Podcast Summary: The Tony Kornheiser Show
Episode: “Wilbon’s Note”
Date: February 25, 2026
Host: Tony Kornheiser
Guests: Todd Harris (Olympics broadcaster, NBC, SailGP), Matt Barry (ESPN, TGL - Team Golf League)
Overview
This episode of The Tony Kornheiser Show offers listeners a dynamic mix of sports banter, in-depth guest interviews, and classic Kornheiser wit. The main themes include the recent extreme winter weather along the East Coast, the chaos and delight of covering the Olympics (and its “crazy” sports), behind-the-scenes insights into modern televised golf (TGL), and the evolving landscape of sports broadcasting. Todd Harris and Matt Barry both join as first-time guests, sharing candid stories from their careers and unique perspectives on the future of sports coverage.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Reflections on Recent East Coast Weather
[04:00–13:45]
- Tony opens with humor and weather talk: The show transitions from a lighthearted mailbag segment straight into Kornheiser-style weather commentary, outlining a “bombogenesis” snowstorm that battered the East Coast.
- Tony marvels at the varying snow totals: Rehoboth Beach (DE) and Ocean City (MD) got hammered—up to 18 inches—with impassable roads and widespread power outages—while DC, by contrast, emerged mostly unscathed.
- Rhode Island is highlighted for its extreme snowfall (“Providence got 37 inches. Warwick got 34 inches. That’s just. That’s Buffalo, kids.” — Tony, [08:11]).
- The unique difficulties such snow brings to non-snowbelt areas are a running joke (e.g., “Delaware doesn’t have this,” [09:21]).
- The crew discusses the lack of infrastructure (like snow removal equipment) in beach towns, leading to shutdowns and travel bans.
Notable Moment:
Tony riffs on “revenge snow dumping” in big cities—when people shovel snow back into a parking spot someone else took (“It’s hatred.” — Tony, [12:20])—and wonders about the social etiquette of “saving” spots.
2. Olympic Broadcasting & Dangerous Sports with Todd Harris
[15:46–28:00]
Who is Todd Harris?
NBC and SailGP broadcaster, formerly ESPN (Pac-10 coverage), now London-based.
Olympic Shout-outs
- Tony plays back Harris’s Olympics on-air translation for “my good friend Tony Kornheiser,” where Harris simplified extreme sports jargon for mainstream audiences:
“So to translate that for my good friend Tony Kornheiser, that is a five and a half rotation spin off axis with the cork. Yep, simple as that.” — Todd Harris, [15:46]
- Tony expresses his delight that Harris is a listener.
On Broadcasting Extreme Sports
- Harris describes the unique, risky nature of Winter Olympics events:
“The Winter Olympics are the crazy uncle of the Summer Olympics because it’s just multiple ways to kill yourself going down a mountain...” — Todd Harris, [17:55]
- Both joke about the perils that define these events, with Tony remarking on how dangerous skeleton and ski jumping appear.
- Harris confirms ski jumping is, paradoxically, safer than aerial freestyle:
“The ski jumping is more of a launch outward... They’ve just perfected the art of flight.” — Todd Harris, [19:47]
On Building a Broadcasting Career
Harris fell into covering “X Games” sports in the ‘90s (“No one else wanted to do it... You’ve got a young look, why don’t we put you in that?” [20:43]), then moved to more traditional roles with ABC/ESPN, before settling into a diversified career mixing sailing, play-by-play, and Olympic work.
Life in London & SailGP
- Harris details how COVID led to his London base for SailGP (“the Formula One of sailing”).
- He humorously confesses to double-dipping on coverage—calling Olympic events by day, SailGP races from his hotel at 2 a.m. by night.
Notable Quotes:
- “I think sometimes I feel like the jack of all trades and the master of nothing... The Swiss Army knife. When we don’t have anyone for that, put Harris on it.” — Todd Harris, [25:32]
- “I just checked the box today, being on the Tony Kornheiser show.” — Todd Harris, [25:32]
3. The TV Revolution in Golf: Matt Barry on TGL
[29:30–48:55]
Who is Matt Barry?
Lead play-by-play for TGL on ESPN; also anchors SportsCenter; background in local TV with roots in Arizona and the Walter Cronkite School.
The Road to ESPN
- Barry recounts his progression from small-market Wisconsin and Oklahoma news, to Dallas TV, to ESPN (“Local TV, and here we are,” [32:54]).
