“Who is eating my flowers?”

Summary

The Tony Kornheiser Show: "Who is Eating My Flowers?" – May 21, 2025

Hosted by: Tony Kornheiser
Guests:

• Hakeem Jeffries – House Minority Leader of the United States
• Mark Feinsand – Baseball Analyst
• Tim Legler – NBA Analyst

---

1. New York Knicks' Road to the Conference Finals

Timestamp: [02:20]

Tony Kornheiser kicks off the episode by welcoming House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, highlighting Jeffries as the second most famous graduate from Binghamton University, right behind Flo from Progressive Insurance. The conversation immediately dives into the New York Knicks' unexpected surge to the conference finals, a significant achievement given the team's historical struggles.

Key Discussions:

• Knicks' Early Days:
  Jeffries reminisces about his early memories of the Knicks from the 1980s, mentioning legends like Michael Ray Richardson, Bill Cartwright, Marvin Webster, and Bernard King. He emphasizes Bernard King's impact, noting:

  "His career, of course, was cut short by injury. But a phenomenal player, phenomenal scorer."
  [04:28]

• Current Team Dynamics:
  The discussion shifts to the present-day Knicks, focusing on players like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Jeffries praises Brunson, stating he's a "top five Knicks" player with a "four-year body of work." He attributes the team's current success to a combination of Brunson's grit, unselfishness, and the supporting cast's performance.

  "He's got a great supporting cast. Last year when we lost to Indiana... he's a quintessential Knick enemy. Almost like the second incarnation of Reggie Miller."
  [09:54]

• Rivalry with Indiana Pacers:
  The Knicks-Pacers rivalry is dissected, with Tony and Jeffries delving into the historical playoff battles between Patrick Ewing's Knicks and Reggie Miller's Pacers. They recount memorable moments like Miller's "8 points in three seconds" and discuss the mutual respect yet intense competition between the two franchises.

  "They battled each other five times... The Knicks won three of those series and the Pacers won three."
  [07:34]

• Coach Thibodeau's Impact:
  Tony raises a point about Coach Thibodeau's demeanor during games, mentioning how he often appears in pain and doesn't vocally lead the team during critical moments. Jeffries acknowledges this, noting that while Thibodeau's defense has been inconsistent, there have been flashes of his traditional defensive strategies, which are crucial against high-octane offenses like the Pacers.

---

2. Baseball Insights with Mark Feinsand

Timestamp: [03:15]

Mark Feinsand joins the show to discuss recent developments in Major League Baseball, focusing primarily on the Philadelphia Phillies' bullpen woes and the broader implications for the season.

Key Discussions:

• Alvarado's Suspension:
  Feinsand explains the severity of pitcher Alvarado's suspension, emphasizing that postseason ineligibility is a significant penalty beyond the 80-game suspension.

  "And people are talking about this, that he's unhappy... but he's still, producing to some extent."
  [29:50]

• Phillies' Bullpen Challenges:
  He highlights the Phillies' need to bolster their bullpen, citing the ineffective performances of relievers like Jordan Romano and the loss of Alvarado. Feinsand predicts that GM Dave Dombrowski will seek trades to acquire reliable relief pitchers to stabilize the bullpen for the postseason.

  "The bullpen wasn't very good to begin with... Alvarado was sort of the anchor of that bullpen and he's gone for a half a season now."
  [28:18]

• Baltimore Orioles' Struggles:
  Feinsand expresses disappointment with the Orioles' performance, attributing their struggles to poor pitching and inconsistent player development. He criticizes management decisions and underscores the difficulty in maintaining a competitive team amidst these challenges.

  "They can't really pitch very well... their bullpen hasn't been great."
  [31:36]

• Managerial Accountability:
  The conversation touches on the recent trend of firing managers in struggling teams. Feinsand argues that while managers play a role, the responsibility also heavily lies with players and front-office decisions.

  "I'm not generally a big managerial credit or blame guy... Derek Shelton is a respected baseball guy."
  [34:02]

---

3. NBA Conference Finals Preview with Tim Legler

Timestamp: [36:39]

Tim Legler returns to the show to provide an in-depth analysis of the NBA conference finals, focusing on the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder series and the Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers matchup.

Key Discussions:

• Minnesota vs. Oklahoma City:
  Legler commends Oklahoma City's defensive prowess, highlighting their ability to limit paint points, defend the three-point line, and minimize transition opportunities. He contrasts this with Minnesota's reliance on three-point shooting, which fell short in Game One.

  "They lead the league in defending the three-point line also, and they lead the league in the fewest transition points."
  [42:54]

• Jalen Brunson's Impact:
  Both Tony and Legler discuss Brunson's exceptional performance, with Legler surprised by Brunson's ability to control games and score prolifically despite initial expectations of him being a steady backup.

  "Jalen Brunson is proving that you need strength and balance."
  [52:38]

• Indiana Pacers Analysis:
  Legler emphasizes the Pacers' offensive efficiency and the importance of containing Tyrese Halliburton, whose playmaking drives the game's pace. He believes that if the Pacers can restrict Halliburton's movement, they have a strong chance in the series.

  "Tyrese Halliburton is a problem now. He is dictating the entire pace of the game."
  [46:15]

• NBA Parity and Dynasties:
  The discussion broadens to the topic of NBA parity, noting the trend of different champions each year. Legler attributes this to player movement, injuries, and the short windows teams have to capitalize on their rosters.

  "There’s an element from a fan perspective, that you want the villain, too. You want the team you’re tired of someone trying to take down."
  [47:41]

• Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Cooper Flags:
  Tony poses a hypothetical trade scenario involving trading Cooper Flag for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Legler staunchly declines, citing Flag's unparalleled potential and attributes, describing him as a "generational talent."

  "I would not."
  [49:07]

---

4. Listener Mailbag and Community Stories

Timestamp: [54:37]

Tony engages with listeners through the mailbag segment, featuring a variety of humorous and heartfelt messages that range from gardening woes to personal anecdotes.

Highlights:

• Gardening Predicaments:
  Tony shares his frustration with his flowers being devastated by what he suspects are deer or rabbits, leading to a humorous exchange about potential solutions.

  "I can't hire someone to be a guard... They have things like seaway spray that works, but every time it rains, it smells terrible."
  [16:37]

• Personal Birthdays:
  A listener named Mike Roseberry from State College, Pennsylvania, shares that he and his family will be celebrating multiple birthdays on the same day, adding a personal touch to the show.

  "Later this month, my mom, my son, and I will all be celebrating our birthdays on the same day."
  [57:40]

• IndyCar Enthusiasm:
  Kevin Lee from Indianapolis expresses his appreciation for the show's coverage of the Indy 500, sharing excitement for upcoming races and supporting the event's transition to Fox Sports.

  "I greatly enjoy Mr. Tony sharing his love for the Indy 500 each year."
  [58:26]

• Creative Musings:
  Listeners contribute creative and humorous emails, including fictitious scenarios about potato planting and playful banter about sports events, showcasing the show's community engagement.

---

5. Capital Zen: Original Music Feature

Timestamp: [21:20]

Capital Zen, a local band from Glens Falls, New York, is featured as a segment where they share excerpts from their upcoming album, "The Phoenix." The band discusses their creative process, inspirations, and upcoming performances, including their participation in the Camp David Music Summit.

Key Points:

• New Music Releases:
  The band introduces tracks like "Touch Your Body," "Lonely Stranger," and "Crunchy Dirt," explaining the themes and stories behind each song.

  "Crunchy Dirt is about being envious of creatures that are unburdened by memory."
  [21:20]

• Live Performances:
  Capital Zen announces their gig at the Camp David Music Summit on May 30th and 31st, inviting listeners to attend and support their music journey.

  "We'll be playing at the Camp David Music Summit... on May 30th and 31st at the outskirts of Lake George, New York."
  [40:03]

---

6. Concluding Remarks and Final Thoughts

Timestamp: [63:32]

As the show wraps up, Tony shares final thoughts on the day's discussions, reiterates gratitude towards his guests and listeners, and encourages continued engagement through various platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Audacy.

