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It's time for another edition of The Chat House! Join Wilbon and Kornheiser LIVE to talk about the Wizards, the Caps, the NFL, the NBA and anything else that strikes your fancy.

The transcript follows.

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Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Good afternoon and welcome back to The Chat House. We missed you! Both guys are here in the flesh and we are ready to go. --Mary

Gaithersburg, MD: I was pleased to read last night's account of the Lakers game last night. I was surprised to see Mr. Wilbon's by-line on the article. That was the best written sports article I've read in a while and plan to save it to teach from. I wondered if Mr. Kornheiser still writes any news articles or if he is a full time Sports Curmudgeon? I also wondered if you could remember any year that had as many clutch performances by as many different players in crucial games? This has been a fantastic year for the playoffs, and while one could always count on some clutch performances from certain players, Jordan, Bird-Magic, Kareem, etc. I don't remember so many different players playing huge in huge games.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: First of all, thank you for the compliment. I do this every year during the playoffs. I cover games and write features and advance stories setting up big games. I like to do that occassionally. But usually, just regarding the NFL and NBA playoffs. Tony? You think Tony would do windows? This is WAY beneath Mr. Tony. I'll bet the last byline piece he wrote was in 1984. Tony? --Mike

A byline piece? Not a column? It's been a long time. I'm hired and paid to write columns. --Tony

So am I. --Mike

Well, apparently you're not paid to do that b/c you are writing both. --Tony

I'm a team player. There is no I in team. --Mike

But there is at least one "i" in Michael and one "i" in Wilbon. --Tony

Annapolis, Md.: Other than Greg Norman and possibly Justin Leonard, there were not a lot of big-name players at the Kemper Open. Tiger Woods seems to contemplate playing each year, but has never elected to participate. What will it take to get Tiger and other top players to participate?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Money. The Kemper is not a big money pay out, is it? --Mike

No.They don't play this tournmanet primarily b/c of when it falls in teh schedule. Most people like to take the 2nd week before a Major off then play the week before the Major, especially this year when the tournament before the open in NY is the Westchester in NY. Tiger, like Nicklaus before him, always takes off the week before and after a major. In the next 4 years, the Kemper is either the week before or the week after the Open. So, we won't see Tiger. And btw, Jose Maria-Olazbal, Hal Sutton and Chris DiMarco were in this field. So, it wasn't complete dreck. --Tony

Athens, Ga.: The NBA has lost me. Not that they ever really had me, but this was their chance. After watching all seven games of the L.A.-Sacramento series, I feel like I've been hustled.

Yes, the Kings lost the game themselves last night, but if not for the confounding play of the Laker's sixth man, the one wearing the stripes, it would have been the Kings in five. I still have no idea what constitutes a foul in this league. What Shaquille O'Neal does with his elbows and back, routinely knocking defenders off balance, is apparently not a foul; but standing still with your arms straight up in the air is a foul if Shaquille O'Neal bumps into you while shooting.

I have no intention of watching Shaq and Kobe tell me to eat junk food and "Obey my thirst" over the next week. Instead, I will obey my brain and tune out the NBA. I've seen enough hustle from that lot to last me a lifetime.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Then you've got your own agenda. This is a great series. If you like professional basketball, this was great competition, it was great theater, it had controversy, spectacular endings. I hated Game #6 and the way the refs controlled the game, but the Series was awesome. So, I don't know what your agenda is concerning pro basketball. It sounds like to me you resent their riches. That has nothign to do w/the quality of play or the desperation involved. --Mike

The series was very close. Good basketball. I enjoyed watching it. I think they pay Webber far too much money. They are paying him the max. He has some very nice passes in the first half and then a technical foul that cost his team. All Sacramento lacks is a leader and I thought, by now, it would be Webber, since he always said he was a leader, but now it's clear he's not. --Tony

Go ahead and guess Tony's obsession. --Mike

This is not an obessesion. That's bs. The guy is simply a very, very, very good player who is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a great player yet. And he's almost 30. --Tony

You're the one who picked the Kings in the series. And who did you think their best player was?--Mike

Re: Drug testing in baseball: Why do baseball players have a problem with it? It's good enough for every other sport.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: B/c their union is strong enough to oppose anything management wants or anything that they think isn't in their best interest. The union leaders and hardliners don't want to know who is on steroids. --Mike

Baltimore, Md.: In recent fights, Evander Holyfield has used his head to disfigure Hasim Rahman, break John Ruiz's nose, and send Mike Tyson into a frenzy. At first, I discounted Tyson's remaks as the ravings of a lunatic, but, in retrospect, it looks like Holyfield is a serial head butter. Did Saturday's fight diminish your opinion of Holyfield and lend credence to Tyson's charges?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Mike Tyson was right about Evander. All he's done in the last 6 yrs is head butt people. If Tyson wanted to bite his ear off again, I'd grant permission. Tony? --Mike

I think Holyfield will go down as one of the most heroic, consistent, worthy boxers of all time. He gave away weight and size in almost every fight. Whether he is a serial headbutter or not, is beyond my knowledge. But I just think b/c he's so small, he needs to get inside to win and things happen. --Tony

So it sounds like you think it's not intentional? --Mike

I suspect it's unintentional and even if it were intentional, Tyson has already bitten off a piece of his ear. So to give Tyson permission to bit off another apendage, strikes me as gluttony. --Tony

Elizabeth, N.J.: Boys --

Love you on "PTI" and thankfully it comes on before my wife gets home.

