“The Five Guys Expedition”

Summary

Podcast Summary: "The Five Guys Expedition" | The Tony Kornheiser Show

Episode Information:

• Title: The Five Guys Expedition
• Host: Tony Kornheiser (This Show Stinks Productions, LLC)
• Release Date: May 12, 2025
• Description: In this episode, Tony Kornheiser engages with guests Michael Wilbon and Craig Laughlin to discuss a variety of topics ranging from the excitement surrounding the new Pope, recent baseball games at Madison Square Garden, to in-depth analyses of the NHL playoffs featuring Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.

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1. Gardening Insights: Planting Potatoes

• Timestamp: [01:00 - 03:00]

Tony kicks off the episode by sharing his enthusiasm for gardening, specifically his love for planting potatoes. He discusses his plans to grow three varieties: purple, Yukon Gold, and Russet potatoes. With the help of Michael Wilbon, Tony delves into the techniques of planting and maintaining potatoes, ensuring a healthy yield throughout the season.

Notable Quote:

• Tony Kornheiser [02:16]: "I have chosen three spots in my front yard for potatoes. There will be the purple potatoes, the Yukon Gold, and russet potatoes."

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2. Guest Spotlight: Craig Laughlin and Harrison Todd

• Timestamp: [03:00 - 06:00]

Tony introduces his guests, Craig Laughlin and Harrison Todd, highlighting Craig's background in the NHL and his role as an announcer. The conversation shifts to Harrison Todd's extensive family history, emphasizing his status as the 37th grandchild in a large Irish Catholic family.

Notable Quote:

• Harrison Todd [05:31]: "It's very much like, if somebody off the bat asks you to name all 50 states, I can get pretty close."

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3. Baseball at Madison Square Garden: A Day with Michael Wilbon

• Timestamp: [06:00 - 10:00]

Michael Wilbon shares his experience attending a pivotal baseball game at Madison Square Garden. The discussion covers the performance of the Nets' pitchers, the standout game by Mackenzie Gore, and the overall electrifying atmosphere of the venue. Tony also touches on personal anecdotes, including potty training challenges during the game.

Notable Quote:

• Michael Wilbon [07:10]: "We got to see Gore on the sidelines down the right field line doing his pregame warmups."

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4. Golfing Adventures on Mother's Day

• Timestamp: [09:00 - 12:00]

Tony recounts his golfing experience on Mother's Day, highlighting a serene day on the course with minimal crowds. He praises the rise in women's participation in golf post-COVID and shares his satisfaction with the golfing conditions and community.

Notable Quote:

• Tony Kornheiser [09:24]: "I had the whole course to ourselves. Played in 340."

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5. The Five Guys Expedition: A Culinary Journey

• Timestamp: [12:00 - 17:00]

Tony ventures into the realm of fast-casual dining by visiting Five Guys. He narrates his experience ordering a little bacon cheeseburger, discussing pricing, service quality, and comparing it to other popular chains like In-N-Out. The segment includes humorous interactions with fellow customers and reflections on the evolution of burger joints.

Notable Quotes:

• Tony Kornheiser [13:27]: "I just ordered the little bacon cheeseburger. It was okay, not great for $11."
• Craig Laughlin [16:14]: "We have stopped ordering burgers out for the most part because we just feel like we can do this better at home."

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6. The New Pope from Chicago: Community Reactions

• Timestamp: [24:00 - 27:00]

The conversation shifts to the excitement surrounding the new Pope, who hails from Chicago. Craig Laughlin discusses the humorous memes and community reactions, drawing parallels to Chicago's rich sports culture. The guests reflect on how the Pope's background intertwines with local traditions and identities.

Notable Quote:

• Craig Laughlin [25:08]: "If there were people still in offices in America, it'd be the best water cooler conversation you could have in Chicago."

---

7. NHL Playoffs Analysis: Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes

• Timestamp: [40:00 - 51:11]

In an in-depth discussion, Craig Laughlin provides expert analysis on the Washington Capitals' performance in the NHL playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes. The conversation delves into Alex Ovechkin's remarkable career, his comparison to hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, and the strategic challenges the Capitals face.

Key Points:

• Ovechkin's Impact: Craig praises Ovechkin as the greatest goal scorer of all time, highlighting his resilience and scoring prowess, even at an advanced age.
• Team Dynamics: The Capitals' reliance on Ovechkin and the need for them to adapt their strategies to counter Carolina's shot volume.
• Future Prospects: Discussions about Ovechkin's potential retirement and his legacy within the NHL.

Notable Quotes:

• Craig Laughlin [44:03]: "I said, 'No way. How can a guy score close to 900 goals like Gretzky did? And Obi’s going to get there.' And now look what he's done."
• Tony Kornheiser [42:24]: "I saw Ovechkin get knocked down a couple of times. Where's Tom Wilson?"

---

8. Listener Interactions and Mailbag

• Timestamp: [57:00 - 63:30]

The episode incorporates humorous listener emails and creative content, including poetry and personal anecdotes. Tony engages with audience submissions, sharing amusing stories and playful banter with his guests about the creative inputs.

Notable Quote:

• Tony Kornheiser [60:24]: "They never do [photographs do not do justice]."

---

9. Musical Interlude: "Pope Deep Dish" by Dan Byrne

• Timestamp: [24:00 - 64:00]

Dan Byrne delivers a playful song titled "Pope Deep Dish," blending themes of Chicago culture, sports, and the newly elected Pope. The lyrics humorously intertwine iconic Chicago elements with religious undertones, celebrating the city's unique blend of tradition and modernity.

Notable Lines:

• "To the Vatican from Lake Michigan, Pope deep dish."
• "Pope Leo is a Sox fan, you get what you pay for."

---

10. Closing Reflections and Final Thoughts

• Timestamp: [64:00 - End]

Tony wraps up the episode by reflecting on the day's discussions, expressing gratitude to his guests and listeners. He emphasizes the show's role as a source of joy and community for many, and hints at upcoming segments and interactions.

Notable Quote:

• Tony Kornheiser [63:17]: "As I walk across Spain, please know that you are all in my prayers, grace, and peace."

---

Conclusion:

"The Five Guys Expedition" episode of The Tony Kornheiser Show offers a rich tapestry of conversations spanning sports analysis, personal anecdotes, and community interactions. Through engaging dialogues with guests Michael Wilbon and Craig Laughlin, Tony explores the intersections of sports, culture, and personal experiences, all while maintaining his signature wit and charm. Notable highlights include an insightful examination of Alex Ovechkin's legacy in the NHL, humorous culinary adventures at Five Guys, and a heartfelt appreciation for gardening and family.

For those who haven't tuned into this episode, the detailed discussions provide a comprehensive look into the multifaceted topics that Tony Kornheiser masterfully navigates, making it a must-listen for fans of sports, culture, and engaging conversation.

Transcript

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hey, it's Tony. On today's show, we'll talk with Michael Wilbon about the new Pope and also about what the scene was like at Madison Square Garden for game three. And we'll chat with Craig Laughlin about Alex Ovechkin and whether caps can come back in their series with Carolina. But first, let's do some commerce.

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[Craig Laughlin]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Sorry, do we legally have to say that?

[Craig Laughlin]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Michael Wilbon]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Michael Wilbon]

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[Craig Laughlin]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Use code cozy at checkout. Previously on the Tony Korneiser Show. And we'll water them and we'll do all those things, and it'll be, as you say, an enormous surprise. So I'm so happy. I don't think there's any gardening question I have that you wouldn't know because you grew up on a farm, right? You grew up on a farm. Well, I did, but there certainly would be gardening questions that I don't have the answers to. But it just so happened. You absolutely landed right in my sweet spot. So great. Because I love nothing more than potatoes. I love potatoes more than I love baseball. That's so. That's great. That's great.