Closing Highlights:

• Acknowledgments:
  Thanks to guests Hakeem Jeffries, Mark Feinsand, Tim Legler, and the featured band Capital Zen.

  "Thanks to our guests today and today's sponsors. Remember, you can listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Audacy."
  [54:07]

• Final Listener Shoutouts:
  Tony recaps some humorous and light-hearted listener emails, blending personal anecdotes with playful banter, maintaining the show's friendly and engaging atmosphere.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Hakeem Jeffries on Bernard King:

  "Bernard King had the quickest jump, quickest release in the history of basketball."
  [04:28]

• Mark Feinsand on Phillies' Bullpen:

  "Alvarado was sort of the anchor of that bullpen and he's gone for a half a season now."
  [28:18]

• Tim Legler on Cooper Flag vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo:

  "I would not."
  [49:07]

• Tony Kornheiser on Jalen Brunson:

  "Jalen Brunson is a rock."
  [52:08]

---

Final Thoughts

In this episode of "The Tony Kornheiser Show," listeners are treated to an engaging blend of sports analysis, personal stories, and community interaction. From the Knicks' unexpected rise in the NBA playoffs to deep dives into baseball team strategies and bullpen dynamics, the show offers comprehensive coverage of current sports topics. The inclusion of Capital Zen introduces a refreshing musical element, while the mailbag segment fosters a strong connection with the audience. Tony Kornheiser's dynamic hosting, combined with the expertise of his guests, ensures a rich and informative listening experience for both dedicated fans and newcomers alike.

Transcript

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hey, it's Tony. We have a packed show for you today. We'll start off by talking about the Knicks getting to the conference finals with hello, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of Binghamton. Then we'll talk some baseball with Mark Feinstein and we'll go back to the NBA with Tim Legler. But first, let's keep the sales weasels happy.

[Hakeem Jeffries]

Do you think astronauts fight over elbow room?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Probably.

[Hakeem Jeffries]

Because advanced tech doesn't always mean more space. Until now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Introducing the Hyundai Ioniq 9. A three row electric SUV with over 300 miles of range, ultra fast charging capability and lots of space. The all new Hyundai Ioniq 9 space in an EV. Visit HyundaiUSA.com or call 562-314-4603 for more details. Ioniq 9 is available in extremely limited quantities at select dealers in select states only. Epa. Estimated range based on fully charged battery for comparison purposes only. Actual range will vary based on several factors.

[Mark Feinsand]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Previously on the Tony Kornheiser Show. They say we're going to have to evacuate the train. And then they say we're going to begin with the elderly and those with ada. That's I guess Americans with Disability Act. That's what I assume that is. And then families with small children. That's the word.

[Tim Legler]

Trying to see unattended children. Say, I have a child here.

[Harrison]

The police age.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. And so. And this takes a long time. And I say, what's what qualifies for elderly. They go 65, I go bang. I'm in.

[General George Washington]

Got that by a lot.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Got that by a decade more. This is General George Washington, and you're listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show. All right, so we're not going to do the traditional open today. We're going right to a guest. We are guest loaded. The second most famous graduate of Binghamton University is going to join us now. And you think, oh, Tony, you think you are the most. No, no, no, no, no. I'm not even in the top five, maybe. But the most famous is Flo. Flo of Progressive Insurance.

[General George Washington]

Sure.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We have Hakeem Jeffries, who is the minority Leader in the House of Representatives of the United States of America. But even you would agree that floating is the most famous graduate among us, right?

[Unknown Speaker]

That would be exactly correct.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, it's flow. I mean, she's been doing this for 20 years. She's making millions of dollars. Everybody, if she walked down the street in that outfit, everybody would know her. They wouldn't know the rest of us. They wouldn't know the rest. By the way.

[Unknown Speaker]

In that outfit. Absolutely.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Yeah, by the way.

[Unknown Speaker]

Side by side, she'd be far more recognizable.

[Tony Kornheiser]

There's no question about that. No question about that. Have you ever been on a train? You ever been on a cellar where they had to evacuate? Like happened to me on Sunday morning right outside of Newark? Have you ever been on that?

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, actually, it happened to me a few weeks ago on the way from New York City to D.C. and in Baltimore we had to evacuate. And so unfortunately, it has been happening with increasing frequency. We're going to have to do something about it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, we're going to have to get my points back. I used all my points and then I didn't have the first class experience. So you got. At least you got to Baltimore. You were in a station. We were out in the fields.

[General George Washington]

We weren't.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We weren't even in the station. All right, let's get to the heart of the matter here. You are a Knicks fan. Okay. How long have you been in. What do you. What is your earliest memory of the Knicks? Because you got to be jacked up now that they got a chance to beat Indiana and get to the Finals.

[Unknown Speaker]

Absolutely. No, this is incredible. I think my earliest memories as a Knicks fan was in the early 80s, you know, and that would be Michael Ray Richardson, Bill Cartwright, Marvin Webster, if you recall him as that sort of early team. And then at a certain point, we got Bernard King, who is probably one of the most legendary Knicks also happens to be from Brooklyn. His career, of course, was cut short by injury. But a phenomenal player, phenomenal scorer, and that would sort of be the early days of me remembering being locked in on the New York Knicks.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So I got you by 10,000 here because I was at the Willis Reed game. You weren't even born. I was at the Willis Reed game. When he comes out from the side, he hits his first two shots. That's it. Ball game. That's the greatest. That's the greatest moment in Nick history. Right. I mean, even somebody not born at that time would recognize that's number one, right?

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, well, absolutely. I was just a few Years old, but I definitely didn't catch that one. But looking back in time, those teams with Willis Reed and of course, Walt Clyde Frazier, Dave DeBusscher, Bill Bradley, you know, Earl the Pearl Monroe, the legendary players from those two championships definitely are iconic on Mount Rushmore. But this team right now is, you know, I mean, you know, we'll see. They're making their own way, but they have the city on fire. Nothing like when the Knicks are really good in New York City.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is what Wilbon told me the other day. Wilbon was up there for the game that they won to get to the finals, the conference finals, and he said he was amazed by it. And I said, well, you know, this is what happens. You've got 10 million people and a whole bunch of them care about the Knicks. And the Knicks haven't won in a long time. Do you get to the Garden much? Do you see games in person, or is it mostly tv?

[Unknown Speaker]

Mostly tv. I think the last time I was at the Garden was last season for a game in March. And a couple of seasons ago I was able to catch one of the playoff games in the series against the Miami Heat. I don't think I'm going to be able to get to the Garden this year, but certainly tuned in, locked in. And I think, I would argue, it would be interesting to get your perspective on this, Tony, that the Knicks Indiana rivalry is actually the most heated rivalry between the Knicks and another franchise that has existed for the last 35 plus years.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I would say that is. Huh. Let's see. The Knicks are an original team, you know, that goes back to the late 40s. And so rivalries that they might have with Boston, rivalries that they might have with Philadelphia, but they don't. Those teams are not in their way, in the way that Indiana was in their way, but that is predicated. Hakeem, don't you think, on Reggie Miller? Like, when I think of Indiana, all I. And I remember them from the ABA days, but all I think of first is Reggie Miller. Do you have that same thought?

[Unknown Speaker]

Absolutely. No doubt about it. In fact, my recollection suggests that in the 90s, they battled each other in the playoffs. Reggie Miller, of course, Lee Pacers, Patrick Ewing leading the Knicks. You got to throw the spike Lee on the sideline situation. That was a big part of it. They battled each other five times. And then I think they also went to the Eastern Conference finals and played each other in 2000. That was the 99, 2000 season. So you're talking about in a few Years they met in the playoffs six different times.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Wow.

