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Kornheiser	Wilbon
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With Tony Kornheiser
and Michael Wilbon
Washington Post Columnists
Monday, Nov. 12, 2001; 1:30 p.m. ET

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Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Good afternoon and welcome to another edition of The Chat House LIVE from the headquarters of Tony and Mike's new TV show. They both have very plush dressing rooms w/huge bouquets of roses today, btw. Peach for Mike and yellow for Tony.--Mary

Let's roll bussie. Here we go. --Tony

Whaz' up peeps? I am in mourning. My Bears lost. I'm in a foul mood. I need the Chat House to brighten my day. And we won't even mention what's going on in NY right now. Well. maybe we'll mention it but not right now. --Mike

Boston, Mass.: Mike,

What's happened to your Northwestern Widcats? They've gone from pre-season big 10 favorite to chumps.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: That's being kind. The Joe Paterno game killed them. We should have been 5-1 after that home game, a game we led in the 4th quarter by 2 scores. But this is what happens when your defense has no speed. And, now Damien Anderson, who had no kind of season anyway, is going to miss the last 2 games to have surgery. We are going to win one more game to go 5-5 and then we are going to get killed by Illinois on T-giving which I can't bear. --Mike

Springfield, Va.: Gentlemen, I know its still early, but MJ isn't exactly lighting up the NBA with his play. At what point does "Coach" MJ think about reducing his number of shots and/or minutes played? He really looks ordinary at times. Which is kind of a sad thing.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: MJ is in this for MJ. He didn't come back for the Wizards. He didn't come back for the NBA. He came back for MJ. He wants to play, he wants to shoot, he wants to score. I don't think he looks ordinary at all. He's scoring 25 pts a game and drawing the attention of the entire opposing team. He's rebounding better than ever and he's passing the ball well. He's now played 7 games in 3 years. As they say in Stripes, "Lighten up Francis." --Tony

I'll agree w/all of that except this: the 25 pts per game is a nothing stat b/c you should average that much if you take every shot. I do agree w/Tony that he's doing 2/3 rds of the game very well, but his shooting has been dreadful. But I think he'll work his way out of that. Maybe even by the end of this week. I agree w/90 percent of what he said. --Mike

Brandon FL formerly from Berryville VA: Mike and Tony,
Greetings guys! How do you both feel about the chances of Daniel Snyder recognizing the need for a GM and hiring one at the conclusion of the season. Would Marty stay if Daniel said, "I want you to coach."?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: That's THE post-seaons question for the Redskins... you're just a little early w/it. I suspect Marty would bolt rather than have to answer to a GM given the contract he negotiated w/Snyder. Maybe Tony disagrees. --Mike

I do disagree. --Tony

You think he'd stay and just be coach? --Mike

Yes, there is 10 million dollars in that contract and he's not going to walk way from 7.5 of it b/c his feelings are hurt. As long as he is the coach and can hire and fire his staff and work w/a GM, he'll stay. --Tony

You're always the one who is saying Marty wants to be in charge. I don't know if I agree w/ you. Maybe he would say either these are the terms of the contract or you gotta fire me and pay me to sit. I don't see Marty giving very much on this issue. But it's early. I think a lot will be determined what happens these next 2 games... at Denver and and at Philly, 2 teams that are desperate to keep winning. --Mike

Richmond, Va.: What do you think the Wizards should do to get out of this current funk?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Join the WNBA. --Tony

Lincoln NE: One of the good guys in baseball is retiring. And for all the right reasons, but I'm still sad about it. Tony, Mike, your thoughts on Maguire's retirement?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: LET'S UNDERSTAND SOMETHING RIGHT NOW: If you think he's such a good guy, spell his name right pal. You don't know him. All you know is what you've seen on TV, heard on radio or read in the paper. You don't know him. --Tony

