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The Chat House
With Tony Kornheiser
and Michael Wilbon
Washington Post Columnists
Monday, March 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.
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Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to The Chat House. We are starting a little bit early today b/c Wilbon and TK have to do an interview earlier this pm than was first planned. --Mary
I'm wired today so there is no telling what'll come out chatters. I got a lot of stuff on my mind. Tony does not want to get in my way today. In fact, he's not even here yet, but let's not wait for him. Let's roll. -Mike
Gaithersburg, MD:
Did you watch the Bobby Knight movie on ESPN last night? What were your thoughts? Do you know whether John Feinstein felt that it was an accurate portrayal from his book?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I watched the first 10 minutes.... we are not going to do a lot of questions on Bob Knight and the movie for the simple reason that it was DREADFUL BEYOND WORDS. It had nothing to do w/the book that John Feinstein wrote. Not that I care about that b/c John is a big boy and he knows how this works. He sold the right to Hollywood for A BIG PILE of money (hope one day I can do the same). --Mike
Greedy mongrel. --Mary
Yeah baby. --Mike
So, I don't care about that part of it. But, the movie had NOTHING to do w/the book. Brian Dennehey in no way shape or form resembled Knight or made you even think you were watching Knight. It was just dreadful on every creative level. One more point: I grew up following Knight's teams. He's a genius of a coach. But, I think he is a louse as a human being, but that's what makes him fascinating and worthy of a bio pick...... there are so many layers. But this, I've got to stop now, but I've said all I have to say about this movie and I know Tony will come in and rant also. --Mike
Bethesda, Md.:
Mike, your column on Saturday was the worst sour grapes whining I've heard in a long time. Simple question: If Maryland had run off four consecutive ACC championships, don't you think the tournament would have become their event?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: YEAH, BUT THEY DIDN'T FOOL. I didn't go to Maryland. I don't care if Maryland wins or loses 100 straight times in the first round. If the Cubs had won five straight World Series, they'd be the Yankees wouldn't they? If Tony had hair, he wouldn't be bald would he? What game are you playing? --Mike
Silver Spring, Md.:
What happen to Maryland? It obvious they played subpar, but can you give us more insight. The who what and why?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I think Maryland hit that stretch of the regular season where they got bored. It showed a little bit against Wake in that game they were lucky to win and it showed up again against Florida State for 25 mins. Juan Dixon hasn't shot the ball well in a while and they need him to shoot well to beat top 20 teams. If it's just about precision, then maybe the week of practice will help them more than having won one more game over the weekend. But, they'd better get it right on Friday and Sunday so that they can roll into the regional round w/some momementum again. And that only comes from playing well. I think a little big headedness might have snuck into Cole Field House between the VA game and Friday's trip to the ACC. --Mike
Alexandria, Va.:
Mike, what do you think about the whole Jayson Williams mess? I had really admired him after hearing the story about how he was raising his sisters' kids. Now I wonder. Any insight?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I got know him reasonably well and felt the same way you did. But he isn't a victim of anything but his own stupid judgement. Even after the shooting, in the immediate moments after, he could have handled SO much better than he did. He simply HAD to call 911 instantly, tell police exactly what happened and claim responsibility, plead his case and BEG for forgiveness publicly and privately w/the dead man's family. Instead, he did this celebrity thing: how can I spin this to look different from the reality of it? It's SO stupid. Tony and I have been told by people who have made their mark as defense attorneys that he might have gotten no jail time whatsoever had he behaved responsibly. But, now we hear he is also being charged w/obstruction of justice. It looks like he's going to jail and any sort of career as a man of influence in this culture is over for him. How sad. It really is tragic. And he did it to himself, playing w/these stupid guns in his house. --Mike
Silver Spring, Md.:
If I ask a question about yesterday's U.S.-Ecuador soccer match and the blind ref missing the Ecuadoran goalie kicking Brian McBride in the face, what are the odds that both Wilbon and Kornheiser will curse me? What are the odds of being called a ferret for being interest in non-basketball events?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I'm not going to curse you. I have no idea what you are talking about. This is a basketball time for ME. Stuff happened over the weekend in MLB and in pro-football that I have no knowledge of. I didn't watch any golf either. Everything has it's time in the spotlight and this is the time for college basketball. So, soccer is so far from the radar, I can't even tell you. But, I understand if soccer is your deal. But when you work in the news business you tend to focus seasonally. It ain't soccer's time dude. --Mike
Ferret. Ha. Just kidding. --Mary
Rockville, Md.:
My question is about the Maryland-NC State game over the weekend. Was I the only one who thought that Maryland was clearly out played by NC State despite their best efforts? Excluding the first half, Maryland seemed to do everything they possibly could but still couldn't pull out the win. Is NC State that good?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Maryland played a B game I thought. NC State played an A+ game. I don't think we need to overanalyze it. If Maryland plays its B game this weekend, the Terps can still probably beat Siena or Alcorn State and also probably beat the St. John's Wisconsin winner. But beyond that Maryland better have its stuff together or they could get bounced right out by whoever they face in the third round. --Mike
