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The Chat House
With Tony Kornheiser
and Michael Wilbon
Washington Post Columnists
Friday, June 8, 2001;
3 pm EDT
Are you a sports junkie? Can't get enough of Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon fighting each other in the sports and style pages of The Washington Post? It's your chance to talk to both gurus LIVE!
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washingtonpost.com:
Hi folks, we'll be getting started shortly. Thank you for joining us.
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to The Chat House!!
TK is absent today. He is at his daughter's high school graduation and sends his regrets so Wilbon will be flying solo today when he gets here. He is actually not here in The House but is calling in from L-A. Well, he should have done that about 5 minutes ago... so hang tight. I'm trying to track him down. We should be chatting in The House soon. --Mary
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Okay folks. Wilbon must be on the golf course. He promised me he'd call me... he will. I have faith. In the meantime, I've invited the lovely and talented Liz Clarke and Kathy Orton into The Chat House to talk sports until Sir Wilbon arrives. It's a female Chat House until Wilbon arrives. Liz also says she can take NASCAR questions too. --Mary
Washington DC:
What are they thinkin? Let Dion go.
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: First of all, spell it correctly please. It's Deion. --Mary
The way his contract is structured, he makes an enormous amount of money and the Redskins believe Darrell Green is still productive. So, it could save money. They are going to be saddled w/Sanders contract for a long time and Sanders clearly isn't as enthusiastic as playing for the Skins now that defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes has resigned. --Liz
Washington, D.C.:
NASCAR? If you say so!
To what do you attribute the dominating resurgence of Jeff Gordon? Last week's race in Dover was embarrassing. Is Gordon poised to stay back on top in the Winston Cup?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Good question Washington, DC! Gordon is finally geling w/crew chief Robbie Loomis. And he's probably the best driver on the circuit today. So, yes, it looks like only Dale Jarrett stands in the way of his 4th Winston Cup championship. --Liz
New York:
Since we're having a female chat, here's my question:
Who's hotter, Nicole Kidman or Cathernine Zeta-Jones? Cause People says it's C Z-J, but in my eyes, Nicole Kidman just SMOKES her.
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: That's a stupid question to ask women! --Kathy
Who's hotter Tom Cruise or Michael Douglas? --Liz
Washington, DC:
Do either of you follow the Mystics? Do you think they will live up to their level of talent this year?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: I cover the Mystics for The Post. I believe the coach they have hired, Tom Maher, will do a good job getting the most from the players this season. However, it is still up to the players to live up to their level of talent. They have considerable talent on this team, but they need to learn how to play together. --Kathy
Sounds like the Redskins of 2000. --Liz
Brooklyn:
Hello Mike (if there yet) and Ladies,
In your opinions, do the Sixers have any real chance to win this series or do the Lakers have too much talent and coaching to not adjust over the next 3-6 games? Everyone is treating the game 1 victory like it was the championship itself, such was the surprising nature of the Sixers' win.
Also, for Wilbon or anyone else loving this sort of thing: "What's Going On" or "Songs in the Key of Life"?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Wilbon is still not here yet. Sorry. Keep the faith. --Mary
After Game 1, I have a lot more faith in the Sixers. Still, I think the Lakers have the most talent and judging by Michael Wilbon's column today, the Sixers don't have a lot of healthy bodies left. So, I still think that the Lakers will win it all. --Kathy
Allen Iverson's heroics have been dazzling to watch. But, I don't see how he can keep carrying the team on his own. The Lakers simply have more talent. --Liz
Seabrook, Md:
Ms Orton,
You referred to Vicky Bullet as perhaps the best Mystics plaer.
My question is, would she be better if she changer her name to "Wizard?"
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: I don't remember saying she was the "best" player. I believe I wrote that against Seattle, she was the most valuable player on the court b/c of her defense against Lauren Jackson. Bullett is a veteran player w/a lot of talent. She's probably the un-sung hero of this team. I don't think changing her name is going to have much of an effect. --Kathy
Washington DC:
Hi ladies!
I sense a bit of sarcasim in your responses. Are you trying to be like men? Relax..ladies no need to feel threathen in any way.
Anyhow here is my question, which you probably won't respond...due to maybe..hmmm...not able to take it on the chin.
