“You’re the matchbook guy”

Summary

The Tony Kornheiser Show – "You’re the matchbook guy"

Date: December 31, 2025

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tony Kornheiser and his regular cast traverse their usual eclectic terrain: from personal anecdotes and local color (including Tony's saga of framing collectible matchbooks and a misadventure with a raisin scone) to spirited debates about NFL team management, playoff fairness, and exhaustive previews of the upcoming college football playoff games. Expert guests Jason La Canfora, James Carville, and Pat Forde join to lend insight and banter, all accompanied by Tony's signature storytelling flair.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Matchbook Framing Saga & Local Bethesda Adventures

[00:00 – 15:30]

• Tony’s Framebridge Excursion:

  • Tony shares a story about his appointment to frame his cherished collection of restaurant matchbooks at Framebridge in Bethesda.
  • Humorous obstacles include parking woes, generational divides over custom framing, and his own indecisiveness in arranging the matchbooks.
  • Upon entry, he's recognized as “the matchbook guy,” which delights both him and his co-hosts.
  • Quote:

    "Oh, you’re the matchbook guy."
    — Framebridge staffer identifies Tony ([07:03])

• Moral Debate About Parking:

  • Tony parks in a lot designated for shoppers and feels morally obligated to make a purchase. He opts for a baked good.
  • His anticipation for a raisin bun dissolves into disappointment with a bland raisin scone; he picks out the raisins and muses about value.
  • Quotes:

    “It was 3.95. I mean, I thought, wow, that’s a lot. I could have bought a box of raisins.” ([13:01])
    “Are you a scone person?” ([14:19])

• Co-host Banter:

  • Michael, Craig, and Tony riff on local bakeries, parking stress, and generational divides about custom vs. big-box store framing.

---

2. NFL & Sports Deep Dives with Jason La Canfora

[17:54 – 29:34]

• Falcons’ Front Office Move:

  • Tony criticizes Atlanta’s GM for drafting Michael Penix and upsetting Kirk Cousins, arguing that it’s led to the team’s underperformance.
  • Quote:

    “He ruined the team. He ruined it. I – he should be fired. That’s what I think.” ([20:36])

• Baltimore Ravens & Steelers Preview:

  • Discussion on whether Lamar Jackson should play if not fully healthy and the team’s limited offense without him.
  • Jason breaks down Huntley’s limitations, Derrick Henry’s sustainability, and the challenges of balancing quarterback health and playoff aspirations.
  • Quote:

    “If Lamar’s remotely ready to play this game, Lamar has to play this game.” ([23:23])

• Coaching Futures:

  • Both Tony and Jason speculate on whether long-tenured coaches in Baltimore and Pittsburgh will return.
  • Jason forecasts significant coaching staff changes, if not full regime changes, possibly opening the door for “door number two.”
  • Quote:

    “I think there’s a greater chance that neither’s back than both are back.” ([23:58])

• Playoff Weather Fairness Debate:

  • Tony asks if it’s fair that a warm-weather team like the Rams must go on the road in January.
  • Jason places this in context of NFL tradition and the motivations behind dome stadiums and playoff expansion.
  • Quote:

    “That’s football, man. I mean, they played this schedule forever. They’re only going to extend it deeper into the winter.” ([27:15])

---

3. Weekly Football Picks with James Carville

[31:40 – 35:04]

• Carville discusses his previous week’s record and rolls out his picks:

  • Iowa (+5.5)
  • Arizona State (+3.5)
  • Miami at Ohio State (+10)
  • Indiana (-7) against Cincinnati
  • A first-half over bet for New England/Miami

• Banter with Tony about Carville’s surprisingly pragmatic picks, with nods to tradition ("Never thought I’d take Indiana over Alabama…") and jokes about SEC loyalty.

• Quote:

  “The summit is in sight.” — James Carville, on reaching .500 in picks ([32:09])

---

4. College Football Playoff & Industry Trends with Pat Forde

[35:56 – 48:24]

• Michigan’s New Coach:

  • Tony and Pat agree the hire is as much about resetting the school’s reputation as it is about wins; concern over cultural fit aired.
  • Quote:

    “This was as much a reputational hire as a competitive hire.” ([36:40])

• Playoff Game Previews:

  • Ohio State/Miami: Pat favors Ohio State as "clearly the better team."
  • Alabama/Indiana: Pat champions Indiana, calling them the best team ("We’ve got to wrap our arms around it and say, that’s the way this is.").
  • Oregon/Texas Tech: Calls it close, gives slight edge to Oregon.
  • Ole Miss/Georgia: Predicts Georgia wins but expects a good game.

• Eligibility & “College as Never-Never Land”:

  • Discussion on college athletes seeking endless eligibility and the erosion of “student”-athlete identity.
  • Quote:

    “...eventually the candy store closes. Like, it has a closing hour...and you have to go do something else. You cannot just eternally eat candy.” ([45:00])

• Future of College Playoffs:

  • Pat anticipates an inevitable move to a 16-team format, with more at-large berths forecasted.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tony's self-deprecating philosophy:

  “In my case, I’m not lasting that long either. So it’s okay if it [the frame job] doesn’t last that long.” ([09:57])

• On scones:

  “No, I don’t. I didn’t like it. It was a big ball of dough. I didn’t like it. It had no taste.” — Tony ([13:09])

• On NFL January games:

  “Is it fair that the January weather can be so determining of who wins and who does not win?” — Tony ([26:40])
  “That’s football, man.” — Jason La Canfora ([27:15])

• On NCAA sports culture drift:

  “It has become like minor league, highly paid, highly watched minor league.” — Pat Forde ([46:32])
  “We’ve completely lost the plot to a degree with some of this stuff.” — Pat Forde ([46:11])

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Framing Matchbooks and Bethesda Bakery Adventure: 00:00 – 15:30
• NFL Talk with Jason La Canfora: 17:54 – 29:34
• James Carville’s Football Picks: 31:40 – 35:04
• College Football Playoff Talk with Pat Forde: 35:56 – 48:24

---

Tone & Atmosphere

Tony’s storytelling is warm, self-effacing, and deeply nostalgic, seamlessly transitioning from laugh-out-loud observational comedy to earnest reflection. The interplay among co-hosts and guests maintains both a sharp wit and an accessible, conversational feel—making even deep dives into sports management or college football intrigue feel relatable and engaging. Frequent callbacks, inside jokes, and personal tangents are hallmarks, creating a “hangout” vibe for listeners.

---

For First-Time Listeners

This episode delivers the full "Tony Kornheiser Show" experience: local color, sports nerdery, personal reminiscence, sharp guest analysis, and a sense of belonging for both sports fans and those who just enjoy great radio storytelling.

Transcript

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hey, it's Tony. On today's show, we'll go around the NFL with Jason Lock and Fora. James Carville will call in with his weekly football picks and we will preview the next round of college football playoff games with PAT40. But first, Commerce previously on the Tony Kornizer Show. Okay, that's good. And for those of you who are interested in my attempt to frame some matchbooks over the over the course of time, I have an appointment today at 10 o' clock in the morning at Framebridge.

[Michael Granberry]

Are we giving out the location?

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, I'm not going to do that. There's a number of frame digits. I'm going to one.

[Craig Simon]

I'll hold release of the episode till 10:30.