How do you know that this guy didn't grow up next door to Mark McGuire? --Mike

Wanna bet? --Tony

Just like he don't know, you don't know. Now, there are people who do know who think he's a really good guy and I'm going to take them at their word b/c I don't know him. Yes, I enthusiastically applaud the reason he retired. I'm sick of all these people saying he should change his mind and come back and DH. Let them SHUT UP. These are the same people who want to tell you why somebody else should stay retired. The guy very clearly and even eloquently expressed why he is done. Now anyone who is ready to argue w/him about that, I'm ready to take a swing at. It's just contrarian crap. --Mike

Tell us how you really feel Mike. --Mary

Wilbon should just SHUT UP. --Tony

Ain't gonna happen. --Mike

Stop evaluating whether someone is a good guy or a bad guy. You don't know. It would be nice if McGuire was a good guy. All you can fairly evaluate is his performance on the field. The rest is ancedotal information. He's a great player, a Hall of Fame player and I hope he reconsiders. I hope his leg feels good in March and he says "I can still hit 60 home runs. I'm going to go." --Tony

Washington, D.C.: I love listening to Maryland fans bark about how they might get screwed by the BCS. Maybe if they (a) sold out their (for college)teeny 50,000-seat stadium more than once every six years, (b) avoided those pesky postgame riots, and (c) actually brought fans with them to away games, they might actually look attractive to a major bowl. Your thoughts?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: If you're talking about Sat night specifically, there was no riot. Now, clearly you are right on the other 2 points. They are going to have to fill their stadium and prove they are able to travel before the Big Bowl scouts court MD. But they did fill it the other night and how many people in the stands have nothing to do w/the BCS. As far as I know, that's one of the few factors that doesn't get thrown into a computer equation. --Mike

Again, Wilbon should SHUT UP. Bowl games, other than the Rose Bowl this year, are about one thing and one thing only: profit. That's it. If the people running the bowl games don't think "MD travels well," then they are completely justified in opting for some team that travels well. This is a bind MD is in b/c it hasn't won in so long that nobody knows how it will travel--- and only once this year, the other night, did it sell out its own stadium. So, try not to tell me this is a bogus issue. --Tony

Hey SCUMBAG. This is word for word what I just said. Are you listening to your OWN CHAT HOUSE? --Mike

Actually no. I was out of the room. But you should SHUT UP anyway. --Tony

Whatif, Maryland: If the Terps had been able to beat FSU, where do you think they would have ended up in the BCS?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: If my grandmother had wheels, would she have been a bicycle? --Tony

This is a good question. --Mike

It's an IDIOT question. --Tony

It's a good sports bar question. --Mike

I'm sorry, are we in sports bar? I'd like a margarita on the rocks w/salt please. --Mary

Yes, in my mind that's what the Chat House is. A good sports bar where smarter than average people come to yack. And MD HAD Florida State down and as we saw Saturday w/them losing to NC State, beating FSU down there was doable. If MD was undefeated they would have been ranked 4th/--Mike

6th. I've got them ranked behind Miami, NE, OK, Texas, Florida and maybe Oregon b/c the PAC 10 is just a better conference so I would have them 6 or 7 no higher. --Tony

That's a legit case. I could justify putting them ahead of everybody except Miami, NE, and OK. --Mike

See what hurts them about Florida State in this argument is that would be 4 losses for FLorida State so the ACC wouldn't look like such a tough mountain to climb. --Tony

Good point. --Mike

But, having said that, there is no question that Ralph Friedgen should be the national coach of the year. --Tony

Let's think about this for a second. --Mike

Only the Oregon Guy (Mike Bellotti) would have a claim and his team has been better recently than MD has been. So I vote for Friedgen and I hope the prize isn't like a bunch of apple pies. --Tony

Laguna Beach, CA: Wow, you two are a little on the frisky side today. Spending a little too much time together?

