“The U of Conn”

Summary

The Tony Kornheiser Show

Episode: "The U of Conn"

Date: March 18, 2026

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Overview

This episode of The Tony Kornheiser Show is all about NCAA tournament "Bracket Week." Tony is joined by the beloved annual guest, Phil's Mom (making her bracket picks), as well as contributor Spike Braun and college sports writer Pat Forde (here referred to as Pat40). The show is a deep-dive into bracket selections, featuring expert analysis, personal stories, playful banter, and a sprinkle of listener mail. The episode highlights the show's signature mix of irreverent sports talk, warmth, and humor.

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Main Segments & Key Discussion Points

1. Phil’s Mom’s Bracket Picks

(From 04:02)

• Bracket Ritual: Phil's Mom, a listener favorite and annual tradition on the show, talks with Tony about her process for picking NCAA tournament teams, her son Phil’s new career as a professional poker player (“He enjoys it a lot. And he’s so good with math – I think that’s why he’s a good player.” – [04:55]), and picks her bracket one matchup at a time.
• Geography Gags: Tony quizzes her on the locations and backgrounds of some lesser-known schools, leading to playful exchanges.
  • High Point? “I looked it up. I guess it’s in North Carolina." – Phil’s Mom, [05:57]
  • BYU? “That one... I forgot. But it’s out west someplace.” – Phil’s Mom, [06:17]
  • Queens? “Is that new this year?” – Phil’s Mom, [06:36]
• Bracket Logic: She tends to pick high seeds, but mixes in heartfelt or whimsical choices: “I always put in the ones and twos... I always assume they’re going to win... I don’t do that with Phil’s Mom.” – Tony, [03:55]
• Her Final Four & Champion:
  • Final Four: Gonzaga, Iowa State, St. John’s, Illinois ([12:39])
  • Final: Illinois over Gonzaga ([12:53])
  • “I saw Illinois and I thought, oh, that looks like a pretty good team... I don’t even think about it.” – Phil’s Mom, [13:14]
• Endearing Moments: Tony and the crew express genuine admiration for her unique picks and good humor.
  • “This is not a last place bracket. No, this is a good bracket. You should feel good about it.” – Tony, [12:54]
  • “May we all find someone who loves us as much as Steve Sands hates Duke.” – Email from Sam Fritz, read by Tony ([03:14])

Notable Quotes:

• “My children have all been banned from applying to college there [Duke].” – Listener email, [03:20]
• “May we all find someone who loves us as much as Steve Sands hates Duke.” – Listener email, [04:01]

2. Spike Braun – The Prodigy Bracketologist

(From 17:24)

• Bracket History & College Update: Spike Braun banters about still being in college and soaking his parents for tuition for a few more years ([17:40]). Tony calls him out for his depth and accuracy in previous bracket competitions.
• First-Round Upsets:
  • Texas over BYU, [18:06]
  • Akron over Texas Tech, Santa Clara over Kentucky, [18:59]
  • South Florida over Louisville, [19:29]
  • VCU over UNC (“I just think North Carolina... lost their best player... they've been reeling.” – Spike, [19:54])
• Bracket Insights:
  • Arizona Bracket: Picks Arkansas over Arizona ([21:26])
  • Final Four: Arkansas, Michigan, Duke, Houston (eventually has Michigan vs. Duke in the championship, Michigan wins)
  • “Dusty May has changed the culture over there at Michigan. They’re back... I think they’ll go into that game with a little bad taste in their mouth.” – Spike, on Michigan beating Duke ([28:46])
• Fun Exchanges:
  • “Pressure? I eat pressure for breakfast, Tony.” – Spike, [17:29]
  • “Tony, I’m in bed right now. That’s on me. Ill prepared.” – Spike, admitting not being fully ready for the bracket run-down ([26:34])
• Journalism Career: Mentions reporting for USA Today during the Women’s Tournament ("I'm covering the first couple of rounds of Women's March Madness for USA Today in that region," [25:34]).

Notable Quotes:

• “See, Duke and I have a great relationship. Better than Steve Sands.” – Spike, [28:19]

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3. Pat Forde ("Pat40") – The Veteran Analyst

(From 31:53)

• Introduction: Pat joins after a musical break and promotional segment. Segment brought to you by FanDuel.
• Katie Ledecky Chat: Tony marvels at the longevity of swimmer Katie Ledecky ("She’s a marvel, an outlier, an ageless wonder and completely defies the precedent of the sport." – Pat, [31:53]). Pat recounts the friendship between his daughter and Ledecky.
• Bracket Picks – Opening Rounds:
  • “Utah State over Villanova. And Missouri over Miami.” – Pat, [33:32]
  • “Hofstra over Alabama... and Akron over Texas Tech. And then Santa Clara over Kentucky as well.” – Pat, [35:09]
  • “South Florida over Louisville” – Pat, [36:08]
• Challenging Regions:
  • Tony: “If you're gonna give somebody the overall number one seed...and then put them in a bracket that is by far the hardest bracket, you are not helping them.” ([35:46])
  • “The level of coaches is extremely good... this region is totally loaded.” – Pat, [36:24]
• Deep Run Analysis:
  • He rides Arizona to the championship, but stresses the danger lurking from Wisconsin: “I agree completely. I’m picking Arizona to win, but I also am terrified of the game against Wisconsin.” – Pat, [39:49]
  • Picks Florida and Houston to meet in Houston, predicts Houston advances: “That’s unbelievable... and then to have it at home... I think Houston gets them.” ([41:48])
  • Final Four: Arizona, Duke, Michigan, Houston ([42:41])
  • National Champion: Arizona over Duke ([43:06])
  • “They have NBA talent, huge size, veterans, good guards, and I think Tommy Lloyd’s ready to move on and grab the ring.” – Pat, [43:30]
• Coach-speak & Bulletin Board Fodder: Tony and Pat poke fun at coaches inventing criticism for motivational purposes ("They're making up stuff. That's what I thought." [44:13])

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4. Listener Mailbag: Stories, Quips & Nostalgia

(From 47:35)

• Bracket Pool Info: Listeners are reminded how to join the show's ESPN Tournament Challenge group ("Search Tony Kornheiser Show 2026"; password: TK I).
• Fan Stories:
  • Candy stores in Maine, regional NCAA nostalgia, obscure facts about actors' names (Michael B. Jordan gets the “B” because “Michael Jordan” was already a SAG name), and tales of accidental driving technology fear are read with Tony’s typical warmth and winking commentary.
• Phil’s Mom Fandom: “You can ask Al, you can listen to experts, I roll with Phil’s Mom.” – Listener haiku ([51:01])
• Inside Show Jokes: Bagels, wine recommendations, and "Jenny’s Ice Cream" bracket proposals.

Notable Quotes:

• “May we all find someone who loves us as much as Steve Sands hates Duke.” – Listener email, [03:14]
• “I still get residuals” – Tony on his cameo in Creed and Creed II, [53:16]

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Notable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)

• [03:20] Listener email: “My children have all been banned from applying to college there [Duke].”
• [04:01] Listener email: “May we all find someone who loves us as much as Steve Sands hates Duke.”
• [05:57] Tony to Phil’s Mom: “Do you know where High Point is?” | Phil's Mom: “I looked it up. I guess it's in North Carolina.”
• [06:17] Tony: “Do you know what BYU stands for?” | Phil’s Mom: “That one... I forgot. But it's out west someplace.”
• [17:29] Spike Braun: “Pressure? I eat pressure for breakfast, Tony.”
• [12:54] Tony on Phil’s Mom’s bracket: “This is not a last place bracket. No, this is a good bracket. You should feel good about it.”
• [31:53] Pat40 on Katie Ledecky: “She’s a marvel, an outlier, an ageless wonder and completely defies the precedent of the sport.”
• [41:48] Tony (“Florida, Houston, in Houston.”) and Pat (“Yeah, that’s unbelievable... I think Houston gets them.”)
• [43:06] Tony: “Arizona, Duke, final. And I like the Wildcats to win their first championship since 1997.”
• [44:13] Pat40 ("They're making up stuff.") and Tony ("That's what I thought.") on coach-speak.