[Unknown Speaker]

Iconic moments. The Knicks won three of those series and the Pacers won three of those series. And then. Right, so that was the Patrick Ewing Knicks. And then a couple years after that, Knicks were terrible for a while. Right. And then we get Carmelo. And in that best Carmelo Anthony team that was expected to get to the Eastern Conference finals, we actually were knocked out in the semifinals by Indiana in 2013. Again, Indiana crushing our hopes. And then the Carmelo Anthony Knicks were never the same after that. And then of course, we have this modern day rivalry which starts today, but last year we get knocked out by the Indiana Pacers again.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Indiana was very surprising last year because they got to the conference finals and nobody expected that. Obviously, Rick Carlisle is a very good coach. And obviously the, the players who were in that poll who said that the most overrated player in the entire league with Tyrese Halliburton were insane because the guy has like won three playoff games by himself during this thing. What do you, what do you think? You go back a long way. Not as long as I go. I was at the Reggie Miller game, by the way, the eight points in three seconds. I was at that game. What do you think of Jalen Brunson? I mean, where do you put him? Obviously he can't go on the all time list yet because you have to win a championship. But what do you think when you see him?

[Unknown Speaker]

Seems to me he's definitely, you know, a top five Knicks absent. You know, now he's got a four year body of work. But I think one of the reasons why the city has fallen in love with Jalen Brunson is because he's so tough, he's so gritty, he's unselfish, you know, both in terms of how he has played on the court, but perhaps most significantly, his willingness. He's underpaid. Right. And he's done that for the good of the team. And so this has been a magical run and we'll see where it lands. He's got a great supporting cast. Last year when we lost to Indiana, of course we were injured. We didn't have some of our best players in that series. Indiana played well. Halliburton's great. You know, he's a quintessential Knick enemy. Almost like, you know, he's the second incarnation of Reggie Miller.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I agree with that. I agree with that. I was, I was. I don't know. I didn't like the trade, the Karl Anthony Towns trade. I didn't like it for Minnesota. I liked it for the Knicks. How do you feel when you see Towns out there? They're not the greatest defender in the world, but in the middle of it and scores a lot of points and can shoot from distance. What do you think of Towns?

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, no, it's been exciting having Karl Anthony Towns. I think, you know, we haven't seen the best of what we'll get from him.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, I agree.

[Unknown Speaker]

But what we've seen from him has already been amazing. He's averaged about 24 points, I think double doubles incredibly often when he's on the court and, you know, he's a focal point, you got to defend him. You can't leave him alone. And he's versatile in terms of his shooting range. So, you know, I think it's a great combination. You got the grit of Josh Hart. Mikail Bridges has stepped up, you know, in the playoffs. OG is tough, great defender. And then you also are getting some production from people on the bench. So this is a, you know, this is a Knick team that the city has fallen in love with. It's great to see this run. It was unexpected that they would beat Boston twice in Boston.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes, yes. But I need to ask you this. When you see Thibodeau on the sidelines and he's just standing there in terrible pain, as if his stomach is about to fall out, he doesn't actually say anything. He doesn't actually do anything. He just stands there in pain. What do you think of that? Because it's so weird to me.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, it is kind of interesting to watch, but you can't argue with the results. No, we've actually seen some defense. Right. Which he's been traditionally known for, come to come into place at sort of the key moments down the stretch. And so I think there was this concern throughout the year that, well, the Knicks are playing well offensively, but we're not seeing the traditional Thibodeau defense. We've seen flashes of that down the stretch. That's great. We're going to certainly need it against Indiana in their capacity. A high octane offense, obviously, as you said, Tony Carlisle, a great coach.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He is. He's real good.

[Unknown Speaker]

But. Yeah, no, but it's exciting. Hoping the Knicks can get this done in six, if not seven, and then we'll see where it goes from there.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So I'm thinking that since you are the minority leader of the House of Representatives of the United States of America, I'm thinking you could make a call, you could get a ticket.

[Unknown Speaker]

Right.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You could get somebody say, hey, how about a couple for me?

[General George Washington]

Right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Don't. If they get to the finals, you'll go, won't you?

[Unknown Speaker]

If I get to the. If they get to the finals, I'm definitely going to have to make every effort to go. Particularly, wouldn't it be a great storyline if they playing the Minnesota Timberwolves and then we'll actually see who got the best of the trade?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes, no, absolutely. All right, I'll let you go on this. You just said that you would put Jalen Brunson in the top five. My top five all time. Knicks, Reed and Frazier, Bernard King, Patrick Ewing, and then I'm probably open. I might be open to Brunson, but to Buscher was great, but I might be open to Brunson. It's not Earl Monroe because he was only there a couple of years. It's not him. What's your top five at the moment?

[Unknown Speaker]

I think I'm there with you because you got to go. Reed and Fraser, they got the two championships. Patrick Ewing changed the trajectory, you know, of the franchise. He was amazing. Now, Bernard King's career was cut short. And so for me, it's an open question. Do you go Bernard King? Do you go Carmelo Anthony?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, I'm not going Carmelo Anthony. Oh, no, no, no, no, no. I'm not going Carmelo Anthony. No, no, no. Not over Bernard King. Bernard King had the quickest jump, quickest jump, quickest release in the history of basketball. Bernard King was a major, major player as far as I'm concerned. But you might.

[Unknown Speaker]

He was amazing. Listen, you could argue that Carmelo is a modern day Bernard King, right, in terms of scoring capacity. But I hear you on Bernard. I mean, listen, he's from Brooklyn.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

Carmelo was also born in Brooklyn. I have nothing but love for both of them. And then, you know, open question, we'll see what happens with Jalen Brunson if he can get this championship done. Strong case for him to be in.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The top five if he gets to the finals. To me, all he's got to do is get to the finals in his top five. All right, enjoy. Enjoy the watch. Enjoy the watch. When you, when you get to see them. And thanks for being on. And we'll talk again, especially if they win, because I want to see what seats you get.

[Unknown Speaker]

Look forward to it. Tony, thanks for everything.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hakeem Jeffries, by the way, again, the minority leader. And you probably were asking to yourself, well, why isn't he talking about politics? We're not doing that. We're not doing that, so. That was nice. He's a fan.

[Tim Legler]

Yeah. He knew his.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, but I mean, I got the Willis Reed game. I got the Reggie Miller.

[Tim Legler]

You do?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I got that.

[Tim Legler]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So I wanted to mention one thing. I'll. I'll get done with the Nats. Harrison is here. Harrison was at the game last night. It's a nice way at the game. You stayed for the entire game.

[General George Washington]

I did, yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Harrison]

You arrived a little late, according to your dad.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. You missed. You missed the first three runs that they got in the first inning. Yes, but I. Last night I turned away. I knew they were going to Finnegan in the ninth. I could not just bear it. I could not bear it. So I did. I. I stopped watching. Finnegan had a clean inning. Clean inning. Did that surprise you? Yes, it surprised you. He didn't go O2 on the first batter. They go 3, 2, 14 saves, you know? Yes. He's tied for the league lead.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Majors lead, I think with a big. It didn't look like a big crowd last night.

[Unknown Speaker]

No.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, not really.

[General George Washington]

No.

[Harrison]

Dan Coco with a great Sports Authority reference for those of us who remember Sports Authority. And I love this, when you go to mlb.com you see for top performers, Josh Bell, 0 for 1. Two walks hit by pitch.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Josh Bell makes me crazy. He makes me crazy. He really does. So I turned away. I'm glad they won. And I wanted to mention this other thing a few weeks back. I told you that I was concerned with pollination, with honeybees. Yes. That I thought everybody should go out and they should get perennial flower plants because bees like those. And two of the ones that I got, I only got. I got four plants. I got two asters and I got two Black Eyed Susan. How they doing that I proudly planted in my yard. Well, two days ago, my asters were dead. They were eaten. They were shredded. There was nothing left. They were just stalked.

[Harrison]

Strip clean.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. Yesterday afternoon. It's happened to my Black Eyed Susans as well. I believe this is deer. Deer jump over the fence, eat my flowers and leave. But you.