How is it that Hingis (french open)...is still ranked no#1...something doesn't seem right? Capriati all the way right?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: First of all learn how to spell pal. It's sarcasm. And yes, we are sarcastic by nature. And, no, we don't feel threatened. But, do you? --Mary
I'll take it on the chin. Hingis is #1 b/c of points. Capriati does look to be playing her best tennis and is likely to win it all. What a great story if she does! --Kathy
Denver, Colo.:
Now that there are women's sports in several categories, do you think they will catch on and become self-sustaining? What keeps fans/viewers away? Is it societal?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: I guess I would say sadly, I think they will continue to struggle at the gate. And, I've never understood why sports marketing people assume women will follow women's sports. --Liz
I concur w/Liz. And would add this: until women's sports reach the level of competitiveness of men's, I think it's going to be hard to attract an audience. I think women's sports have come a long way in the last 10 to 20 years, but they still have a long way to go. --Kathy
18th & M:
I wish Wilbon did more NASCAR.
How pleased is Joe Gibbs with the performance of Tony Stewart this year? He seems to be rounding into last year's form, but word on the street is his attitude and the recent Indy 500 situation have upset Coach Joe to the point where he may not keep him on the team next year. Have you heard anything?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Wilbon's cell phone is going directly into voice mail.... Hmm... golf anyone? --Mary
Gibbs' team got off to a horrible start and seem to be doing much better; either one could contend for the championship. My understanding is Gibbs was not too pleased that Stewart ran Indy again, but he was careful not to say so in public. Who knows how much longer the association will last? Stewart is a great talent, but a handful. --Liz
Fairfax, VA:
Do you think that Barry Bonds can be stoped?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: No! He can not be STOPED! --Mary
If Tony were here, he'd call you a dope. I'm not going to, but Mary can. --Kathy
Dope. --Mary
Harrisburg, PA:
Boy, I disagree that only 88 (Jarrett) stands in the way of 24 (Gordon). I think this is the most wide-open race in years for NASCAR. How about 20 (Stewart), 2 (R. Wallace), etc., etc. Comments?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Good question Harrisburg. Good point. Either Gibbs' team could win it. So could Wallace. I expected Jeff Burton to be stronger than he has been. But, Earnhardt's death has left a big hole in the sport which I agree is pretty wide open now. --Liz
Brooklyn:
For the Ladies of the Chat House:
Do you think that a female coach such as Pat Summit could succeed in coaching in the NBA? She's got the rings and knowledge to command respect, but do you think that she would ever get the respect of the male players?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: I'm so tired of this question. Why should Pat Summitt go coach in the NBA? Why would that validate her career? She has kicked butt in the college ranks for years. Why is that not enough? --Kathy
Well said. --Liz
alexandria:
Not from a sexist perspective, but its nice to see women truly in action. To heck with priss and tell it like it is. thats a stupid question. Reminds me of my mother.
Now a question. With the emergence of womens sports how are women treated in the locker room. In other words, or PC, is the male reporter there while Hamm/Holdsclaw is toweling off.?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Good question, but I've never covered a women's sport so I don't know what the rules or limitations are for males in a women's locker room and Kathy, our expert, had to go back to work. --Liz
Washington DC II:
Thanks for the correction on the spelling...ok cut that out me threaten by what...a woman who refers to me as pal?
Where are you two from anyway? In my life of living I haven't never been referred to as "pal"....you say that as if you would punch me....Ms. machoette...be nice will ya.
By the way, (Daughters) Ali and Frazier....who wins?
Thanks ladies its been a blast....kicking it with you...by the way does either one of you play sports.
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Smooch! Love ya babe. --Mary
Our money is on Ali. Good genes. --Liz and Mary
Fredneck, MD:
Did you see Petty's comments on Burton and Earnhardt? I am not a NASCAR fan, but I thought they were pretty pointed. Any comment on his comments?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: I didn't see his comments. What did he say? --Liz
Washington, DC:
Wilbon,
Loved your piece about Iverson today. Love Iverson too. Just one question. What exactly is a bling-bling?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: We'll park the NASCAR questions. We are seeing some backlash from them. --Liz
Tony answered this last week in The House. Bling Bling means money/flashy jewelry. Stuff I need so bring it on people. Wilbon is MIA so I think we may draw this to a close if he doesn't show up soon. --Mary
Bethesda:
Gentlemen and Mary: Good afternoon.
That was one of the best NBA Finals games I have ever seen. The Sixers have a lot of heart and do not quit. I'm concerned about the banging Allen Iverson takes night after night and wonder if by the time he's 33 or 34 he retires prematurely because his body can't take the nightly pounding anymore. Everytime I watch, he's on his rear end after a nice play. The guy is pure hustle.