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Structural Highlights

Bracket Methodology & Idiosyncrasies:

• Phil’s Mom picks with a combination of naiveté and instinct—often choosing Catholic schools (“I knew you would do that. A good Catholic school. I knew you would do that.” – Tony, [05:47]) or teams she finds appealing.
• Spike Braun leans on statistical upsets, SEC bias as a Georgia fan, and careful research (“I root for those SEC teams,” [18:19]).
• Pat Forde offers the “expert” chalk bracket, but peppers in calculated first-round upsets and deep analytic rationale for picks.

Banter & Running Gags:

• Steve Sands' legendary Duke hatred is celebrated by listeners and hosts.
• Ongoing jokes about Tony’s aversion to driverless cars, detours about jelly beans, and bagels.
• Warmth displayed in family stories (Phil's Mom checking Phil’s poker playing), and inside jokes from long-time listeners.

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Final Thoughts

This episode is an exemplar of the Tony Kornheiser show style: personable, witty, sports-centered but effortlessly moving into anecdotes, nostalgia, and gentle ribbing among friends.

If you're looking to catch up:

• [04:02–14:27] – Phil's Mom's Bracket (heart of the first act)
• [17:24–29:23] – Spike Braun's picks and analysis
• [31:53–44:44] – Pat Forde/Pat40's expertise & broader tournament breakdown
• [47:35–62:00+] – Listener mailbag, show culture, and closing music

For NCAA Bracketology fans:
This episode showcases three unique approaches—from the "feel" of Phil’s Mom, to the math/stat upsets of Spike Braun, to the considered expert analysis of Pat40.

Signature Quote:
"May we all find someone who loves us as much as Steve Sands hates Duke." ([04:01])

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End of Summary

Transcript

[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Previously on the Tony Kornheiser show.

[Spike Braun]

Well, you know, I do this every year with you, Tony. Every single year. Give me Sienna, because I hate Duke. Hate Duke. You gotta hate Duke. You know you hate Duke.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You love it.

[Pat40]

I love Lefty Giselle who went to

[Spike Braun]

Duke, and Val Sands father Brandi Davis went to Duke. But my hatred of Duke basketball will

[Tony Kornheiser]

always clouds everything you do. This is General George Washington, and you're listening to the Tony Kornheiser show. Two emails describe all of our feelings about Steve Sands and Duke. One from Chris Bancells in Forest Hill, Maryland, who went to Maryland, graduated in 2002. I love bracket week. I love Phil's mom and Greg Garcia, even the Braun boys, making me feel old. But nothing, nothing, dear Toby, makes me as happy as hearing how much Steve Sands hates Duke. My children have all been banned from applying to college there, and I won't even do a bracket during the years that I think Duke might win. I hate losing, but not nearly as much as I hate Duke. And so I refuse to submit a bracket where they win. The thought of it makes me want to stick cocktail forks in my eyes. Come on, Sienna. Win one for coach Jimmy. That would be Jimmy Patsos. And from Sam Fritz in Schaumburg, Illinois, may we all find someone who loves us as much as Steve Sands hates Duke. Hates Duke. So wonderful. We are in bracket week. We have Phil's mom with us. This is an annual treat for me. It's one of the only times, the only time when I go through these brackets. I always put in the ones and the twos. I always assume that they're going to win and that anybody who's going to pick with us is going to pick the ones and the twos at least through the first round. I don't do that with Phil's mom. Phil's mom, of course, lives in Buffalo. How was the winter? Is the winter still with you? How much snow?

[Phil's Mom]

Yes, winter is still with us. In fact, yesterday we had another maybe 5 inches of snow. So it's all over the place. One day it's 60, and then it's like this morning it's 17 degrees.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, it's very cold in Washington. It's like 22 in Washington. But we're going to. We're going to get out of this pretty soon. Whereas you can get snow into April. You know, I need to ask about Phil, who has apparently become a professional poker player and is actually making money. How do you feel about that? You scrimped and saved to send him to school. How do you feel about this?

[Phil's Mom]

I know. I always caution him, be very careful. I check him all the time to make sure he's doing nothing wrong, but doing pretty good. He enjoys it a lot. And he's so good with math. I think that's why he's a good player.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, is this what you envisioned when you sent him to college? Did you envision poker?

[Phil's Mom]

Not really.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Sort of amazing. Sort of amazing. All right, are you ready to go for us?

[Phil's Mom]

Yes, I am.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, we're gonna start on what I hope is the top right bracket for you. We're gonna take it pretty much all the way through and do that successively with each bracket. It's a little different with you than it is with others. So we'll start out with Arizona liu, if you see that. And tell me who gets into the second round as you go down the bracket.

[Phil's Mom]

I have Arizona. Villanova.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I knew you would do that. A good Catholic school. I knew you would do that. Okay, next.

[Phil's Mom]

Next. I picked High Point.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right. Do you know where it is?

[Phil's Mom]

You know what? That one I looked up. I guess it's in North Carolina.

[Tony Kornheiser]

North Carolina? Yeah, North Carolina.

[Phil's Mom]

Then Arkansas.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Arkansas. Tubby Smith, by the way, who won a national championship at Kentucky, ended up coaching at High Point. I think he went to High Point. Okay, go ahead.

[Phil's Mom]

Then byu.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you know what that stands for?

[Phil's Mom]

That one? I. Oh, wait, I forgot. But it's out west someplace.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's in Utah. It's for Brigham Young. Yes, it's for Brigham Young. Okay. Yes, go ahead.

[Phil's Mom]

Gonzaga, of course.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Of course. Miami.

[Phil's Mom]

And then Queens.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Queens. Do you know anything about Queens?

[Phil's Mom]

No. Is that new this year?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, yes, in a manner of speaking, it is new. I didn't know anything about it where I grew up, you know, on Long Island, I knew that in New York City there was a Queens College, there was a Brooklyn College. I was aware of that. But this is obviously not that. I believe this is in North Carolina someplace and has been there for a long time and may be affiliated either now or in the future with Elon. Maybe I may have that right. Okay, so now we're good. Arizona. Villanova. Who do you like?

[Phil's Mom]

Villanova.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Villanova. That's it for Arizona. One seed. High Point. Arkansas.

[Phil's Mom]

I went with High Point.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Sure. Of course. Makes all the sense in the world. Byu, Gonzaga.

[Phil's Mom]

Of course. Gonzaga, of course.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And Miami. Queens.

[Phil's Mom]

I went with Miami.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, so now to get to the Elite Eight, we have Villanova and High Point. Who do you like?

[Phil's Mom]

I went with High Point.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Really? That's it for Villanova. Okay.

[Phil's Mom]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right. And Gonzaga. Miami.

[Phil's Mom]

I went with Gonzaga.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Which you do all the time. And now Gonzaga. High Point.

[Phil's Mom]

I stuck with Gonzaga.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Gonzaga. So you have Gonzaga in the Final Four. Now we're gonna go to the bracket right underneath that. That starts with Michigan. Who do you like in the first round there?

[Phil's Mom]

I chose Michigan.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Michigan. Uh huh.

[Phil's Mom]

And then St. Louis.

[Tony Kornheiser]

St. Louis. Another parochial school. St. Louis. Go ahead.

[Phil's Mom]

Texas Tech.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Texas Tech. Uh huh.

[Phil's Mom]

Hofstra.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hofstra. Do you know anything about Hofstra?