[Michael Wilbon]

The Tony Kornizer show is on now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And as a follow up to that, there are some. There were three purple potatoes in our house that have begun to age. And when potatoes age, that area around the eye begins to sprout stuff where you go, what's this? But those.

[Michael Wilbon]

Gotta start using that retinol cream.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You could do that, I guess. But those are the good things that the eyes have sprouted. Because according to Buster and according to the Internet. Because I did look this up. You plant the eyes facing towards heaven, right? Yes. But it's underground. But that's.

[Michael Wilbon]

Their eyes are watching God. Nice reference.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's exactly right. And so I have. I've chosen three spots in my front yard for potatoes. There will be the purple potatoes. There will be Yukon gold potatoes and russet potatoes. I don't. And I'm just going to plant them and leave them because they're underground. I can't look in on them.

[Chris Cullen]

You don't have to water on top of them or anything.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Like. I don't. I don't know. Maybe. I don't know. But I'm going to check back in in October and just see what happens. I'm going to dig it up and see if there's. And Michael, you'll help me with it.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah. I watched Matt Damon do this in the Martian, so I think there's a missing step.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It worked for him. All right, so let's set the scene here. Nigel is here and Michael's here. We also have Chris Cullen. Chris is. Apparently there is an internship based at Columbia Country Club. It's the only country club internship in the world. It's a good feat of president. People who know me who are members saying, you know, I got a kid, I got this, I got that. Could you have an intern? And I say it's like eight, nine days. It's not that big a deal, but sure. Chris is going to be our. And we have two. We have an independent study.

[Chris Cullen]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

With Chuck Todd's son. Harrison.

[Chris Cullen]

Harrison.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. And then we have Chris, who comes from. And I should say this, this is the funniest family I have ever met. If you're the Cullen family, if you are not funny, don't. Don't go to the table. You're not going to eat. You have to be funny. They're all funny. All of them are funny. And rather accomplished as well, I am told. Now is. I guess Pat is your uncle. Yeah, Pat is your uncle. What happened? You have to talk into the microphone.

[Harrison Todd]

Oh, as.

[Tony Kornheiser]

There you go. Okay. Pat is your uncle. He said, you are the 37th grandchild. Can you explain that?

[Harrison Todd]

I am the. My dad's the youngest of 11. That's a. It's a crazy age gap where my oldest uncle's 18 years older than my dad and I'm the youngest of six and Irish Catholic family could not stop having kids.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Here we go. And you're the 37th and last grandson of that tribe.

[Harrison Todd]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. And is that good to be the Last one. Does everyone take care of you and love you, or do you feel this is a rotten deal for me?

[Harrison Todd]

You know, it's always. It's nice either way. But then it's also, like, people will be like, oh, like, I'm hanging out with my cousins. I'm like, oh, my cousins are 35. We're not hanging out all that often, but.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right.

[Harrison Todd]

I mean, I got a lot of people to learn from.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Who are the original progenitors of this? What are the names of the grandparents or the great grandparents?

[Harrison Todd]

Actually, Great grandparents.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, there's you failing the test.

[Harrison Todd]

Oh, every time I've done something at, like, I'll be like, hanging out with my friends, and they'll be like, can you, like, draw a family, like a family tree? I'm like, no. Well, it's.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you know, can you name all the. The 36 others who are in your line like that? Can you name them all?

[Harrison Todd]

It's very much like, if somebody off the bat asks you to name all 50 states. I can. I can get pretty close.

[Michael Wilbon]

Get there eventually.

[Harrison Todd]

Oh, yeah. If you give me some time, I'll get there. But there will be some names.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I can get there alphabetically.

[Harrison Todd]

Oh, yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Just so you know, that's your wheelhouse. Oh, yeah. States. State. Still 50, right?

[Chris Cullen]

Yeah, I think so.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. So you're never asked to. But is. Are there some you. Some you might not even know?

[Harrison Todd]

Oh, no, I know them all.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Harrison Todd]

The family's big enough and, like, we see each other enough that, like, I know first cousins. I know second cousins, third cousins.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. And you're a student at Penn State?

[Harrison Todd]

Yes, sir.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And you also do comedy work?

[Harrison Todd]

Yes, I do.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Good. So that's all we need to know. And we'll get to you at some point, you know, because we have to go on with the rest of the show. I have some things to say. Not. Not many. First of all, Michael and Liz and the boys went to the baseball game.

[Michael Wilbon]

Beautiful day for a baseball game. Except for the hitting.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, the Nets don't hit. They don't hit. Here's what's happened to them. Their relief pitching is terrible. It's the worst in baseball. And they were able to overcome that because their starters were so good for the first month of the season. Now their starters have regressed a little bit to the mean. Although Mackenzie Gore had a lovely game, he sure won.

[Michael Wilbon]

I mean, you look at it, Mackenzie Gore lead off home runs in the two innings, and he ends up pitching into the seventh. And it's a quality start. And Quality matchup between him and Mickolis.

[Chris Cullen]

And leading the league in strikeouts, I believe.

[Michael Wilbon]

There's a lot of pitches.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And then destroyed. Destroyed by bad relief work. And the lack. They have no offense. They. They come up with runners in scoring position. They do not deliver right. You saw that.

[Michael Wilbon]

We got to see Josh Bell get a big hit yesterday.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Michael Wilbon]

Tried to leg it out to sec, which is nice to see.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

What was very cool is Bootsy's now old enough where he understands the numbers of baseball and understands the situation. So he's not quite sure when something automatically produces an out unless it directly goes to your glove. But it's just so. It's. It's just amazing to see baseball get rooted into his mind and the numbers that are now at a Major League baseball game. Every pitch has, you know, its spin. It's, you know, the arc of it broken down. So you're just going from one scoreboard to the next trying to figure out total pitch count, strikes, balls, location of everything. It's amazing. We got there about an hour before. And I know every. Every stadium probably does this, but the Nats do a great job of reminding you when you get in. Hey, kids, we see kids. There's a play zone. Kids love running around there. They let the kids eat for free, so they get a hot dog, really. And most importantly, a water bottle that you can then refill for the rest of the game. But we got to see Gore on the sidelines down the right field line doing his pregame warmups, which looks exactly like what a little kid would do before any game or any practice. Just the stretching, the arm drills. So that was just a lot of fun to see the game through his eyes. The Hammer, not so much. A little bit too sunny for him. Got a little hot. Had to take him to the team store.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. All right. Too much drink. That was the captain.

[Michael Wilbon]

You know what? He is at that. This was a big weekend for us where we were doing potty training, the no pants. Potty training.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Potty training.

[Michael Wilbon]

He had a big game. Dry, dry. Pull up when we got home. But we had to keep. It's just a reminder. He had to cover his ears at the change of every inning because we had these great seats, but the speakers are pumping in noise from behind you. But no, we had a great day.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Good. That's good.

[Michael Wilbon]

Great way to spend Mother's Day for this.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. I think more people should go to baseball games on Mother's Day. By the way, I played very early yesterday. Not very early. We started at nine. The course opened at 7:30. We started at nine. There were three.

[Michael Wilbon]

Oh, they have the summer hours now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Three or four groups in front of us, way in front of us. So that we're coming up 5 and they're going down 12. I mean, and we didn't, we didn't see anybody behind us or anybody in front of us other than that. We had the whole course to ourselves. Played in 340.

[Michael Wilbon]

It was great, as it should be.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You know, it was really, really good. But as we were coming in on 14, 15 and 16 and you saw the groups going out, I am buoyed to say that there were a lot of women playing on Mother's Day. A lot of women playing golf with maybe with their husbands and their children and stuff like that. But that made me happy. And they carry, they carry their own bags. I don't carry. I can't. I'm too old for that. But I, you know, I, I've been.

