The Chat House
and Michael Wilbon
Washington Post Columnists
Monday, Feb. 11, 2002; 1:30 p.m. ET
The Chat House is BACK! Join Wilbon and Kornheiser LIVE today to talk about sports, life and just about anything else.
If you're a sports junkie and you can't get enough of Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon fighting each other in the sports pages of The Washington Post. Then, it's your chance to talk to both gurus LIVE!
The transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
| To read the most recent responses, click "Get New Responses" or select "Automatically Update Page." |
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Good afternoon everyone and Welcome back to the Chat House. Here's a first: We are on time! AND... both Tony and Mike are here. Tony is about to appear from his dressing room and Mike is on his way back from the cafeteria grabbing a sandwich. Lots of Wizards questions today so I'll just throw in a little anecdote of my own. I went to the Wizards-Kings game on Thursday night. GREAT game and I had awesome seats for once. Really good basketball. And I had some celeb spottings, I saw Tony's buddy, the Bird of Prey (super agent David Falk), Tyra Banks who is seeing Chris Webber and Torie Clark, the Pentagon spokeswoman. I didn't talk to Tyra, but she was very gracious signing autographs and looking cool and casual in jeans and a sweatshirt. The guy I was with didn't even know who she was. Uh, hello? Obviously he has been living in a cave for the last couple of years and doesn't get the Victoria Secret's catalogue. BTW, if there are a lot of typos today, it is because the monitor I'm using today is broken and the screen is fuzzy... sort of like looking through dirty glasses, so work with me. Let me go and get the guys. --Mary
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Ready? --Mike
Yep. --Mary
I'm ready. Welcome to Chat House. I'm back from Philly. I'll try not to boo anybody during our chat. Let's roll. --Mike
Herndon, Va.: Is this the best Maryland team ever? This team has to compare favorably with those early to mid-'70s teams. Shouldn't Juan Dixon get serious consideration for the Wooden award?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Best ever? There is only one team in MD history that has gone to the Final Four. So officially, last year's team is BEST ever. Do you mean the most talented? Yeah, some of Leftie's teams with Elmore, McMillen and Lucas... those are the most talented. This year's team has to at least get to the Final Four to even be in contention with last year's team. ---Mike
Let me be briefer. Are you on DRUGS? Back in the day when only one ACC team could get into the NCAA, Leftie had FABULOUS teams. What about the one with Albert King and Buck Williams? --Tony
But they got killed. --Mike
This is a good team. A very good team. Dixon is having a great year and so is Chris Wilcox. But, I'm not sure that right at this moment, that they are as good as last year's team. The Final Four is a GREAT accomplishment... so great that Maryland never did it before. --Tony
Arlington, Va.: Fellows, seems to me Marvin Lewis had no choice but to move on. Forget even about the money. He knows Baltimore is in salary cap trouble, while Washington has a strong defensive base. He goes to Washington as Defensive Guru and puts together a strong unit while Baltimore falls off. That leads to questions about whether Baltimore's success was really about Billick, an offensive guy in a different sense of the word, or about Lewis. As people agree that it was the Baltimore defense that carried them, it keeps Lewis on a head coach track for when some team conducts a legitimate search.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Of course he had a choice. He could have stayed there. It ain't the choice he should have which ought to include being a head doach. He didn't have to the Redskins. He didn't have to come and work with Spurrier. --Mike
I had Len Pasqarelli on the radio today and he said there is some thought that Marvin Lewis didn't actually want the Tampa Bay job. I think if he and Spurrier make a big move with the Redskins within the next two years. He'll be a shoe-in to be a head coach. Of course he had a choice. He could have stayed loyal to the people who had been good to him. Of course he had a choice. Now, it may be that he has chosen wisely. But what do you mean he didn't have a choice? Right Wilbon? --Tony
I don't believe that for one second that Lewis didn't want the Tampa job. I know for a fact that he wanted it. And I don't need to take anyone's word for it. I know Len Pasqarelli did not. --Mike
Bethesda, Md.: Since the Olympics are going on, I have to ask a question. Why is it that the United States flat-out sucks at the winter games? We dominate the medal count at the summer games, but when it comes to the winter games, we're lucky if we can break double digits.
I know the easy answer is that we don't have the kinds of facilities that an Austria has, but that's not true. I've skiied around the world, and U.S. ski resorts stack up pretty favorably to those anywhere around the world.
So why don't we kick ass in these Olympics like we do in the summer ones?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Look around buddy. How many luge runs do you see in America? We have about six states where winter sports are important to that culture -- Minnesota, Wisconsin.....