[Pat40]

Thanks.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The Tony Kornheiser show is on now. If you wait for it, I'll tell you all about it. I got some other things to start with. First, from Brett Hobbs of Lynton, Indiana who emails us a lot. My hometown of Linton, Indiana was hit by an F1 tornado on December 28th. Second tornado to hit our town this year. You have mentioned my town several times in the emails I've sent. We're hurting right now. Please say a prayer for this small Southern Indiana town, which of course we will do. From Dylan Garon in Reston, Virginia. I was driving home from my in laws while listening to Monday's episode Wanda. Thank you for sharing your high school memories, especially the way you quoted the Beatles in my life. That song holds a very special place for me. On my wedding day, I danced with my mom to it. It's a memory I'll always treasure. Hearing about the notes and letters you've received from childhood made me reflect on a message I recently received from my own best friend, someone I've known since I was 6 years old. We grew up in a tiny town in New Hampshire playing Little League together and eventually made a run for high school stake title as Best Friends. As life unfolded, I moved to rest in Virginia. Over time, through distance, misunderstandings and growing up, we drifted apart. Last week he reached out to me unexpectedly writing about our best years but also the lost years and end up being the best Christmas present I could have ever received. Your episode captured that mix of nostalgia, gratitude and quiet healing perfectly reminded me how powerful those early connections can be even years later. Thank you for sharing that. Thank you for writing that to me. Lovely. Two things. These are catch up things. One is about Sherman Oil. Just so we understand each other about Sherman Oil. I got another bill two days ago for like $500 and I'm angry because I had for many, many years subscribed to their budget situation where you lock in a certain rate for a gallon of propane, whatever that rate is, and you pay, you prepay. And then whatever you use, if you go over, you start paying at the regular rate. But you're locked in for the overwhelming majority of your winter needs.

[Michael Granberry]

How often would you go over?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Half the time, but not by much. You know, a couple hundred, something like that. You know, it just depends on the weather for the winter. This is a colder winter so far. I got a gas bill yesterday for $750. She's. And that's not even. We haven't entered the cold months. So, I mean, so, you know, if I'm getting it, other people are getting it. Yes, they're getting it, too. So anyway, so I'm very upset at the customer service of Sherman because I feel that if I. My position is very clear. I feel that if I have subscribed to this for 15 to 20 years and I don't subscribe good customer services, you call me. You have my number. You say, hey, you didn't subscribe. You always subscribe. You just call me. That's good customer service. Yeah, I didn't get anything like that. I've written notes, the last two bills I've paid. I've written notes expressing my disappointment at not being able to go back to that budgeted plan, that prepaid plan, which happens around Labor Day. Prepaid. I called yesterday and I asked to speak to the president of the company, and I didn't get the president company. I got the same person who I've talked to before who said to me, I've explained this to you. I've explained why we don't do it. There are lots of people who just don't sign up, even though they've signed up for years. We don't. We just accept that. We don't go after it. And I said, well, you should. That's good customer service. And you haven't answered my notes. I want to speak to the president of the company, who's the president of the company as well. I'm the manager. And I said, yeah, but who's above you? How about the owner? Can I speak to the owner? Who's the owner? Says, Mr. Sherman. I said, I want to speak to Mr. Sherman now. There's no chance Richard Sherman. I don't know. It could be Richard Sherman. Then we got to wait for him to be off the air. There's no chance. Could be William Tecumseh Sherman also. There's no chance it's ever going to happen. There's no chance? No. I'm stuck on this level of this manager who just. I'm not saying that she does anything untoward. I'm saying we have a fundamental disagreement as to what good customer service is. I don't believe I've had good customer service. So I wanted to talk to the owner just to say, look, I can afford this. It's okay. That's not the point. I'm paying you what you're asking for, but I'm talking to you about good customer service. That's all I want to be able to do. Is that wrong, Michael, to be able.

[Michael Granberry]

To get this figured out by Labor Day, 2026?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. So, anyway, so I bring you up to date with that. But that's not the good stuff. The good stuff is frame bridge. Here's. Here's what happened. So, before we get into this, I.

[Michael Granberry]

Talk to you probably two to three times a day. Yesterday, I hid from my phone to avoid any spoilers. Hid.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay.

[Craig Simon]

So did you find it? Okay?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. I found. I was parking.

[Craig Simon]

Yeah, parking.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We're. Look, I'm going to tell the whole story. I'm going to tell the whole story. I got to the frame bridge area, and I drove past it to make sure I knew where it was. And then I. There's no parking in Bethesda. The only parking in Bethesda are in these lots where you have to. Is it a credit card? Is it a park? I don't know how to do it.

[Craig Simon]

Yeah, it's usually a park mobile app.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't have.

[Michael Granberry]

Then you have to enter in the space number.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So I don't have it. I don't have that. I don't want to do that. So I went to the big parking lot by Stroh Snyder's, which is about two blocks.

[Craig Simon]

Oh, sure.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And I think two blocks, two and a half blocks. Very windy, very cold, and I'm carrying my tin of. Of matchbooks. And there was a sign in the parking lot that says, parking only for Stroh. Parking only for this shopping center. It does. It. It doesn't say Stroh Snyder's exactly. Str. On the north end.

[Michael Granberry]

This is where the boys get haircuts as well.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So it says, and if you're not. If you're not using these stores, we're going to tell you away. Okay. I'm cognizant of this. Do I believe I'm going to be towed away? No. But I. This affects me to a point that I'll get to. I will get to. I walk to Frame Bridge. I. My appointment is for 10 o'. Clock. Framebridge is a considerably smaller store than I thought. Considerably smaller, tighter. There's one person inside when I get there at about 10 of 10, and she opens the door and I say, I am. I have an appointment at 10. And she says, oh, you're the matchbook guy. And I say, yes, I'm the man. That's what people call me. I'm the matchbook guy.

[Craig Simon]

We called you that for years.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. So I go inside a match. I go inside, I dump all the matches out and begin to not so much arrange them, but turn them over so that that. That which I want to be displayed will be displayed. I say, you know, you can take the matches out. No, it's better when we don't take the matches out yet because your house burns down at that point. It's much better. And, you know, we kind of sort of arrange them, but we don't really kind of sort of arrange them. We just. We just put them out there. And I keep. You know, I knew I had one from 21. 21 is a great restaurant in New York. I don't even know if it's still there, but it was, I think, 21 East 44th Street. It was just called 21. And I knew it just had 21 on the front and I would know what that was. And I couldn't find it and I had to flip over one. So I'm flipping over three or four or five or ten, and then she is saying to me, this is. We can fit them here and we can do this and we can do that, and it's fine. But as we arrange them, I'm cognizant of the fact that we're not arranging them by color. You know, like, it's not as beautiful as I want it to be. It's not as varied as I want it to be. And she's taking pictures of it because this is the way it's going to be. I go, I say to myself in my own mind, okay, it's all right. She gives me a price for how much this will cost with a black frame. She says, either get a black frame or a white frame. I said, black frame is fine. It's fine. She gives me a price which is considerably lower than I would have thought. Considerably lower, I mean, that they talk about. And Framebridge is owned by Don Graham's company. I worked for Don Graham. For many, many years. Graham holdings is part of that, you know, And. And I was so. You know, because I've. I've done framing before with people who are artists. It's much more expensive where I used to go. So I thought to myself, you know what? You know what? If it doesn't work out the way. Exactly the way I want, I'll open it up, I'll rearrange it all myself, and I'll give it back to them, and they can do it again.

[Pat40]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Because it was. Do you know what I mean, Michael?

[Michael Granberry]

Yeah. They're gonna want to make you happy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. And we'll do it again, and I'll pay them again. It's okay. Because it came in under. You know, it's not like these other things that I'm telling you about. Like a grapefruit is 279. It's not like that where I go, really.

