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With Tony Kornheiser
and Michael Wilbon
Washington Post Columnists
Monday, Dec. 10, 2001; 1:30 p.m. ET

Searching for answers? Then The Chat House is the place for you.

Here is a transcript of today's show:

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.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Good afternoon and welcome back to The Chat House. Happy Chanukah. Mike will be joining us around 2 pm b/c he took the red eye back from Arizona after yesterday's game. Tony is here in person at The Chat House headquarters and will lead the charge for the first half hour. --Mary

Let's go. --Tony

Gaithersburg, Md.: Tony and Mike,

What's your take on the latest BCS debacle? Will it ever end or are we doomed to having our national champions determined by computer geeks who know absolutely nothing about football?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: With our own eyes we know that it should be Colorado or Oregon and they tell us it's Nebraska. I don't think Nebraska should be penalized for losing late and Oregon should be rewarded for losing early. But, CLEARLY, NONE of us who watched NE play Colorado can make a strong case that Nebraska should be playing in the Championship game. --Tony

Potomac, Md.: Hey Tony and Mike,

Just wondering, if you had every newspaper in the country in front of you on a lazy Sunday morning, which sportswriters would you choose to read?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: There is no question that the newspaper I would read is The New York Times b/c the Sunday NY Times is an interesting, comprehensive, even avant garde at times newspaper. The Times magazine is fabulous...week after week. As for sportswriters working in newspapers, I would read Lupica in NY, Ryan in Boston, LeBatard in Miami and Scott Ostler in San Francisco. Those would be my 1st choices. --Tony

Annandale, VA: Tony: Happy Chanukah. I'm new to the area. Where can I get good latkes for the holiday? I hate making them at home, it "schmutzes" up the kitchen.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: You could have come to my house last night. My wife made latkes. She used a recipe from a Joan Nathan cookbook. They were really quite good. W/the sour cream I put on them I feel I only gained 6 lbs last night. I have enought tatos in me now to open up an Idaho franchise store. --Tony

Burke, Va.: Tony, you need to write an article telling Leonsis to get Vincent Lecavalier. It seems that he is on the market. Your last article got us Jagr so hopefully this one will get us Lecavalier. So my question is will you write that article?

Stephen K.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Stephen, I would happily write that article if I had any idea who Vincent Lecavalier is. Had I heard of him even once in my life. It is one thing for me to write about Jagr. Even an idiot like me knows who Jagr is. But you are asking me to write about Mr. Lecavalier and that I fear is too much. Is he named after UVA's mascot or that Chevrolet car? --Tony

Bethesda, MD: Tony! Shame on you for advocating that a 17 year old golf phenom skip college to go on the Tour. There may be good reasons for young, extremely talented athletes to bypass college in certain sports, such as football or basketball, where (1) a risk of serious injury during college could deprive a kid of substantial income and (2) the "playing life" of an athlete is relatively limited. But GOLF? There is little risk of injury during college and most Tour quality pros can play well into their forties! Michael, what do you think about Tony's advice?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Mike isn't here yet. --Mary

It's not about injury, it's about whether or not it's wise to send the kid out now. And the answer is: NO of course it is not wise but the alternative is stupid. The kid has no incentive whatsoever to go to college to do anything but play golf there. Golf is what he wants to do for his life's work and he is already fully qualified to do it. He passed the PGA test. I'm saying that a parent should go w/him. Why are you depriving him of this opportunity? Of course, golf will be there later for him. But he is qualified to play pro-golf now. --Tony

Albuquerque NM: Tony and Mike,

What does "Wrapped up like a deuce, she was a runner in the night" mean?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Call Bruce Springsteen in New Jersey and ask him. He wrote it. I thought it was wrapped up like a deuce, "another" runner in the night, but I could be wrong. While you're talking to Bruce, ask him why he stopped writing songs like "Meeting Across the River." What a great song that is. I don't wanna hear about drifters in Nebraska from Bruce. --Tony

C'ville, VA: Tony,
What's your daily routine like? I know you have a radio show, but is there anything other than the show that is "regular?" How many actual sporting events do you get out to these days, and which are your favorite sports to watch live?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: You may not have cable, but Wilbon and I now do a regular TV show. So my day from 6 am to 6 pm is wrapped up in radio and TV. I don't go to many games anymore b/c I fall asleep at half time which is embarassing for me. But if I had my pick of any game at all, it would be high school basketball. I love high school basketball. I love how flawed all the players are and how much they want to win. --Tony