[Harrison]

I think it's bunny rabbits.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You think it's rabbits?

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Harrison]

We watch them in our yard getting fatter and fatter every day.

[Tim Legler]

Could be the rabbits. Yeah, there's a bunch around here.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm not. I'm not happy with this. 60 bucks on this?

[Tim Legler]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You know, to do my part for pollination in the world.

[Tim Legler]

I feel bad because I'm a fan of the little guys, but they're in the way. Yeah. We're gonna have to do something.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So you don't think it's deer?

[Harrison]

It could be deer. I mean, we have a lot of deer in our yard. We've identified. We're the last house on our street that the deer will go to. They have not taken out our hostas yet. And we're anxiously waiting for them to discover the new blooms that are starting to pop up on the lime cone hydrangeas, which they will destroy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't know what else I can do. I mean, I can't hire someone to be a guard.

[General George Washington]

They could.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You can get like a bring Harrison.

[Tim Legler]

I was going to say we've got.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We have an intern.

[Tim Legler]

Cheap labor right here.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Sit outside for the like, five.

[Harrison]

They have things like. So there's seaway spray that. That works. But every time it rains.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Smells terrible.

[Harrison]

It smells terrible and it gets all over your hands. They have pellets that you can sprinkle out like your salt in the driveway.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They have warnings. Can I put up a sign with a warning? Harsh language.

[Harrison]

They respect the written word.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Harrison]

Beware of dog.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's get out of here. Let's get out of here. Mark Feinstein when we return. I'm Tony Coin. You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser Show. Now let's talk about that car you own but don't use, the one you're paying to keep registered and insured. That's taking up space out front, and it's just sitting there doing no one any good. Let me tell you what you should do about that car. You should give cars for Kids a call and have them take care of it for you. That's right. Just give them the info. They will come to you as soon as the next day. Take that car off your hands at no cost to you. Even better, they will turn that car into funds to help kids. So visit carsforkids.org Tony that's cars with a K and the number 4. To donate or call cars for kids directly at 1-877-cars4kids.

[Tim Legler]

You don't want to sing it?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm not singing it.

[Harrison]

Donate your car today.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Now. I will never get that out of my head for the rest of the day. And they will get that car picked up in a jiffy.

[Harrison]

Join the band.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Plus you can get a tax deduction, vacation voucher, and life will be just great. They've been around for 30 years and have done this over a million times. Call now or head over to carsforkids.org Tony right now and get this done. That's carsforkids.org Tony remember, that's cars with.

[Hakeem Jeffries]

A K. This is the Tony Kornheiser Show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Uncertainty is the essence of competitive sports. Think about it. If we knew the outcome of every sporting event before it happened, would we even be remotely interested in watching? Like in the 74 Masters, when I trailed Jack Nicklaus by three strokes and a back nine on Sunday, nobody expected me to go six under on those last holes to be Jack from my first green jacket, but I did. Okay, maybe I didn't, but that would have been a great story. And you get the picture. Uncertainty may be good for sports, but that doesn't mean it's good for small businesses. With rising cost, tighter lending standards, and slowing consumer demand, the economy is clearly softening, leading to uncertainty for small businesses. Which is why now is the time to secure working capital before you need it. Revenood offers fast, flexible funding that's made for times like these. Revenood is built for small business owners. Unlike banks, Revenood approves businesses based on revenue, not your personal credit score. You can get access to up to $250,000 in as fast as one business day. Funds are available on demand. You can draw only what you need when you need it and only pay for what you use. With revenued Flexline, your available funds replenish as you repay, giving your business the breathing room to stay resilient. There are no application fees, no maintenance fees, and no draw fees. And people are seeing real Results. More than 10,000 business owners used revenued to power through uncertainty. Revenud is Rated Excellent on Trustpilot with over 9005 star reviews. Apply now at use revenued.com. that's use revenued with a D dot com. Apply today and be ready for whatever comes next. You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser show. This is a band called Capital Zen. This is sent to us by Dan, one of their members. It's the most important line in the whole thing. Capital Zen from Glens Falls, New York. Here. That's the home of David Carpenter. Oh, really? My former roommate. He lives in Glens Falls. He grew up in Glens Falls.

[Tim Legler]

Cheerios and Budweiser, right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, and Fresco. Yeah, but, I mean, I. You know, I've been to Glens Falls. I know where Glens Falls is. Near Lake George. Dan writes we wanted to pass along some new songs for him. Excuse me. From our upcoming album, the Phoenix, which will be available for download on all streaming platforms May 23rd. Which is the end of the week, right? Yes, We've attached the second single, Touch youh Body, along with another song called Lonely Stranger to play on the show. I personally also felt the need to include a third song, Crunchy Dirt, because it is about being envious of creatures that are unburdened by memory, specifically a worm and a caterpillar because they never look back to take stock of what might have been. Unfortunately, I was unable to get Mr. Tony into one of the verses, but perhaps we can work it into a live performance. Thanks again for featuring original music on the podcast us and providing me with something to listen to when I'm working overnights. Again, this is Capital Zen and touch your Body plays in Mark Feinstein. I mean, I think that any baseball discuss well, I'm prejudiced here because I watched Juan Soto at the beginning and I watched the great potential of Juan Soto and have tremendous respect for Juan Soto. Like, sorry that he's not in Washington anymore the way that I'm sorry that Bryce Harper isn't here anymore, but I understand how these things work and why they work. But he's now in the news. He's now in the news and there is, it's, it's not just why isn't he running out balls that hit off the wall in Fenway and don't go out. There's a sense, and people are talking about this, that he's unhappy having left the Yankees for the Mets and that it wasn't his decision, it was a family decision. Can you, can you enlighten us on all of this, Mark?

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, I can't enlighten you on whether it was actually a family decision or his decision. I mean, I think everybody went into free agency with Juan Soto thinking whoever offered him the most money was going to get him. And that's what happened. So I don't know that that was a thing where, you know, the private suite and the security and all the little bonus things that Steve Cohen and the Mets were willing to give him that, that maybe the Yankees or other teams weren't played the biggest factor. It's not like he chose a different city. Now, whether he regrets leaving the Yankees for the Mets, I don't know. I mean, the Mets are a really good team. So it's not like he left the Yankees and now he's playing in Colorado, took the money in Colorado and is and is sitting there with a historically bad team. He is not having a great start, but even for him, a not Great start. His ops is 100 points above the league average. So, you know, it's not like he's having a horrific season. He's just not producing what he did last year. Obviously, the spotlight was on him with the return to the Bronx and the fans getting all over him. And he kind of playfully tipped his cap, you know, to acknowledge them. And I'm sure it was a tough weekend for him. He didn't perform particularly well against the Yankees. He was 1 for 10. He did walk a few times, score a couple of runs. But, yeah, I'm sure it was a weekend that he was happy to get over with. And now maybe he can sort of get back to baseball. But this contract is 1 45th over. I wouldn't judge it on the first 40 something games.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm not judging it at all. And I know how it works. I know how people speculate about other people all the time in print or on TV or, you know, in the Internet, however it works. But it does seem to me that if you look at the way he greeted Aaron Judge and some of the other Yankees and Boonie, for example, that you might be able to speculate that he has a certain amount of buyer's remorse, that maybe he's thinking to himself, you know, I was really happy there and I had protection in the lineup with Aaron Judge. Maybe I made a mistake. I mean, that. I think two, three years from now will be a different, a different talk. But just going back to Yankee Stadium may have prompted that. And, and I'm just wondering if you have any sense of it.