[Michael Granberry]

But there's a big generational divide where my generation does not do custom framing. And a lot of it is because of the sticker shock. And so there are these options where if you go to places like, you know, even to Michaels, you can get something that's close to custom framing for a fraction of the cost. It doesn't last as long. It doesn't have the same beautiful matting.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But it works well. And I'm not going to. Yeah. And in my case, I'm not lasting that long either. So it's okay if it doesn't last that long. But I will. What I will do is I'll just say, if it's not exactly what I want, I'll say, let's open it up. Let's stand here together. Let's move some stuff around, and you can charge me again. It's okay.

[Michael Granberry]

But it sounds like there's worries that you have about the order of the math books and the color palette. That's.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. All of that. Yes. And other people would just look at it and go, wow, that's pretty cool. But I would you have a specific vision for it? You know, I didn't. But I didn't. I couldn't say to her, let's go over this for the next hour and a half. She has other customers. I can't do that yesterday. So I let it be arranged the way it was arranged, thinking to myself, okay, this wasn't as much money as I thought. I'll do it again. Okay. Now I leave Framebridge and I walk down again. There's no parking in Bethesda. There's a million stores and there's no. I don't know how any stores stay in business because there's no parking except in these lots. That I, of course, as everyone knows, I don't understand the law. So I walk back to where my car is at Stroh Snyder's, and I think, you know what? I have a moral obligation to shop in the shopping center now. To buy something in the shopping center. Right, Michael, you'd. You. You'd be happy that I did that, right?

[Michael Granberry]

Yes, yes. I had a support. We like to support those local businesses.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And also because I felt I was cheating on the parking. Yeah, yeah.

[Craig Simon]

It's a stand up thing to do, for sure.

[Michael Granberry]

So I went to the bakery there that you love.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is what I'm getting to. You're way ahead of me, Michael. This is why you went to an Ivy League college. You're so far ahead of me. I'm a state school kid. Yeah. You know, you went to Notre Dame. I'm from Texas. You know, like, you guys have guac with pancakes. All right, I'm going on and on. So I go to the bakery. Is it called Breads Unlimited? Is that the name of it? I don't know. It's a bread.

[Craig Simon]

It's right next to Edith's Pizza, which is very good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's a bread store.

[Craig Simon]

Yeah, Yeah. I think Unlimited breads. Yeah, I think so.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Breadstor. And I look in the counter and. And I don't want to get a bread, you know, so I'm gonna get like a cookie. I'm gonna get like a. You know, I see one of these cinnamon swirl raisin things that I really like.

[Michael Granberry]

Danishes for the kids, too.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I really like those. So I say to the woman.

[Craig Simon]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I say to the woman, I'd like a raisin bun. And she says, well, there's no raisins in that. It's just cinnamon. And I go, oh, because I. I like the raisins. Yes.

[Craig Simon]

Part of the day.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Says, we have a raisin scone. I said, oh. And she.

[Michael Granberry]

Scone guy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, I didn't say that, but that's the end of the story. So she gives me a raisin scone, and I can see two or three raisins on the outside. And the scone is substantially smaller than this big cinnamon bun that I wanted. If it only had raisins, I would have. I would have bought two of them. And I say, I'm buy the scone thing and the scone. You want to talk about sticker shock?

[Craig Simon]

I was $40.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, but it's to pay there. It's a small piece of dough with a couple of raisins. It was 3.95. I mean, I thought, wow, that's a lot. Now, here was my plan. My plan was I was going to buy this thing. I was going to go to Colombia. I was going to take a shower at Columbia because that is my nesting procedure. And then I was going to go upstairs and have a cup of coffee and eat this raisin bun, which is now raisin scone. Are you not allowed to do that? I'm sure they don't care. I don't think I was the only one in there. So with great anticipation, I went, I took shower. I. I got a cup of coffee, and I sit down and I open up the scone thing. I didn't like it because as Michael said, you're not a scone guy. No, I don't. I didn't like it. It was a big ball of dough. I didn't like it. It had no taste. So I went around sort of like a mouse, eating just the raisins, opening it up, getting crumbs all over the place, making the crumb, putting the crumbs into the paper bag that I had, being very neat, very tidy, eating the raisins, about eight raisins. $3.95.

[Jason Lockett]

Eight raisins.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I could have bought a box of raisins.

[Craig Simon]

Absolutely.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You know, so I'm not. Are you a scone person? Yes.

[Craig Simon]

Well, I think, you know, culturally, I have to be.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Craig Simon]

You know.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Michael, do you like scones? Sean, do you like scones?

[Michael Granberry]

A scone, I think, has to be enjoyed with something else. So you're. I mean, coffee. Yeah, you're right to have it with your coffee. I was worried you're going to try their black and white cookie, because it's not the black and white cookie that you would remember from New York.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, So I didn't try it.

[Michael Granberry]

It's more cakey.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This. The scone is very cakey. I didn't. You know, but without. Without sweetness, it's just dough. I didn't like it. I'm never getting it again. Yeah, I learned the lesson.

[Craig Simon]

I was going to say, this is not like an experiment. You're like, oh, I'll just try a bunch of different kinds. No, that was now for the future.

[Michael Granberry]

Just down the street there in that same mall is Bradley Food and Beverage. They have a really nice deli counter. They always have good sandwiches. You can get something prepared to take home. And they have.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, this was early. This Was like, you know, 10:30 in the morning, you know, and I had this great plan, and the only thing that didn't work was the scone, you know, So I was sort of hope again. I was hoping that that would be the raisin bun that I was used to, but it was not.

[Craig Simon]

Well, the next time you. When you have to go back to Framebridge now, you'll have a better plan with Breads Unlimited.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. You know, but I could go to the deli. I mean, I felt the moral obligation to adhere to the sign in the parking lot and to buy something. To shop. To buy something was. I didn't want to go to Stroh Snyder's and buy a Weber grill. That seemed a little bit rich for me. But bread, you know, Bread. The staff of life. Yes.

[Michael Granberry]

But I'm just amazed that you found this parking lot to be easier, because this is the most stressful lot. You're there early, but if you go there later in the day, it's forced one way up and down, it's impossible.

[Craig Simon]

To navigate, and a couple of different entrance points into it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, that's fine. Yeah, I got there early. I did everything I was supposed to do. Now I. You know, and I. Maybe the thing will look good, but I don't. I don't think it's gonna. I don't think it's gonna look optimally good, you know, because I didn't. I didn't spend the time arranging it.

[Craig Simon]

Yeah. Because it is a tiny little store.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And there were other people. I just can't monopolize.

[Craig Simon]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Can't monopolize everything like that. Anyway, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it. Jason Locke and Fora when we return. I'm Tony Kornheiser. You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser show.

[Mari Campbell]

I want to build a band that sounds like Jimmy Shand. But why, you say? Because he was the best in the land.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Michael Granberry sands us in the first time I heard the stunning voice of Mari Campbell, my wife and I were sitting in a theater watching the 2008 film version of the HBO series Sex and the City. And there it was, Murray's undeniable voice singing a rapturous version of Old Lang Syne during New Year's Eve scene. I am thrilled that she's given permission for you to use a more recent arrangement of Old Lang Syne that she has graciously sent along, which is roughly means for old times sake. It's based on a poem written by Scottish poet Robert Burns in the late 1700s and was arranged with the help of Mari's ace musical partner, Dave Francis. I should tell you that at this point, Mari has been a trailblazing Scottish museum musician for three decades, an inductee in the Scottish Traditional Music hall of Fame. And this is called I Want to Build a Band that Sounds Like Jimmy Shand, which is based on the Scottish dance band on the Isle of Lismore that Mari found it three years ago. Everything Michael Campbell send. Michael Granbury sends is great. Yes. I hope he saw that we put his book out. He did.