[Phil's Mom]

No. I think that's a new one, too.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, it's on Long Island. That was the. That was the college closest to where I grew up. It was Hofstra University. And at that point their nickname was the Flying Dutchman. They changed it about 20 years ago for political correctness to the pride. But the Flying Dutchman was about the boat. It was just about the boat. I didn't really understand how they had to change. But anyway, Hofstras on Long island, south shore. Okay, go ahead, continue down that bracket.

[Phil's Mom]

Tennessee.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Tennessee. Huh?

[Phil's Mom]

Virginia.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Virginia. Right.

[Phil's Mom]

Santa Clara.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Santa Clara over Kentucky, huh?

[Phil's Mom]

And then Iowa State.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Iowa State. You're picking a lot of teams that a lot of people are picking. Michigan. St. Louis.

[Phil's Mom]

Michigan.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Michigan. Big school. Texas Tech. Hofstra.

[Phil's Mom]

Hofstra.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Good. Makes me happy as a Long island kid. It's gonna make Danny Gaston happy as well because he played college basketball at Hofstra. Tennessee. Virginia.

[Phil's Mom]

I went with Virginia.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. And Santa Clara. Iowa State.

[Phil's Mom]

I went with Iowa State.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Iowa State. A 2 seed. Makes all the sense in the world. Michigan. Hofstra.

[Phil's Mom]

Now I still stuck with Michigan.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Phil's Mom]

And then Iowa State.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's 1 and 2. It's chalk. All right, who's gonna be in the Final Four?

[Phil's Mom]

I stuck with Iowa State.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Are you getting help from somebody who knows what they're doing?

[Phil's Mom]

No.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is a pretty good bracket. This is a pretty good bracket. Okay, let's go to the other side, to the Duke bracket. Who do you have?

[Phil's Mom]

I put down Duke after hearing all that conversation about Duke, though. Holy cow.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, Duke is fine. Go ahead.

[Phil's Mom]

Ohio.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Ohio State.

[Phil's Mom]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, go ahead.

[Phil's Mom]

St. John.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Knew that was coming.

[Phil's Mom]

Okay, Kansas.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Kansas. Go ahead.

[Phil's Mom]

Louisville.

[Pat40]

Louisville, Louisville.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Louisville. Same place in Kentucky. Go ahead.

[Phil's Mom]

North Dakota.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Whoa, nobody has that one. Nobody has that one. That's all yours. Okay, Nobody has. Go ahead.

[Phil's Mom]

Sorry. Ucla.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Ucla. Uh huh.

[Phil's Mom]

And then you have Khan.

[Tony Kornheiser]

U of Khan. Okay. UConn. Connecticut University. Okay. In stores. Connecticut. All right, how about the Florida bracket?

[Phil's Mom]

The Florida Brick. Oh, yes. Down below. I did Florida.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Phil's Mom]

Clemson.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Mm.

[Phil's Mom]

Is it McNeese?

[Tony Kornheiser]

McNeese. I believe McNeese is in Louisiana. I could be wrong. I think it's in Louisiana, but okay, go ahead, Nebraska. Nebraska, who has never won, never won a single game in the history of the NCAA tournament.

[Phil's Mom]

Go ahead, North Carolina.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Unc. Uh huh.

[Phil's Mom]

Illinois.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Breaking our hearts. We have a Penn graduate sitting right here. Breaking our hearts. Illinois.

[Phil's Mom]

Go ahead, St. Mary. And Houston.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Houston. Okay, let's go back to the top. Duke, Ohio State. Let's take that out to the final four. Go ahead.

[Phil's Mom]

I put Ohio.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Ohio state. Uh huh.

[Phil's Mom]

St. John's uh huh. Louisville.

[Tony Kornheiser]

UCLA, UCLA over UConn. That's a seven over a two. Okay, Ohio State. St. John's oh, St. John's I think that's reasonable. And Louisville. UCLA.

[Phil's Mom]

UCLA.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And who wins in that game? St. John's St. John's New York zone. Okay. Florida. Clemson.

[Phil's Mom]

Clemson.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Clemson. That's an upset. Okay, McNeese. Nebraska.

[Phil's Mom]

Nebraska.

[Tony Kornheiser]

UNC. Illinois.

[Phil's Mom]

Illinois.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Illinois and St. Mary's Houston.

[Phil's Mom]

Houston again.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is a bracket. That seems like a reasonable bracket. Clemson, Nebraska.

[Phil's Mom]

Nebraska.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You'd be the only one with that. But they were 20 and 0 at the beginning of the season. They're a pretty good team. Illinois. Houston.

[Phil's Mom]

Illinois.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Illinois. Say goodbye to Houston. Okay. And Nebraska. Illinois.

[Phil's Mom]

I stepped with Illinois.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, so now we have the final four. And you have St. John's against Illinois. Who do you have?

[Phil's Mom]

Illinois.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Illinois over St. John's and Gonzaga against Iowa State.

[Phil's Mom]

I have Gonzaga.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Those are two, three seeds. Right. And then in the final game, Illinois, Gonzaga. Who do you have?

[Phil's Mom]

Illinois.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Wow. You know what, they're a three seed. They were good all year. They're in a tough conference. A much tougher conference than Gonzaga is in. This is a bracket. This is not a last place bracket. No, this is a good bracket. You should feel good about it. So Phil did not help you with this?

[Phil's Mom]

No, I just last night I sit down and I just look at them and I saw Illinois and I thought, oh, that looks like a pretty good team. And so I kind of work it and I just plot it in. I don't even think about it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think that. I think you've done a very good job. I do. I think you've done a very good job. I think Phil would be proud of you. So thank you. As always. Thank you. Thank you.

[Phil's Mom]

Welcome. You're welcome.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is Phil's mom. Phil's mom has Illinois winning. It's a three. It's not. It's not an outrageous pick.

[Email Reader / Listener]

So Penn just misses out.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Penn just misses out. But they lose. They lose to the eventual winner. Which is. Which is sort of a prideful situation if you say you lose to the eventual winner. If this indeed happens, I have a suspicion maybe she's tuning in to want to bet.

[Email Reader / Listener]

Well, that's how you get the High Point.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You know, this is a very reasonable bracket. Yes. No Cretan? No. Marquette. No. At least she didn't know where Queens was. That was good. Didn't know where High Point was.

[Email Reader / Listener]

Louisiana.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And that's what I thought. And byu. Someplace out west. Yeah. Well, it is. It is. Well, that's accurate.

[Email Reader / Listener]

How about U of Khan? The Yukon.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. U of Khan is sort of interesting because it. It implies that everybody who goes there has a side deal going on.

[Spike Braun]

All right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's Phil's mom. That's great.

[Email Reader / Listener]

Yukon, Ho.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We're going to. Next we'll have Spike Braun. That's right. He has won this before. He has won it a few times. Spike Braun is good at this.

[Spike Braun]

Who now?

[Tony Kornheiser]

He sounds like he's James Earl Jones now. Yeah. You know, we used to have him when he hadn't. His voice hadn't changed.

[Email Reader / Listener]

Oklahoma.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Spike drawn when we return. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Hey, y', all, it's Kelly Clarkson with Wayfair. Ever order furniture online and wonder what if? Like, what if it doesn't fit?

[Phil's Mom]

A little to the left.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, wait.

[Collars and Company Advertiser]

Yep.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Should have gone with Wayfair. Or what if it doesn't hold up? That sofa was four days old. Should have ordered from Wayfair. Or what if it's that material that makes that noise?

[Phil's Mom]

It was a sofa.