[Michael Wilbon]

Seeing the same thing. There's been a, there has been a huge bump in women's golf post Covid. Yeah, but that's awesome to see.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. All right, so a bunch of things. I'm not gonna do this today. We're gonna do this later in the week. My great thanks to Annie Carpenter, who wrote to us last week about her father in law, David Carpenter, who was indeed my roommate in college for a year at 20 Conklin Avenue. I called him last night. We had a lovely chat. I was really made me very happy. Oh, that's great. Yeah, so I'll talk about that. I just want to mention this one thing. Of the incredible coincidences in life, such as the first American Pope being from Chicago. So Wil Bond can say we played Little League baseball together. Whatever he's going to say. Annie Carpenter's hometown. Hello, North Scottsdale, Arizona. It's just, of course. What? Yeah, what?

[Chris Cullen]

Yep.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. Yeah. Anyway, so yesterday, after I played golf, my task, my self imposed task was to go to the Home Depot and get some pepper plants and tomato plants. And you're gonna say, why did you golf?

[Michael Wilbon]

The insanity of going to Home Depot on a Sunday, a nice Sunday in May.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Sort of crowded. It was sort of crowded. Why did I, you know, why did I do that?

[Michael Wilbon]

And the Lowe's Garden Center. Much better selection.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Much better selection. Why did I do that? Because every other place around here charges. Quadruple what Home Depot charges for plants. So, you know, I went and I got these tiny plants. They won't survive the night I planted. They won't. They won't survive.

[Michael Wilbon]

It's not like they're gonna get a half inch of raid quickly.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They're going to get that today. Yeah. So. But I got them. I got like four pepper plants and four tomato plants, two cherry tomatoes, two regular. It doesn't really matter because the, the animals are going to.

[Chris Cullen]

I was gonna say, did you get enough for all the deer?

[Tony Kornheiser]

And all the world is gonna eat them anyway. This is what I wanted to get to. In that shopping center in Maryland. You. You have to park. You can't really park next to the Home Depot. You gotta go down the aisles. And there's a, there's a couple of restaurants down the aisles. There's an, like an independent semi mall beyond Home Depot.

[Michael Wilbon]

It looks like an old strip mall that has the five guys in it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right, right. Thank you. Bang. Bing. As they said bada bing. I had, in my mind I had never had a five guys hamburger. I am unburdened by memory, and I didn't think I'd ever had a five guys hamburger. I called Carol to say I was getting one, and she told me a story about how I did have one, but I didn't remember it. Apparently had one with Chan and Moni, but I did not remember it.

[Michael Wilbon]

Zero chance of that happening.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I didn't remember it. And in my mind, I had never been inside. I might have been inside of five guys, but I'd never ordered a fire. And everybody says. Right. I'm not making this up, that they are the best of the fast food hamburgers. This is almost.

[Michael Wilbon]

If you go out to the west coast, someone would. You would have a lot in and out, in and out, depending. So it's regional. Texas. You'd have a different one.

[Chris Cullen]

Have you had In n Out?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, it's really good.

[Chris Cullen]

It is. I, I prefer the five guys, which originated in this area.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah. In N out's great. The fries are terrible at in and out.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. I didn't have fries. I didn't have a drink. And I just ordered. I went to the counter. So, like, I'm not sure that these are fast food hamburgers.

[Michael Wilbon]

No, this would be fast casual.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. You. You order them. They make them from scratch. They're not waiting around for you.

[Michael Wilbon]

They're prepping all the ingredients day of.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. So they asked me a category of.

[Michael Wilbon]

Chipotle and a cava.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. Yeah. Okay. So I'm really anxious to do this. I want to eat this hamburger.

[Michael Wilbon]

I ordered double or junior.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, I ordered the little bacon cheeseburger. That's what I ordered. Because I saw somebody get a regular hamburger and it was enormous. I didn't really want all of that. The little bacon cheeseburger. You want to take a shot of what that costs?

[Chris Cullen]

I haven't been into a five guys in a while.

[Michael Wilbon]

I'm going to guess 650.

[Chris Cullen]

Okay, I'll say $8.

[Harrison Todd]

I'm going 12.50.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You're too high, but you're close. 1101. 1101 for the JBC, for the little. The tiny one for the little bacon cheeseburger. 1101. I didn't have a penny in. The guy said, it's okay, just give me $11.

[Michael Wilbon]

You're banking on that?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. I thought that was nice. So it's 11 for me. I got the discount, so it's $11. I sat around five, six minutes, just sat there. Then they yelled my number and I went up and I took it and I sat down to eat it. I was not. Not getting in the car. I'm not. I want to enjoy. I want it right then and there. I want it. Of course it was fine. I'm not going any higher than fine. It wasn't the greatest thing I ever. It was okay.

[Michael Wilbon]

Do you like what you'd call a smash burger or do you like a tavern burger? Like a tavern burger would be the old school one that you would form into patties yourself and grill.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Michael Wilbon]

You'd often cook that more to a medium. Medium rare. A smash patty is going to have the crispy edges. It's going to be very thin.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't think this was very thin, but it was covered. I did cheese and bacon. And then they said, is there anything else you want? And I get so much on it. I said, tomatoes and pickles.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah. No, they'll load it up.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. And they did that. And it was. It was not ginger. I didn't have any ginger. No. I would have been sick as a dog. It was proportioned correctly. Everything about it was right. It looked right. I know they cooked it. Everything was. I just wasn't great. It wasn't great for 1101. It wasn't great.

[Michael Wilbon]

So this is. This is interesting to me because they are famous for their fries. If you order any fries, they will fill basically two orders into your bag. They want you to get the satisfaction of getting more fries than you could possibly want to eat.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I have no complaint about this whatsoever, other than I was sort of expecting to be blown away by the sneaky.

[Michael Wilbon]

Good hot dog there, too.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Is that right? So, you know, I went, it's no snack bar. I'm trying. I'm the last guy. No, it's. No, it's. George isn't working it. I'm the last person on earth to eat a five hamburger, right?

[Michael Wilbon]

Yes. And I'm sure you've been there before and I'm sure some of this is my memory. This is just expectations. So if you were to have this 20 years ago, the way that I've had it and I've grown up with it, I've not had a five guys burger in years. Probably since there was one. It was good in downtown D.C. but you're sort of, you're. It's going to be impossible to live up to that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, it's.

[Chris Cullen]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I sort of walked away thinking, what is the fuss about? Exactly what did I miss here? Because I know, I know they did exactly what I asked them to do in a reasonable amount of time. And the service was like everything in this situation.

[Michael Wilbon]

We have stopped ordering burgers out for the most part because we just feel like we can do this better at home. I could control the, you know, the blend of the meat that we're doing and, you know, I get to get more satisfaction from that. Were you doing the thing where you're sitting down at the table while you're waiting for your number to be called, just trying to run the numbers of how much they're generating in that 15 minute period that you're there?

[Tony Kornheiser]

It wasn't crowded. It wasn't crowded at all. There was a weird guy who had ordered before me and he's one of these guys, he thinks he's the maitre d of the joint and goes up to everybody sitting down and talks to him and I'm like, are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? What do you. Get out of here?

[Chris Cullen]

Yeah, I'm fine, thank you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Leave me alone. And he also.

[Michael Wilbon]

That's why you need headphones.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Just.

[Michael Wilbon]

Oh, yeah.

[Chris Cullen]

Oh, the peanuts.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Guy. This guy took a thousand peanuts. Yeah. Took it and stuffed them in his own bag. Yeah. I just thought, what are you doing? Let somebody arrest this guy.

[Michael Wilbon]

Well, they want, they want the peanuts front center so that if you are allergic to the oil they use that, you know that this is being cooked with.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Look. So I didn't, you know, I, I don't know the backstory of any of it. And it was fine. But I thought for 1101 you were.

[Chris Cullen]

Going to get, you know, experience.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, well, it was technically 11, but I mean, it was cost to them. Was 11 or what they were the.

[Michael Wilbon]

Cost of them was probably $2.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So, you know, it's not that I wouldn't go again. It's that I just didn't.