[Craig Simon]

I forgot to mention he sent a note.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Hole in the roof.

[Craig Simon]

Very, very grateful for that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy for that. Happy for that. Plays in Jason Locke and fora. Let me start with something that is, as the phrase goes, a bee in my bonnet. I would fire the Atlanta general manager. The Falcons general manager. I just fire him. I'd fire him because now Kirk Cousins, who the team paid, I don't know, $180 million to, finally gets a chance to play, and he's 4 and 2. And this general manager is the guy who upset Kirk Cousins by drafting Michael Penix, who may or may not be good, but at the moment isn't as good, isn't as good as Kirk Cousins. I'd fire the gm. What chance is that? What chance is that?

[Jason Lockett]

I mean, there's certainly a chance. Yeah, there's. There's a lot to sort of unpack about how the Falcons continue to find themselves in these situations where there's some evidence to say it may be better than a record, but the record's never very good. And there's long, long stretches of these seasons where in game management, close and late situations, the sort of falconing of it all the way they specialize in losing games, you don't think that they should lose, but a lot of people in the league think they shouldn't lose. Just sort of keeps happening. Yeah. If you look at Kirk Cousins now from the time he got there till he got hurt, and then you take out the games he played again. This is obviously cherry picking, but you take out the games he played while he's recovering from Achilles last year, right? And then you pick back up this year, you've got a stretch where he's won 10 of 15 games, he's thrown for, you know, almost 4,000 yards, he throws more picks than you'd like. He doesn't necessarily shine in the postseason. He's not a guy who had often been great at home in primetime, and I would posit he Wasn't even great at home in primetime the other night, but they won the game. He certainly didn't cost them the game, and that was a legitimate super bowl contender. They were playing again.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes, yes.

[Jason Lockett]

He's looked better as the season's gone on. No doubt about it. I watched him play the first game this year and thought, I don't know that this guy's got an NFL future. I reached out to some people who work for teams that are probably going to be looking quarterbacks, and I'm like, they can look at the cousin stuff and they're like, ooh. And then even the second game, it was pretty rough. But, hey, you know, he's coming back from a long absence. Whatever. They have functioned better as an offense with. With consistency with him than they have with FedEx. There's no.

[Tony Kornheiser]

There's no two ways about it. You ruined the team. He ruined it. I. He should be fired. That's what I think. I mean, that seems.

[Jason Lockett]

I don't even know how good they'd be with Cousins, to be honest with you. Like, I mean, because they've had head coaching issues, they've had coordinator issues, the hiring of Zach Robinson as offensive coordinator was terrible. But, yeah, I mean, there's a strong case to be made that the Atlanta Falcons should be rebooting, you know, entirely.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I. Yes. Oh, that's what I think. Oh, okay. Let's get to the big thing. The Ravens and Steelers, to your best guess, will Lamar Jackson play? And should he? And should he? Or they. I don't want to say better without him, but if he's hurt, are they better off if the other guy plays, if.

[Jason Lockett]

If he's healthy enough to protect himself, that if the medical people don't think he's at, you know, an extreme risk here from a health standpoint, then he will play. And I believe, barring some odd step back through the week, that that's where this is heading. And if he's remotely close to being able to play, then he has to play. And Huntley can do some things. He's improved as a game manager. I think he's learned his limitations and this version of him, which is a version, by the way, they didn't want back in their building, like, he got here only because Cleveland caught him and Cooper Rush was terrible and there was familiarity. So they took a flyer because they badly needed a third quarterback in case their second quarterback really wasn't a fit. And it turns out Cooper Rush really wasn't fit. So, like, I think all that, though, got Huntley to a point where he knows his arm is not that good, he knows his accuracy is not that good. He's going to play within himself, he's going to lean even more into his legs and he's not going to try to make throws that for him are lower percentage throws. Now that's also going to really severely limit the scope of your offense. But if you have a 30 year old, 260 pound hammer of a running back to be ageless, then that can work for you here or there. But you can't run Derek Henry 40 times every week. Like that's not sustainable. It's not really sustainable in the playoffs. And you know, Tone, they average four air yards per attempt in that game. I'm going to repeat that. The average 4 air yards per tip. Their leader in target yak, which means yards beyond the sticks. When you're targeted on a pass, you don't even have to catch it, you have to be targeted. Their leader in that entire football game in that category was mark Andrews with 21 yards. Like that's, that's not, that's not going to work. So now if Lamar doesn't look great and he's playing this game and they get into some situations where you really want to run the quarterback and you're not sure about him there and you want to bring Snoop in for a mesh point player too, I mean, you got to win the game. And I wouldn't be sitting here saying, oh no, my God, how dare you do that. But if Lamar is remotely ready to play this game, Lamar has to play this game and I think he will.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let me get to the overarching question about these teams. Do you think both of these coaches will be back, you know, will be back in Baltimore, Will Tomlin be back in Pittsburgh?

[Jason Lockett]

I think there's a greater chance that neither's back and both are back. This is, I mean we're talking 20 years here for these two. Basically like, right, that's forever years in the NFL. And both have been dealing with sort of varying degrees of their fan base, their supporters kind of really wanting something else. I think both have grown frustrated with the fact that the fingers always, they've been there so long, the finger is always on them. Even if the issue truly in this instance might be personnel or that instance might be personnel or that instance might be ownership or that instance might be, well, gee, are we ever going to sign somebody from anybody else's roster who makes real money? That's part of the case of the Ravens because the Steelers have Changed their spots there a little bit. Like, yeah, I think both to some degree are open to see what's behind door number two or door number three. To be wooed, to have people come in and tell them, you're the greatest thing ever. We've never had a coach nearly as good as you, man, we trade this pick in, that pick for you. We really want you. Or, you know, or it could be a college program as well. You just don't see 10 years that last this long in the NFL for a multitude of reasons. And most of it is, yeah, the team doesn't want to get back after a while or the team made a terrible hire or whatever. But I think both, if they stay. Tony, you're talking about sweeping changes. Like, who's going to sit there and say, Arthur Smith's done a great job running that offensive boy, whoever the quarterback is, next year, we want Arthur Smith back. No, I think everybody's going to be like, yeah, that was a brutal watch. Like, what the hell? Defensively, Carol Austin, the way they've been eviscerated at times, I don't think he can come back. And I don't think we're just talking coordinators. I think we're talking about multiple position coaches, almost like a reboot. And then in Baltimore, there's no way Zach or you can bring him back. And I don't think you can bring back most of those defensive coaches. And then on offense, you know, I don't. I'm not sure Todd Monkin really wants to stay. Like after some of the play calling debacles, like what's going on there. I just think when you're dealing with all that, you're answering all those questions and ownership is probing you like that, at some point you're going to say, hey, you know what, I could go make the same money somewhere else and it won't cost you a damn thing and you won't have to pay me to leave. But I, I want to, I want to get a look, see, I know I just did this extension of that extension. I know you have my rights for another year, but do you really want me here if I don't really want to be here, if I don't really feel like rebooting my coaching staff again? So I think there's major. No matter who wins this game, I still think there's a better chance. Both are gone, both are bad.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Wow. Let me do one more question here. The fairness question. I was, I've been one of those guys who for the last six Weeks has gone on the air and said that I think the Rams are going to get to the Super Bowl. I don't think that anymore. I don't think it now because not only do they lose games, but they're going to have to leave Southern California and go on the road to maybe Chicago, maybe Philadelphia. They're not going to win. Is that fair? Is it fair that the January weather can be so determining of who wins and who does not win?