It's been a pleasure watching him play this year and it's cool he's changed his attitude about the coach and practice and stepped up and become a leader.
Sixers in seven!
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: I'll post this so we can recover from the NASCAR/NHL backlash. --Mary
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: I'm back just to respond to the question about female locker rooms vs. male's. Having covered both the NFL and the WNBA, I have to say, I much prefer the way the WNBA opens its locker rooms. In the WNBA, the women are required to sit in front of their locker for one 1/2 hr after the game ends. --Kathy
Fully clothed? --Mary
Most of them remain fully clothed since both men and women are allowed in the locker room during this time. In the NFL, you have to race into the locker room to grab the players in all stages of dress before they bolt. If there was some way they would remain dressed so that I could interview them before they showered that would be ideal. --Kathy
Washington, DC:
Any hope for the Mystics? Are they doomed to always suffer the Washington sports curse?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: I don't think they are doomed. However, they've gotta play together. So far they have done that once in 3 games. Hopefully, they'll put their selfishness behind them and work together. --Kathy
dc:
What a freakin' fiasco....
(I used my spellcheck)
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: It is. I know. Now, as Tony would say, please go put your face through a plate glass window...--Mary
KIDDING!! KIDDING!! --Mary
Where is the love? --Kathy
Washington, DC:
Is 'Mique in any better shape than last season? As the off-season helped her at all?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Not only is Chamique in better shape, she also has a much better attitude. --Kathy
**NEWS FLASH** MIKE IS IN THE HOUSE! FINALLY! I told you to keep the faith. --Mary
I was detained by NBA business and I have been off the golf course since 1 pm EST time. I'm SORRY. Official NBA business took me away from The Chat House. It wasn't golf. Take that Mary. --Mike
Ouch. --Mary
But I do owe the Chat House faithful and additional hour sometime soon. --Mike
D.C.:
Hi Mike,
What do you think Jackson will come up with to try and slow down Iverson tonight? Seems as if he can't sacrifice Kobe's offence trying to denfence Iverson.
Thanks.
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Good observation. I think you will see less of Kobe on Iverson, and more of Tyronn Lue and Derrek Fisher on Iverson. But, the real adjustment you have to see LA make tonight is getting Kobe free for the shots he usually buries. Kobe has to score 30 points tonight and the Lakers have to win. If Philadelphia wins, they will get into the Lakers head just as the Lakers got into Portland's head, Sacramento's head and San Antonio's head when they went up 2-0. --Mike
Roanoke, VA:
Official NBA business? I didn't know they had a Gold Club in L.A.
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Damn. You've outted me. --Mike
Brotha can't have a nooner w/out people getting snippy? --Mike
Washington, D.C.: :
I just wanted to take this opportunity to say I TOLD YOU SO! I knew that Philly would win a game and I still believe they will take the series. So know that the Laker loverfest is over (finally) what are your projections for the rest of the series? Do still believe that the "Lakers are on a mission" and that whoever is from the East "doesn't have much of a chance"?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Clearly, you have every right to beat your chest today. I thought Philly would win one game and if completely bizarre things happen, Philly could win a 2nd game. But it's the way Philly won game 1 that's so impressive. It's not like they just got hot and hit a bunch of 3 pointers. They played w/a lot of guts and a lot of smarts. They were scrappier than LA, quicker to the loose balls, smarter. Philly's biggest asset is the team's overall mental toughness. Or should I say mental and physical toughness? You know who Philly reminds me of? Vintage Emmitt Smith. I love watching Philly. But, I still think the Lakers will win in six or seven. --Mike
Boston, MA:
In reading your (M. Wilbon) earlier columns, it seems like you are a very very big Lakers Fan. Now, all of sudden you seem to be singing the praises of Iverson and company. What is the quick turn-around about? Who do both of you think will win the NBA finals and in how many games? Any chance of a sweep by the 76ers?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Now, I'm not here to stick w/a particular position taken x number of days ago. You chronicle what happens day to day. That's what a newspaper does. You follow the evolution of a series. If a guy is great on Tuesday and he stinks on Wednesday that's what you write. This isn't weather forecasting. I like both teams. I like watching both teams. I like both coaches, the stars on each team and over the last 3 weeks, I've come to admire Philly b/c of the way they played w/all of these injuries and b/c they demonstrated they have so much in the way of guts. I'm not here to advance the cause of one team or another. We are not fans who have to pick one team and stick w/them. I think the Lakers will win in six or seven games, but that doesn't mean I'm rooting for that. I'm rooting for great games to write about. --Mike
Washington, D.C.:
Hey Wilbon,
Why did you sell out MJ and say that Kobe is on his way to being the best player ever? Win an MVP and win a title alone and then I might even consider him any type of threat. He's nothing more than a talented player on a team with an unstoppable force. Did you see him last night? AI spanked him like the Suburban rec-league phenom he is.