[Chris Cullen]

I like Michael. I haven't been in years, But I know when it first came out, you had to find there was a place in that, like Bailey's Crossroads or something like that. You had to seek it out. And when you got there, it was always packed. And at least at the beginning, it was like, this is one of the greatest burgers I've ever had.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let me tell you what was packed yesterday. The home depot was packed. The home depot was packed.

[Chris Cullen]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Somebody stole my cart.

[Chris Cullen]

Stole your car?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Well, I.

[Michael Wilbon]

There's two types of card at a home Depot.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The big orange cart.

[Michael Wilbon]

Right. But not the flatbed cart. The flatbread car. You can't. You can't maneuver that through any of the aisles in the garden center. No, no, the one that's designed for lumber.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, any. I don't. I mean, they have a whole bunch of orange carts. I take an orange cart on my way to the store. It's, you know, I take it out of the drop cart zone. I take it and I put it right by. I'm in the garden area. I put it right by there. And then I went around the corner to look at plants. And when I got back, there were two different families there. And the carts that were there had stuff in them. So somebody put their stuff in my cart. And I thought about this before I went insane about this, that it's actually my responsibility. I took the cart. I should have taken the cart with me around the corners. I should have done that so that I would have proprietary relationship with the cart. And I didn't do that. I left it. And they couldn't know. I mean, there's nobody standing, right?

[Michael Wilbon]

There's no one standing there. And at. At this location, there's a lot of carts that are abandoned. So they might think they're doing a service of saying, hey, this cart was abandoned. I'm just going to use this that I can then take it back to.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So then. So then I just took my individual plants to the. To the checkout guy and I said, do you have a carton? He goes, no. I said, yeah. Do you have just like a paper box? No, we don't have any of that.

[Chris Cullen]

That's great service, isn't it?

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's why the plants are A$80.

[Chris Cullen]

Did they ask you for a tip after that?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Like when you get what you pay for, you know, and then.

[Craig Laughlin]

But.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But more importantly, was going to five guys. Yeah.

[Chris Cullen]

It's a big adventure.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Five guys. Big. With kids your age.

[Harrison Todd]

I would say no because it is so expensive.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, so. Because you knew. You said 1250.

[Harrison Todd]

Oh, I. I knew going in.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So that's much more expensive now than Burger king or.

[Harrison Todd]

Or 100% McDonald's.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Harrison Todd]

In State College, there was a McDonald's open for a long time, shut down this past semester. And if you had, like, a code, you could get, like, a big Mac and 10, like, chicken nuggets for five bucks.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What do you mean if you had a code?

[Harrison Todd]

Like, something on the app? If you had, like, a space.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. I'm lost.

[Chris Cullen]

Yeah, it's not gonna work.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. No. Oh, but five guys is expensive wherever it is.

[Harrison Todd]

Five guys is brutal.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Harrison Todd]

It's one of those things where it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Could be five guys all live in the Bahamas now. I'm sure they have a home, I think.

[Chris Cullen]

Yeah, they.

[Michael Wilbon]

All five of them.

[Chris Cullen]

They've done very, very well.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's what I was thinking. All right, let's get out of here. What are we doing next?

[Chris Cullen]

Michael Wilbon.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Wilbon. When we return, I'm Tony Kornheiser.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm not singing it.

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[Dan Byrne]

Welcome Pope Leo Chicago born and bred Kominsky aboriginalski Bill Veck Musta pal around with Royko Winter's scarf around his throat. Ate burgers with Belushi at the Billy Goat. Must have got stuck on the Dan Ryan in his rusty car. Watched Ditka and Sayers and Butkas at the bar. To the Vatican from Lake Michigan Pope deep dish. Maybe he'll absolve the Black Sox. Send Shoeless Joe to the hall of Fame. Maybe he'll forgive Mrs. O' Leary's cow. The cow was not to blame. Pope Leo is a socks fan, you get what you pay for. Likes Polish sausage with his communal wafer. To be pope you need hope, compassion and belief. And giardiniera on your Italian beat. To the Vatican from Lake Michigan Pope deep dish. Pope de dish.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Brilliant. Dan Burns brilliant. The turnaround on that, it's Brilliant. Wilbon. Wasn't that brilliant?

[Craig Laughlin]

Brilliant.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So. All right, so your, your thoughts now. We've had a couple of days to digest the whole Pope thing, being a White Sox fan and all. I don't think you're still worried that he's a Packers fan, probably a Bears fan. What are your thoughts about this and what are your friends from Chicago saying about this?

[Craig Laughlin]

Well, we're all having, you know, we're all having fun with it. A lot of fun. There's all kinds of memes, which I'm not into normally, but, but it's just, you know, it's, it's. If there were people still in offices in America, it'd be the, you know, the best water cooler conversation you could have in Chicago. To have the Pope be from the south side. It just, it doesn't get any funnier. So I didn't see Saturday Night Live, did they.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I have no idea. Did they do.

[Craig Laughlin]

It would just be, I mean, can you imagine back in the Belushi Ackroyd days?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, yeah, No, I think you would have to come out in a Ditka sweater. I mean, you have to, right? You have to.

[Craig Laughlin]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Craig Laughlin]

You know, look, look, the White Sox, the video 2005 World Series is just priceless. Right. And he just, he has to bless Caleb. I don't care.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Craig Laughlin]

I don't care about the baseball. He has to bless Caleb Williams and bless Ben Johnson. And after that, I'm good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Craig Laughlin]

You know, everybody's taught everybody's, you know, coming up with stories and, you know, it's probably about Dalton, Illinois, where he grew up is about 15 minutes from where I grew up. And I think I told you, Donovan McNabb. I'm pretty sure Donovan grew up there and his parents worked for, like, all the rivals of my high school, Mendel High School, Mount Carmel, where Simeon Rice and Donovan McNabb, among others, went to high school. So I'm just like, just, you know, just. I can take those rivals. I can't take the Cardinals or the Packers. That's what I can't take.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I've got to believe. I mean, you would know better than I. And I know that his life is devoted to piety and religion, but I've got to believe. If you're a Chicago kid, you gotta be a sports fan to some degree, don't you think?

[Craig Laughlin]

Yes, yes, yes. There are some outcasts, kids who just. I didn't know any in high school or grade school growing up, I didn't know any. Or in the neighborhood the kids who just weren't into any of it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right.

[Craig Laughlin]

I didn't know any. I'm sure there are. And maybe the world has changed and, you know, you know, the 60 years since he and I were kids, the Pope and I were kids on the south side, maybe it's changed. But no, I mean, he's. The fact that he was at a White Sox game in 2005, the World Series, suggests to me that we're going to find out more of this stuff, too.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, Dan Byrne works Louis Aparicio into that song. Come on, that's brilliant. All right. Your job is the play playoffs at the moment. That's your job. You there, the Celtics. The Celtics crushed the Knicks to get back into that series. All the series. Well, I shouldn't say all the series. I was going to say most of the series are competitive. I don't know if Golden State is competitive.

[Craig Laughlin]

They are competitive because they're all two one.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, but one of them isn't to one and that's Indiana, right? Isn't Indiana three one three one. Indiana is the one. And I wrote you a text yesterday. I was stunned at Indiana and the way they handle Cleveland. Just stunned at that. What are your thoughts on that?

[Craig Laughlin]

Pretty stunned too, actually, since Cleveland went there and got game three. Yeah, Cleveland went there and got game three. And I thought, okay, this is the long seven game series that we anticipated. So, no, I did not see that coming. But what it says to me is that Cleveland is. They try to leave people out there because they had to, but they're not healthy. They are the team that is most wounded. Golden State is the most effective player being injured. But Cleveland's got three or four guys who aren't right now. Donovan Mitchell, who is a tough guy. Donovan Mitchell's a tough kid.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's hurt his ankle standing there.

