Transcript

Tony Kornheiser (0:00)

Hey, it's Tony. On today's show, I'll tell some stories from my trip to Florida. Plus we'll chat with Michael Wilbon about football hall of Fame and the Olympics. And Sally Jenkins calls in to talk about what's going on with the Washington Post sports section. But first, commerce. Avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start.

Thumbtack Advertiser (0:16)

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Tony Kornheiser (0:18)

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Thumbtack Advertiser (0:22)

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Tony Kornheiser (0:24)

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Thumbtack Advertiser (0:33)

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Sally Jenkins (0:37)

Previously on the Tony Kornheiser Show.

Michael Wilbon (0:41)

I mean, you know, maybe early next week, to be honest. Like, you know, February, Groundhog Day, you know, I mean, I don't see anything this week.

Tony Kornheiser (0:49)

I mean, you know, maybe we get close to 30, 32 later in the.

Michael Wilbon (0:52)

Week, but there's no pronounced warmup that I can see in the long range at this point. Again, I've been so focused on this storm, I haven't looked much past, you know, 10 days.

Tony Kornheiser (1:02)

So, you know, maybe it'll be a.

Michael Wilbon (1:03)

Warm up after that.

Tony Kornheiser (1:03)

I mean, it'd be unusual for it.

Michael Wilbon (1:04)

Not to eventually thaw.

Tony Kornheiser (1:06)

Well, eventually, that's, that's called may eventually.

Sally Jenkins (1:12)

The Tony Korneiser show is on now.

Tony Kornheiser (1:15)

That was Jason Salmonell for from over a week ago. That's right over a week ago. We're back, by the way. I'm back. I'm back in Washington. Back for more cash. Always back for more cash. Michael is here. Nigel is here. So the storm happened. I went to Florida. I went to Florida to play golf. And I played golf and I was staying at the house of the socialite Alan Bubis. My dear friend who could not have been a better host, a better friend, I mean, fabulous. Picked us up at the airport. This is a story we're not getting to today. But we didn't get in last week until 12:30 in the morning. That's another. That's not today's. We have a lot of travel stories, a lot of travel stories. But, but to concentrate on this, you heard the clip from Jason Samna that would warm up eventually. I was in the car yesterday and I called Kip Sheman and he said, I don't know, I don't know all month. I don't know all month. And he said, I know I like weather. I like big weather. I like big storms. But I don't like this. No. Who does? Nobody can move. Nobody can move. I was away from it. I will tell you.

Summary

The Tony Kornheiser Show

Episode: "There and Back Again"
Date: February 2, 2026

Episode Overview

In today’s episode, Tony returns from a week-long Florida golf trip, sharing humorous travel misadventures and reflections on escaping D.C.’s paralyzing winter weather. The hosts (Tony, Michael, Nigel, and Finn) banter about frigid conditions, clever weather terms (“snowcrete”), neighborly help, and the joys and perils of travel as a reluctant flier.
Interviews feature Michael Wilbon, who discusses the NFL Hall of Fame ballot (notably, Bill Belichick's snub), infamous kicker Cody Parkey, and the Winter Olympics. Sally Jenkins joins later to tackle rumors about the Washington Post sports section’s fate, the evolving world of sportswriting, and recent tennis developments.

Key Discussion Points

1. Surviving the D.C. Winter & Tony’s Return from Florida

Weather Talk & ‘Snowcrete’
- The crew commiserate over D.C.’s recent snow and ice (“snowcrete”: snow topped with ice, making walking miserable), the difficulties shoveling, and how the city grinds to a halt.
- Tony describes escaping to Florida during the storm, where even the tropics turned cold:
  - “It was a lot colder in Florida than people planned a vacation there for a year.” (Tony, 05:14)
  - “Iguanas falling out of trees and whatnot.” (Finn, 05:21)
Neighborly Kindness
- Finn is thanked for helping Tony create a backyard path during the snow so Tony’s dog could get outside:
  - “I want to thank Finn because pineapple came over late last night to clear out a path in the backyard… I’m grateful.” (Tony, 04:15)
Travel & Tire Pressure Woes
- Tony relates frustrations with cold-weather car warnings (“I have the thing on my car that says my tire pressure… does that have to do with the cold air?”), with Nigel offering advice (06:04).
- Listeners share touching stories about neighbors helping each other shovel, underscoring the sense of community during storms (53:33).