Wilbon, you are weak and so easily swayed by the news of the day. Don't write about MJ ever again, Benedict Arnold. We don't need you.
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Are you as a big a fool as this question indicates? Are you really that stupid? Or is this an attempt to be funny? --Mike
Funny I think. --Mary
If you think Kobe is a rec league player, you need to turn the NBA off your TV and start following figure skating. --Mike
Baltimore, MD:
Damn, Mary, you do seem to like the attention. Why don't you get a job as a stripper (asssuming you could get hired)?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: What do you do for a living burger boy? Chances are that you are such a loser you could't buy a lap dance at the Gold Club for $200. --Mike
nyc:
Sweet flip-flop Mike! Earlier in the week the Sixers had no shot of winning one game and now Kobe HAS to score 30 for the lakers to win. Must be nice to have that lattitude.
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: What are you watching? Kobe averaged 31 pts a game in the playoffs. He scored 15 pts on Wed night. Kobe has to have his usual game so that Shaq doesn't have to score 40 and the Lakers can win. What were you watching the other night? What latitude are you talking about? --Mike
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Shout Out: All you people who are mad that the Lakers didn't sweep, shut up and get over it. Watch the game. A lot of us thought that the Lakers would beat Philadelphia. I thought five games. A lot of other people thought 4 games. So, you adjust your thinking based on the facts of game 1. You watch the games and you try to discern what is going on, but just don't beat the drum for one team b/c they didn't do what you wanted them to do. This is a SERIES of games. Things will happen day to day, and game to game that will alter what the coaches attempt to do, what the players will try to do, what the players will try to do and what will should therefore expect to happen. That is the fun of playoff basketball. It changes. Get w/the program. This ain't Redskin-Cowboys and it ain't the NCAA tournament where you go one and out. --Mike
Baltimore, MD:
I know I make more than the puny $150K you do, Mike!
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: That presumption demonstrates just how stupid you really are. There is nothing worse than a guy who thinks he is smart and knows it and is dumb as you are AND can't get a lap dance.--Mike
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Shout Out: All you people who are asking these questions about the O's, pick up the remote and turn on to Game 7 to the Stanley Cup final tomorrow night and Sixers-Lakers on the other nights. This is not the O's Chat House. --Mike
Denver, Colo.:
NHL! NHL! Who wins game 7, in your opinion?
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: All the evidence points to NJ winning. The Devils are 7-1 in finals road games. But, I just think Colorado is going to prevail. I think Patrick Roy is really on a mission to redeem himself from what happened in Game 4.... or was it game five (when he wandered behind the net and got burned). --Mike
SF, CA:
hey chat house,
this is for mike: great story on AI today. I am a big fan of Iverson because of how he has responded to the events of the past year. he should keep of the microphone, but the same could be said for john tesh.
my question is pretty dumb: what's up with that elastic sleeve iverson wears on his shooting arm? is it there because he gets hacked all the time?
cheers,
/b
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Great question. --Mike
I've always wondered that too. --Mary
Trainers tell us it has something to do w/warming his arm and shoulder. I presume it has something to do w/circulation, but that is WAY beyond my ability to understand. We should also note from time to time the Iverson has removed that sleeve. --Mike
Brooklyn:
Mike, you weren't here for my earlier question, love if you'd take it:
What's Going On or Songs in the Key of Life?
I think you just woke up the Ombudsman again.
Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: I love both of them, but if I could only have one CD to play over for the rest of my life-- this is real tough-- I guess I'd have to go w/what's going on. --Mike
Sorry I was late. I will make it up in future weeks. But, I have to go now to stop at the GOld Club on the way to the Staples Center. I'm told Tony has been there for a couple of hours already. WATCH THE GAME. IT SHOULD BE GREAT. I expect the Lakers to win by a dozen or 1/2 dozen pts. I expect Kobe to have 38 and for Philly to play very well again. ---Mike
Thanks everyone for joining us for this diverse and lively Chat House today. A HUGE thanks to Liz Clarke and Kathy Orton for coming in and saving the show. Tony is out of town again next week, but Mike will be here. Have a good weekend. --Mary
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