[Jason Lockett]

I think that's football, man. I mean, they played this schedule forever. They're only going to extend it deeper into the winter.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Jason Lockett]

Like, I just think that's, you know, look, as these owners are able to propagate some of the most diabolical grips and schemes and disgusting acts of bribery to get what they want for these stadiums that they really don't need. And more and more of them want them to be enclosed so that they can get more free money by hosting one Super Bowl, I don't know, every 30 years. Like, that's why we should be giving them billions of dollars in subsidies. So there could be a Super bowl in our vicinity that a minute fraction of the populace can attend once every 30 years. Then that takes some of it away.

[Pat40]

Right.

[Jason Lockett]

Like Arrowhead in January. In five years ain't gonna be a thing anymore. It's gonna be, you know, we're going to Kansas to play in the Dome. So, I mean, some of that, you know, may eradicate it a little bit from an odd standpoint, but. No, man, I, I think. Now, look, we could debate the fairness of if you're in a division like the NFC west, where there's three teams worthy of a one seed who could all win a Super bowl, and the rest of the, you know, five of the other divisions don't have anybody who you think is going to win one. Like, is there a different way to wake the playoffs? Like, should divisions matter this much? I mean, when the NFC south is such a joke that Atlanta could still affect who gets in, and Atlanta's been eliminated from the playoffs for three weeks, like, does that make sense? Like, probably not. You know, I don't know that they're ever changing that because it's another free subsidy. Hey, you don't have to be that good. And you might get a free home game, you know, an extra free home game where you can charge even more because it's the playoffs and we like subsidizing, you know, you know, borderline pedestrian teams, like, they love that stuff. That's why more teams get into the playoffs not because there's more teams that are worthy. It's more watered down than ever. It's just more money for them. So I think the fairness question is why does the playoff process work the way it does, but in terms of who's indoors, who's outdoors. Home field advantage. You get a home game, it should work to your advantage.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, you got to live with it. I mean, the Rams got to have to live with it. They had the chance to not be in the situation. It didn't happen. I plug one a bet for us.

[Jason Lockett]

Hey, you can check us out. Me and my buddy thought wave Ben hall breaking down gambling markets, trying to stay ahead of the curve, giving you guys the best gambling advice, best picks we can and plus money here we're not doing. You know, you lay free to get one. We don't play those games. Experience on wannabe. You can go to wannabus.com and get access to our videos on Twitter, on YouTube, our live shows, our podcast and all their formats. You can watch us daily on my Twitter feed at Jason Locket or, or on our YouTube page. And we're, you know, we're live around noon most days, sometimes 10, sometimes 11, depending on our schedule. And our only real goal in this is to obviously make some money on these bets ourselves and to get you guys paid, too. So want to bet with us.com. thank you to all the little emails and support us. We greatly appreciate it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, we'll talk to you next week.

[Jason Lockett]

Happy new year.

[Craig Simon]

Happy new year.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Bye Bye. Jason Lock. And for boys and girls, we will come back with what? Carville. James Carville and Pat40.

[Craig Simon]

Yes, we think, we hope because Jeff ma is off.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, Jeff. Jeff's in Hawaii. Yes, Jeff's in Hawaii. All right. I'm Tony kornheiser. You're listening to the Tony Kornheiser show.

[Katie XL]

Should all acquaintance be for God and never brought in mind should old acquaintance be forgot an old land sign for old land sign majew for all land.

[Mari Campbell]

Sign.

[Katie XL]

We'Ll talk of pain is yet for all.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Mari Campbell sings better than I do. Sings better than you do. Unless you're Mari Campbell and she sings the same as you do. It plays in James Carville. This week's picks with James carville are brought to you by FanDuel's sportsbook. Make every moment more. James, you were 2 and 2 last week. You won one of the overs. You lost one of the overs, but you won on the saints. I was proud of you for that. Yeah, 45, 47 and 2. You're right there. You're right there at Mount 500. What do you. What do you got?

[Pat40]

We're coming.

[Jason Lockett]

We're coming. The summit is in sight.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, good.

[Jason Lockett]

I would take Iowa plus five and a half.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Vandy to beat Vandy. Vandy had a good year. Iowa had a pretty stinky good year again. Yeah.

[Jason Lockett]

Five and a half points. There's nothing, you know. What do y' all say? That ain't chop liver.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right.

[Jason Lockett]

Arizona state plus 3 and a half against Duke takes Arizona State.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Duke coming out of a big win against Virginia. Right. You're going to take Arizona State. Okay. All right.

[Jason Lockett]

If they win by a field goal, you win your money.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right. That's right.

[Jason Lockett]

Miami. Miami. University of Miami. The college Miami.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes.

[Jason Lockett]

They're getting 10.

[Tony Kornheiser]

10 at Ohio State.

[Jason Lockett]

Yeah, take Miami.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You take Miami. Even. Even though Miami. You watch that game. That was such a painful, terrible game. It was terrible. It was terrible.

[Jason Lockett]

It was really painful. You know what stunned me? It was the Big Ten championship game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, Indiana.

[Jason Lockett]

Indiana shut them down.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes, they did. Yes, they did. They did.

[Jason Lockett]

So I'm going to take Indiana and. Later seven. Yeah, later seven. It took me forever to believe, but I guess. I guess I've come around to believe.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Have. Have you ever.

[Jason Lockett]

College football.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. Yes. But have you ever imagined in your life, other than with an LSU game, other than with an LSU game, you not taking my Alabama when they're getting seven? Have you ever imagined that?

[Jason Lockett]

No, I have not imagined that, but. And I never imagined that Indiana would probably be the best team in college football until somebody beats them. They are. I guess there's a lot of unimaginable things, but okay, maybe minus seven against Cincinnati's pretty good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They are pretty. Sorry. Yeah. Army and Navy are both good.

[Craig Simon]

That was a good game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes. Army, Navy, both good. Well, she got. You got one more.

[Jason Lockett]

Yeah, I got. New England and Miami take the over first half. Six and a half points for New England.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So in the first half alone, you believe that New England will be ahead of Miami by at least six and a half points. Is that.

[Jason Lockett]

No, no. They go score more than six. Six and a half.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, oh, the score more. Oh, just to score more. Okay. Oh, yeah. Just to score more than six and a half.

[Craig Simon]

Oh, my mistake.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, wow. Then all they have to do is make one touchdown.

[Craig Simon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Wow. Okay, I'm with that. All right. Have a happy new year and good luck on these games. We'll talk to you next week. That's absolutely one.

[Jason Lockett]

Probably one or two over 500.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's hope so.

[Craig Simon]

Oh, sure.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's hope so. So let me explain how this works, but by saying this week's picks with James Carville have been brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. Make every moment more. Now, normally we would have Jeff Ma.

[Craig Simon]

That's correct.

[Tony Kornheiser]

In this position, but Jeff Ma is in Hawaii and when you can't wake him up at 1 in the morning or 2 in the morning.

[Craig Simon]

Do you remember.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And this is why Jeff. Last week.

[Craig Simon]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Last week Jeff picked the pick, four college games and Buffalo. Philadelphia lost on Buffalo. Philadelphia, he took Buffalo minus one and Philadelphia won by one. Yeah. So, yeah. So he's Owen one on that week.

