Podcast Summary: The Tony Kornheiser Show – “We know that ramp”

Date: April 7, 2026
Episode Length: Approximately 56 min
Host: Tony Kornheiser
Guests: Doug Ferguson (AP golf writer), Bob Ryan (sportswriter), Michael Wilbon, Gary Edel, plus regulars

Brief Overview

This episode covers a wide range of topics: recapping Michigan’s win over UConn for their first basketball title since 1989, discussing the Masters golf tournament with Doug Ferguson, analyzing current events in baseball (esp. Nationals’ woes), and a lively catch-up with Bob Ryan that delves into March Madness, coaching changes, and NBA awards. The show maintains its signature blend of sharp sports commentary, humor, and camaraderie among longtime friends.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Michigan’s NCAA Basketball Championship

• Context: Michigan beats UConn for their first title since 1989.
• Tony’s Nostradamus Moment:
  “Do I think Michigan can win the game? Yes, I do. But I think seven and a half points is too much ... I believe I had that exactly.” (02:13, Tony)
• Michigan proved their worth defensively, breaking UConn’s streak of 90+ point games:
  “Michigan was held to 69 points by UConn. UConn’s really good. UConn couldn’t make any shots. Michigan had something to do with that. Michigan is big and strong and plays defense and dominates the paint area.” (03:00, Tony)
• Big Ten dominance this season highlighted.
• Lively banter about bracket winners, prizes (like “my dad’s chips” and books), and the merits of various Big Ten teams.

2. Baseball: Nationals’ Ongoing Bullpen Problems

• Tony’s frustration: “The bullpen stinks. Am I right on this?” (04:54, Tony)
• Despite bullpen woes, the Nationals pulled off a dramatic comeback: “They put six runs in the ninth.” (05:30, Gary Edel)
• Praise for the new hitting coach, Matt Borgschulte.
• Quick rundown of home runs/plays, bullpen trivia, and a listener's humorous email about parking at sports venues.

3. Travel & Food: Wilbon’s Italy Adventure

• Michael Wilbon shares stories about a brisk, rain-pelted Italian vacation, historical sightseeing, Vatican bureaucracy during Holy Week, and culinary highlights:
  “The food is brilliant. You can’t have a bad meal there… The best meal I had, I got it completely by accident … risotto, saffron risotto with asparagus.” (11:01–12:48, Wilbon)
• Discussion about the authenticity of pizza in Naples, gelato, and the joys of fresh Italian dough.

4. Masters Golf Preview with Doug Ferguson (AP)

Segment begins: [15:54]

• Central Theme: The 2026 Masters is notable for the absence of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
• “It is odd… they’ve got eight green jackets between them. They have been for 30 years the biggest names in golf.” (17:33–18:10, Tony)
• Ferguson notes the shift in golf’s landscape without these icons and reflects on their era:
  “You could make that argument for Tiger and Phil … when Tiger completed his Tiger Slam, he’s with Phil in the final round there. That was a pretty good Masters.” (18:15, Doug)
• Discussion on who’s in form for the Masters:
  "It is wide open… Rory, you know, he hasn’t played great this year… It’s almost a victory lap from last year.” (21:39, Doug)
• Augusta weather expected to improve by the start of the tournament.
• Behind-the-scenes tidbits: When it rains at Augusta, the grounds “smell so bad... you feel like you’re in a dairy barn.” (23:05, Doug)
• The Masters’ prestige:
  “Over [the past decades], NFL just dwarfs everything now. And that’s kind of the way the Masters is, it overwhelms everything right now.” (24:04, Doug)
• Fred Ridley’s influence: “When Fred wants something done, it gets done ... he’s got a seat at every table.” (24:48–25:42, Doug)
• Augusta’s image evolution, especially with the Women’s Amateur, is discussed:
  “It became the one tournament all those women wanted to win... It’s a gold standard.” *(27:21, Doug)

5. March Madness & NBA with Bob Ryan

Segment begins: [29:46]