[Unknown Speaker]

I mean, I think there's certainly, you know, you can speculate that he certainly enjoyed his year with the Yankees and they got to the World Series and he played very well in a monstrous season. I'm sure he did like hitting the next Aaron Judge. The Mets lineup's pretty good too, though.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

And I think, you know, when you go back to the first for the first time and there's so much, as much as the Subway Series draws attention in New York, the Soto aspect of it gave it a little oomph last weekend especially, you know, the Knicks had advanced, so there were no games for people to talk about there. And it was all Juan Soto all the time that weekend. You know, I don't know that there's buyer's remorse. I think if the Yankees had matched the Mets offer exactly, he probably would have gone back there. But, you know, ultimately the Mets paid a little more, got him. And, you know, I think. I think Soto's feeling a little bit of that pressure right now of having that, that contract, I would imagine. But like, I Said even in his quote unquote down year right now, he's still, you know, producing to some extent. And the Mets are, you know, they basically have the same record as the Yankees. They're a game out of first place. And, you know, I think we'll see him sort of break out of this little funk he's in, and I don't think we'll be talking about buyers remorse, you know, by the end of the season.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think what makes it. And puts it on the table, what makes it Germain, is that he went in the same city, you know, so he's always going to see that other team. He's always going to, you know, if you, if you took the money from the Dodgers, if you took the money from the Giant, you know what I mean, if you left entirely. But he kept one foot in. I don't know. I. It was weird to me. That was weird to me.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, it was weird until you, you know, just thought about the fact that, you know, the Mets offered him more money for one fewer year with all those other amenities and perks that I mentioned that the Yankees.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

Did not, do not give out, you know, the luxury suite for every game. And I think he's got 22 tickets behind home plate. I mean, that, that whole section is basically the Juan Soto section. You know, the, the plane for his family and, you know, travel accommodations and all sorts of things that the Yankees don't do because they don't do it for Aaron Judge, they didn't do it for Derek Jeter, and they're not going to do it for Juan Soto, which is fine. But if those things, and maybe his family did play a role in that. Although if you're making $47 million, which he offer was, you could probably buy a suite for your family. What I'm thinking, I don't know. But, you know, he, look, he, he made his bed. He's got a lie in it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. All right, let's move off that. Let's get to the Phillies relief pitcher Alvarado, and that punishment, that's. It's not just 80 games, it's the postseason. What did you think of that?

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, well, that's, that was the. Put into the rules a few years back when they started making stricter penalties for, for testing positive. One of those things was, you don't just get your suspension, you are ineligible to play in the postseason. And we've seen that before big with other players. That, to me, that's a bigger deal than anything else.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Unknown Speaker]

Because even as the Phillies can get through these 80 games with, you know, go bring in another reliever, whatever it is, and Alvarado comes back home. That's good. You're back until about October 1st. And then when the games matter most, assuming your team has been able to get there, you're out. So the Phillies are going to have some work ahead of them here. Dave Dombrowski, who is one of the, you know, great GMs in the game over the past 20, 25 years, he is never shy about getting what he needs. And there are probably two, maybe three prospects on their team that are untouchable. Andrew Painter he views as the next Justin Vertlander. Aiden Miller, young shortstop. I think they have big plans for him. But other than that, whatever gram rows, he's going to have to do to go get what the Phillies need. And right now that's probably two relief pitchers because frankly, their bullpen wasn't very good to begin with. It wasn't Nationals level, but it was not great. They ranked 12th in the league in the RA and and had blown some saves. And you know, Jordan Romano, one of their big off season guys, has got an ERA over 7. Alvarado was sort of the anchor of that bullpen and he's gone for a half a season now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, but it changes the arc of the season. When he comes back, you can't put him at, you know, at the back end. He can't be the guy who saves all the games because you're not going to be able to use him in the postseason. You've got to develop somebody else. In effect, it just kills him until next year. In my mind. I wonder how you think about that.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, I mean, I think he will certainly be able to contribute down the stretch, you know, to a bullpen that's going to need to win games to fight off the Mets and Braves. But I agree, you can't, you can't sort of make your, your routine, okay, Jose has got the 9th because then when you get to the playoffs, Jose doesn't isn' there for the night. You know, Jordan Romano was getting some save opportunities. The way Rob Thompson was using it was Alvarado was basically getting the 8th or the 9th and whichever was the stronger pocket of hitters, they're going to have to go out and get a reliever or two. That it was interesting to me. I found out and reported they, they reached out to David Robertson about a week before the Alvarado suspension. So Dombrowski already knows that his bullpen was, you know, maybe the weakest Link on what is otherwise a very strong team. David Robertson is still out there. I think he'll come back and pitch at some point this season. It's not an injury thing. He's just waiting for the right team and the right time and the right offer. But I think he'll be an impact guy. Would not surprise me to see him wind up in Philly at some point. And you know, there are teams out there that are already, believe it or not, woefully out of the race before Memorial Day. You don't usually see a lot of trades in May, but you know the Marlins traded Luis Arise last year in May. And if there's a reliever on that roster that Dombrowski thinks could help, maybe he can go pluck that guy away.

[Tony Kornheiser]

One of the teams that's done already is Baltimore. They fired their manager. They won over 100 games two years ago. They look like real contenders. Real contenders. What, what happened there?

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, I can proudly say that I picked the Baltimore Orioles to win the World Series this year. So I, I no longer need to go back and look at my predictions at the end of the year because I know they're not going to be. What happened. A couple of things. I mean, number one, they can't really pitch very well. You let you know Michael Lye, the general manager who I think does a very good job in most areas and certainly has been a very good architect for this rebuild that they've had to get those hundred plus wins a couple years ago and 90 wins last year. He let Corbin Burns walk and maybe he didn't have a chance to re sign Corbin Burns. You know, everything we heard was Burns wanted to go back west. He was in Arizona. He ended up taking a little less money to go to Arizona, but you have to replace him. Max Freed was out there. Blake Snell was out there. There were pitchers out there to replace Burns and their answer was Charlie Morton, who owns seven, seven and a half era. Right. And so you know Kyle Gibson they brought back, he was terrible. They just released him. The one sort of bright spot in the rotation, Sugana, the Japanese pitcher they brought over, it's got a three ERA and he's pitched pretty well. He's 35. He's not a long term answer to their, to their situation. And frankly he's not enough to, to say, okay, well he, he's got the Corbin Burns spot. So I just think their rotations bad bullpen hasn't been great and some of the young guys who they count on and who have Been huge performers, haven't quite produced the way that they should be producing. Gunner Henderson, who a lot of people were looking at as an MVP possibility this year, you know, he's got 13 RBIs and in late May here, you know, he was hurt for a little while. Jackson Holiday has been okay, but hasn't really sort of blossomed into the guy that they were hoping. Adley Rudman is struggling is the. I'm sorry, his ops is around 630. So I just think the. There's a lot of issues. Brandon Hyde, to me, wasn't one of them. But as you know, when a team is struggling early in the season, the GM can't fire all the players. He's not going to fire himself. So usually the manager ends up taking the fall.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Three managers have been fired already. The Pittsburgh manager, the Colorado manager, the Baltimore manager. People who write about these things tend to always say it's not their fault. You know, that as you're just suggesting, if you have to do something, it's the easiest thing to do. But sometimes I think it might be their fault. And I wonder if in any of these cases you see justification in firing the manager.

[Unknown Speaker]

You. Well, I'm not sure that I would ever go to the point of saying and think their fault because I'm not generally a big managerial credit or blame guy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Unknown Speaker]

You know, I think most managers, the best managers in the game, might impact five games a year, especially now that the front offices are. I'm not saying making out the lineup, but certainly contributing ideas. Lineup, yes. You know, players play and managers look good based on how those players play most of the time, you know, when Aaron Judge goes up there and goes 3 for 4 with two home runs. Aaron Boone looks like a genius. When. When Aaron Judge goes over five with three strikeouts and the Yankees lose and can't manufacture any runs, Aaron Boone looks like a clown. So I don't necessarily blame managers now. I think Derek Shelton, again, respected baseball guy who most people really like a lot, including myself. You look at, at that team, they had a bunch of guys who crushed it in the minors, were ready to come up or they were. You know, Henry Davis was a first overall pick. You know, they had some other guys who they got to the big leagues and they just couldn't really develop them to keep getting better. Is that the manager? Is that the coaching staff? Certainly you have to put some of it on the players. So I think some of the managers, there might be reason to do it. But to blame them for the starts, I mean, the Pirates don't spend money. You know, their biggest free agent contract ever was three years and $39 million for Francisco Liriano 11 years ago. The Rockies have, you know, spent, but not necessarily always spent wisely. You know, the Chris Bryan contract killed them and you just can't. It's impossible to get pitching in Colorado. No pitcher worth his salt ever wants to go there. So, you know, you look at some of these situations. Baltimore is the only one that you look at and say this team is woefully underperforming and should have been a playoffs team this year. You know, the Pirates and the Rockies. I don't think there was much hope coming into the season.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okie Dokie, thank you as always, Mark. Thank you.