[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Progressive Insurance Advertiser]

You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

These are our friends at Mission Road. This is a song called Ride on the wind from Paulie Coconuts who plays bass with Mission Road. And we want to tell you that tonight, Wednesday, March 18th, if you're in the Nashville area, you can go see Mission Road. They're part of a multi band showcase at the Troubadour Nashville, which is near the Grand Ole Opry. And tomorrow night they will play a full set at the Troubadour Troubadour for the music star fan awards show. Christina Alexander, who does vocals for the band, is nominated for female vocalist of the year. So go see. If you're in Nashville, go see Mission Road and scream out lacheeserie. Oh, absolutely. Don't scream at yeehaw like everybody else. Again, this song is called Ride on the Wind and it plays in Spike Carter. I'm sorry, Spike Braun, who has won this thing more than once. Like, he's actually good at this. Yes. So you have a reputation to uphold and there is a certain amount of pressure on you. How are you with pressure?

[Spike Braun]

Pressure? I eat pressure for breakfast, Tony.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's good. It's good to know. Are you still in college or are we looking at you're out already and now in grad school.

[Spike Braun]

I'm definitely not out of college. In fact, I haven't told my dad this yet, but I might need a few more years.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's good. That's good, that's good.

[Email Reader / Listener]

Shows a confessional.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. So we want you to do that. We want you to soak Gary and Kim for all the money that they have because you get it now or get it later, you know, might as well get it now.

[Spike Braun]

Yeah, for sure.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, you ready to go? We're gonna start start on the top right in the Arizona bracket. Give me any upsets in the first round.

[Spike Braun]

All right. Upsets in the first round. I've got one and it's Texas who's going to take down BYU and AJ Debanza.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So you were lucky. You felt fortunate last night then that they won late.

[Spike Braun]

I did. I actually had them winning that game. I'm, you know, going to Georgia and all. I root for those SEC teams.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So do you consider Texas. I know they're in, but do you consider Texas an SEC team?

[Spike Braun]

I mean, I don't mind them being in the SEC because Georgia owns them, so it's a free win on our football calendar every year. And, you know, I'm part of that new generation, so I can. I can start to adapt to Texas as an SEC team and not a Big 12 team.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, let's go to the Michigan in the first round. Anything at all as an upset in the first round.

[Spike Braun]

Yeah, I've got the Akron Zips being Texas Tech.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right.

[Spike Braun]

I feel like that's a pretty popular one right there. And then Santa Clara knocking off Kentucky.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And of course, you have Georgia moving on, right?

[Spike Braun]

I do, actually. An interesting one. They'll be playing Michigan, so in the second round. Yeah, it's where Ike goes and Sidney graduated from, so it's a big one in the Braun household.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, we'll go to the other side. We'll take the first round starting in the Duke bracket. Upsets.

[Spike Braun]

All I have in this one is South Florida beating Louisville.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's a very popular one among people who go in this bracket. Very popular. This is a tough bracket. It really is. I mean, it's hard to take out Michigan State and Kansas and St. John's and UCLA. It's hard to take them out. Really is. All right, let's go down to the Florida bracket first. First round. What do you got?

[Spike Braun]

I've got VCU over North Carolina, another 11 to 6. I just think North Carolina, they lost their best player, Caleb Wilson. They've been reeling ever since, kind of on the ropes, and I think it's just going to put them out of their misery early, and they're going to have to have some serious talks about their organization because it's not where the standard is, in my opinion.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You have Penn losing. Even though Michael went to Penn. You have Penn losing.

[Email Reader / Listener]

Say it out loud.

[Spike Braun]

You know, I'm sorry, Michael. You know, you guys put up a great fight in that Ivy League Championship. I was watching that from around the world, actually, and they, you know, it could be close, but I'm sorry, Michael.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Two magical overtime wins in a row in the.

[Email Reader / Listener]

Against Harvard and Yale, which is what

[Tony Kornheiser]

you want to do. If you can't beat them academically, you can beat them athletically right there. All right, we'll go back to Arizona. We'll take it all the way out to the Final Four. Let's go on that bracket. Arizona, Villanova.

[Spike Braun]

All right. Arizona. Utah State, actually. Sorry, I didn't tell you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, you didn't tell me that. Okay.

[Spike Braun]

Yeah, that's. Rookie mistake. Even though you're not a rookie. Yeah, yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Fifteen years. Go ahead.

[Spike Braun]

Arizona beating Utah State. And then I've got Arkansas over Wisconsin.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Uh huh.

[Spike Braun]

Gonzaga over Texas. And then I've got Purdue beating Miami.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, Arizona, Arkansas. That's good game. Gets Calipari. He's got the best freshman in the country.

[Spike Braun]

He does. And that's why I've got them beating Arizona.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Actually you have Arkansas. That's the first big upset. The first big upset. Arkansas. Okay, Gonzaga, Purdue.

[Spike Braun]

I've got Gonzaga beating Purdue as well. Setting up a little Arkansas, Gonzaga, Elite 8 matchup.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And who do you have in the Final four?

[Spike Braun]

We've got Darius Acuff taking this team to the Final Four. I just. The way, the way that. And it's not just him really, Tony, it's their whole team around him. They've got another great five star guard in Malik Thomas. They've got some bigger guys, some wings who can really score the ball. I like this team. And they've got Caliperi who you know, has struggled in March at times, but I think he can kind of break through this year.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This, you know, we asked Jay Billis yesterday on PTI if there was one player that everybody should stop what they're doing and go watch. And he said Acuff, he said him. He's the one. So sure.

[Spike Braun]

He's extraordinary.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, let's go to the bottom bracket. The Michigan. We got Michigan, Georgia. What are you doing there?

[Pat40]

Yeah.

[Spike Braun]

So sometimes in life you have to balance what you want with what's actually going to happen.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Spike Braun]

And what's actually going to happen is that Georgia is going to lose this game by like 40 to 50 points and I'm not going to hear the end of it from my brother and sister who aren't even really watching the games most of the time. I'm going to every Georgia game. I'm rooting my ass off. Sorry for cussing Tony. And I just. And just to watch my team in their best year in a decade at least, just lose to Michigan is going to hurt me. Like, like nothing's really hurt me before. No heartbreak.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So Michigan. Okay. And who will Michigan play?

[Spike Braun]

They're going to play Alabama.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. And at the bottom, Tennessee.

[Spike Braun]

UVA got UVA and then I've got Iowa State. So 1, 2, 3, 4, chalk in the bracket.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, Michigan.

[Spike Braun]

Alabama got Michigan over Alabama. Alabama just lost a player. I'm not going to get into that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But yeah, it's a felony drug charge. Terrible.

[Pat40]

Yes.

[Spike Braun]

Yeah, yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is not the only Alabama player that this coach has lost in recent years. There was another one on a weapons charge. A couple of years ago, who's now.

[Spike Braun]

Yeah, that was Brandon Miller way back when. And the first. The first game back, he actually. He did like a pat me down introduction to the game. I don't. I don't know what's going on with that program. I'm not a fan of Alabama, so it'll be happy to see them go.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, uva, Iowa State.

[Spike Braun]

I've got Iowa State winning that one.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And Michigan. Iowa State. That's a one, two.

[Spike Braun]

And then Michigan will go to the Final Four. And at this point, I'm. I'm going to be rooting on Michigan. You know, I won't take the loss to heart from Georgia.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That seems fair. Seems fair. That's fine. All right, here we go. Duke, Ohio State. I've got Duke, St. John's Kansas.

[Spike Braun]

Give me Patino in this one. St. John's they have.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Between them, they have four national championships, and that's pretty good. South Florida, Michigan State.

[Spike Braun]

I'm going with Izzo here, too. I mean, the amount of star coaches in this side of the bracket is ridiculous.

[Tony Kornheiser]

UCLA, UConn. You got one more star coach. If you go with him, I'm going

[Spike Braun]

with your favorite coach, Mick Cronin.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, UCLA and that. And Danny Hurley. There's not. Look, I like Danny Hurley, but I am of a vanishing breed. You know, a lot of people are sick of Danny Hurley. All right, Duke. St. John's big game. Big game.