• Michigan’s win: “Michigan, Thoroughly legitimate champion. A better team. The Big Ten was very good… a new champion, and they’re a worthy champion.” (30:03–31:11, Bob)
• On Danny Hurley (UConn coach): “He’s a wonderful coach … gets results. I’m amused by him. I can just step back and enjoy the show.” (32:16–33:09, Bob)
• Coaching pipeline: Surprised at Mike Malone going to UNC; “The world has changed ... It’s no longer a matter of going into the living room of the kid, you know, it’s a matter of do you have the money… I think it'll be tremendous.” (35:04–35:44, Bob)
• NBA MVP race:
  “You can make a case ... for SGA, Doncic, Jokic, and for Victor Wembanyama. Right now… it’s still Jokic, but Wembanyama is on the rail.” (39:17–40:34, Bob)
• Praising Wembanyama:
  “This is a very rare, unusual young man… He could be from Nebraska—there’s no accent. He gets it and he’s gotten [it] ... The package is phenomenal." (40:49–41:43, Bob)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On missing Tiger & Phil:
  “The Masters, the official Masters will begin on Thursday and there’s all sorts of walk up ... yet the headline for me... is the oddity of no Tiger, no Phil.” (16:09, Tony)
• On Augusta in the rain:
  “It is the worst smelling piece of property in golf ... you feel like you’re in a dairy barn.” (23:05, Doug)
• On new Masters champion aspirations:
  “If you could win one tournament, they [women amateurs] said it’d be this one right here ... So much for history.” (27:17–27:48, Doug)
• On the definition of MVP:
  “I wish they had never come up with the word ‘valuable’ to describe the award... they should have been player of the year.” (39:25–40:14, Bob)

Notable Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Topic | |-----------|--------------------------------------------| | 01:18 | Recap of Michigan-UConn, NCAA tournament | | 04:34 | Nationals’ bullpen discussion | | 09:00 | Wilbon’s Italian vacation and food stories | | 15:54 | Masters preview with Doug Ferguson | | 21:39 | Open nature of this year’s Masters field | | 23:05 | Augusta’s quirks, “the worst smelling…” | | 27:17 | Women’s Amateur at Augusta | | 29:46 | Bob Ryan on Michigan’s legit win | | 32:16 | The UConn Hurley coaching gene | | 35:04 | Mike Malone’s surprising UNC hire | | 39:17 | NBA MVP debate | | 40:49 | Wembanyama’s rare star qualities |

Tone & Style Highlights

• Conversational, wry, and lightly self-deprecating:
  Tony’s “the most important thing is parking” and “you know, bullpen stinks!”
• Collegial camaraderie:
  Banter with Wilbon and Edel about food, NCAA brackets, and old friends.
• Rich context:
  Both Doug Ferguson and Bob Ryan give deep, sometimes historical, perspectives on sports, connecting past with present.

Miscellaneous & Listener Involvement

• Regular listener engagement: Bracket competitions, listener emails, quirky life updates, and food recommendations.
• Light-hearted plugging of local ice creams and travel tales strengthens the “community feel” for listeners.

In Summary

This episode weaves together the big stories of the sports week—Michigan’s NCAA win, Masters anticipation, MLB drama, and NBA intrigue—with the wit, wisdom, and warmth that characterize the long running Tony Kornheiser Show. The conversations with Doug Ferguson and Bob Ryan deliver both insight and anecdotes, making even the uninitiated welcome in the world of sports talk.

For the Full Experience:

• Listen around [15:54] for the Masters preview if you love golf.
• For classic Bob Ryan sports perspective, start at [29:46].
• If bracketology, food rants, and old-man-yells-at-cloud humor are more your speed, the first 15 minutes are gold.

Closing:
The show closes with emails, shoutouts, and recommendations—never missing a chance to connect with listeners’ lives or offer a good-natured dig at beloved sports institutions, all wrapped up with Billy Joel lyrics and reflections on ice cream and travel.