The Tony Kornheiser Show

Episode: "Why trust what I can see?"
Date: February 23, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of The Tony Kornheiser Show blends classic Tony fare: Washington D.C. weather woes (with a focus on the latest snowstorm and power outage), dramatic recaps and reflection on Team USA’s gold-medal hockey win over Canada, Olympic coverage quirks, and sharp, freewheeling conversations about the NBA, college basketball, and more. Tony is joined throughout by regulars Michael Wilbon and Craig Laughlin, each bringing their wit and insight on sports and the world around them.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Washington D.C. Snowstorm Recap & Outage Anxiety

• Snow Totals, Local Experience:
  • Tony and Mike compare notes on the recent snow in D.C.—about 3 to 4 inches in their part of town.
  • They poke fun at the dramatic, often conflicting, weather predictions (from 1 inch to three feet!) and the city’s tendency to overreact.
• Power Outage Saga:
  • Tony recounts an unnerving night with a full power outage, including his distrust of the restored service and the ambiguous Pepco updates.
    • Quote: "You know me pretty well. I don't trust that. I was anxious. I was anxious that they would turn the corner, the power would go back off." (Tony Kornheiser, [04:44])
  • Wilbon describes going over, delivering a portable phone charger, and assessing how cold Tony’s house was.

Timestamps:

• Snow & power outage segment: [01:12] – [05:13]

2. Olympic Hockey: USA's Dramatic Win Over Canada

• Game Recap & Fairness of Overtime Format:
  • Tony and Wilbon unpack the nail-biting action, particularly the excitement—and controversy—over 3-on-3 overtime.
    • Quote: "Three on three is tremendously exciting. I’m not sure it's fair." (Tony Kornheiser, [06:21])
    • Wilbon defends it as much fairer than penalty kicks in soccer.
  • Both praise Team USA's performance but resist comparisons to the 1980 "Miracle on Ice," stressing that today’s teams are pro vs. pro.
    • Quote: "It is not okay if you make a comparison between the United States beating Canada and 1980. There's no comparisons. We're all NHL players." (Tony Kornheiser, [07:19])
• Heroics & History:
  • Discussion of Jack Hughes’s impact and the significance of the American win.
  • Wilbon highlights the emotional spectacle—celebrations, flag draping—a nod to Olympic theater.
• Craig Laughlin’s Hockey Perspective:
  • Laughlin, ex-NHLer and Cap’s broadcaster, describes a house divided (Canadian vs. American allegiances) and gives his detailed analysis:
    • Quote: "I would have preferred when you go to overtime in the Olympics, it's still five on five... and if it goes 3 overtimes, so be it." (Craig Laughlin, [35:09])
  • Both goalies’ performances come under the spotlight, especially U.S. goalie Hellebuyck’s "out of his mind" game-saving play ([36:42]).
  • Craig weighs the value of Olympic gold vs. the Stanley Cup, concluding they're "equal" in prestige for modern players.

Timestamps:

• Initial hockey/1980 comparison discussion: [06:38] – [08:56]
• Wilbon’s third-period and goaltending praise: [16:57] – [19:30]
• Overtime format fairness debate: [19:30] – [20:30]
• Laughlin’s deep dive: [34:10] – [44:58]

3. Winter Olympics Coverage & Commentary

• On Halfpipe Jargon and Broadcast Personalization:

  • Tony and the crew riff on NBC’s use of technical lingo—'triple cork 1980', etc.—and the value (and absurdity) of “interpreting” Olympic events for the less initiated.
  • Tony shares a note from NBC’s Todd Harris, who directly referenced Tony on-air, explaining his job in making unusual sports accessible (and confirming listeners from inside the Olympics booth).
    • Quote: “I had a producer tell me: ‘Most of the people tuning in have no clue about the terminology.’ It made me immediately think of you and your rant last week.” (Todd Harris, [12:29])

• The Athlete’s Commitment vs. Snow Impact:

  • Tony recounts from his doctor friend how outpatients and medical staff sleep at hospitals overnight to make scheduled procedures during storms—a detail overlooked by most people.

