for, like getting your diploma or finding the right partner. You know what's not worth waiting for? The cable guy. Fortunately, US Cellular's home Internet is so simple to install, you can do it yourself. And it's just $39.99 per month when bundled with a wireless plan with a.

[Gary Braun]

Three year price lock guaranteed.

[Michael]

US Cellular home Internet made simple without the waiting terms apply. Visit us cellular.com for details. This is the Tony Kornheiser show. The Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Jason Locking 4]

Here comes Tony's mailbag. Got your email, faxes and your notes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Here comes Tony's mailbag.

[Jason Locking 4]

Gotta read something for all you folks.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's Gary's second appearance on the show today. Thank you. Went to the Bethesda bagel there.

Bethesda Bagels, we love them. You will as well. By the way. They're going to be open on Thanksgiving. I talked to them. I said, oh, you guys going to take off? They're open every single day of the year, so stop on by. Yeah. Check BethesdaBaggles.com for location in the D.C. area nearest you. Then pop on in and you will be thrilled.

You did the lyrics to Alice's Restaurant. You read it?

Yes.

You like it better than I. I.

Think I'm the only person in the.

Country that likes it better than I.

You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant. Walk right in. It's around the back, just a half mile from the railroad track. Yes, you can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant. And thanks to our guests today, Gary Braun, Jason Locken, Ford, James Carville, and Jeff Ma. Thanks as well to today's sponsors. And remember that you can listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Odyssey. And if you get the show through Apple Podcasts, please leave us a review.

[Michael]

I feel like we should start playing One Shining Moment. If I'm gonna try and read the mailbag for you, does it count to have an email read? If it is read by me, yes, it does.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Michael]

Well, as we go down memory lane again, I'm just thinking about the first time Gary babysat for us. You and mom left, which rarely happened together. It was before they had kids. And I wake up in the middle of the night looking for some comfort, some solace. I go downstairs to find Gary hanging out in the den playing wave race 64, and he just looks at me and hands me a controller.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's a good babysitter.

That is a great babysitter.

[Michael]

A haiku from Shad. A haiku for Chessie. It's a small step from you learning to boil rice to Chessie's own fridge. You have a good system now you're set, right? You don't measure with your finger. You just. You go by the clock.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I know what I'm doing. Yeah.

[Michael]

I just don't change the altitude.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And you don't go with the microwave rice. Do you boil rice?

I don't know about my.

[Michael]

I can get you some freezer bags of rice from Trader Joe's. It's a very good filling if you need it last minute, three minutes and you're done.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Michael]

From Tom in Colon of British Columbia. Did someone on Monday's mailbag imply that Reginald is a feral monkey? If so, I would hate to hear how they would describe me. This is for Dr. Hoffwaff. All this rogue monkey talk reminds me. As a kid, I was bitten by a monkey. It was a pet owned by some guy at my little League bark. It seems like there's another podcast this. Sadly, I never developed monkey like superpowers. I never developed the ability to swing from trees or high levels of cognition enable me to make tools that would help me forage for food I had parenthetically, maybe should try writing Shakespeare. On the other hand, I didn't get rabies So I guess it's a wash. Dick Gabriel, Lexington, Kentucky do you think anytime Chessie gets sick, she thinks she has Covid? Wonder where she would have gotten that idea.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Thanks, Andrew Merckx I took a COVID test yesterday. It's negative.

[Michael]

The best is you. I just walk in and you're measuring your temperature every which way. Because I convinced you years ago that if you did it on your temple, it was a more accurate read.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's a great.

[Michael]

From Jason Lower in Louisville, Kentucky. I've been along. I've been a little going back to your column and ESPN radio show some two wives ago for me. I recently went on a golf trip with my buddy Michael Crowley. I Again, thanks for the invite. Who's a great. A great writer as well. We know that personally. When he picked me up in the rental, I noticed the podcast on the CarPlay. It was that day years ago. I was that day years old. When I found out about your podcast. I was so happy and couldn't believe I'd never listened before. You're now on a regular rotation, much to the chagrin of my teenage daughters. They'll come around, I hope. Well, can't wait to see what other fun things we have for the future. Maybe one day we'll step foot on the moon. Dare to dream. Dare to dream. First time, long time. This is from Bob Magdison in Nashville. Nash Vegas. As an avid listener and fellow chronic complainer of life's little peculiarities, I thought you'd appreciate this item from today's Wall Street Journal. If you thought the milk section of your grocery store is out of control, be thankful you don't live in Indonesia. It is there due to the scarcity of cows that they have begun to offer get ready. Fish milk. Yeah, you gonna try that?