[Craig Laughlin]

Well, he was hurt already.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Craig Laughlin]

You know, and he came out and he tried to go and he didn't and they were down 41. So if you're not. If you're going to go back in the dressing room. Yesterday was the time.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Craig Laughlin]

You know, yesterday was the time. If you're going to go in the dressing room and say, I'm not coming back out for the second half. So, yeah, that's a three one now. And you know, we all expect Boston, New York to be even after tonight, right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. Yes.

[Craig Laughlin]

Tony. I don't know. I don't know. I mean, remember Boston a couple of years ago, fell down three nothing to Miami and then came back and Won.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Three games and lost. Yes.

[Craig Laughlin]

Lost game seven at home.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I.

[Craig Laughlin]

So I don't. They've been there. Strange things that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So, okay, so are you saying that you. If you had to pick, would you pick the Knicks to win tonight? Because I would not. I would pick.

[Craig Laughlin]

I would not, But I think I would not. But I think that tonight is a lot more intriguing that I don't think we're going to see a blowout, part two. I think we're going to see the best game out of the Knicks. The Knicks haven't played well for a whole game yet.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right.

[Craig Laughlin]

So I think we're going to.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right. They've fallen behind by 20 in the third quarter, so. They obviously have.

[Craig Laughlin]

Right, right, exactly.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So for people that don't know this. And how would anybody know this? They wouldn't know this. I looked on my phone yesterday, and there was a picture on my phone of Michael Wilbon and Walt Clyde Frazier. It is fabulous. Clyde is wearing, I don't know, some brown and white suit that nobody would wear except for Clyde Frazier. Nobody would ever wear this thing. And it's just fabulous. What is it like? So, like, this is. This is the question. If you're going to be at any one of these playoffs, you're going to be at New York, Boston. And if you're going to be in either city, you're going to be in New York that Game three. If you're a Knicks fan at any point in your life and you know this, Mike, because we talked about it, I expected Boston to crush the Knicks in Game three. And still I would say to you, you have to be in New York for game three. Right. What was that like?

[Craig Laughlin]

It was. It was electric. It was one of the great things I've ever done. Regular season stuff. Well, it's not regular season, but, you know, not the championship, you know. You know, game. If you take championship games out of it, it just. It was just irresistible is the word that comes to mind. And I walked in and I told you before, I said, I'm going to go and talk to Clyde and I'm going to talk to Bernard King. Which I did. It made it easy that they were sitting together. Yeah, they were sitting side by side. We talked about you. They both said, what is. What is he doing? Where is he? I said, you know, he doesn't. He's a. He's a. He's a celebrity now. He has to have bodyguards and stuff to come out. And they chuckled, and so it was great. And seeing Clifford Ray later Who, of course, played in Championships team for the Warriors. And you know, it did. It was a Uniquely to me. And I've spent enough time there to say this, even though I never lived there. Uniquely New York moment. And Tony, they're now actors and celebrities. I mean, big, big, big people who are influencers who make tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars. And I don't know who they are. Like, they're. They're in because they come from places I don't. That don't resonate with me. You know, you get these huge rappers and huge. Like, this is actors. This kid, Timothy Chalamet.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, yeah. Just was nominated for an Academy Award.

[Craig Laughlin]

I'm standing there talking to Spike Lee before the game, and there's this kid. And I wanted to turn around and say, kid, get out of our conversation. Talk to Spike Lee. And then somebody said, hey, that's Timothy Chalamet. And I, you know, the whisper said to me, old man, shut up.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Craig Laughlin]

And just say thank you. Don't go where you want to go. Which is who. Who are you? I didn't do it. I didn't. I didn't completely humiliate myself or you with the show or anything. I had no idea who he was. And then I had to Google him. By the time I sat down, he's standing there with me and Spike. They have no idea who he is. And then I find that he's nominated for an Academy Award and everyone knows who is.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Craig Laughlin]

I tell the story in the car yesterday because I went to Philadelphia to see Matthew play aau. Imagine just shaking his head in the back, like, seriously, like, I am related to this person. What are we talking about? And so there's, you know. But there are people. Tony, Michael Irvin came and I said, michael, what are you doing? And he said, you know me. My curiosity gets the better of me. I just want to. This is great. You'll love this. Because you know Michael Irvin for a long time.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I do.

[Craig Laughlin]

Michael says. He says, and I quote, my father could never afford this. My father could never afford to take us to Madison Square Garden and sit for a playoff game or any arena and sit for a playoff game. Could never afford to take me to that, but I can afford this. And he said, so last week I went to Minnesota. I went to Minneapolis. I want to see Steph Curry. I just went. And Michael was almost near tears. It was emotional for him to talk about what he could afford as a kid or could not and what he can afford now. And it was great. And he was just. This is an hour and a half after the game and people just milling around. And now it's like a, you know, it's like a social, you know, and they're just incredibly famous people who have been in the Garden. And so Irvin told that story, and I was like. And he said, tell Tony that for me. I said, I will tell Tony that story on his podcast. I will tell him the story. And so, you know, there are people so there. I know, obviously, Michael Irvin. But then another young man is there. He looks sort of famous, but I'm not sure he is. That's how you do a Mike Wilbach. He goes, seriously, Mike, I don't know who you are. CD Lamb. Nice to meet you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, okay.

[Craig Laughlin]

You know, and there's.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So it's Cowboy night at the Garden, apparently. Yeah, it was Cowboy receiver night.

[Craig Laughlin]

There weren't famous soccer players there because they have.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They're playing.

[Craig Laughlin]

They're playing like, you know, I've seen, you know, Mbappe and all these people messi. They go to NBA playoff games. They go. And because they're so small, usually they can get overlooked. They don't have to have immediate security, even though they're the most famous people in the world. So there. The soccer guys could not be there because they're playing these important events right now. But, you know, the Garden was. It was just a. Wow. I'm glad I was there.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, it's nice.

[Craig Laughlin]

The night will be a slightly reduced Monday night.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Craig Laughlin]

The wind is taken out of their sales by the Knicks losing like that. You know, but, you know, I, I think the Knicks. I think the Knicks have. I'm Gonna give the Knicks 40 chance tonight.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. I would give them less than that.

[Craig Laughlin]

I know you would.

[Unknown Speaker]

You, you, you.

[Craig Laughlin]

You've got them just in your head, I think.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, I think the other team is good in. In other words, if. If they're better. Yeah, the other team is a better team. It's, you know, anyway.

[Craig Laughlin]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And I think Golden State is done. I don't know what. I don't know how they combat this.

[Craig Laughlin]

They got to get one game. They do get one game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, Denver had to get tonight.

[Craig Laughlin]

Tonight's that game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. Yeah, we'll see.

[Craig Laughlin]

Get that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's your boy. If Jimmy Butler, if he has an world game, they have a chance, but I don't. I don't know.

[Craig Laughlin]

He had, he had a. He had a. He had a, you know, first team all league game the other night when.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Craig Laughlin]

You know, he had 30. Whatever he was Great. But. But he's got to go to the next level.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Craig Laughlin]

Actually to get them. But you're. Look, we agree on this down the line. I just think these things have a chance of happening. Remember, Jimmy Butler did this to the Celtics.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I have a lot of respect for Jimmy Butler, but I don't think that. I think that team without Steph. Steph Curry. Steph Curry. Just being on the court frees up everybody else. It's just different. Yeah, it's just different because Curry can hit from anywhere. And so you have to pay attention to him.

[Craig Laughlin]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right.

[Craig Laughlin]

I agree.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, I'll talk to you later. Good job. All right, Michael Wilbon, boys and girls. We'll take a break. We're going to come back. Craig Laughlin, who played in the NHL and has spent the last X amount of years announcing NHL games. We're going to talk to him about watching Alexander Ovechkin all year and watching them now. I'm Tony Kornhuiser.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

This is Nelson Bragg. It's a song Called we're gonna laugh about it. And the email says, hello, friends. Big Store Records is about to proud to officially welcome our friend Nelson Bragg, a mainstay at the the LA pop scene, known for his longtime membership in the Brian Wilson Band. Okay.