Timestamps:

• Halfpipe jargon & Todd Harris note: [11:27] – [15:25]

4. Golf, College Basketball, and NBA State-of-the-Union

• Golf—Jacob Bridgman Holds On:
  • Tony and Wilbon run through Bridgman’s tense moments at Riviera, highlighting his jitters on the 18th green and contrasting with the easier shot-makers who missed chances.
    • Quote: “…when you saw that putt, you go, oh my god, he's gagged it, right?” (Tony Kornheiser, [24:03])
• College Basketball Talent Pool:
  • Post-Michigan/Duke and Houston/Arizona weekend, they discuss this year’s ultra-deep draft class; 8–10 “tank-worthy” players, lessening the need for teams to intentionally lose.
    • Quote: “…that’s why this is the actual year. I would flatten the odds in the lottery. Utterly.” (Tony Kornheiser, [26:58])
• NBA Playoff Outlook:
  • Who can make noise down the stretch? Wilbon picks Detroit and San Antonio as the most fascinating young teams.
  • Both slam the media’s Lakers/Cowboys obsession, ranking L.A. as barely in the playoff picture.
    • Quote, on Lakers:
      • Tony: “Would you bet on the Lakers as constituted in a playoff series right now against either Oklahoma City or San Antonio? I would not. Would you?”
      • Wilbon: “I would not know.” ([31:12]–[31:31])

Timestamps:

• Golf/Riviera recap: [22:10] – [24:53]
• College/NBA talk: [25:01] – [33:15]

5. Notable and Memorable Moments

• Personalized Olympic Broadcasts:
  • NBC’s Todd Harris referencing “my good friend Tony Kornheiser” on-air and even singing the show’s mailbag theme during rehearsal ([12:29], [15:02]).
• Snow Commentary Gold:
  • Mike joking about D.C.’s snow over-response: “Three to four inches and a classic DC over respond. We messed up the previous storm. We're going to be out early and often for this.” ([02:19])
• Classic Tony Skepticism:
  • “I can’t wait for the bill. Be $4,000, you know, this month.” ([05:02])
• Wilbon:
  • “People don’t have any sense of history. We know that. We talk about you, and I talk about that all the time.” ([20:30])

Segment Highlights (w/ Timestamps)

• Snow/power outage tales: [01:12] – [05:13]
• Olympic hockey/1980 context: [06:38] – [08:56]
• Hospital logistics in snow: [09:45] – [10:41]
• Olympics halfpipe/Personalized commentary: [11:27] – [15:25]
• Wilbon’s hockey analysis: [16:57] – [19:30]
• Hockey OT fairness: [19:30] – [20:30]
• Wilbon/Tony on non-hockey Winter Olympics: [21:21] – [22:10]
• Golf (Bridgman at Riviera): [22:10] – [24:53]
• College/NBA deep dive: [25:01] – [33:15]
• Laughlin detailed hockey breakdown: [34:10] – [44:58]
• Notable emails, music break, and show traditions: [45:00] – [51:46]

Quotes of the Episode

• Tony Kornheiser (on power returning):
  "You know me pretty well. I don't trust that. I was anxious... Why trust what I can see." ([04:44]–[05:00])

• Michael Wilbon (on historic context):
  “People don’t have any sense of history... They have no sense of what was going on in the world in 1980.” ([20:30])

• Craig Laughlin (on Olympic gold vs. the Stanley Cup):
  “I would say equal to… You’re competing against the world…” ([40:35])

• Tony Kornheiser (on the Lakers coverage):
  “Not doing the Lakers. We're not doing the Cowboys. We're not doing the Cowboys or the Lakers.” ([32:45])

Tone & Style Notes

The episode is classic “Tony”—lightly curmudgeonly, self-effacing, and sharp, always keeping the conversation both erudite and approachable. Tony and Wilbon riff with the ease of old friends, mixing inside jokes and deep sports knowledge with universal gripes (weather, power companies), while Craig Laughlin offers a measured and passionate hockey analysis with a just-right touch of nostalgia.

For First-Time Listeners

You’ll get a full taste of why The Tony Kornheiser Show remains beloved: accessible, funny, with the camaraderie of lifelong friends and sports experts, and a singular mix of D.C.-flavored personal stories and national sports takes. If you missed the 2026 Olympic hockey finale, college hoops, or just want smart talk about weather, power outages, and how the NBA's talent landscape is changing, this episode delivers.

[Timestamps indicate start of relevant segment.]