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, no, no, no, no, no.

That's a terrible idea. No, that sounds disgusting on every level.

[Michael]

Full fat. Warm it up. The article Fish milk.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Fish milk.

[Michael]

Imagine the smell. The article goes into the history, production and reasoning why this is so sure to be the next big non dairy addition to the already absurdly crowded field and now stream of so called taste alike. Suffice it to say that it appears that the strawberry version is the tasting. Now that is double nasty. The only more absurd thing I've come across in the recent art auction of a banana duct taped to a wall that sold for $6.2 million. I think they also give you instructions as to how to change out the banana, but that's the subject for my next rant. This is long. This Is from Eric Spa about cash cash usage. As a small business owner, can I give your listeners another reason why they should reach for cash when paying instead of a credit card? To keep the math simple, let's say Mr. Tony pays for his brisket sandwich with a $50 bill. That brisket must have been really, really good. The owner of the sandwich shop can now pay his barber with that same $50 bill. That barber then can use that $50 bill to pay the guy who mows his lawn. The lawn mowing guy can use that $50 bill to pay his babysitter. Over and over it gets used. And every time the value is the same $50. Now let's say you pay for that sandwich with your credit or debit card instead. That sandwich shop will pay around 3% in processing fees to a bank. So he takes home 48.50 and the bank gets 150. That man now uses his cart at the barbershop. And that $48.50 is now reduced to $47.05 to the barber at another 145. I'm going to need Gary to expl. Goes to the bank and so on and so on. Each time the card is used, the bank takes 3% on its fees. And slowly the entire $50 makes way to a big bank.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, the bank gets paid.

[Michael]

Maybe this explains all this inflation. Granted, I oversimplify, but the basic principle is the same. When I opened my business 23 years ago, we didn't even accept credit cards. And now that's all that anyone under the age of 40 has as payments.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right.

[Michael]

All about those Amex points. Small business owners have so many obstacles in today's world of big box stores. And this is just another one that's slowly bleeding them for all your listeners. If you shop at a small business, and I sincerely hope you do, please pay with cash if you can. It's all you want, Tony. You want to pay cash. They may even give you a discount, which is why you go to the cash only gas station on River Road.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I do. That's the one.

[Michael]

You ready for one more? This is from Bennett Wise. This Bennett Wise from WSBT 22, sports anchor and reporter from Bennett Wise in South Bend. When did North Bethesda become a thing? Growing up in Warrington, Virginia, we'd go and visit our family in Bethesda. This is a local, very local topic. When did North Bethesda become a thing? It has everything to do with commercial development.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes, Rockville. It's Rockville.

[Michael]

And you have to go back and change the red line map. Growing up, we'd visit family in Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Potomac. But never recall the establishment. North Bethesda, it's a made up state. Go hang out. Go check out the shopping center. They used to have the Toys R Us on the pike.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Was it the White Flint Mall? Was that.

[Michael]

No, this is not the White Flint Mall. Which had Gary Braun's legal issues. He was breakdancing. No, this is up a little bit more. Okay. And now it looks like it's a European plaza with pike and Rose. Oh, pike and Rose.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. Yeah, it's a whole deal.

[Michael]

Is this like North Scottsdale? Is there more. Is there a more mild temperature in North Bethesda? P.S. tell my parents, Leslie Eichberg Wise and Jeffrey Wise, as well as Chuck Freebie and Jeff Douglas to eat it. It's not the same coming for me. But if. Give us your line.

[Tony Kornheiser]

If you're out on your bike tonight, everyone, as always, do wear white.

[Jason Locking 4]

As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.

[J]

We saw the comet arrive in the dying of the light in the summer sky Staring at the night I thought about how I made my way down the sandy well I don't know if this is what Clark had in mind what will become when the silhouettes are left behind it's fun to have a.

[Michael]

Secret.

[J]

A hidden destination on the other side But I'm having trouble letting go with all the little things he tells me not to miss them But I think I'm going to miss them well, I don't know if this is what I had in mind what will become when the silhouettes are left behind I was alone silhouette outside and if I left this home Will you still dream of me? We saw the comet at night.

[I]

In.

[J]

Our final hours at the Oceanside Staring at the floor Thought about you Safe to say we'll be leaving soon well, I don't know if this is what Beau had in mind what will become when the silhouettes are left behind I was alone silhouette outside and if I left this dream of May.