[Craig Simon]

With all these still to play. Do you remember who did talk to us from Hawaii? Remember we called Brian Windhorst and he took to us and he's like, oh, yeah, I'm scaling one of the mountains.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right.

[Craig Simon]

So I'll be up at 2 in the morning.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, feel free to call me. That's right. Yeah. So that's completely insane.

[Craig Simon]

Yes.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. So I read all the things in his Pat form.

[Craig Simon]

I believe Pat40 is with us now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Pat, are you with us?

[Pat40]

Yeah, I'm here.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Wonderful. Fantastic. We, we. We're lousy with Pat. We always ask him to be on because he's better than everybody else.

[Craig Simon]

Great.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And Pat actually goes on and I wouldn't. And you know, when he does. So that's, that's very nice. So let's start with this. Let me just start with your thoughts on Michigan hiring the guy from Utah and what you think of that. Because I, I think, I think they're doing that to reset the reputation of the school more than to win games. I would not be surprised if after three years he's gone and Michigan goes and gets another coach. But I wonder how you view it and were you surprised by it?

[Pat40]

Yeah, no, I view it the same way. I mean, I think this was a, A as much a reputational hire as a competitive hire. But it can be a good competitive hire too, I think. I mean, he's a good coach, there's no doubt about it. But Kyle Whittingham has won a lot of games at a place where it's just not automatic. But, you know, do you just. Does he hit the ground, you know, and say, all right, we're just going to do five years, 10 years of, you know, ramping up the firm? No, that's, that's not what this is about. This is, we are an embarrassment and we need to get somebody in Here, who's an adult and is going to run the program in a respectable manner and get us back to being the Michigan that we portend ourselves to be. The school that wants it all, that wants to be a high class, high competition program.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I agree with that 100%. My fear would be this, because I watched this happen. I watched this happen. Virginia hired. Remember when they hired Bronco Mendenhall out of byu?

[Jason Lockett]

Sure.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And, you know, his entire life had been spent in a different area than Virginia, at a different kind of school than Virginia, and it was okay, but it didn't really work. And Utah is Utah and it ain't Michigan and it ain't the Big Ten. You know that. That's why, I mean, God bless him if he's great, but I just think that. I think that's a tough ask.

[Jason Lockett]

No doubt.

[Pat40]

I mean, you're right, it is. These are very different programs. And this is a guy who has spent his entire life in the Rocky Mountains and in that area and coaching in Utah and Michigan is Michigan. And it's, it's its own place. It is provincial to a degree. They do things their way. They want to do things their way. And this is a guy who's done things his way for 40 years, basically. So it's not necessarily, you know, plug and play, I don't think.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, that's how I feel.

[Pat40]

Yeah, good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think, I think they need to do it because they hired someone who turned out to be a pervert after hiring someone who paid no attention to any rules. Any rules. So, yeah, right.

[Pat40]

I mean, that program has been running on chaos basically, for five years. They've won at least under Harbaugh, but. But it's fine, actually. Yeah, but put an adult in charge.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, let's go to the games. Because we've waited years and years and years, it seems, for all of these games that will start tonight and extend into tomorrow. Start with Miami, Ohio State. Your. Your thoughts? You, who you like?

[Pat40]

I like Ohio State. I, you know, I think that they've lost one game by three points to a really good undefeated team. They had not trailed in the second half all season until that game against Indiana. So they, I mean, they are a proven commodity, in my opinion. Miami's had a good season, but I think what we saw against Texas A and M was a team that is struggling offensively. You know, they, they, Carson Beck is getting paid like $4 million to hand off this point. So, you know, can they throw the ball downfield? Can they make big plays offensively against the best defense in the country. I don't think so there. I mean, Miami's very good, very good defensively too, especially defensive front. So I think it's probably going to be lower scoring, but I think Ohio State's clearly the better team.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's go to Alabama, Indiana. And if we had had this game on the board anytime in the last 75 years, 100% of the people would pick Alabama. Not, not 99.5. No, 100% of people would pick India, would pick Alabama. And now what does it take for us to believe and isn't that the essential existential question here? What does it take for us to believe in Indiana?

[Pat40]

They're 13 and on, ranked number one, and they have beaten Ohio State and they've beaten Oregon and they've beaten Iowa and they have destroyed Illinois. I think they're the best team in the country. So that's. I believe in them fully. It is truly a laundry equation. To your point. Yes, it is incredibly hard for those of us who have been watching college football for 50 years to say, yeah, Indiana is better than Alabama, but they are, they are. And so that's what we've got to wrap our arms around and say, that's the way this is. Now, is there a chance Indiana wakes up and says, oh, my God, we're 13 now. We're number one. We're in the Rose Bowl. What are we doing? Yeah, probably. But Kurt Signetti, I'm a total believer. I mean, he's run the program like Nick Saban light. And I, you know, I'm here, I'm in Los Angeles for the game. We got to interview him yesterday. And I thought they passed the look test. And the look test is, are you freaking out or not? And they are not freaking out. I think they're like, yeah, you know what? We're here to win.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. All right. Oregon. Texas. Tech. Tech. If there's a team that's a higher seed that is doubted at all, it is Texas Tech. Who do you like in that one?

[Pat40]

Yeah, the great game. I think I'm really close. And that's why the spread, I think, reflects. It's like two and a half points.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Two and a half. Two and a half. Yeah.

[Jason Lockett]

Yeah.

[Pat40]

Texas Tech has a like high level SEC caliber defense in terms of, you know, they've just got animals up front and they rush the passer and they disrupt and they get after you. And so it's up to Oregon to handle that. I think Oregon's good enough to handle it. But, but this is the Closest game, I think, on paper and probably in reality, because I think they're very evenly matched. I think Oregon's a little better offensively, a little more reliable. Texas Tech struggles in the red zone. They don't finish drives. Their quarterbacks inconsistent, but they're a good team. I just think Oregon's a little more talented.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So you would take Oregon in this.

[Jason Lockett]

One by a little. Yeah.

[Pat40]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. Ole Miss, Georgia, they played once before. You never, ever want to play a second time. You never, ever want to play a third time. Dean Smith made a living out of saying, no, no, no. And then it's. And the example, of course, is Georgetown, Villanova. You just don't want to do it. I don't know, about twice. Who do you like in that one?

[Pat40]

Yeah, I think it's a really good game. I mean, even in that one, which was in Athens, Ole Miss led by nine points in the second half. I'm sorry, in the fourth quarter. And then Georgia just played a phenomenal fourth quarter and rolled them from there. But still, I mean, I think Mississippi matches up well with them. They are a good offensive team. I don't know, you know, especially the way Georgia's playing right now, the way Georgia just dominated Alabama, they kind of got that look like Georgia had in 2021, 2022, when they were the best team in the country. So I think Georgia wins, but I think it's a good competitive game throughout.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let me shift gears because I keep reading stories, I'm sure you're familiar with this, of college players wanting, I don't know, six, seven, eight years of eligibility. And why not? Because they make more money than they're going to. Many of them are not going to go to the pros, and they are pros now, and they want to do this. And then I saw that Charlie Baker came out with something, you know, that was more about basketball, that if you are pro on any level, you cannot. If you signed with the NBA, you can't go back and play NCAA basketball. I don't know if the football eligibility and the basketball eligibility are comparable, but what are your thoughts on where we are headed?