2. Tony’s “There and Back Again” Travel Adventure

Golf in Florida
- Tony played multiple golf courses (Emerald Dunes, The Park, Seminole, Grove 23—the Michael Jordan-owned course), and teases future stories about encounters and course superintendents:
  - “We played Seminole with Chet Maxson, which I’m going to talk about later, a little bit with Wilbon, because of who I played with.” (Tony, 18:26)
  - “We played Grove 23, which is, of course, owned by Michael Jordan… He owns it.” (Tony, 18:46)
- Hosts praise the course superintendent Greg Feniger, who wants to be the show’s “official retired golf course superintendent” (19:22).
Reluctant Flyer Antics
- Tony humorously details his anxiety flying, aided by pilot friends and strategic self-distraction.
- Memorable Incident:
  - A flight attendant inadvertently spills water over Tony’s lap, making him preoccupied with drying his pants for the rest of the flight:
    - “As calm as I can be, and all of a sudden, I look down on my lap, and it’s filled with water.” (Tony, 15:30)
    - “Now the rest of the flight is fine. I’m not thinking about anything but drying my pants.” (Tony, 15:42)
    - “I say things like, these are $8,000 jeans. These are special. They’re one of a kind… they’re $40 Calvin Klein. Don’t worry about it.” (Tony, 16:09)
  - The team jokes about hiding embarrassing stains with jackets and Tony’s worry about being recognized with wet pants:
    - “The great fear is someone sees me. The front of my pants is soaking wet.” (Tony, 15:39)
- Pilot Encounter
  - Tony meets his pilots in the security line, surprised by one’s youthful appearance (“he looks 15”). The pilot quips:
    - “‘Yeah, I borrowed this hat and shirt from my dad.’ Which is a great line.” (Tony, 12:36)
  - First officer Daniel (former Air Force football) writes to Tony post-flight, showing the show’s deep reach.
- Takeaway:
  - The mishap ends up helping Tony cope with flight anxiety:
    - “Because the flight was early and this happened about 15, 20 minutes in—I was busy with it for 30 or 40 minutes—then… you’re in the glide pattern.” (Tony, 17:06)

3. Interview: Michael Wilbon (Starts ~23:53)

Golf with Cody Parkey (the ‘Double Doink’ Kicker)
- Tony played with Cody Parkey, prompting Wilbon to recall Parkey’s infamous missed kick for the Bears in 2018, a traumatic Chicago sports moment.
  - “There are two words associated for Chicago with Cody Parky. Double and doink.” (Wilbon, 24:34)
- Reflections on sports scapegoats, compassion for athletes, and how fans often remember them primarily for a single moment:
  - “If you say double and doink, somebody may punch you in the face… But it’s not Bartman. It’s not close.” (Wilbon, 25:13; 27:19)
- Wilbon describes texting former Bears kicker Robbie Gould after the game, only to find Gould was at Soldier Field, too:
  - “I get a text right back, and it says, ‘Yeah, I would believe you because I’m here. I’m walking out, too.’” (Wilbon, 29:18)
NFL Hall of Fame Balloting Comedy/Tragedy
- Both critique the NFL’s confusing, sometimes counterproductive Hall of Fame process (especially Belichick not being voted in):
  - “Isn’t part of that a function of the weirdness of the ballot?” (Tony, 31:37)
  - Wilbon explains voters sometimes pass up obvious names to save others from permanent elimination.
- Tony’s stance:
  - “The only Hall of Fame that matters to me is the Baseball Hall of Fame.” (Tony, 33:47)
Winter Olympics—Apathy and TV Spectacle
- Wilbon expresses indifference (“Is there something you’re looking forward to in the Winter Olympics?”
  — “No, not a thing.” [Wilbon, 34:44])
- Rants against judged sports and figure skating:
  - “If something can only be judged, I have a problem with it being in Olympic competition.” (Wilbon, 36:16)
- Tony and Wilbon’s shared skepticism about the event’s TV-centric nature.