He also does this Chat every Monday. --Mary

Montreal, Quebec: Tony,

You write one column a week and its about GOLF? It's December, what gives?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: It wasn't about golf. It was about parents and children. So much time is spent talking about teenagers who are drafted into the NBA and teenagers who compete in the Olympics in gymnastics and ice skating where those are no tests that qualify you. This kid passed a test w/objective, criteria and I found his situation uncommon and interesting. Would you have preferred that I wrote about hockey? --Tony

Washington D.C.: Get Mike in there quick! Discussing Jewish food on the Sports chat? Come'on Tony, go back to the Style section where you belong.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Die. --Tony

Washington: After all of BYU's bellyaching about the BCS and threatening to sue to go to the Rose Bowl, am I the only one that found it just that they got killed by Hawaii?
Maybe it's better to take care of business before you whine about how bad you were screwed.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I watched that game and I was excited to see BYU get rolled and give up 72 pts to Hawaii. Good. Now we don't have to hear anymore of that whining garbage about threatening a lawsuit to get into the BCS Bowl games. You wanna get into a BCS Bowl? Play somebody good. Schedule somebody good. --Tony

Washington, D.C.: Hello and love you guys' work. Two-part question.

Are the special teams and defence for real or what?

Is Duke ready for Maryland to bring the pain? Thanks, Ron.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: What are you talking about? How are you spelling defense? Are you from France? And "is Duke ready for Maryland to bring the pain?" Don't you mean bring the "pan" as in bread Frenchie? --Tony

Chershire, Conn.: What did you think of the officiating in the BB& T classic? Quite awful on all sides? Please ask John Fienstein to stick to books! It was obvious that he never played and was not prepared. Was this his first time behind the microphone? My hat's off to the Terps. They played very well as a team. UConn is a young team and by March should learn how to do this.

Leo W. Rider
Cheshire, Conn.

Tony, I like your show on POP in Connecticut 1410

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Leo, I actually thought Junior was quite good doing color. I found his choice of outfits to be somewhat suspect, especially since he wore the same thing 2 days in a row. But, Junior has done color on football and basketball for years. And I think he's good. As for the officiating, who remembers this stuff? Thank you for listening in CT. --Tony

Bethel, Conn.: It's UConn, not U-Conn. This is not some under-the-radar mid-major, this is a Big East team who happened to win the national championship in 1999. Is this your fault or a copy editor's?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: This is, sadly, Post style. We are told to write U-Conn. So, take it up w/the managment at The Post. I have often written UConn and seen it changed in the paper. --Tony

K Street Corridor: Mr. Tony:

I have a complete non-sports question to ask. Where should I take my wife for a dinner to die for (in the city)? We have two little kids, so we never get out, and, huzzah, we have an overnight sitter this Saturday night. Money isn't really an object, would like something super nice. We're both very "un-clubby" people, so quiet, good food, etc. etc. Help, please!

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Okay. I don't know that I can give you quiet b/c I'm not ever looking for quiet. I like yapping around me and my restuarant choices tend to reflect that type of place. Like The Palm. But, if you can handle some noise, one great restaurant I ate at last year was Ten Phen and my friend Jeanne McManus, the Food Editor at The Post, always says the Kinkead's is a great restaurant (I've never eaten there). --Tony

Montgomery Village, MD: by the way....Tony:

I saw Bruce in Asbury Park on saturday night!!

Elvis Costello and Bruce Hornsby showed up along with the rest of the band. He did a bunch of classics like Rosie, E Street Shuffle, Kitty's Back, Incident on 57th Street...6th time I've seen him and by far the best

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Wow. That sounds great. Good for you. --Tony

Pittsburgh, Pa.: Tony/Mike, I know this is not a question, but me and my friend Joe are hardcore fans of "PTI," and we watch or tape it every day. Anyways, for Christmas I want to buy him something from the show, is there anywhere I can buy "PTI" merchandise? Unfortunately it's not on the espn.com site. Even if I could get an autograph from you two that would be great. I would very much appreciate a reply.

Thanks, Matt Betush

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Matt, we don't have any gear yet. We are hoping for a home version of PTI which includes heads on sticks and an egg timer. We are grateful for you watching. Though you and Joe surely could find something better to do than to tape PTI. Mary is worried about you.