BTW, what do you figure the Caps will do with all the injuries decimating their roster?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Let me say this to you: there is something SERIOUSLY wrong on that team. SERIOUSLY WRONG. Did you see that they traded Trevor Linden? Do you know what that deal cost them? Here is what the deal is now: the Caps give up Zednik, Jan Bulis, and Linden for draft choices.

For 2 kids. --Mike

That's a terrible deal. --Tony

Maybe one of the 2 kids is Wayne Gretzky. ---Mike

That is the single stupidest thing I have ever heard and I am ceding my portion of the Chat House to Pollyana Wilbon. Here is someone who knows less about hockey than people living on the equator and he now is making a judgment on minor league hockey players that he has no idea about. I admit readily I don't know if one of these 2 kids will wind up being a great player or not. The last time sportwriters went crazy over a deal like this is when the White Sox sold off a group of veteran pitchers for a bunch of kids and it turns out the kids were a lot better and got them a division title last year. You know what? Sports radio just turns some people into grumps doesn't it? --Mike

W: Hey, you guys can't spell McGwire either.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: That was my fault. Sorry. It's McGwire. My bad. --Mary

Annandale, VA: Speaking of scumbags, what do you think of Carl Pohlad and Bud Selig? Do you think contraction is a godd thing for MLB and the cities in question?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: You said it all. Thank you. On the topic of contraction, I think every league except the NFL needs to downsize. Hockey needs at least 4 fewer teams and so does the NBA. --Mike

Richmond, Virginia: I would like to go on record saying: "Based on what I am seeing now, I think Peter Angelos is an idiot." If the Redskins and Ravens can play near each other, why couldn't the Orioles and an exspansion team in Norhtern VA. If Peter Angelos is so worried about losing money, maybe he should build a better team.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I feel exactly as you do. I think Angelos is just a self-absorbed bully who, sadly for us, has the commissioner of baseball intimidated. --Mike

Reston, VA: What types of questions can we ask in the Chat House? I am new here and interested in joing the Chat House. Thanx, Michelle

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Hi Michelle. Welcome. --Mary

Smart questions whether they are about sports, music or popular culture. Questions that illustrate a little knowledge and a lot of passion. We are happy to have you. --Mike

Hold now. . . : in the Zednik/Bulis deal the Caps also got Zubris who is developing into a fine player and word is that the Habs are not too happy with the play of Jan Bulis as of late and may send him to the minors. Linden also had a huge salary which the Caps and the Habs will continue to pay part of. Still the original deal looks like a break even or even better for the Caps.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Thank you to someone who clearly knows something more about hockey than Mr. Puckhead here. --Mike

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Our Picks:

If you’re looking for a headline for picks last week it would be “Wilbon got his @*!$? kicked.” --Tony

Laughter...yeah. --Mike

Tony:
Cleveland at Baltimore: Baltimore
Indy at New Orleans: New Orleans
San Diego at Oakland: Oakland
Giants at MN: Giants
Washington at Denver: Denver

Mike:
Cleveland at Baltimore: Baltimore
Indy at New Orleans: New Orleans HAS to win. The loser of this team is out.
San Diego at Oakland: Oakland
Giants at MN: MN
Washington at Denver: Denver

It’s time to do TV now. We have to leave, but we’ll be back next Monday at 1ish….—Mike

Thanks for coming. Please join us. Thanks. --The Chat House

Silver Spring, MD :
Michael,
"I didn't know how else to reach you on email but I
had to tell you how much I enjoyed your article
this morning. My family from NY and some friends
were staying with us this weekend and we read
aloud the news articles at the breakfast table. We
all laughed out loud at the Disney movie allusion!
I have actually told friends that this season feels
like the movie, "Rudy", except it's "Ralphie". Look
forward to seeing you at NC State if you make that
trip. Hope you get this. Kindest regards.
Gloria Friedgen

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Gloria, thank you so much. I have to go to a fight in Vegas and the Redskins game in Denver this weekend, so I'll take the time to wish you and Ralph good luck this weekened in Raleigh. --Mike

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