[Unknown Speaker]

Thanks Tony.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Mark Feinstein, boys and girls, we will take a break. Tim Legler will join us when we return. I'm Tony Kornheiser. This is the Tony Kornheiser show. FanDuel is giving all new customers a shot at $250 in bonus bets join FanDuel today. You'll get started with $250 in bonus bets if your first five dollar bet wins. From three pointers to steals to assists, FanDuel has so many ways to bet your favorite player props. Plus after the game tips off, you can even combine live prop bets into a same game parlay. For a chance to win big, just visit FanDuel.com TonyK to get in on all the NBA play and tournament action. That's FanDuel.com TonyK for your shot at $250 in bonus bets.

[Hakeem Jeffries]

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[General George Washington]

Day Turn up the heat with the Home Depot.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Find the perfect grill and patio set to keep the cookouts coming all season long.

[General George Washington]

Grill up a feast with the next.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Grill 4 burner gas grill only $229 and complete your space with the stylish Glen Ridge Falls 7 piece dining set now on special buy for just $499 with free delivery. Take your Memorial Day cookout to the next level all summer long with the Home Depot. See homedepot.com delivery for more details. You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser show once again. This is Capital Zen and the name of this song is either Lost Stranger or Lonely Stranger. There is some dispute, yes, we're not sure. They say it's Lonely Stranger but then.

[Tim Legler]

They refer to it. They sent it actually as Lost Stranger so we're not were not clear. It's a lovely song.

[Tony Kornheiser]

When are they playing?

[Tim Legler]

They did. They have a gig. They said they wanted to to mention they're playing at the Camp David Music Summit. Not that Camp David Camp with a K. Just like Cars for kids. It's on May 30th. It's a two day camping event May 30th and 31st at the outskirts of Lake George, New York. For tickets information, search Camp with a K David Music Summit.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I wonder if David Carpenter will go to that since it's Lake George and Glens Fall. Yeah, Michael, if people like Capital Zen want to send in original music that we can play on the podcast, how do they do it?

[Harrison]

Send us your music by emailing it to [e-mail] and they play in Tim.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Legler and we have we have something we can talk about. We have four teams left in the NBA. We got we're to the conference finals with Minnesota and Oklahoma City and then tonight I guess is the first game with the Knicks and the Indiana Pacers. It opened. I don't know why that I really don't know why that series is taking this hiatus. I Mean, you could have played it Monday in the Garden, but they didn't. Oklahoma City at home yesterday really pounded Minnesota in the second half and really showed considerable defensive skills. Minnesota, what they get 88 points. I mean that's, you know, what, what do you think? Let's go series by series. What did game one mean in this series? Did it, did it confirm what you believed or did it change what you believed about Oklahoma City and Minnesota?

[General George Washington]

Yeah, I think it more confirmed it. If anything, it may have changed how long the series is going to go. I did think Minnesota had a chance to make this a very competitive series and potentially a long series and maybe we still get there. But I just thought what, what Oklahoma City did to them defensively in the second half, they dispirited them. I mean they, they became a one dimensional offensive team which relied on three point shooting. And that's just not what the Timberwolves have been all year. That's not what they've been at their best in the postseason. But there was nothing to be had off the dribble getting into the paint. And that's really what Oklahoma City does. Better than any team in the league and better than most teams I think I've watched throughout my career as an analyst. They just do. They have too many guys on the ball that are laterally so quick and aggressive. They've got more guys that can guard the ball better individually than anybody else. But then they're so good at protecting their teammates when a guy is beat or semi beat and providing another body in that driving lane and forcing the ball to be kicked out. And then they close out very, very well, contest everything at the three point line. It's really a defensive clinic that they put on every night. And they did it to Minnesota in the second half of this game, really throughout the entire game, but particularly the second half when they outscored them 70 to 40. The reason the game is closer in the first half, because Oklahoma City was having their own issues making shots in the first half. Once they, their defense led to some easier stuff in the third quarter, the floodgates opened offensively for them as well. And you saw why Oklahoma City had the best record in the league this year.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So I'm talking with Wilbon about this on the PTI show yesterday and he's picking Minnesota. He had picked Oklahoma City all year to win the title, but now he switches over to Minnesota and I just say to him the other team's better, Oklahoma City is better. And not only are they better, if you compare the Stars, when Gilgeous Alexander has a bad game, it's a more productive game than Anthony Edwards having a bad game, which is exactly what happened last night. I mean, 88 points is ridiculous for, you know, for a game. The game one is the game you can steal. The road team can steal Game one. That doesn't mean that game two, three, four, five is going to be just like this. But if you liked Oklahoma City, Tim, you like them more this morning than you did yesterday.

[General George Washington]

I totally agree with that. I did. Yeah, that's. That's a, that's a great point. And look, Minnesota was impressive to this point in the postseason, but they did get a very shorthanded Golden State team without Steph Curry for the majority.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Without any height, like the Lakers. No height.

[General George Washington]

Yeah. Jimmy Butler didn't play well the last two games. They didn't, they didn't deal with much in that series. Look, they're a good team. Minnesota has, has a star in Anthony Edwards who is capable at any time of like, going on these mini bursts and really just, you know, carrying a team offensively, erasing deficits by himself. He didn't have any of that last night. He rolled his ankle in the first quarter. I think he was affected by it the rest of the night. He didn't address it after the game. Maybe to his credit, he. Maybe he didn't want people thinking he was taking an excuse. But he loves the shot going to his left for like this step back jump shot, and that requires pushing off your right foot. He didn't even attempt to launch that shot in the second half, not once. And it told me something. He's got to be feeling something, so they have him. Julius Randle's been great in his postseason. They've got a very good defensive team in their own right. But the Oklahoma City Thunder, as I said, lapped the field. When you talk about defenses in this league this year, they did something. You know, we talk about the Triple Crown in baseball. Well, how about the triple Crown defensively in the NBA, when you lead the league. Paint. Paint points allowed. I defended. You lead the league in defending the three point line also, and you lead the league in the fewest transition points. You give up. I mean, that's the Triple Crown of defense. And that's what Oklahoma City did this year. And you saw it on full display last night. So I know people at times could see a team like Minnesota last round, you start to get enamored with them. I don't know. I think, I think I could see Minnesota like, you know, taking Oklahoma City down, and it's almost like you're trying hard to convince yourself of something other than what you watched all year, which is the Oklahoma City Thunder have been unbelievably consistent with their defensive effort, and they've got more than enough offense. But it's their defense that you watch, and you're like, my goodness, I've described it to Tony as when the ball goes in the lane against them, like dropping food into a fish tank. That's what it looks like, the way they swarm the lane. And they did it again last night.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They're good. They're good. Let's go to New York and Indiana, who you like in that series.