[Spike Braun]

It is a big game. St. John's can defend, but they just, I don't think, can score with the likes of Duke. And Duke's got the best player on the court there in Boozer, so. Got Duke going to the Elite Eight against. Against ucla, which is a team who's, you know, they're hot at the right time. I love a team who can win a couple of games, get some momentum going into March, and then make a little bit of a run. But it's going to. It's going to stop there because I've got. I've got Duke in the Final Four,

[Tony Kornheiser]

The UCLA women's team. If you want to talk about a team that's hot, they've won 25 games in a row, so.

[Spike Braun]

Oh, yeah, I know. I'm actually. I'm driving up to Chapel Hill later today. I'm covering the first couple of rounds of Women's March Madness for USA Today in that region. I'm trying to follow in your footsteps.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Wait, you buried the lead here. What? So you're working for USA Today. You're stringing.

[Spike Braun]

So, yeah, the University of Georgia has this great sports media program led by Vicki Michaelis and Carlo Findlay. Not sure if you're very familiar with the names, but great professors, great, great opportunities. And yeah, they have a partnership with USA Today where they can bring a couple students to some of these games. And you know, I'm getting five to six articles out there, so that's great for this weekend.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's great. Maybe Brennan will be there. Say hello to Chris Brennan. If she said that's wonderful, we're happy. All right, Florida. Clemson.

[Spike Braun]

I've got Florida, Iowa and Florida winning that one.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is the second time in your bracket you haven't told me.

[Spike Braun]

Tony. I'm in bed right now. That's on me. Ill prepared.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. Florida. Okay. Vandy. Nebraska.

[Spike Braun]

I've got Vanderbilt.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. VCU, Illinois.

[Spike Braun]

I'm going with the Illini.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. And St. Mary's Houston.

[Spike Braun]

So I've got Houston winning this one. I really like this Houston team this year. Fresh off the national championship appearance last year. They're going to at least make it to the Sweet 16.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Florida, Vanderbilt

[Spike Braun]

in a rematch. Florida just lost to Vanderbilt. I've got Florida. They're not going to lose twice in a row to that team.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is. You can't lose in this one because some SEC team is going forward on that one. How about Illinois? Houston.

[Spike Braun]

I've got Houston.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And who you got in Florida? Houston.

[Spike Braun]

I'm a big storyline guy, so I like Houston. In the finals rematch or national championship rematch. I've got them beating Florida and getting their get back a little bit.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You know that, that game we talked to. You know that, that game. It's such an odd circumstance. If that game takes place, it will take place in Houston. That seems so unfair.

[Spike Braun]

Really. Wow.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Seems so unfair. Okay, Duke, Houston to go to the final game.

[Spike Braun]

This was another Final Four rematch from last year.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Houston won.

[Spike Braun]

I think Duke is very good. They're a little banged up right now, but I. I think they're just too good and Cam Boozers too good of a player. And they'll. They'll go to the national championship game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Will they go against Arkansas or Michigan?

[Spike Braun]

They'll go against Sydney and Ikes. Michigan.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And in the final game, Duke or Michigan?

[Spike Braun]

See, Duke and I have a great relationship. Better than Steve Sands decade or so. They won me the first time they beat a Big Ten team in the national championship. But this time it's different. Dusty May has changed the culture over there at Michigan. They're back to being on top and I think they'll go into that game with a little bad taste in their mouth. Losing to Duke earlier this year in Washington.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Spike Braun]

Michigan are your national champions.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, people have to listen to you because you have won this thing multiple times. You are in effect the Rick Patino of the squad here. You've won it multiple times and you're now credentialed. Yes. And you can go, you can flash that USA Today partnership badge and you can go to the final game, which is in Indianapolis, I believe. That's right. It's in Indy.

[Pat40]

I would like to see how far

[Spike Braun]

that would get me, but maybe you could put a word in or two. Tony.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, we're proud of you and thanks for being on as always and best to everybody in the family. Thank you.

[Spike Braun]

Thank you very much.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Spike Braun. Not a kid. Not a kid. Not a kid, Not a kid. Wonderful. We will come back with Pat 40. We're not going to do brackets without Pat 40. Of course we have Pat 40. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Protein is now at Starbucks and it's never tasted so good. You can add protein cold foam to your favorite drink or try one of our new protein lattes or matcha. Try it today at Starbucks. You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser show. Once again, this is Mission Road. This is a song called Shady White Lies. This is sent to us by Paulie Coconuts who plays bass. Love Paulie. Yes. With Mission Road. And once again we are reminding you that tonight in Nashville at the Troubadour Nashville near the Grand Ole Opry. This band Mission Road is going to be part of a multi band showcase. And tomorrow night they're playing a full set at the Troubadour to the music star fan awards show. And Christina Alexander is nominated from the band for female vocalist of the year. Both shows start at 7, get there early and they want to hear leches. Oh yeah, you know, among the yeehaws. So okay. This is Shady White Lies by Mission Road. It plays in PAT 40 and PAT as the father of swimmers. Oh, I gotta read this. This segment with Pat40 is brought to you by FanDuel. Make every moment more so Katie Ledecky's birthday was yesterday. She is 29. You know, swimming better than anybody who we have on this show. When I was younger, no swimmer ever went past 23 or 24. No, none. She's 29 and wants go in the Olympics in two years when she will be 31. What do you make of Katie Ledecky?

[Pat40]

She's a marvel, an outlier, a an ageless wonder and completely defies the precedent of the sport. It has gotten older, the sport in general, because you can make more money. You know, you didn't have to give it up to get a real job. That is a real job. Katie's making millions, as she should, but still, especially the events she does, Tony, she's not out there just, you know, cranking a 50 freestyle. She goes a mile and to keep doing that at her age is far beyond anything I've ever seen.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, there was a sprinter blanking on her name that she meddled even in her 40s. But it's 50 yard, it's 50 meters. It's a different sort of thing then that just happened recently.

[Pat40]

What do you think?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Derek Torres? Yes, right there. Torres. Yes. But that's an entirely different thing. Katie Ledecky is swimming the longest thing that there is, the 1500 and winning by laps and laps. Now, she and your daughter Brooke were pals. Are they still pals?

[Pat40]

Yes, they're still pals. Yeah. You know, my daughter was in the Peace Corps in Peru for a couple of years, so she didn't have a whole lot of, you know, chatting time with everybody else. But I know she, she had a long catch up conversation with Katie not long ago and yeah, I think they'll be friends for life.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think that's wonderful. All right, let's get to the purpose. The purpose is to do the brackets. We're going to start in the top right, the Arizona bracket. Any upsets at all, Pat, in the first round?

[Spike Braun]

Yeah.

[Pat40]

Let's see here. Arizona. You would not believe my bracket set up here, Tony. This year it is all scrawled on pages of a notepad. It's total chaos here, but by golly, we're going to make it work. And there's nothing I love more than the bracket show. So I'm honored to be on with you. Yes. Two upsets in the first round. Mild upsets, I would say. Utah State over Villanova. I think they're actually favored. And Missouri over Miami, thanks to a incredibly kindly draw that not only didn't put them in Dayton in the first four, but gave him a game in St. Louis. I'm sure the Miami Hurricanes are thrilled about that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Do you know that down the road, I'm sure you know this, if Florida plays Houston to get to the Final Four, that game's in Houston.

[Pat40]

Oh, yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hello. Thanks for being the defending national champions. Thanks a lot.

[Pat40]

And the number one seed. Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. I mean, everybody seems to like Miami. I, I don't, I don't think the ACC is any good. That's just me. I don't.

[Pat40]

I don't really like either team, Miami or Missouri, but I think I'm going to give Missouri the home court advantage here.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, let's go to the Michigan bracket. And any upsets at all.