4. Interview: Sally Jenkins (~41:15)

Washington Post Sports Section Turmoil
- Sally reveals deep anxiety within the Washington Post sports staff, citing fears of layoffs and lack of communication:
  - “Most of my friends are bracing to be laid off in the middle of the Super Bowl and the Olympics.” (Sally, 41:15)
  - “They’re sitting around preparing to take it in the neck, even highly placed editors in the section.” (Sally, 41:43)
- Speculates if management is “trotting out these rumors” to gauge backlash, but notes clear contraction under new publisher William Lewis.
State of Modern Sportswriting
- Sally and Tony mourn the loss of traditional career ladders and institutional gravitas:
  - “If you were 25 years old now, what would you aspire to? How does it work?” (Tony, 42:36)
- Jenkins argues new outlets (The Athletic, Bleacher Report, Defector, The Atlantic) are thriving, but the craft now requires fluency in multimedia and digital platforms.
  - “You’re going to have to understand podcasting… social media platforms… make your own short video.” (Sally, 43:32)
- Jenkins on credentialing and credibility in today’s landscape:
  - “It’s more democratic. Anybody can do it. But it’s hard sometimes…” (Tony, 44:28)
  - “They’re going to come from Vox, they’re going to come from Defector… the Free Press…” (Sally, 44:54)
- The End of an Era Feel
  - Tony: “We get mentioned a lot, you and me and Wilbon and Boz and Kindred. It feels like we’re relics, you know.” (Tony, 46:55)
  - Sally: “Artifacts… Dust us off.” (Sally, 46:56)
  - Jenkins insists their audience is still huge, and that quality and story-telling have lasting value.
Men’s Tennis: The New Hierarchy
- Jenkins and Tony mourn the lack of depth at the top of the men’s game (Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic, “and one of them is 40”).
  - “Do you see Taylor Fritz or Alexander Zverev winning fourth and fifth sets? ... They’re just a click behind.” (Sally, 48:31)
  - “Alcaraz… is about 5% better than everybody else right now.” (Sally, 49:55)
- In comparison, the women’s side is wide open—“There’s a new winner every week.” (Tony, 50:13)
Belichick Snubbed by the Hall of Fame
- Jenkins: “Oh, my God, what a travesty. You know, what a bunch of Percy mouthed, mean spirited… It’s the mean girls table at lunch.” (Sally, 50:55)
- Reassurance that it’s “not the greatest tragedy in the world… it’s Madame Tussauds,” but the voters “embarrass themselves.” (Sally, 51:33)

Notable Quotes & Moments

On Tony’s flight mishap:
- “What is the great fear? The great fear is someone sees me. The front of my pants is soaking wet.” — Tony (15:39)
On seeing young pilots:
- “‘Yeah, I borrowed this hat and shirt from my dad,’ which is a great line.” — Tony (12:36)
On office anxiety at the Washington Post:
- “Most of my friends are bracing to be laid off in the middle of the Super Bowl and the Olympics.” — Sally Jenkins (41:15)
On Hall of Fame contrivances:
- “The only Hall of Fame that matters to me is the Baseball Hall of Fame.” — Tony (33:47)
On the dwindling career ladder:
- “There doesn’t seem to be a hierarchy set out there… It’s more democratic. Anybody can do it.” — Tony (44:28)
On men’s tennis parity:
- “Alcaraz… is about 5% better than everybody else right now.” — Sally (49:55)
On judged Olympic sports:
- “If something can only be judged, I have a problem with it being in Olympic competition.” — Michael Wilbon (36:16)
On their own nostalgia:
- “We get mentioned a lot, you and me and Wilbon and Boz and Kindred. It feels like we’re relics.” — Tony (46:55)
- “Artifacts… Dust us off.” — Sally (46:56)

Timestamps for Important Segments

Tony returns from Florida & snow discussion: 01:15 – 08:05
Travel anxieties, golf, and flight mishaps: 09:45 – 18:05
Praise for golf course superintendents: 19:05 – 20:09
Interview with Michael Wilbon: 23:53 – 37:38
Interview with Sally Jenkins: 41:15 – 51:47
Reflections on The Washington Post, sportswriting, tennis, and Hall of Fame: 42:36 – 51:42
Show mailbag and close: 52:10 – show end

Tone & Style

The episode is classic Kornheiser—warm, personal, irreverent, and filled with nostalgia and quick wit. The ongoing banter between Tony, Michael, Finn, and Nigel keeps things energetic, with guests providing insights tethered to long-running themes of sports, media, and change. The conversations range from deeply personal (flight fears, media layoffs) to playful (Publix sandwiches, pants mishaps), always returning to affection for storytelling and community.

For listeners and non-listeners alike, this episode is a textbook example of TK Show camaraderie, storytelling, and the intersection of sports, memory, and media change.

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“There and back again”