[General George Washington]

I actually am leaning toward the Pacers. I think Indiana, and I think people are going to find out pretty quickly that haven't watched them very much this year. This is a really good offensive team, and it's a much different offensive team than what the Knicks have faced to this point in the playoffs because they. They rely on a lot of early pace up the floor, and then they're going to make very quick decisions. One thing you'll notice about the Pacers, there is very little wasted dribbles, and as a result, you're going to have to chase the ball, you're going to have to play a guard against a lot of player movement, ball movement, and a lot of pace early in the clock. I think the key to the entire series is how the Knicks defend and Tyrese Halliburton, how physical they can get with him, how much they can jam him up in the backcourt, to restrict some of his freedom of movement early up the floor. Because that, to me, is the essence of what he is. And if he gets freedom of movement, Tyres Halliburton is a problem now. He is dictating the entire pace of the game. And if that's the case, the Pacers are going to be in good shape.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This will be, Tim, the seventh straight year with a different champion. Does that indicate parity to you? Does that. Is that something that the NBA wants, different champions every year as opposed to dynastic teams?

[General George Washington]

That's a good question. I think every league ultimately wants parody, but I think there's also an element to it from a fan perspective, that you want the villain, too. You want the team, you're tired of that someone's trying to take down. And maybe we're lacking a little bit of that right now. And I think part of it is just because there's. There's awful lot of player movement around the league. I think there's been an incredible number of injuries to key guys over the last, you know, half dozen years and it derails teams hopes of having some sort of, you know, long term run. It's amazing how short the windows are in this league because of the injuries and guys changing teams. You know, if you get a group together that can win, man, you better capitalize and get a couple of them because it's very difficult to hold on to your guys. And as we've seen, it's very difficult to keep those guys healthy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

One of the people whose name comes to mind when you talk about that is Giannis Antetokounmpo. Everybody feels that he's going to leave Milwaukee and maybe Kendrick Perkins on our show last night said Milwaukee should get rid of them and it's over for Milwaukee right now. Which leads to this question. Would you trade, if you ran Dallas and you've already traded Luka Doncic, would you trade the right to pick Cooper Flag for Giannis Antetokounmpo?

[General George Washington]

I would not. And then I think that's mainly because of how I feel about Cooper Flag. And, you know, I'm glad. Recently I had a chance to talk to some, some coaches in the league and I was doing games and I would. And the, you know, the draft lottery was coming up and I had a chance to talk to some coaches and pick their brains and I thought it was pretty much a consensus just in terms of how people feel about Cooper Flag. You're talking about a guy that's got great size. He's got all the skill you could want. He's, he's, he's just one of those transcendent talents. And he also, Tony, most importantly, has a motor that is absolutely off the charts and he's got an edge to him. He's got a meanness and a toughness that he needs when he has to have it. I saw what he put up with out there in the high level AAU circuit, in the high school circuit, and the amount of guys that were coming for him every night, you know, this big name and they were challenging him right in his face, chest to chest. And to watch the way he responded to that and the way he would, he would go about his business without getting distracted to the point he's going to get a fight or something like that. All he would do, Let me just go out there and have these, you know, 30 point, 18 rebounds, six block games against you and just continue to separate from the rest of his class. I've Been seeing him since he was 14. I said it when he was 15 years old. You could drop him into a Power 5 game right now, and he's going to get you 15, 20 points at 15 years old. And so I think he is absolutely the real deal. I think he's got the whole package. He's going to be a generational talent.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[General George Washington]

I'm not. I'm not moving off of that if I'm any team.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, that's fine. I have another question. Get you out of here on this. Sorry for coughing. You played at LaSalle. It's in Philadelphia. You follow Philadelphia ball. You know everything about Philadelphia. Did you see Brunson like this? Did you think he'd be this good?

[General George Washington]

No, it's just, it's. I think he would probably be at the top of my list of guys that completely. You blew through the ceiling of what I thought they were as a player, I think. I think I probably missed his ceiling as much as any player I've ever evaluated. I actually thought I liked him and I thought he's probably going to be one of two things. He's either going to be a starting point guard on a bad team and maybe top off at about 15, 16 points a game, you know, six, seven assists, or he's going to be a backup on a good team where he's playing 15 minutes a night. But he's so steady and smart. He'd be a great backup. I never thought ever that you'd see Jalen Brunson control games like this, particularly as a scorer. And it is a testament to not having necessarily needing super quick twitch verticality. You don't need those things. Jalen Brunson is proving that you need strength.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's a rock.

[General George Washington]

Balance.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's a rock. Yeah.

[General George Washington]

And most importantly, he's got that. He's got that lack of fear, the bright lights. And he's had that, I think, his whole life. He's made for the big stage. And that's something internal that's very hard to know. He's proven that, but he just does it through fundamental stuff. Great touch. And then most importantly, he just believes in himself and he's not phased by the moment.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I agree. I mean, I don't want to go nuts because Wilburn loves him because he's originally from Chicago and I have to listen to this nonsense all the time, but he's. He's really good. And I think may say something about when people play on championship teams in college, when. When they do that, they're not afraid Right. They're just not afraid of the bright lights in big city. And that's what he's good at.

[General George Washington]

That's a great, it's a great point. And it's, it's. He's been playing in big games at him since a very young age. And just we should have seen maybe little bit more there that he's different. But, you know, you know, you also look at the physical metrics and the league he's going into, and you're saying, you know, how is he going to put up 25 points a night and be an MVP candidate in that league with his size and with, with his specific quickness? How's that going to happen? And so even though you can love him, that's a totally different thing. And he's been able to do it and he's incredible. And, you know, this is going to be a great, great matchup of two great point guards.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I agree.

[General George Washington]

Jalen. Jalen Brunson. You know, if the games are close, having Jalen Brunson on your side is something that gives the Knicks an incredible amount of confidence.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Thank you. As always, enjoy the series. We'll talk soon. Thank you, Tim.

[General George Washington]

Sounds good, Tony.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Tim Legler, boys and girls. Tim Legler is simply great. He's simply great. We will come back with email and jingle and I am Tony Kornheiser.

[I]

The Starbucks summer berry refresher is officially back. Bold notes of raspberry, blueberry and BlackBerry shaken with ice and poured over raspberry flavored pearls. Try it with lemonade or coconut milk. Available for a limited time. Your summer berry refresher is ready at Starbucks.

[Hakeem Jeffries]

This is the Tony Kornizer Show.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The Tony Kornizer Show.

[I]

Here comes Tony's mailbag. Got your email, faxes and your notes. Here comes Tony's mailbag. Gonna read some for all of you folks.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Thank you. KJ accompanied on her own ukulele.

[Tim Legler]

Always love that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You want to do the Bethesda bagel ad?

[Tim Legler]

Yes, Bethesda.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Your intern really liked the sandwiches the other day.

[Tim Legler]

What's not to like about it? It's great bagel sandwich. We get those on Mondays. Today we just got the bagels, but we love the bagels. You will as well. Just go to BethesdaBaggles.com for the location in the D.C. area near Stew. Then pop on in and you'll be thrilled.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Before we get to the mailbag, let me just say, mama's got a squeeze box wares on her chest. And when daddy comes home, he never gets no rest because she's playing all night and the music's all right Mama's got a squeeze box Daddy never sleeps at night. That's the who. I love that song. It's a great song. Love that song. Thanks to our guests today. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Binghamton Graff, Mark Feinsand, Tim Legler, thanks as well to today's sponsors. Remember, you can listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Audacy. Get the show through Apple Podcasts. Please leave us a review from Peter Potke in Southington, Connecticut. I'm already wondering what first recipe you have in mind for your potato crop. French fries Mashed. I would go with the simplest option. Classic baked with a dollop of sour cream. Alas, maybe we're getting ahead of ourselves. I worry we'll find you one warm afternoon in late September on your hands and knees in the front yard, desperately digging in vain attempt to locate a harvest that did not materialize. Wearily, you'll stand to look with contempt at a single small spud half gnawed by some subterranean varmint. With contempt, you'll hurl that blasted potato into the street like a opposing team's home run ball storming into the house. That's it. I'm boiling eggs from Gino Agnelli in Bedford, Indiana. You recently stated you would plant your potatoes in the front yard because they grow underground. I feel obliged to tell you that a significant portion of the plants will indeed grow above ground. You might liken it to your experiences with Swedish Steel. I know you don't do shout outs, so I won't ask you to congratulate my son in law as Colt Beam on his retirement from the US Army Night Stalkers after 20 years of faithful service. Yeah, I thought they grew completely underground. They don't.