- Tony and Matt reminisce about meeting at a Super Bowl party and joke about their respective hometowns.
Inside TGL—Team Golf League
- Barry explains how he joined TGL after initial skepticism (“What, indoor golf?... What the hell is that?” [33:41]).
- He shares a golfer’s perspective—the appeal of getting “trained killers” out of their comfort zone, enjoying a team environment, and engaging a new (especially younger) audience.
The Realities of ‘Indoor Golf’
- Tony points out the surreal aspect: “You’re hitting a ball into a bed sheet. I mean, let’s not get crazy. This is indoor golf. It’s not real golf.” [37:41]
- Barry stresses it’s a different kind of competition—a way for players to relax, have fun, and reconnect with the basic joy of the game.
Player Reactions and Technology
- Early TGL events left pros baffled by the golf simulator’s readings, but improvements have helped (“The technology has gotten better. The adjustment by the players has gotten better.” — Matt Barry, [40:26])
- TGL’s appeal for younger viewers:
“I’ve had more parents come up to me and thank me for doing TGL because their kids hate golf, but they love TGL because it’s the video game look.” — Matt Barry, [41:01]
Behind the Scenes: Production & Player Relations
- Tony is curious about wardrobe choices; Barry confirms stylists pick out “casual, golf” looks.
- Matt explains the unusual intimacy of the TGL format—players in casual dress practicing, hanging out, and their conversations going on-air.
“You get these trained killers…they get to let their hair down a little bit and go play and have fun in front of a crowd.” — Matt Barry, [38:20]
- The live, mic’d-up format leads to candid-yet-protected player chatter—stories about missed putts, friendly ribbing, and even strategic golf insights.
On “Success” for TGL
- Barry is bullish, noting investment from major owners and the addition of a new franchise.
- Tony muses about the weirdness (and commerce) of TGL team hats (“You want to have a hat from Augusta? What are you talking about?” [45:25]), but acknowledges the show works as TV—perhaps even better than as a live event.
Notable Quotes:
- “When you’re part of a startup…it’s so hard to find a startup in this day and age in TV.” — Matt Barry, [45:43]
- “Make it entertaining…You have to engage with the other golfers…this is a television show.” — Tony Kornheiser, [46:34]
- “For hardcore golf nerds…the anti-TGL like Wilbon…it’d be hard for him not to love a clip of Tommy Fleetwood telling Justin Rose what Butch Harmon told him two days ago.” — Matt Barry, [48:16]
Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
-
On Olympic Extreme Sports:
“The Winter Olympics are the crazy uncle of the Summer Olympics.”
— Todd Harris, [17:55] -
On Rhode Island’s Snow:
“Providence got 37 inches. Warwick got 34 inches. That’s just… That’s Buffalo, kids.”
— Tony Kornheiser, [08:11] -
On Audience Impact:
“I’ve had more parents come up to me and thank me for doing TGL because their kids hate golf, but they love TGL because it’s the video game look.”
— Matt Barry, [41:01] -
On Covering Wild Sports:
“Sometimes I feel like the jack of all trades and the master of nothing… The Swiss Army knife. When we don’t have anyone for that, put Harris on it.”
— Todd Harris, [25:32] -
On TGL as TV vs. Live:
“I think it’s a better TV show than a live event.”
— Tony Kornheiser, [46:34]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Weather commentary & snowstorm recap: [04:00–13:45]
- Todd Harris interview (Olympics, broadcasting life, SailGP): [15:46–28:00]
- Matt Barry interview (TGL, ESPN, golf TV): [29:30–48:55]
Final Notes & Tone
The episode is steeped in Tony’s genial but acerbic tone, quick banter with co-hosts, and self-deprecating humor about aging, wardrobe, and the absurdities of modern sports. The relaxed but insightful interviews with Todd Harris and Matt Barry offer a refreshing behind-the-scenes look at sports TV, the evolving appeal of “new” sports, and the cult of personality in contemporary broadcasting.
Listeners gain both the newsy flavor of big weather, sports media mechanics, and—via Tony—the sense that everyone in TV and sports, no matter how big or small, is part of an ongoing, rambling conversation.
For fans old and new, this episode will satisfy those craving sports wisdom, lighthearted camaraderie, and the rare feeling of being “in on the joke” with one of sports media’s most enduring voices.