[Chris Cullen]

He was okay, right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

You're good with me if you're in the Brian Wilson Band to our roster with the new single. We're going to laugh about it. Thanks as always for your support of the label and our artists. And standby for more news about Nelson Bragg's new album coming your way soon. This guy's good.

[Chris Cullen]

It's really good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Michael. If people like Nelson Bragg want to send in their original music, how they.

[Michael Wilbon]

Do it, send us your music by emailing it to jinglesonyquinizershow.com and.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And Nelson Bragg plays in Craig Laughlin, who I have known for 30 years at least, maybe more than that, and who has. I have a soft spot in my heart for Craig, who was a hockey player and then became a great announcer. Because when my son Michael, whose voice you just heard, Craig is now 39 years old when he wanted to be a hockey player and we went out to Fort Dupont, you called me aside and you said, no, your kid can't play.

[Unknown Speaker]

That's the honesty I have in my. That's the honesty I bring to the table, Tony, you know that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So I was so great. So then he became a golfer. He got good at golf. But, you know, it's like you called me aside, now you kid can't play. It was great. It was just great. And you were right. He can't play. Look, I want to. I'll start with how much trouble the Caps are in. If you think the Caps are in trouble, I know that they're being outshot on a regular basis by Carolina, and they've been beaten pretty good by Carolina. They beat Carolina one game. Are they in a lot of trouble at the moment, do you think?

[Unknown Speaker]

I think they are. And the reason I say that is because the big boys got to start producing. You know, they've had great success this year because guys like Oldie & Co. Had career years. All the new guys that came into the fold this season were having career years. And I don't think they've really put it together so far. In the playoffs, they had one good period in game three. I thought they dominated, they couldn't finish and that sent them back. So to me, it comes down to how they start and how they can score more on five. On five. The thing about five on five and Shot volumes compared to guys in teams that really rely on just high danger chances. And there are teams in the league that say we don't want volumes of shots, we just want high danger chances, meaning we're going to make the extra pass to put the puck in the net, move the puck laterally. Carolina has a different philosophy, and they had for the seven years that they've been under Rod Brindemore. It's about shot volumes. The problem that the Caps have had with shot volumes is once they get hemmed in for a 45 second shift, you as a player, number one, you lose your legs. Number two, you lose your brain a little bit. And now you're really, really. And now when you do get the puck to make a play, you're too tired, you're too fatigued, and you don't make the correct play. Tony. And that's what's cost them in this series. For them to be successful tonight, they're going to have to get to those loose pucks and make a good play. If they make a good play, they're going to be okay. If they turn the puck over again. Now, the cycle continues, and that's when Carolina is at their best.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Barry Zarluga, who's a wonderful columnist, wrote that very frankly, we got to get. Get it from Ovechkin. We've got to get it from Ovechkin. I was watching the game the other night and I saw Ovechkin get knocked down, like physically challenged and knocked down a couple of times. And I thought, where's Tom Wilson? What are we talking about here? Am I overstating that? Am I overstating that?

[Unknown Speaker]

I think you're overstating that. Tom Wilson knows when to step in and when to be part of the physicality. I think with Alex Ovechkin, you've got to remember their line, whether it be Strom Ovechkin, Bovillier or Strom Ovechkin protest, which it's been in the playoffs. They are a line that relies on striking on the rush. They're not a line that per se, is a heavy fork checking line. The Carolina Hurricanes play man on man in the zone, meaning that a defenseman, if Obi's at the point and the defenseman is actually his man, that defenseman, whoever it'll be, will be next to Ovechkin. They play man on man 100%. So to negate that, which I have not seen so far in the series, when that line in particular gets a puck in the net or in the zone. They have to pick and roll. They have to do legal picks to get in the way of the man on man coverage. If they can do that, that can spring ovi, it can spring Strome, it can spring their other winger to create five on five. Their zone time has to be higher in game four if the Caps are going to bring it home and have home ice advantage.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I appreciate all of that, but I want to talk on a larger level here. If I'm not mistaken, you probably played in the league when Gretzky was still in the league for a few seasons. Yes or no?

[Unknown Speaker]

Yes, for sure.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. Did you. You've now watched Alexander Ovechkin his entire career. I'm sure that's a privilege because he's a. He's now the greatest goal scorer of all time. But, Craig, did you ever think you played against Gretzky? Did you ever think that anyone would get to that record?

[Unknown Speaker]

I said, no way. And I said it many times. I said, tony, there's no way anyone's going to come close to beating Wayne Gretzky's record. I saw him front and personal, game in, game out, when he played for the Oilers. And to me, they were the team of the 80s, you could say, along with the Islanders back in the day. But I thought, there's no way. How can a guy score close to 900 goals like Gretzky did? And Obi's going to get there. I said, absolutely not. It will never happen. Obi will end up with about 6 or 700 maybe. And now look what he's done. It's, it's, it's. It's an incredible sports story that deserves headlines for what he's accomplished, beating Wayne Gretzky.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Nobody says he's a better player than Wayne Gretzky. Nobody would say that. He would never say that as well. But this year, for example, he was out for X amount of games. He broke his leg and still broke that record. He still did that when you played. What do you see when you watch this guy at this age still scoring goals like this?

[Unknown Speaker]

It's amazing. I mean, he's. Everybody calls him, you know, calls Tom Wilson a unicorn. He's a unicorn, too, when it comes to goal scoring. He's got a natural knack. You can see that. Players, when they play, when they first started, you can see that OVI had a neck around the net. He had that vicious shot he set up in the left side. It was something that he had worked on his whole life. And to me, it still works in the NHL, the way the goalies play, the way defense plays, the way the power plays are set up with OV being the main man. I think there's a huge difference between Gretzky and Ovechkin. When you look at how Gretzky played and how OVI played, you got to remember OVI played a lot differently. Gretzky rarely hit a guy he tried to get out of the way of hits. He was more of a dangler setup guy. Used his office, so called back in the day behind the net offensively to create offense. And Obi, he leads the league and playoff hits all time, which is incredible because playing in the playoffs, as we all know, is the toughest grind. To win 16 games and then you had, you know, during the season. He's got close to 4,000 hits, Tony. So to me, there's a huge difference between how they played, the decades they played, the goalies. He's playing against, the players being in shape and us trying to get into shape and training camp and these guys coming in shape all year long. It's a huge difference. And to do it in this era right now makes it even that more impressive.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What OVI has done, Craig, everybody knows where he likes to be on the ice. Everybody knows what his shot is. He still gets it, and he still makes it. I guess I'm sort of amazed that there doesn't seem to be, you know, a decline, a perceptible decline in his ability to get shots off and score goals.