[Pat40]

Michigan. Let's see here. We're flipping, flipping pages. All right, here we go. Several, several in the first round there. Yes. I've got St. Louis over Georgia. Again, that would be a mild one, right? And then I got a couple whoppers. Here's the bracket breaker. Hofstra over Alabama and their marijuana possessing guard is not playing.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Not playing.

[Pat40]

And Akron over Texas Tech, which is playing without its best player who's been injured for a couple of weeks. And then Santa Clara over Kentucky as well.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Santa Clara over Kentucky. Wow.

[Pat40]

Tomorrow, Kentucky team.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Not tomorrow. Tonight, actually is the anniversary of Steve Nash at Santa Clara as a freshman, hitting six foul shots in the last minute or so to knock out. They were a 15 to knock out a two. The second time that that ever happened. It was Arizona, by the way.

[Pat40]

Arizona. Yes. That was a little.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, we'll move over to Duke's side of the bracket. And I will just say editorially, as I do all the time, if you're gonna, if you're gonna give somebody the overall number one seed even with two guys out, and then put them in a bracket that is by far the hardest bracket, you are not helping them. You are not helping them. But go ahead. Any, any at all in the first round.

[Pat40]

Just one. South Florida over Louisville. You may note I live in Louisville, Kentucky, and I am picking Louisville and

[Tony Kornheiser]

Kentucky and Kentucky to move or at

[Pat40]

least go under an assumed name. But I don't think either team is that great, and I think they have dangerous opponents.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is. You would agree this region is totally loaded, right?

[Pat40]

I think it's very good. Obviously, the, the, the level of coaches is extremely good. Like you obviously are You've got Duke and John Shire, who's not won a championship. He's trying to beat Bill Self, who's 1 2. 1 2. Danny Hurley, who's 1 2. Tom Izzo, who's 1 1.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Pat40]

McKronnan's been to a Final Four. Just, it's. It is a really, really coach heavy bracket now. We'll see about the teams doing the playing. I'm not sure. I honestly think Arizona might have it a little bit tougher, but we'll get to that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. All right, here we go in the Florida bracket. Go ahead. Anything in the first round?

[Pat40]

Yes. Here we go. Florida. Yeah, I've got a couple of them there. Iowa over Clemson in the 8, 9 game. Clemson had a major injury in the ACC tournament. And then I'm taking Troy over Nebraska to continue. Nebraska's never winning. Lifetime futility.

[Spike Braun]

Yes.

[Pat40]

That team has just kind of hit a wall. I think they're playing nowhere near as well. Troy, Second year in a row in the tournament. You lose the stage fright from last year and you're ready to go this year. They're not a great team, but I think they may be able to take them down.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Any others or the bottom. The bottom is chalk.

[Pat40]

Bottom is chalk.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I. We will stay on that side. We will stay in the Duke thing to get to the sweet 16. Go ahead.

[Pat40]

Okay. I've got St. John's over Kansas, five over four, and I'll be in San Diego for those games there. So I'm very excited about that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Right.

[Pat40]

And then I'm taking UCLA over UConn seven over two. Bruins playing well. Huskies not playing that well.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You've got Duke over Ohio State, though.

[Pat40]

I do. Okay.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, let's stay on that side. Florida. Iowa.

[Pat40]

Okay, Florida. Iowa. I have straight chalk. Two, three. No, no. I have Vanderbilt as the number five getting. Because they're going to play Troy. So I've got Florida, Vanderbilt, Illinois and Houston advancing.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's fine. Now we're going to go to the other side to get to the Sweet 16 in the Arizona bracket. What do you got?

[Pat40]

All right. In the Arizona bracket, I have got Arizona over Utah State. I have Wisconsin over Arkansas, and what I think might be the best round of 32 game. I think both teams are extremely good. And that's the danger for Arizona, right. In that next round.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Pat40]

And then I'm taking BYU over Gonzaga. I'd been down on BYU until I saw him in person in Kansas City. And they've got their swagger back and they're playing a little Better defense.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What? And you got Purdue over Missouri?

[Pat40]

I have Purdue over Missouri.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, let's go with the Michigan bracket. What do you got there? Somebody's coming out from Akron. Hofstra. Somebody's coming out.

[Pat40]

Yes. Yeah. I'm going to take Akron.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Pat40]

Michigan to the Sweet 16. Akron to the Sweet 16. Virginia over Tennessee and Iowa State over Santa Clara.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. We will stay on this side to get to the eights. We just had Jay Billis on PTI and he liked Wisconsin a lot. He, you know, he was saying the vulnerability for Arizona and he's picking Arizona to win, but he thought the vulnerability for Arizona might very well be Wisconsin. What do you see there?

[Pat40]

That's. I agree completely. I'm picking Arizona to win, but I also am terrified of the game against Wisconsin. Wisconsin's very good. They've finally embraced offense the last couple of years. And their guards are great.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He loved the guards. He loved the guards. Yeah.

[Spike Braun]

Love.

[Pat40]

I'm taking Arizona, but that's a tough one.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, byu, Purdue.

[Pat40]

I have Purdue.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. And at the bottom, Michigan. Akron. You're going to have Michigan, I'm sure.

[Pat40]

Yes, I have. So, yeah, that's Michigan over Akron and I have Iowa State over Virginia.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. We move to the other side. Duke. St. John's that's interesting.

[Pat40]

It is. Oh, my gosh. Fantastic game. Rick Patino has some history with Duke. Yeah, I'm going to take Duke there. You know, I think St. John's has had a very good run, but. But I sure like what Duke's put on the floor.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And Michigan State, ucla.

[Pat40]

Yeah, I'm going to take Michigan State there.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. Florida, Vanderbilt. That's a. That's a conference game.

[Pat40]

Yeah. And a rematch of a beat down by Vandy in Nashville in the SEC tournament. But I'm taking Florida this time. I just, I think that that was a one off. So I'm taking Florida there and I'm taking Houston over Illinois.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Houston is quietly on everybody's. On everybody's bracket. Houston advances and advances and advances because they've been. They were in the final game last year and you know, everybody. It's easy to pick them. Okay. To get to the Final Four. Duke, Michigan State taking Duke.

[Pat40]

They're hard not to.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You think these players are going to come back? Either one. Gungo.

[Pat40]

I think the Gongba is coming back. Yeah. I don't think Foster makes it back. You know, and I liked what I saw out of the other boozer. Yeah. Playing more in the ACC tournament. So I think they might be okay without Foster.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Florida, Houston. In Houston.

[Pat40]

Yeah. That's unbelievable. And I mean, what a game. A rematch of a wild, desperate championship game last year. Give me Houston. I think revenge is overrated, but the way they lost that and then to have it at home and the way Florida shot in the SEC tournament, I think they're gettable and I think Houston gets them.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Arizona, Purdue.

[Pat40]

I'm taking Arizona. Maybe big there. We'll see what Purdue brings to the table.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And Michigan, Iowa State.

[Pat40]

Michigan. But that's going to be a slobber knocker, that. Holy cow. I mean, like, there's just going to be bodies all over the floor all game in that. It's going to look like a Civil War reenactment where people are just falling down all over the place. That's what that game's going to be like.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, you got three ones and a two. Three ones and a two. And the two last year went to the final game. Duke, Houston.

[Pat40]

Pretty chalky. I know, but I am taking Duke there and Arizona.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Michigan.

[Pat40]

Yep. And I'm taking Arizona there. And both games I don't have a huge conviction, but that's where I'm riding. And so we got Arizona, Duke, final. And I like the Wildcats to win their first championship since 1997.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Not only have they not won championships since 1997, they go out early a lot. They go out early. It's surprising because we think of them as a real big deal program. They've twice gone out as 15s.