Do you get out of the house a lot? --Mary

If you send Mary some piece of paper or dish towel, Wilbon and I will be happy to sign it and send it back to you. --Tony

If you're really that interested
Send it to: The Chat House: Attn: Mary
c/o Sports Department
The Washington Post
1150 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20071

I can save Wilbon and Tony's used lunch napkins for you too if you'd like? --Mary

Okay. Tony has to go. Mike will be here shortly...hang tight.--Mary

Chapel Hill NC: Didn't Manfred Mann write that line? Are the Terps really a top 5 team or will they choke when the pressure's on again?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Mann used it 5 years after Bruce Tony tells me. Hang in there. Mike will be here soon. --Mary

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: While I have the floor for the next few minutes... just wanted to let you know that Mike and Tony do still like each other even though The Chat lately has been each of them on one at time. We sometimes have to do that b/c of scheduling and who is here first. Mike is traveling a lot and since we don't want to start late, I have been having Tony start first and Mike joins in. 'Kay? BTW, Mike just walked in. I'm letting him take off his coat and sit down and we'll get going in a second. --Mary

Sterling, VA: what do you think about the Redskins victory yesterday and do you think they will be able to stop Philadelphia again on Sunday?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Hi. Good to be back. I wish I could have been in for the full Chat House today but I spent 6 hours flying from Phoenix back here to DC. So in order to do PTI, I had to catch a quick cat nap after the flight. But even w/out sleep, I have enough energy to attack the BCS. What a bunch of junk. I have no idea what you guys have been talking about, but I suspect it's been BCS and a lot of Redskins. --Mike

Nope. No Redskins yet. BCS yes. --Mary

No Redskins? ---Mike

Right, mate. No Redskins. --Mary

That's why I picked this question. --Mary

I think the Redskins will beat Philadelphia on Sunday. I think the Skins are better than Philly. That's the shame of the 0-5 start. The Redskins should be 8-4 at the worst right now. --Mike

Washington, D.C.: Interesting take on Jagr in yesterday's paper. While Wilson is to be commended for not changing his defensive gameplan for one player, shouldn't an exception be made in this case? Jagr isn't your average run-of-the-mill journeyman. He seems to be stifled here. Thoughts?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I believe an exception should be made. Exceptions are made in every walk of life, particluarly sports. And until you make an exception are you getting the best out of him that you can? If you are just making him another "Washington Capital" then why get him? Who needs that. What did the Caps ever win? You get a guy like this you do whatever you got to fit your team around the best player in the world. That's what I believe. --Mike

Houston, Texas: Who would be the best fit at quarterback for the Redskins next year, considering the free agents and draft possibilities? I wonder how good these guys would be with a decent signal-caller.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Next year? You're playing for a division THIS year. Starting this week. What is your problem? Tony Banks is 6-4 as a starter. Give the guy a break. Let me mention 2 teams who scrapped their QB while he was winning to obsess over a new QB: Tampa Bay and Baltimore. How much better are they having gotten rid of their QBs? I don't know who they are going to get next year. No rookie is going to help them and I don't know that there is a free agent out there who is great. You want me to toss out Drew Bledsoe's name? He can't move. I don't like guys who can't move. But that's just me. --Mike

Yeah, me neither. --Mary

But maybe Marty likes 'em. --Mike

Charlottesville, Virginia: What is your take of the sudden production from Michael Westbrook with Tony Banks as QB?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: They corrected a wrong. That's why you practice all week and have meetings and look at film. Get better. Do it better next week. It should have taken this long. I don't care what anybody says, Westbrook is better at this point than Rod Gardner. --Mike

Boston, Mass.: Hey Mike,

I'm in the market for some new threads. Is Zegna still the choice or has someone new come along? I'd ask Tony but I think it's obvious he doesn't know.

Thanks!

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: There is nobody new. The old masters will do. Armani, Zegna, Canali, Hugo Boss...they are all great. It depends on your body type.--Mike

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Okay. Time to go.

Picks for the Weekend of December 16th:

TONY
Denver at Kansas City: KC
Philadelphia at Washington: Philadelphia
Tampa Bay at Chicago: Hmmm....Tampa Bay
Pittsburgh at Baltimore: Hmmmmmmmmmmm....Baltimore
Green Bay at Tennessee: ....Green Bay

MIKE
Denver at Kansas City: Denver... no I'm taking KC.
Philadelphia at Washington: Redskins
Tampa Bay at Chicago: Tampa... unless it's 20 degrees
Pittsburgh at Baltimore: Ravens. They'll get sky high for this game.
Green Bay at Tennessee: Packers. They are the best team in football.


See you next week folks. --The Chat House

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