[Pat40]

My thought is, you know what, that eventually the candy store closes. Like it has a closing hour at, like 6pm or whatever, and you have to go do something else. You cannot just attorney candy. And I think it's time for people to move on and stop eating college candy and get a job, frankly. Yeah, it's now. It is a job. But, you know, this has become kind of this Peter Pan syndrome of I can stay in college forever.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Forever.

[Pat40]

And that's not what it's supposed to be. It's not what it's.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You're not even going to classify.

[Pat40]

None of them go to class, frankly, like. So look, I interviewed Diego Pavia, the Vanderbilt quarterback who did successfully get an extra year of eligibility back in September. And I asked him, like, you know, what's, what's the vibe like on campus when you're walking around? I mean, you're the guy that came from New Mexico State here at this, you know, this unbelievable academic institution and are, you know, people just mobbing us. I don't go to campus. It's like, oh, great, okay, yeah, he's.

[Tony Kornheiser]

A piece of paid pro.

[Pat40]

Yeah, he's a paid pro. Probably is at least enrolled in online classes. Doesn't mean he goes, doesn't mean he pays attention. So we've completely lost the plot to a degree with some of this stuff. It is, it has become like minor league, highly paid, highly watched minor league.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Sports and the notion that in basketball that you could be, you know, sign an NBA contract and say, man, it's not really working out, so I'll go back to college. I mean, how does that work? How can you even think that? How Scott Drew, how do you even think that? Right.

[Pat40]

Yeah, no, but that's, that's the situation that college sports has gotten itself in from a legal standpoint. And so as they are flailing to get antitrust exemption or keep antitrust exemption that, you know, they find themselves saying, yeah, okay, you know, we'll find a way to say that this is okay. But it is a complete warping of what college sports has been and is supposed to be, which is played by 18 to 22 year olds, basically, while you're working your way into a professional future. And now, again, it's like never never Land where I'm just going to stay here as long as I can.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. And it's not like they're going to med school afterwards like somebody we know med school, because they don't go to class, they don't go. We go into. We going to 16 by next year. 16 teams, you think?

[Pat40]

Yeah, I think. I mean, you know, there's still some, some pushing and shoving on that front, but I would bet we get 16 next year. The question, I would assume it's going to be 16 with 5 automatic bids and 11 at large bids, but you never know. Tony Petiti, who does not seem to actually like college sports, the commissioner of the Big Ten. This is something to do. Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, we'll see. All right, plug your podcast for us.

[Pat40]

Others receiving votes, si.com with Kim Wojahowski and Brian Fisher. We got a new one up yesterday, so please check it out.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, thank you, Pat, as always. Hate to lean on you, but I do it. I do it. All right, Pat. 40, boys and girls. We'll come back with email and jingle. I'm Tony Kornheiser. This is the Tony Kornheiser Show. Tony Kornheiser show. Here comes Tony Mailbag. Got your emails, your faxes and your notes. Here comes Mr. Tony's mail bag. Gonna reach out for all of you folks.

[Pat40]

Have mercy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Don't I wish I could do that. Like Bruce Griffin. Don't I wish I could do that? So good. Wanna do the Bethesda Bagels ad, please?

[Craig Simon]

Yes, Bethesda Bagels, we love them. You will as well. Just go to Bethesda Bagels.com for the location in the DC area near you. Then pop it in and you'll be thrilled. And to give a shout out for our good friend Adam Ferrara, who's in the area. The DMV gonna be magoobies. Two shows one night this Saturday, so head on by.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He's funny.

[Craig Simon]

He's very funny.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You'll enjoy yourself. Yeah, you will enjoy yourself.

[Craig Simon]

Yeah, you really will.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Before we get to the Mailbag, on the last day of 2025, let me just say we were born before the wind Also younger than the sun air the bonnie boat was won as we sailed into the mystic Hark now here the sailors cry. Smell the sea, feel the sky Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic. That's the greatest Van Morrison song there is. Just the greatest. Thanks to our guests today, Jason Lock and ford. James Carville, Pat 40. Thanks as well to today's sponsors. Remember, you can listen to us on Apple podcasts, Spotify and ought to see if get show through Apple. Please leave us a review from Ken Letzler. You tell us your accountant says the IRS will no longer accept checks for estimated taxes. Sounds fishy to me. I just sent the IRS a check for my fourth quarter estimate and they cashed it. Second, if you go to the website. I'm not going to the website. Ww.irs.gov payments by check or money. It says you can send a check. I thought your accountant was just making this up until I read further and found the problem. The IRS says they, quote, can't accept single check or money order amounts of $100 million or more. Thanks for flagging that for all the Littles who have the same problems. You. I don't have any problem like that and I don't understand why this is happening. You send your fourth quarter in? I was going to send it in around, you know, January 5th, January 6th, something like that. I don't know. John Tagliarini, in your rant on the irs, you mentioned anyone can mail a check. While that's probably true of those over 30, I would argue teenagers have no idea. My 18 year old had to mail thank you cards this summer and watching her try and address them and where to put stamps was one of the most painful experiences as a parent. And I taught her how to drive. Tell Dr. Peter continuing to eat it From Mark Corriere, Ellicott City, Maryland I had no idea about the new rule in 2026 that the federal government will not accept a good old fashioned check for your tax payment. Thank you for information for life. Do you think Reginald could go over the new SALT laws and senior bonus deductions for 2026 from Chris in Apex, North Carolina? Last week you mentioned how US mail has become unreliable. Well, the Danes have a solution to that end. The Postal Service. That's right. After 400 years of delivering mail, the Danish Postal Service will deliver its last piece of mail on December 30th. That's yesterday, 2025. To focus on the E commerce and package delivery, a private company will still deliver some mail. So how will bills get paid? You ask an app on your phone? That's right. All business with the government. Utilities will be handled through an app. We are doomed. Yes, we are doomed. This is a terrible idea. Alan Orlang in Oakland, California the so the cool birthday numerology is a thing. This week finally beat this. My wife has three children, all born on the 22nd of the month, June 22nd, September 22nd and December 22nd, when our youngest was due. And my wife called me on the afternoon of September 21st saying she's going to the hospital with contractions. I screamed at her, don't let them birth that baby until after midnight. And the capper? My wife's birthday February 22nd. Boom.

[Craig Simon]

That's good.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Brian Huff My oldest masculine child's birthday is 91111 at 11 11am 6lbs 11oz. Could have been 5 11. Delivery room was stunned when it was announced. As you can imagine, he wears jersey number five for baseball. Apparently travel ball doesn't work like the NFL and you can't just buy the jersey numbers from other kids. Or at least our offer wasn't substantial enough from Steve from Ashburn, not Steve the Sycophant. While catching up on the podcast, flying back to the DMV from Denver, I caught a reference to a listener game referencing offspring's birthdays and I thought at last an actual podcast game I can play. My masculine and only child was born in Washington D.C. at Columbia Hospital for Women on March 9, 1993, making his birthday 3993. Would this count as a David Aldrich moan? Shit's very good. That is good. I hope so as it's as close as I have come so far. Keep chasing the golf ball and joy hearing of your trials and travails on the links from Tony in Melbourne, Australia. Hope this finds you well. I can confirm with you that wind is not the greatest thing for a pleasant day on the course. I recently played Barn Bogle, a links course in northern Tasmania. I'm sure Michael can confirm one of the best public courses in Australia. Do you know it Michael?