[Unknown Speaker]

Everybody has tried to defend him, Tony, a different way. You've had power plays that sat a guy right next to him, and they would stand there the whole time, but then that would open up the other side of the power play, and the Caps would end up scoring. Then they say, hey, we better scratch that. We better focus on just being a stick length away from Obi. The thing about Obi is he's very good at resetting his skates. If you watch him closely where that puck is coming from, he already knows where that puck is coming to him. Between his legs, in front of him, behind him. He's a great adjuster, I call him, because he can adjust to a puck like no one else has ever done. I watched Mike Bossi for years with the Islanders. He had a cleanest shot, also from the same spot that Obi shoots from. He would rip him home, and he's a Hall of Famer and all that type of stuff, but he ripped it the same way, not as hard. But OVI also, if you look at the curve of his stick. He's got a big toe curve and that's been the new change in the NHL. We used to curl our stick from heel to toe. He just has a big one right at the end of the BL now what that does also when he shoots the puck. When you talk to goalies, and I've talked to many goalies over the years, they say it's like a knuckleball coming at you. You don't know where it's going to dip and dive and turn and spin. He can shoot the puck whether the puck is flat, whether the puck is up on on edge. He is the best at getting those shots away. It's just amazing to me. You can defend them all you want, but the way he adjusts his skates and stick as the puck arrives. There's no one better ever that has played in our game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Now you've watched him. You've watched almost every goal I'm sure that he's ever made. I'm curious about this. He's Russian, right? Hockey is a Canadian sport. You're Canadian. Is there any sense that. Wow. We never thought that the all time leading goal scorer would not be a Canadian.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, I think there was probably thoughts there. Because you thought Gretz was going to keep it all time. There was no one ever going to beat him. Mr. Gordy Howe. There was no one ever going to beat him. And he passed how? And he passed Gretzky. I don't think there was ever that. But I think politically too, when you throw that in, it was an interesting dynamic when he did beat Gretzky because the fans got behind him a hundred percent and they saw stardom. Tony, this guy. This is the sports story of the decade or more. Because this should not have happened. Who thought, and I said it many times, there's no way he's going to catch Gretzky. There's no way it can ever happen. And he's done it. And he's going to get close to. I told him after he scored that goal, when I saw him down the locker room, I said ov now 1,000, buddy. You don't want to leave until you get a thousand. A thousand? A thousand goals in the NHL. Are you kidding me? And he could get it if he stays around here in the NHL.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you think he'll quit or do you think he'll come back at least for one or two more years?

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, he's got one more year left on his deal. I think he'll make sure he does that. I think The Caps would be trying to sign him. But I know that he does have roots obvious we all know, and in Russia. And that he has said that he wanted to play maybe in Dynamo where he grew up playing. Yeah, that could happen after next year for sure. But I want to see him get 1,000. And I think what he's done here in this town has been incredible on and off the ice. I hope he stays. He can play for another three years. He could play next year and two more and the fans would still love him and he'd still contribute to the Caps just because of what you said. The shot, he can get open. He can get the shot away. He's still going to be a 30, 40 goal guy playing in the NHL for years to come.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's the greatest goal scorer at age that of all time. Right. I mean his consistent numbers. Nobody's ever had these numbers at age.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, no, I mean it's like Tom Brady 39.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's like Tom Brady.

[Unknown Speaker]

Exactly, exactly. He should be looked at like those type of guys in all the major sports guide.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Stay healthy. It's a pleasure for me to have you on. Thank you, Craig.

[Unknown Speaker]

Thank you very much. Nice talking to you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Craig Laughlin, boys and girls, who once again told you Michael or told me to just get you off the ice?

[Michael Wilbon]

Maybe it was the Toys R Us.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Just, you know, it worked out for you. Yeah, yeah. Golf is more fun than hockey.

[Chris Cullen]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You know, I mean, it's outdoors.

[Michael Wilbon]

I mean, unless you found my way to individual sports.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. All right, all right, that's it. We will come back with email and jingle. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser.

[Unknown Speaker]

It.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The Missouri marching band thrills me every time I play that music. Do you want to do the Bethesda bagel ad for us?

[Chris Cullen]

Yes. Got the bagel sandwiches. They're very happy about that. 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 one in and you'll be thrilled.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Before we get to the mailbag, let me just say come out, Virginia. Don't let me wait. You Catholic girls starting much delayed but sooner or later comes down to fate I might as well be the one they showed you a statue Told you to put pray Built your temple locked your way they never told you the price that you pay for things that you might have done Only the good die young. That's William Joel of Hicksville, Long island, and he was 76 years old the other day.

[Chris Cullen]

That's right. Friday, I believe.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, he's great. Billy Joel is absolutely. Yes. Thanks to our guests today, Michael Wilbon and Craig Laughlin. Thanks as well to today's sponsor. Remember, you can listen to us on Apple podcasts, Spotify and Audacity. If you get the show through Apple, please leave us a review.

[Michael Wilbon]

Before we get to Mailbag. Can I just say, very cool for me to see PG Tor play what was our home course when I was at Penn Philly Craig Cricket Club with the Hicken just made me feel like I was back 20 years ago with these afternoon practices. Ducking out to what for us was the back nine and was for the, for the event was the how many.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Redos since you've left Penn?

[Michael Wilbon]

It's, it's one major redo, but it was over a year. So right when I graduated, they did the tree removal and then a couple years after that, this would have been right after Colin St. Maxim was there. They did the big Keith Foster renovation. This was before they got the senior event. But when I was there, there was always rumors of a tour event coming for the modern course, Militia Hills, which is just to the side of Wissahicken. But for you, if you looked closely with that drop down par three, I think for them it was probably, you know, maybe seven or eight. But that would have looked like Binghamton Country Club's third hole, the little par three.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Because. Because the designer, the original designer. Yeah. Was the same. Yeah, I watched a lot of it. Shane Lowry gagged on 18. He wouldn't have won any. Straka was going to win anyway. But Shane Lowry got a bogey and gave Straka, you know, two putts from four feet and it was not, you know, he made the first one.

[Michael Wilbon]

Four footers of that club are outside the hole.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's exactly what Dottie Pepper was saying that these greens are very, very difficult. There are no gimmes there, so that's nice. And the broadcast crew and CBS seem to like it very much.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah. And they got the PGA Championship coming next year. To Ron A Mink.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, okay. Okay. I played that. You played that. I've got a very nice note from Mark Gudelski in North Bethesda, and I want to wish his son Daniel a happy belated 38th birthday. And Mark writes, It was Sunday 5 11. Not very good, but there are some worse than that. That's one positive way to look at it. It's not the worst birthday of the year. From Bobby Godfrey. I've heard through some back channels that these are the Pope's first priorities. Please ask Wilbon his opinion. Can and I sank Ditka for the miracle of the 85 bears. Yep, normal popes using the number 33 after their name. That number is henceforth retired.xxx 111 introducing new deep Dish Communion Wafers. Ketchup on a hot dog is now the eighth deadly sin. Communion wine will be replaced by Malort and the Vatican is considered part of the Midwest. It is the Midwest of Rome, after all. Sure. Dan Ziegler, Stevensville, Michigan so wouldn't the Pope socks jersey along with Villanova jersey be XVI? Officially, these jerseys should set records. P.S. to Patrick City. Patrick Sitter I was on time for the wedding in Beresford. Thanks. It's just because you get these traffic updates. Carl Van Winkle, Orange County Wilbon and Prevost, childhood friends and founding members of Chicago indie rock band Gnawed by Voles, got together recently to jam to see what's new in their lives. And there's a He doesn't draw any.

[Chris Cullen]

That's the pope playing bass.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Look at that. Tim Cree, Fort Collins, Colorado Chicago Pope sounds a bit like an arena football team. The only problem is those wide helmets that stick up so high they throw the players off balance. At least the team bus will be bulletproof. Mike Roseberry, State College, Pennsylvania we have somebody who knows what State College is, per Wilbon is Vatican City now in the Midwest. Lush Philbin was Maury in Rome on Thursday. Love to hear he was there to tell the losing papal candidates, you are not the Holy Father. That's funny. That's funny. Chuck Murphy, Columbia, Missouri the newly elected pope was being introduced while I was in a meeting yesterday, so I was getting text updates from a friend. First text from America second text from Chicago third text Cubs fan fourth text in his late 60s. If the fifth text would have been went to Northwestern, I would have excused myself from the meeting to watch Pope Wilbur being introduced. Instead, the fifth and final text read.