Washington, D.C.:
Is there any question now that we need to get computers out of picking anything in college athletics? Seems to me that the men's tournament selection committee ignored national polls, never watched a game, and went by silly RPI formulas that make no sense, plus "strength of schedule." I cannot imagine 10 teams that are better than the Zags, never mind 20. What yahoos thought involving computers makes things any less complicated?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I couldn't agree w/you more. --Mike
Washington, D.C.:
Mike and/or Tony,
Each time I look at my brackets, Davidson is sending my "wake-up notion" of a brain a ping. I figure every team has the passion to win but does Davidson has the talent and horses to get pass Ohio State?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Perhaps, but I'm picking Ohio State there. And I don't think the Big Ten is any good this year. Now you've got me wondering.... I think even Jay Bilas picked Ohio State and he knows this stuff cold..... Len Elmore too. --Mike
Washington, D.C.:
Any thoughts on Georgetown turning down the bid to the NIT? No team has done that since 1987! What in the world were they thinking? And the "kids have classes" excuse sure seems pretty weak to me. Is this program now a laughingstock, or would that require that people actually care about it nationally?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I know Craig Esherick but I have not talked to him about this and I have zero idea what happened here or what his thinking is. This can't be over some great disappointment over not getting into the NCAAs b/c Georgetown didn't earn a spot. There is no controversy here. They don't belong. So, I gotta talk to Craig. He's as rational a guy as I know and I don't get this. --Mike
Springfield, Va.:
Now that it looks like the Caps have a real shot at making the playoffs, how can they NOT sign Oates to a new deal? The guy is defying the laws of aging and having a remarkable year. Don't they have to sign Oates?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: No, you don't have to sign anyone who is 39 years old. Can Oates still play? Damn right he can. But, you're always gambling when you're trying to figure out how long a guy can stay at the top of his game. --Mike
Ormond Beach, Fla.:
Michael --
Perhaps your editorial this morning in The Post may have read differently if you would have remembered that Marquette beat Gonzaga on 11/24, 72-63 in the final game of the great Alaska shootout in Anchorage?
--Jon Chisholm
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: My bad. Marquette is a No. 5 and they did beat Gonzaga. But before you Gonzaga bashers go crazy, Illinois is a No. 4 and didn't they lose to Gonzaga? And it's not just about head-to-head. I think Gonzaga had a better season than Illinois. I don't see why UConn has to be a No. 2. And why the heck is George a No. 3 seed? The NCAA men's basketball selection committee simply did a paint by numbers using the RPI. How enterprising is that? --Mike
Chevy Chase, Md.:
Why not limit each conference to four teams? It's arbitrary, but it would make the tournament more national and inclusive. Maybe it would also reverse the ridiculous trend of having 28 teams in each of the major conferences (in a few years, the SEC will be able to have its own 64-team tourney). I would rather watch Butler, Gonzaga, Kent State, etc., than the fifth or sixth team from any conference.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: You answered your own question. It's arbitrary. I'd want more of the mid-majors too. But, there are some years where the 5th or 6th team in the ACC or Big East is a REALLY good team. For instance, Villanova when it beat Georgetown to win the tournament in 1985 was a No. 8 seed and way back in the pack of the Big East. That year Villanova had to beat Memphis State and Georgetown in the Final Four. --Mike
Vienna, Va.:
How many quarterbacks will we have on the Washington Redskins roster next year? Fifteen or 16?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: We? The Redskins will come in w/4-5 QBs like a lot of other teams. And is that really all you are concerned about in the middle of March? The Redskins quarterbacks? Are you one of those one note people who can not take his eye off of Redskins Park? --Mike
Philadelphia, Pa.:
With the Eastern Conference being the joke that it is, do you think the Sixers will still be the team to be reckoned with come playoff time?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I keep thinking they will be, but they are running out of time to prove it. Same w/Indiana. But my goodness how bad is the East if Sacramento can come to Milwaukee and win by 25. --Mike
Mt. Vernon, Va.:
Mike --
Not to defend the selection committee (because there is no defense for some of their rankings), but aren't they trying to send a very legitimate message to those teams who start the season playing pitiful opposition. Don't you think that Georgetown would have made the tournament if it had played some real talent (and beat them) last December?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I'm here, but I can't talk to anyone. But I love you anyway. --Tony
Ball State beat Kansas and UCLA. So, what message exactly would that be that the committee is sending? That it only wants high profile, big conference teams? You mean that message? --Mike
Washington, D.C.:
Not soccer's time? Heard of the World Cup? It's a small event planned in Japan and Korea. Happens every four years. I realize it's bracket Monday, but I think it is soccer's time. Unless none of us care if we come in 32 out of 32 again.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Tell me exactly how many months away the World Cup is. And then look at your calendar and tell me how many days away the NCAA tournament is. I'm about to get like Tony on you soccer people. It is NOT time for the World Cup now. Is there a difference to you between March and June? --Mike
Largo, Md.:
I've heard that Esherick thinks they got jobbed by the committee, and that's why he rejected going to the NIT. After seeing who's in and who isn't, do you think he has grounds to be upset?