[Jason Lockett]

Sure, yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay. I've been warned previously by several people that can be taxing if the wind is blowing. All I can do is confirm it. 5 holes, ball blown off tee while addressing it. 13 holes, buggy blown over. Wow, that said it was worth it. I'm going to be your way May 7th next year be playing a nine hole course in Wrangle, Alaska. Let's hope early spring in Alaska is somewhat above freezing. Have no chance. If not, can you send me a Tony Kornheiser branded hand warmer? I'll send you a check as I'm sure it's the only kind of payment you will accept. If you're interested, give me a yell. I'll see if I can book you a spot. Isn't that nice?

[Craig Simon]

Is Alaska really coming by our way?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Sort of when you're in Australia. Craig Simon, Silver Spring Happy New Year. That's it. That's the wish. Thank you. Adam, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The discussion with Bob Ryan on Athletes Born on 1230 made me curious. That said, rather than waiting for you to find an astrologist, I chose to reach out to your favorite AI platform. Why 12:30 screams elite athlete in astrology terms number one sun in Capricorn. Discipline as a superpower. It's a cardinal earth sign. It wants to win, but in a long game way. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn the coach, the clock. The standard Saturn symbolism is literally pressure, responsibility, standards, resilience, endurance. 3. Mars is exalted in Capricorn. This is one of the most athlete coded placements in traditional astrology. Mars drive, aggression, competitive Fire does really well in Capricorn because it becomes strategic, efficient effort, relentless pacing. Feel free to share with Mr. Ryan. I also took the liberty of looking up what cancers are about I mine sinus cancer. I'll skip to the shadow traits to any of these resonate with you. Moody, sensitive feelings run deep can withdraw when hurt guarded slow to trust protective shell holds on to memories, grudges or the past Indirect when upset can be passive aggressive instead of upfront. Yeah, sure, until Michael Norwood to you, Bob in Burlington, North Carolina Just heard your conversation with Bob Ryan about the possible proliferation of statues outside sports stadiums and I found myself shouting what about Wrigley Field in Chicago? The lovable losers on the north side have been on a statue spree the last 10 plus years. I grew up in Chicago and while I see the possible logic of Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Sano, Fergie Jenkins and Ryan Sandberg as part of their statue row, these Cub grades seem somewhat diminished by the statue of Harry Carey near the bleachers. As far as I can tell, Mr. Carey's career statistics lean towards taking the number of beers he consumed every game before it would slur his way to take me out to the ballgame while waving his microphone at the fans in a seventh inning stretch. You know Harry Carey deserves a statue. Yeah, and Wilbourne loves Harry Carey beyond anything.

[Craig Simon]

Yeah, he's the guy.

[Tony Kornheiser]

He was a great fixture Drew in Manhattan, Kansas the other night. The woman to whom I'm related by marriage casually commented that her iPhone told her it was ready for an update, but first she needed to clear up some memory. I immediately jumped into action, telling her not to do it. She found a loophole to keep Apple from taking over. I emphasized how much you hated the update, but after a chuckle and a hint of an eye roll, she diligently went about the task of deleting old photos to make that update happen. The result is she hates it. Charlie Burt Springfield, Virginia As Josh Allen was going for two on Sunday towards the Bill's inevitable victory over Philly, he uncharacteristically threw a lousy pass to seal the Eagles win. When asked about it afterwards, all he could dejectedly say was, I just hate my stupid phone. Maybe the Bears could move into Arrowhead. The Missouri fans are eagerly awaiting the invitation to join Wilbur's text chat from Larry Johnson in Austin, Texas. You didn't know Sandy Koufax was born on December 30th? I knew how I was born on December 30th. Growing up, I paid attention to those who shared my birthday? It was Sandy and two of the monkeys I gladly welcomed. Tiger and LeBron.

[Craig Simon]

Yeah, it was Michael Nesmith and Davy Jones, I believe.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Jared Chauffeur, Exeter, N.H. sure, LeBron James, Tiger Woods, Sandy Koufax and Ben Johnson. Are we great athletes? But how many times in total did they walk across across America? None. Nada. Zilch. Squadoosh is the answer. But I did. And yes, my birthday's also December 30th. Tell those other guys to eat it. Mark Lynch, Camby, Indiana when Koufax, Tiger and LeBron called you on their birthday, did you talk sports? Did you also talk about insurance not covering your mri? And Patrick Sitter, who's so great in Sioux Falls, South Dakota? I have one living aunt or uncle, an aunt and nun who lives in Omaha, Nebraska. I wonder if Peter Goldstein, Levittown Division, Class 79, knows her. It's so funny. So funny. Got on your bike, Tiny. Everyone is always do wear white.

[Jason Lockett]

What does this song mean? My whole life I don't know what this song means. Means it all Acquaintance be forgotten. Does that mean that we should forget old acquaintances? It doesn't mean that if we happen to forget them, we should remember them, which is not possible because we already forgot them.

[Craig Simon]

Happy New Year.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy New Year.

[Mari Campbell]

I want to build a band that sounds like Jimmy Shand but why, you say? Because he was the best in the land his beat had got you swinging a dance hand in hand and for those who like to reprimand we'll have to sound like Jimmy Shand Katie's on the keyboard she loves a Gaelic song Knocking out the chords as the dancers hum along she knows all the lyrics for the old fashioned waltz so we.

[Katie XL]

All fall into line as Katie XL.

[Mari Campbell]

Shona calms her down with her lemon and ginger pie she plays guitar with a mighty swing and a twinkle in her eye but now I'm here in Mutiny Mutiny in the ranks They've slipped into reggae for the Canadian barn dance I want to build a band that sounds like Jimmy Shand but why you say? Because he was the best in the land his beat had got you swinging dancing hand in hand and for those who like to reprimand we'll have to.

[Katie XL]

Sound like Jimmy Shand.

[Mari Campbell]

Arthur plays the whistle the music's gone in deep probably helped by shepherding and rounding up the sheep he'd like to see us lift our eyes from the busy score and watch the smiling faces and the dancers on the floor Noel tends to ask if we have to play so fast can't we drop the tempo? I respond, flabbergasted Jimmy plays a reel at 112bpm just play half the notes until we reach the end I want to build a band that sounds like Demi Shand but why you say? Because he was the best in the land his beat has got you swinging dancing hand in hand and for those who like to reprimand we'll have to sound like Jimmy Shand Our box is a requirement to sound like Jimmy Shand and I'm happy to say we have a few to complement the band to fill the shoes of Jimmy we truly are blessed Ann plays the right hand, Wheelie Duncan plays the left Yorick is our drummer the one who found the stone he grew up in Devon but now calls Lismore home But wait, something's shifted your egg center Samba See those hips a swing It's a dashing white Labamba I want to build a band that sounds like Jimmy Shand but why you say? Because he was the best in the land his beat had got you swinging dancing hand in hand and for those who like to reprimand we'll have to.

[Katie XL]

Sound like Jimmy Shand. Should old acquaintance be fair and never broke the mind should old acquaintance be for God an old lang sign.

[Pat40]

For.

[Katie XL]

All long sign, my Jew for all.

[Pat40]

Life.

[Katie XL]

We'Ll tuck our cup of kindness yet for old long sign. And surely I'll be your pint Stop. And surely I'll be mine and we'll tuck a cup of kindness yet for old long sine for old long sine majo for all land sign we'll tuck a cup of of kindness yet for all long sight. We to the brace and pull the garnish the weary. But the seas between us brave hero line was sign for old sign Maju. For all l We'll take a cup of kindness yet for old l.

[Pat40]

And.

[Katie XL]

Here'S a hand might rusty fear and gives a hand o thine and will tuck a right get well walked for all long sine for old long sigh my joy for all I'll tuck a cup of kindness yet for old lungs.