[Tim Legler]

Well, we'll see.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What better way to get my first email on the show than to email about numbers. Tuesday, May 20th will mark the first of ten straight palindrome dates. So that was yesterday. 05 and it's five. Today is 52125 and then 522 20. Yeah, it goes all the way until the 29th. Enjoyed this from Kevin Reitmeier in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

[Tim Legler]

Good numbers.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Cilissa also sent me an email about that.

[Tim Legler]

Oh really?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Palindrome numbers?

[Harrison]

Email or a text? A full email?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Text. A text. Mike Roseberry, State College, Pennsylvania later this month, my mom, my son and I will all be celebrating our birthdays on the same day. Mom turns 80, the boy will be 18, and I begin the slow descent into senility of 55. That's not the good part though. The good part part is that the date May 25th, meaning the date is 5:25. 25.

[Tim Legler]

That's a good 55 on that day. Yeah, those are good numbers.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Kevin Lee in Indianapolis who says he's a friend of mark from Camby, Indiana. Longtime loyal Little I'm one of the announcers for the Fox IndyCar coverage and previously was part of the NBC coverage. I greatly enjoy Mr. Tony sharing his love for the Indy 500 each year. Yeah, the Indy 500 is a great thing. I wanted to alert him of the new homes so he doesn't miss it. This Sunday, May 25th. It's now on Fox same time as the last few years at 12:45. Green flag in the pre race beginning at 10am Eastern and Kevin Lee is with Fox Sports and NBC Sports and 107 5, the Fan in Indianapolis. I think it's a great event. Oh yeah, D and D. I mean I I sort of like it even better than the Daytona. It's my favorite race. D&D5.

[Tim Legler]

It kicks off summer. Yeah, it's great.

[Tony Kornheiser]

From Ryan Grove and Frank Falling Waters, West Virginia. Every player in MLB history with at least 12 home runs, 13 stolen bases and 36 RBI in their team's first 45 games. The list goes Ken Williams, Lou Brock, Eric Davis, Barry Bonds and Pete Crowe Armstrong. That's it. That's the list. Wil Bond is right. This kid is special. His mom was also an actress in the beloved Major League Baseball movie Little Big League. She played the mom of the kid turned MLB Twins manager, Billy Haywood. My beloved Orioles stink. So I've been watching a lot of other games and players so far. Yeah, Wilbon is totally convinced the guy in the Cubs is great.

[Tim Legler]

Said he's Tai Cobb. That might be.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, that might be a little bit much. Mark Nelson I was so moved by the AI mailbag story I decided to take 5 minutes out of my day to use the tech to to bring the opening scene and it's a picture of me holding a Nationals cup out in the water, staring straight ahead lonely.

[Tim Legler]

And bleakness of the future.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Just not happy. So we beat on From John John Hasman Dear Mr. Tony and gang, I write to follow up on my previous email about Post Post Sex nachos playing the Poin Festival Musical festival here in St. Louis. The show is this past Saturday, the day after the terrible tornado hit our fair city. I went along with my college buddies who I had parenthetically also happen to be my groomsmen 25 years ago when I got married. Anyway, I told them the story of emailing him about the show and my buddy Greg said, no way. My other friend who is here is the godfather of the bassist. When I exclaimed, you're kidding me. Anyway, he waved him over and I told him the story, then insisted on introducing me to him. After the show. I gave the band a hearty Lecheserie, which got me a huge smile and a nod from the band. Then they all came out after the show and mingled with the fans. Great show, great guys. Attached for those viewing On News Channel 8, this picture of me on the right and the bassist. Probably the happiest guy on the planet. If any artists are wondering if sending in free music is just a scam similar to the failed Chatter mural or a chance at actually gaining new fans, I can attest it really works. My friends and I love the show and plan on going to their next stop in St. Louis this August. In honor of the Godfather, Godson Connection in this tale, please tell my godfather and fellow Little Chris Costa Beal or Costa Bile of Silver Spring, Maryland to eat it. And there's a picture, of course, with playing with the basses.

[Harrison]

Slapping the bass.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. From JP Nathan Ackerhelm, Charlotte, North Carolina. Next time you need to travel to New York, might you consider taking your charter boat instead of the train?

[Harrison]

Have to check the Tide schedule.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And Neil Aravais, our lawyer friend in Littleton, Colorado. Old Orange man to high school kid. Anyone call you Harrison Ford? No. Do you know who Harrison Ford is? No. How about William Henry Harrison? High school kid thinks I got up early for this. You know, got on your bike tight Everyone is always to wear white. Now if there's anything I can do for you. I certainly hope you'll die soon.

[Mark Feinsand]

I All night all night all right, all right, all right. Dress like a secretary Puts in such a quandary Will we marry so sensational that it's scary Makes her mix does tricks with cherries don't get it twisted the feeling can't resist it or try to play it cool but she keeps insisting she want a man with the bands and the stacks I got a band with a man with a sax Back in a band and the dad is a pack She's a fat you don't take no crack she like to dance on my lap A cutie with a lap A beauty on mat she.

[I]

Attractive is sex girl I know it's wrong but it feels so right up in the moment last night so come with me Baby, let's get away Girl I want to touch your body Touch your body, body, body Every every single.

[Mark Feinsand]

Freaking day and every single night Making me tingle get me loose when I'm tighten Hercule aphrodisiac baby be my boo Bees in the trample make pancakes they're real pleasian rap let's get wild in the trees, in the SAP Nice and naughty bready classy sassy spicy seasoning whack and then it hit me all of a sudden we rockin empty Cocking in.

[I]

A strum Running and hugging kissing and loving While our body touches Girl I know it's wrong but it feels all right Caught up in the moment Lost in the night so come with me baby let's get away don't want to touch your body every day so come with me baby let's run Sam.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Flurry.

[Mark Feinsand]

Whispers had me flatter Made me miss her, made me grab her, made me kiss her Sweet as dessert with you gonna surely miss her Dancing fast and dancing slow baby feel the passion flow Tell her rising in the heat of the night Might be wrong but it's.

[I]

All right Girl I know it's wrong but he feel so right Caught up in the mother last night so come with me baby let's get away Girl I want to touch your body Touch your body, body, body every day Girl I know it's wrong but it feels so right Got up in the morning so come with me baby let's get away Girl I want to touch your body Touch your body Touch your body, body Every day Do you struggle in the dark Trying to find your way? A stranger lost with so much left to say My deep inside There's a fire burning bright Searching for light.

[Mark Feinsand]

A.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Glimmer of hope.

[I]

But the darkness that surrounds us makes it hard to cope Deep within the shadows yeah Two strangers walk alone Both lost in a certain they were unknown we struggle in the dark trying to find our way Two strangers lost with so much left to say not deep inside There's a fire burning bright.

[Mark Feinsand]

Every step that we take.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Feels like a treasure.

[I]

But you keep on pushing forward yeah you can never lose grip from the pages of time we will write Leaving our friends yeah.

[Mark Feinsand]

Hey yo, hey, yo hey, yo I wanna rise to the occasion But I'm afraid of heights the words of yours you blur to Cut me like a bladed knife or maybe I should write or maybe I should text or maybe I should swipe and move on to the next or maybe be my lady or someday be my wife or maybe you're the one I need? If only for tonight? But either way's all right? And if you are my type? Just lay your pretty head beside me? Stay with me all night? I'm feeling like the new person? You know I'm not facetious? You got me lifted up? My spirits rising like the phoenix? Damn, you look delicious? You make my life complete?

[I]

Looking in the eye?

[Mark Feinsand]

Makes my heart skip a be?

[I]

We struggle in the dark? Trying to find our way? Two strangers lost? With so much left to say? My deep inside? There's a fire burning bright? Oh, we'll rise in new eyes? We'll rise in new highs? We'll rise in new eyes?