Also, the play in game: why?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Jobbed? I know Craig. I hope this is not true. If I could put in 8 more teams Georgetown wouldn't be one of them. --Mike
Washington, D.C.:
Your column over the weekend where you absolved Pete Gillen of any responsbility for Virginia's sorry year was interesting. When I watched Virginia play, it was clear that they did not play any defense. They don't guard anyone. That's the coach's responsibility. They also don't run any offensive plays, but maybe, as you suggest, that's partially due to them not having a point guard (though Roger Mason was more than adequate as a point guard when he played that position).
I'm not sure why you (and most others in the media, outside of Richmond) give Gillen a free pass. He's not won a post-season game at UVA. Are you planning on writing his bio or something?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Pete Gillen had to turn around a program that was in the dumper. He didn't do a great job this year. But, that doesn't mean he is a bad coach which is the sentence I wrote. You want to be like the stupid Maryland sycophants who wanted Gary Williams fired 2 years ago? Get some perspective. VA ain't UCLA. Gillen has got to get some better players, particularly in the front court.... AND, the guy lost his point guard for the season. What do you think Maryland would be had Steve Blake been out for the season? --Mike
Washington, D.C.:
If Wilbon really had any guts, he'd take Gonzaga or, even better, Kent State for the Final Four.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: You're right. I thought about taking Gonzaga. But look at the 2nd round game they got: Arizona. Hard to pick 'em to beat Arizona. --Mike
Bethesda, Md.:
Mike, you missed my point about Maryland. They don't show up, then you forgive them because they've been made to feel like outsiders? Nothing shuts up opposing fans like winning.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: That's your assessment that they didn't show up. That's not mine. A D game is not showing up, not a B game. --Mike
Washington, D.C.:
Mike, it was really touching how you made excuses for Maryland not winning the ACC championship. I'm an alum, and I myself have come to face the fact that the terps basketball team over time are a bunch of chokers. C'mon, when have they really stepped up and won something of significance as of late?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: You mean like going to the Final Four? Like that? --Mike
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: By the way, I'm fairly tired of you whining Maryland fans who watch their team get to the Final Four one time and now think you're UCLA in the 70's. SHUT UP. Be thankful your team has a No. 1 seed and a healthy team going into the tournament. Who died and left you people thinking it's your birthright to win everything? --Mike
Alexandria, Va.:
Wilbon --
I see that ESPN is invading D.C. this week. Are you and Kornheiser playing hosts to all the other writers? If so, what restaurants are you taking them to?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: There are no other writers. We are the writers. DC is not hosting The New York Times and the LA Times. It's hosting ESPN and I doubt that we'll even be invited to the official ESPN events b/c they still see us as what we are: sportswriters. --Mike
Washington, D.C.:
Will the "regionalization" of the tournament work this year? On the surface, there seem to be some significant advantages for some teams in the first and second rounds (Maryland in D.C., Pitt in Pittsburgh, Illinois at the United Center in the second round). The NCAA says they care about the kids and their families with the implementation of this system. Please. Can they just say it's all about the money? Some of the charm of the tournament is seeing teams jet across the country to play in "foreign" lands against different opponents. The travel may not be ideal, but it worked for many years up until now. Why the change?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: The change is stupid and over-reactionary. It's a national tournment and it should be treated as such. And the NCAA should open up its BIG, FAT WALLET and charter flights for the parents and family members of the players who have to travel across the country. I think this could really backfire. --Mike
College Park, Md.:
Mike, I'm a Maryland alum and I couldn't be more proud and happy where the Terps basketball program is these days. Have people forgotten the Bob Wade years altogether? I'll take this Gary Williams led program over Wade and Lefty any day and I fondly remember the Lefty years.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Thank you for some perspective. You need to start slapping around some of your fellow alums who all of the sudden think they are supporting U. of Miami football. --Mike
Washington, D.C.:
Hey Guys --
Two questions:
Now that you have gone to national syndication with your ESPN show, do you still think of yourselves as D.C. sportswriters or have you got more important national issues on which to pontificate?
The Redskins left a lot of good players unprotected (Stephen Alexander, Kenard Lang, Corey Raymer). How are they going to replace them?
Go Terps!
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I've been writing about national issues since 1980 which would be exactly 21 years before getting an ESPN TV show. So what are you talking about? What columns have you been reading? --Mike
Our schedule today is such that I'm unable to do The Chat House. Our guest is being taped at 2:30 and I have to leave. I'm really sorry. --Tony
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Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Hey folks Tony and Mike had to bolt. Thanks for joining us today. And this just in: Mike will do a special solo NCAA chat this Wednesday at 12:30 pm ET for about 1/2 hr. So Log on and join us! Have a great afternoon. -Mary
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