I'm sorry I have to interrupt Wilbon right here. Your question is stupid and offensive particularly your last paragraph. Grow up. --Tony
Part of New York, Utah, Vermont, Maine, maybe New Hampshire I don't know. Those states, if you add up everyone in them, except for New York, totals about 30 people. Are you paying attention? You live in Maryland as do I. Do you see anyone cross country skiing down Old Georgetown Road? --Mike
BTW, we are tied with Germany for medals so far. U.S. and Germany three medals. Austria has the most (and the Alps): five. --Mary
Reading, Pa.: Hi Tony, Mike and Mary,
I know this isn't really a sports question, but, is it me or were the opening ceremonies painful to watch because those blathering idiots (Costas and Couric) wouldn't shut up! I realize that it is their job to explain certain things, but was it really necessary to be told at least three or four times that it was 20 degrees out there? It's the winter Olympics for goodness' sakes...of course it's cold. Also, it would have been respectful if they had shut up while the WTC flag was brought into the stadium rather than talk over the whole thing.
Also, I really felt sorry for Jim MacKay. He is just way too old for speaking off the cuff at a ceremony like that, but at least when he did say something you could understand, it was an interesting tidbit, not that worthless crap the other two kept on about.
Thanks.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I LOVE Costas and Couric, absolutely LOVE them both. The opening ceremonies to me are like the Rose Bowl Parade or the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I don't care about them. But Costas and Couric have nothing to do with that. --Mike
I read how Costas and Couric got a lot of criticism and some of it suggested they didn't even like each other. I found that cool. I like both of them very much. And I would watch do just about anything. I find it impossible to criticize Jim McKay because at my age, I can still picture him at the 1972 Olympics where he did such a great job. I don't know that he is too old to speak off the cuff. I still love to hear his voice so you won't get me on that bus with you. --Tony
Arlington, Va.: Hey Wilbon,
Why the chip on your shoulder about Kobe getting booed and about how the All-Star game was better than the Olympics in your column today?
Kobe is a great athlete, but I'm much more interested in the celebrating the success of an 18-year-old winning a gold medal (while doing something that is quite dangerous) than if an overpaid, cocky, ball-hogging basketball player says his feelings were hurt. He gets several million a year, he can deal with it. Like Iverson said last night, you got to deal with the fans like a man -- Kobe looked like a spoiled little boy.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: What are you from Philly? The Philly fans were classless bums. They behaved like scumbags. I don't care about Kobe. I'm not a Kobe guy. --Mike
I'm a Kobe guy. --Tony
Josh the intern here at "PTI" makes a pretty good case about Kobe being a spoiled, petulant kid who is not the most embraceable person in the world. --Mike
Kobe. Kobe. Kobe. He is the BEST all around player in the game and anyone who doesn't think so has to get out of this CHAT HOUSE now. --Tony
There is no dispute about that. What I'm talking about is the booing. That's it. Just the booing. It's justifiable to hate Philly on every level today in the wake of this.
This is just idiotic. He just added in the "wake of this."
Except for cheese steaks. --Mike
That's right. Pat's cheese steaks are great. Pretzels with mustard are great. Wilbon is a clown. An absolute clown. It's the cradle of American democracy. --Tony
IT'S A DUMP. IT'S THE VET. --Mike
Josh the intern defending Philly: what about the Liberty Bell?
You know what else is a dump? Chicago is a dump. --Tony
Did that make you feel better Mr. New York? --Mike
New Orleans, La.: Tony, I saw you down at Jackson Square during "PTI" tapings. How did you enjoy all the street performers? Also, as one of your biggest fans in New Orleans, I need to know, what was your favorite thing about our great Super Bowl host city?