[Pat40]

Yeah. No, they've had some bad punk outs. They really have. And whether it's under Tommy Lloyd or Sean Miller, even, even Lou Dolson had plenty of them.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Pat40]

You know, but I, I, I watched them there in Kansas City and I just, I thought I saw all the pieces. They'll, yes, they have to avoid the, they have to avoid the hands around the throat. But, but I think they can do it. I just think they have NBA talent, huge size veterans, good guards, and I think Tommy Lloyd's ready to, to move on and grab the ring. And it will be wild if he gets it before. His mentor, Mark Few.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So he bothered me about a week ago when he said people say we're soft because we're a West coast team. Nobody said that. Everybody looks at that team and says it's not soft at all. You know, Arizona and Michigan are big, strong teams. Right.

[Pat40]

They're making up stuff.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's what I thought.

[Pat40]

That's what classic coaches where, you know, like maybe, you know, Joe Smith 4760 on Twitter said, oh, Arizona so. Oh my gosh. Bulletin board material. You got to get angry.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Nonsense.

[Pat40]

They're not.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Plug your podcast for us.

[Pat40]

Yes, sir. Others receiving votes. Sports Illustrated. We did a long one selection Sunday night. Check it out. And we will be doing another one next week. So give it a listen.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, we'll talk during the tournament. Thank you, Pat.

[Pat40]

All right, thanks, Tony.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This segment with Pat40 has been brought to you by FanDuel. Make every moment more and we will come back with email and jingle. I'm Tony Kornheiser. Zootopia 2 has come home to Disney.

[Pat40]

Let's go get ready for a new case.

[Phil's Mom]

We're good partners of all time.

[Tony Kornheiser]

New friends, Gary the snake and your last name, the snake Dream team. New habitats.

[Phil's Mom]

Zootopia has a secret reptile population.

[Pat40]

You can watch the record breaking phenomenon at home. Zootopia 2 now available on Disney Plus. Rated PG. And right now you can get Disney plus and Hulu for just $4.99 a month for three months with a special limited time offer. Ends March 24th. After three months, plan auto renews and $12.99 a month, terms apply.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is the Tony Korneise. Here comes Tony mailbag.

[Pat40]

Got your emails, your faxes, your and your notes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Here comes Mr. Tony's mail back. Gonna reach out for all of you folks.

[Paulie Coconuts (Musician)]

Have mercy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Don't I wish I could do that. Don't I wish I could do that. Just the best, Bruce Griffin. Thank you. When did the Bethesda bagel ad, please? Yes, Bethesda Bagels, we love them. You will as well. Just go to BethesdaBaggles.com for the location in the DC area nearest you. Then pop on in and you'll be thrilled. Before we get to the mailbag, let me just say do you want to dance and hold my hand Tell me I'm your lover man oh, baby, do you want to dance? Or do you want to dance and make romance sweep me all through the night Baby, do you want to dance? Now that started out as a fast song by a guy named Bobby Freeman. It was a big hit for Bobby Freeman and then a couple of people covered it. I believe the Beach Boys were one of the groups that covered it very well. But ultimately it was Mama Cass who covered it. And that song, she owned it. She turned it into a very slow song, a mournful song, a fabulous song. Cass Elliott, thanks to our guest today, Phil's mom, Spike Braun. Pat40, thanks as well to today's sponsors. Remember, you can listen to us on Apple podcast Spotify and Odyssey. If you get show through Apple, please leave us a review.

[Email Reader / Listener]

Friendly reminder, if you want to play the Tournament Challenge with us, it is through ESPN. Search Tony Kornizer Show 2026. We'll let you put it in two brackets and it is password protected, but it's right there for you. TK I. Listen. Not sure if it's uppercase or lowercase sensitive, but it's right there.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I wanted to say this. This is a special week when we do brackets. That's all we do. We don't. I don't talk about golf that I've played. I don't talk about trips that I've been on. I don't talk about the incredible misfortune of Eddie Bauer going out of business in Delaware. And another one. It's a whole story that I can tell. I don't do it this week. I may get to it next week. But I do want to acknowledge a couple of things. One is an unbelievably kind invitation for me to go see Ragtime on Broadway from David Roger, who's. Who's wife is in it. Cassie Levy is in it. And. And it's just. This is kind beyond kind.

[Email Reader / Listener]

Make them hear you.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Kind beyond kind. It's. It's just really nice. And ragtime was by E.L. doctorow, one of the great books I've ever read and a great movie. And it's a great show. I mean, it's. It's just really, really great. Really great.

[Email Reader / Listener]

Wheels of a Dream. Come on.

[Spike Braun]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I mean, it's really wonderful. And Peter Melman worked with EL Doctorow's son Richard, that they called him Dick. Doc. Yeah, of course. Yeah. EL Doctorow. But the father, E. The E is, I think, for Edgar. I think it's for Edgar. I'm not. I'm not. But it's one of the greatest books that I have ever read. That was so kind, as is a case of wine that was sent to me by Dave Spector in Bells up, pretty much saying just thank you for all of the littles who come to visit him in their winery in Oregon. We've done this. We have bought.

[Email Reader / Listener]

Any update on the weather? Any update on the weather out there?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't. Is the weather bad? I just know over.

[Email Reader / Listener]

Over the years they've had difficult growing seasons.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. So I don't know about that. I do know that over the years I have bought wine, spent my own money to buy wine at a variety of wineries where people who listen to this show have communicated to us one way or another. Yes, we did this with Duska Jensen in Willamette Valley. We did this. Cindy Winslow had California wines. They folded up. You know, just recently when I got up, I bought a case of their last wine that was out there. I've done this with Dave Spector and Bells up and did this with cake bread sellers. Right. With Katie. Spent our own money. And it's. It's always better not to have to spend your own money and someone else gives you things, but it's really incredibly kind. The next time we have time, I will read the note from Dave Spector and from Jenny's Ice Cream. In honor of bracket week, Jenny's would humbly like to submit our request to sponsor the official ice cream bracket for the Tony Kornheiser show. Inspired by Jeff Ditter's email last week regarding his request to bring back Atlantic beach pie, we decided to attach a bracket of our top 64 fan favorite flavors to this email. They got 64 flavors?

[Pat40]

Yeah. Wow.

[Tony Kornheiser]

As for Mr. Ditter. Oh, she says you may be spoiled by the ultimate winner of opaque ice cream. And we hope to bring this flavor back into the rotation in the near future. So I guess it's. It's current and past. As for Mr. Dinner, we recommend he try our new key lime pie that rolls out in a couple of weeks. And we've sent you, and I hope this means me, a whole box of that representing our complete spring release, along with your favorite darkest chocolate from Sean Bach from Jenny's. We still have the Jenny's on PTI because Bonnie's no fool. Bonnie just calls up and says, send us, send us, send us. And then she put the hat out, you know, on the table, which is really nice.

[Email Reader / Listener]

Bonnie gets it done.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Bonnie gets it done.

[Email Reader / Listener]

Keeping that starter alive.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's do. Yes. She's. She's making breads with that.