[Chris Cullen]

Went to Villanova and a White Sox fan. We've determined that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. His brother said he was a White Sox. Yes. Kenny Ray Fort Walton Beach, Florida Your conversation with Buster only on Friday about potatoes reminded me that potatoes make French fries, potato chips and vodka. It's like the other vegetables aren't even trying. Gary Uber Dallas Tony welcomes his first guest, Buster, by saying, we're going to talk baseball, but first we need to talk about potatoes. I challenge anyone to explain what this show. What show is better than that? Yeah, no, it's the best show. Tom o' Brien I have grown potatoes for many years. I procure seed potatoes from either tractor supply in Poolesville or Southern states in Mount Airy, just like Buster said, plant about six inches down and about one to one and a half feet apart. Then you mound about another six inches of loose soil on top of. I usually add more soil on top as they grow all season to increase yield. The main pests I have found around D.C. are potato beetles. These can be treated with an environmentally safe biopesticide called Bt Bacillus thuringenesis that can be found at any garden store. When I was at UNS UNSCOM inspector in Iraq. But BT was what Sodom was growing in his anthrax factory called Al Hakam. He was trying to save the production plant by becoming an environmentalist. Not kidding. It was also smart because genetically is genetically very close to anthrax and they had hoped that it would mask the traces of past usage. Ultimately we determined by PCR that anthrax was once grown there. There is nothing like boiling water first and then going out to dig up just what you need for dinner and covering the remainder for another day. They can be grown in containers too. Good luck. Please tell Gary, my colleague in Iraq. And a little detail. We need to save this. Yes, that's important, right, Michael that's an important one. Ricky Herb or Ricky Herb in Barnegat, New Jersey. I went to my parents house. While I was there I looked in the cabinet, I saw my dad's chips. They were lay's chips. Don't know if that helps. No, no. It's my dad's chips. That's the brand name. Mark lynch can be Indiana. I'm going to see my dad tomorrow. I can't wait to look at his chips. We're getting a lot of things like that. Tim Wildsmith our friend in Nashville. While I'm not sending in songs or trying to write emails humorous enough to make it into the mailbag segment. I'm actually an ordained minister. Pastor Tim. This month my work brought me to Spain, where I'm leading a group of college students on an historic Christian pilgrimage route called the Camino de Santiago. Each day we walk 15 plus miles. What?

[Chris Cullen]

That's big.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And I'm spending my time reflecting, praying and chatting with strangers along the way. I know I'm on the other side of the street, as you like to say, but I wanted to let you know that as I was reflecting on my walk today about what I'm most grateful for, the show was one of the things that came to mind. I'm sure you know this, but the podcast is incredibly special to so many of us Littles. It's not just a podcast, it's a source of great joy. We love you. We love Nigel and Michael and all the Bigs, even Saliza. So as I walk across Spain, please know that you are all in my prayers, grace and peace. Tim Wilson that's lovely. That really is nice. And I didn't know that. No, I had a medium. Okay, A haiku for David Carpenter, my college roommate from Chad. Diet of Fresca, Budweiser and Cheerios. Bunch of champions. Yeah, it was never in the morning. David didn't get up till 11 o' clock. I mean, come on. Diane said don't call him in the morning.

[Chris Cullen]

Apparently he's still that guy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Call him in the morning. Chris Thorpe, Loveland, Colorado Rainbows can be a common sight for us Littles living along the Front Range of Colorado, with thunderstorms frequently rolling in over the Rocky Mountains, followed by clearing sunny skies, resulting in delightfully brilliant rainbows along the expanse of eastern horizon. While I'm by no means a rainbow expert, I can offer a few pertinent observation. You will only see a rainbow with the sun at your back. If the sun comes out during or just after some rain, look towards the sky opposite the sun for the best chance of seeing a rainbow. You will only see a rainbow in the morning or afternoon when the sun is relatively low in the sky. In fact, the lower the sun, the higher the rainbow, the higher the sun, the lower the rainbow. This leads me to a particularly unique phenomenon I observed while filling my gas tank some years back. Peering eastward towards the dark clouds of passing storm, a faint glimmer of red caught my eye at a point just above the horizon, like a blazing neon sign just out of sight. While attempting to make out what I was seeing, the glow grew brighter and more vibrant and was gradually followed by an orangish hue. By now, abandoning my car at the pump, I found myself mesmerized by the sight of what could rightly be described as a rainbow rise like a morning sunrise. The rainbow was slowly rising above the horizon as the sun, still relatively high in the sky behind me, was inching lower towards its western terminus. As the sun moved west, the long wide arc became more pronounced in the east as orange was followed by yellow, then green, blue and indigo by the time violet appeared appeared above the horizon some moments later and I was completely transfixed by something I would never forget. Thought you'd be interested to know such a thing exists. If not, please tell Michael the colors like we didn't. Our photographs did not do justice.

[Chris Cullen]

They never do.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They just didn't. Jimmy Sandlers Havelock on North Carolina this Sunday while attending church service, our pastor provided me with my own David Aldridge moment. Early in Pastor David sermon he mentioned he was a fan of the TK show and how he loves TK's annual line. And I did this. Used it yesterday that golfing on Mother's Day for his Father's Day's gift. I thought, I know that line. It's one I shamelessly steal from Tony as I shamefully attempt to get my wife to agree to Mother's Day golf. After the service, I spoke to Pastor David and told him about our mutual love for the show. Of course, since we were in church, I refrained from a TK salute. If the position is not already taken, I would like to be the official fire apparatus regional account manager for the show. Done.

[Michael Wilbon]

Done.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Done. Yeah. Nathan Ackerhelm Charlotte, North Carolina. I was so disappointed on Wednesday's pod. We didn't hear a dishwasher being unloaded in the middle of Bob Ryan's interview. I guess his gig is up. Rob From Winnipeg Dear Mr. Tony, my son loves minestrone soup. Just thought you'd like to know what is your favorite kind of soup? I mean, I don't know. I like a lot of different kinds of soup.

[Michael Wilbon]

Seasonal, right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I like a lot of different kinds of soup. I like the various clam chowder soups and chicken noodle, all chicken based, you know, barley. Beef barley is a winter soup.

[Michael Wilbon]

Yeah. You know you like cold soups in the summer.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I do, I do.

[Chris Cullen]

Isn't we call like mulligatawni or something like that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't know what that is, but you could look that up. And from Tony Moyers in Martinsburg, West Virginia. I don't own a Subaru but then again I don't like my kids very much either. That's funny if you're out on your bike dying to everyone as always, do wear white.

[Unknown Speaker]

But I still need a bit of.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Milk full fat which I've warmed in the micro wave.

[Dan Byrne]

Welcome Pope Leo Chicago born and bred Komisky aboriginals Bill Veeck must a pal around with Royka Wander's scarf around his throat. Ate burgers with Belushi at the Billy Goat musta got stuck on the Dan Ryan in his rusty car Watched Ditka and Sayers and Butka set the bar to the Vatican from Lake Middle Michigan Poke deep dish maybe he'll absolve the Black Sox send shoeless Joe to the hall of fame Maybe he'll forgive Mrs. O' Leary's cow. But cow was not to blame. Pope Leo is a socks fan. You get what you pay for. Likes Polish sausage with his communal wafer. To be pope you need hope, compassion and and giardiniera on your Italian beat. To the Vatican from Lake Michigan Pope deep dish. Pope deep dish.

[Nelson Bragg]

When I was a train I never could. I dreamt about girls that surely would My troubles began that day. We're gonna laugh about it. A quick sudden rain no shelter near. A transparent trip yes the shape so clear but baby it's plain to see. We're going to laugh about it. As all of the seasons come and go. You're learning to live without control. And after a thousand sighs all those memories turn to gold. You fell off the lands the sun dismay the rest of us bring another way from flashlights and fade and blue we're gonna laugh about. As all of the seasons come and go. You're learning to live without control. And after a thousand signs all those memories turn to go. Mother and father quiet and safe Sister and brother H. When all the rage is gone we're going to laugh about it. When all the haters fade away. When kindness and love is here to stay. The monsters have come and gone and will be laughing.

[Unknown Speaker]

Sam.