Catch ya later,
Scott
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Scott, well it wasn't the wind on Jackson Square which was a two club wind for four days and a three club wind on Friday. But I enjoyed the restaurants obviously and I had fun, I must admit, watching Wilbon get recognized on Bourbon Street. I think if you asked most sports writers what their favorite Super Bowl is: 1) New Orleans and then 2) Miami. --Tony
Not this sports writer baby. --Mike
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Sorry Mike wanted to talk. --Mary
My favorite Super Bowl cities:
1) San Diego
2) Phoenix
3) Miami
4) New Orleans
Reston, Va.: Is Kwame Brown a bust? Can the Wizards deal him to another team to get someone who can help them compete this year and next?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Do you have a memory longer than a minute? There is a kid named Jermaine O'Neal who played for the Eastern All-Stars yesterday. He is in his sixth season and is 23 years old. His first four years in the NBA he didn't nothing. He now will probably be great from 23 to 36 years old because he's still getting better. Would you have called him a bust four months into his rookie season? Kobe Bryant didn't do anything for his first two seasons in the league. As a rookie, he collected dust at the end of the Lakers' bench just like Kwame. Would you have called him a bust? I hope you can buy some perspective somewhere and if you can, get the economy size. --Mike
Kwame Brown was the wrong draft pick for this team with MJ. Plain and simple. But when Kwame is ready to play, Jordan won't be here, and he may turn out to be a great pick. I was always for Battier and I'm still for Battier, but calling Kwame a bust, is, you'll forgive me, ignorant. Who in his right mind thought Kwame could help this year? None of these high school kids helped this year. --Tony
Tony, you would have had the wrong pick from Memphis. You didn't get the right guy from the Grizzlies. --Mike
I didn't know about him. --Tony
Pau Gasol is averaging like 17 points and eight rebounds a game.--Mike
Springfield, Va.: Gentlemen, I guess since Danny can't spend a fortune on players, he'll spend it on coaches. Are we going to see a salary cap restriction for coaches anytime soon?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Is it your money, pal? What do you care how much a billionaire spends? I'm always fascinated by people who go crazy about how much money an owner of a sports team spends when it's a lot. If he wasn't spending it, people would be complaining about that. --Mike
Do you want him to improve the team? Maybe you would argue about Spurrier. I accept that. Wilbon is skeptical about Spurrier. I am enamored of Spurrier. But Marvin Lewis has proven on the NFL level that he can concoct a great defense. Do you have some pathological need to criticize Snyder? What possible thing has he done wrong here? He has spent $$ to acquire talent. Why are you taking the owners' point of view here? All they want to do is exploit the market and make more money. And this guy is trying to win. --Tony
Chicago, Ill.: I heard that the Wizards are trying to acquire Oakley. Will this happen?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: They would like to have him, yes. Tomorrow night if possible. But, you know Jerry Krause is just not going to let MJ have Oakley which is what would happen if he cuts him in Chicago. --Mike
As a sportswriter, I want Oakley no more than five feet away from me at all times. Oakley is human gold. Plus, he can still play. --Tony
Washington, D.C.: Now after the impressive win over the Kings, what chances do the Wizards have of being a top contender to win the Eastern Conference to play the heavy favored L.A. Lakers?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: As great as the Wizards last week was, and while I think they will be a factor in the East if healthy, you have to look at the Nets, Milwaukee, Philly and to me Indiana. I know I left out Toronto, but Vince Carter has been a HUGE disappointment to me and that team REALLY misses Oakley. But the Wizards need another front court player to beat out one of those four either in the standings or in the playoffs. Tony do you agree? --Mike
The more the season goes on, the more amazed I am at how much better MJ makes everybody on this team. Believe me, BELIEVE ME, when I say this: if MJ were not on this team, they would be lucky to win 20 games. Now, I appreciate even more what he did in Chicago. He really can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear and more remarkable is he is doing it without the ability to score at will like he used to. He can't close out the game in the 4th quarter anymore. He has made these guys win. He is truly remarkable. And I know now that Wilbon wants to congratulate me for saying he should come back. Wilbon? --Tony
Don't tell Cleveland he can't close out the fourth quarter. --Mike
That's one game. --Tony
That's all I have to say. --Mike
Gutless ^(#)%!* ! --Tony
He is the only guy I know that was begging for him to come back even two years ago. It's his best call. --Mike
Washington, D.C.: Mike -- I notice you don't wear your wedding ring. What gives? Tony, you too! What is the deal?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: What's it to you buddy/buddette? What are you working for the Enquirer uncovering some secrets? Are you the wife police? --Mike
Gaithersburg, Md.: Re: Supermodels and the Wizards
Man, you just KNOW that the Wiz have improved if there is a supermodel or two in the audience -- LOL.
But Mary, what kind of guy doesn't know who Tyra is? Since Hax is out today, listen to me for advice:
Dump him. You deserve a guy who is more with it.
Me, for instance (LOL).
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Thanks Gaithersburg. Actually, it wasn't a date. But, if it was, he would have been talking to the curb after the evening. --Mary
Chantilly, Va.: Mike,
I thought your column today was dead on about Philly fans. I will never forget how Michael Irvin was treated when he laid on the ground with a broken neck and they cheered and called him crack-head. What a bunch of jerks!
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Thank you. --Mike
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: We have to go. See you next week. Wilbon will be live from Salt Lake at the Winter Games. --The Chat House
© Copyright 2002 The Washington Post CompanyncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uK3SoaCnn6Sku7G70q1lnKedZMSxedKrrWikmauysLrLoqWeZ2BnfLS8zqurrGekoMSquMGopWism6y2ra7Op2draWFlf2%2B006Y%3D