[Email Reader / Listener]

Oh, I'm fielding phone calls from Marie, so yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Email Reader / Listener]

Need to get her a scale from

[Tony Kornheiser]

Carl in Oswego, New York. This about Jason Small. We couldn't finish this yesterday because I printed it badly, but friend of the show, Jason Smorell, the GM of the Syracuse Mets, has been in the local news a lot this month. First thing was the debate of the Mets name change, which has now been postponed because of trademark issues. Second, Jason was named Gale G A E L of the Year, like the Iona Gales because of the St. Baldrick's charity event to raise money at several Mets games. Gale of the Year means that as I type this email, I am watching him on my TV walk in the annual Syracuse St. Patrick's Day Parade. But perhaps and he did send something, Carl did send a picture. But perhaps most importantly to your listeners, the Mets promotional days have been announced for the season. On taco Tuesday, September 1st, it will be Lecheserie Night Part 5. I'm sure Jason will write in during the season to provide more details, but save the date September 1st Tuesday. There is a haiku from Shad. You can ask Al. You can listen to experts. I roll with Phil's mom, so you're happy that she was on, especially this year. Chris Cohn from Fairfax Station, Virginia, you commended Vanderbilt today because its men had success this school year in football and basketball. How about Duke? Yes, its men won conference championships this year in both basketball back to back plus regular season and tournament and football. But in addition, and not to denigrate the superb Vanderbilt women's basketball team, which is led by the sister of a former Blue Devil, the Duke women won the ACC basketball championship also regular season and tournament and back to back. But wait, there's more. The Duke men's fencing team won this year's ACC championship too. And on a related note, and especially for Michael, a former Dukie is the one who dropped first 44 on Yale, including two threes in the final seconds to force overtime to put Penny. Is that right?

[Email Reader / Listener]

DJ Power?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I didn't know that. Good early career training. This is so great. This is the answer to Steve Sands. This is line by line. I mentioned Vanderbilt because they have not had success in sports anywhere near the level Duke has had success in sports. It's been a tremendous year anywhere near that level. From Shan Shan Nichols I write this email to you from my booth at the Ponte Vedra Waffle House where we've been enjoying our hash browns, scattered, smothered and covered. We've already had a fight break out between the cook and lost patron from the Players Championship and expect more shenanigans soon. Where else can you get dinner and a show for a reasonable price these days? That's right, the Waffle House. The real reason for my letter is that I have some candy related news for you. I was recently in the Boston area and a friend took us to a very large candy store in Kittery, Maine. K I T T E R Y It seems they have cornered the market on Sky Bars and Necco Wafers. So if you are having trouble finding them at the Refugee Safeway or Calvert Woodley, then make a trip up to Maine and you'll find plenty of them there and enclosed boxes and boxes. Boxes of these Cherry Maine. I've never been to Maine. Never been to Maine? No, no. It's one of a few states I've never been to. Wilbourne. It's the only state Wilbon has not

[Email Reader / Listener]

seen the yellow bean boot.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No. And Wilbon is going to Maine this weekend. He is? Yes, Wilbon is going to Maine. So yeah. From Brandon Borzelli in Lebanon, New Jersey is the new game to describe something about an obscure NCAA men's basketball team that made the tournament and tell a story. Queens University of Charlotte is in fact in Charlotte, North Carolina, and not a stone's throw to the home of Met. When I saw the bracket reveal, I knew immediately that I'd heard of the school. Back in the early 80s. My mom taught at the school as a lawyer in New Jersey, but not in North Carolina. She needed a job to fill some of the time when we lived in North Carolina for two years, so she took an adjunct professor job at the school. As a youth, I would accompany her to the school and sit in on her lectures while I sat there and doodled, knowing for certain I never wanted to be a lawyer. When I heard the team made the tournament, I wasn't even sure the school still existed, let alone had a D1 team. I excitedly texted my mom, mom, Queens College made the tournament. Can you believe it? Now in her 80s, my mom's response was probably not that unexpected. She simply replied, what are you doing for St. Patrick's Day? So that's good. Grayson Leahy in Coldstream, British Columbia in Canada. I work in a pub kitchen with a Jamaican sous chef who has a penchant for dessert creation. Last week he created a masterpiece in my eyes and taste buds. Candied bacon and walnut ice cream served on top of a monster of chocolate chip raisin and oatmeal cookie. I know you're not a fan of all the schmutz in your frozen desserts, but my word is it was delicious. While the sink was within reach, as it always is in a working kitchen, I opted to devour this dessert du jour over the trash can. This, served a triple purpose crumbs had a short route to their inevitable final resting place. I was in a hurry and of course I was not that sure that the combination of bacon and dessert in such a fashion was not going to make the receptacle an immediate necessity. I was delighted and it was delicious. As this note doubles as my application for the title of the official local Okanagan pub line Cook of the show from Luke Pukach in Alexandria. I wanted to share a fun fact about why Michael B. Jordan has the B in his name. When joining sag, actors are required to have a unique name to avoid incorrect attribution. This has led to some famous actors adopting nicknames like Emma Stone, born Emily, or change in the last name Michael Keaton born Michael Douglas. In Jordan's case, there was already a Michael Jordan in SAG number 23 for his appearance in Space Jam. Oh, that makes sense. Yes, he's not Michael J. Jordan. No, but Michael J. Jordan is not Michael J. Jordan. He's Michael Jordan. Yes. And so it's Michael B. Jordan who is, as Wilbond points out, our co star in Creed and Creed too. That's right, we were in colleague. I still get residuals which is very good from Michael Nuttall, Cincinnati, Ohio temporarily in Austin, Texas. I wonder if he knows Tony Beeson I think I finally truly understand you. A little while ago we all listened as you expressed horror at the thought of Jeff Ma riding in a driverless car made by Waymo. While I could see your perspective being of a younger generation, I still thought, nah, just an old man who no longer belongs to this world. That all changed yesterday when I was in Austin, Texas for the first time for a conference. I was standing in a street corner ready to cross when a Waymo approached the stop sign. I panicked. I stood there for longer than I'm proud to admit, staring at this car, looking intently inside to see if anyone was even in the car, driver or passenger. No one was there, so I continued to stand there, convinced that the car would speed towards me and run me over. The moment I stepped out to cross the street after 30 seconds, it felt more like 30 minutes had passed. I finally crossed the street safely. It was then that I took a long introspective look at my life and thought, maybe Mr. Tony has a point. Anyway, I hope you take happiness in knowing that you have one more person in your anti driverless corner. Happy Brackets Week and From Andrew Bracewell in Vancouver, British Columbia. I just wanted to wish a happy St. Patrick sitter in Sioux Falls Day to all those who celebrate. I personally will be trying to recreate the Chicago experience here in Vancouver by dumping green dye into my neighbor's hot dog tub. Andrew Grace if you're out on your bike Ton everyone as always, do wear white. Can you dig old Sashmo Swinging in the beautiful house.

[Paulie Coconuts (Musician)]

Out in the country I can enjoy being alone down in the city I keep staring at my phone the sun comes up each morning on a point method it must keep and then it dugs behind a cloud and lets me get some sleep but you can't ride on the wind if you cannot pay the fair it takes a whole lot of money just to get up into the air Seems like the only way to be happy is to be be unaware and living in peace is another way of saying that you don't care. Well these days the city all seem so surreal well I guess they have their moments it just depends on how you feel. But here in West Virginia I found people that I love and the rest of what my heart needs is coming

[Pat40]

from above

[Paulie Coconuts (Musician)]

and you can't run on the wind if you cannot pay the bill it takes a whole lot of money just to get up into the end Seems like the only way to be happy is to be unaware and that living in peace is another way of saying that you take don't care no you don't cuz I can oh yes I can. I gave you my heart thought you keep the truth story's got a home shining through you said they were harmless just words to give back

[Phil's Mom]

but baby

[Paulie Coconuts (Musician)]

they're stacking like clouds in the sky Shady white light sweet as honeymoon what they call I'm a night Shady white light I truth in the dead of life you can call them small but they bleed me dry. Shady white light. You painted it here Picture that I wanted to see but the colors kept fading till it all looks like grief Now I'm staring at the wreckage of what we call love guess a little deception's never mental enough. Shady white light Sweet Hollywood of color night Shady white light truth in the dead of night you can call a small but they bleed me dry Shady white light. And maybe you meant well maybe you didn't care in a way I'm the one left standing here the truce of fire and maybe with rose underneath the weight of the things you chose. Shady white light sweet honey bo make her like a night

[Tony Kornheiser]

she.

[Paulie Coconuts (Musician)]

My. Sa.