I like the World Cup, but wouldn't it be even more interesting if we could wager on some of the games, like being in England. Talk to me?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Good idea. Any sport that Americans didn't invent, we have little interest in unless we can wager on that puppy. Of course, I think they are wagering in Vegas aren't they? But, yeah I think that would make it more appealing to Americans considering we are never going to embrace soccer as we do football, basketball or baseball. --Mike

Kansas City, Mo.: Why don't people like Kobe Bryant? You would think with all of his talent, he'd be incredibly popular -- but he's not.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I think most people do like him, except a few idiots in Philly. What's not to like? He's a great player, he's great looking, he's developing the charming side to his personality, he's a winner. What's not to like? --Mike

Wilbraham, Mass.: Do you think it is a good idea for the Wizards to trade up in the draft to get Chris Wilcox? They will probably have to be in the top four. I would give up anybody except for K Brown.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: No, I don't think it's a good idea. What game does Chris Wilcox have that tells you definitively he can be an impact player in the NBA right away or even relatively soon? He didn't even dominate college games. Of course, he could turn out to be a great NBA player in the right situation b/c Kevin Garnett and Kobe didn't even play in college and they are great players. But, how do we know about Wilcox? I like all his individual skills, but he doesn't have a game yet. --Mike

Washington, D.C.: "Sports-Tainment"
by Allen Sager

Dear Mr. Wilbon:

What a refreshing column! You may think I am part of the conspiracy theorists. I am not though, so please give me the benefit of the doubt.

Your column was right on the money regarding Game 6 of the Lakers/Kings series but was a little off in my opinion that the officials haven't been playing favorites for at least last 10-15 years now.

I am an insightful sports enthusiast like your friend in the marketing business. My folks had season tickets to the Milwaukee Bucks for about 25 years, so I've been seeing games my whole life. I play five times a week at the YMCA and watch plenty of football, baseball and hockey at all levels.

I have not enjoyed the NBA (mostly because of officiating and the rules committee) for some time now. It has evolved into "Sports-Tainmet" with a much greater emphasis on highlighting the "stars" than the team or the game. The officiating plays an undeniably massive favorite to the star players and to the better media market.

Take the "make-up call" for example. Does it even need to be defined to you or anybody else? The network announcers are quick to point them out on such a routine basis that it is just a part of NBA basketball. The officials will call a Mickey Mouse infraction on the ensuing trip down the floor anytime that a call goes against a "star" or the favorite home team. You can expect it. To say that the officials are not purposefully trying to influence the outcome is a joke to the average fan.

If you are still reading this, I ask that you go back to as many conference finals and championships since the days of Magic vs. Bird as you can. You were able to analyze the disparity of free-throws and fourth quarter key calls in Game 6 Friday night. While I haven't done the same, I would bet the farm that a very similar pattern exists. Please use your resources to find out for yourself.

Series that come to mind are:

Pacers/Bulls (all '90s years), Jazz/Bulls ('90s), Philly/Milwaukee (2001) and on and on.

Let's face it -- The stars never foul out, the home team gets to the line, the series goes to seven games, and the biggest market with most stars gets to the finals. It's what the NBA/NBC wants. It's Sports- Tainment.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Allen, thanks for the comment. You make some good points. And even though I love professional basketball, I can't even refute the points you make about "makeup" calls. I think it's true. And there is a line you have to be careful of crossing or you just become and exhibition instead of competition. And we are seeing more people, including paying customers and fans of the league that think that line is being blurred. That's a problem for the NBA. But I don't know that the league sees it that way. --Mike

Arlington, Va.: Do you think that one of the problems of teams breaking through to the championship level is sheer fatigue? The Kings are about the only NBA team I like to watch because of all their off-the-ball movement, but last night it looked like they were all just standing around (Mike Bibby excepted).

Also, however impressive his numbers, Chris Webber needed to score more.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: You're right on both counts. Shaq and Kobe were able to play through their fatigue better than Peja and Webber. And most of being a champion is about mental toughness, at this level where the physical skills are so similar from player to player. Even if Webber didn't need to score more, he needed to have a bigger impact on the game in certain 4th quarter situations. But this just goes to underscore that he's a great player, but not on the same level as Shaq and Kobe. --Mike

New York, N.Y.: Are assists going to make the difference between Jason Kidd and the Nets versus Allen Iverson and the 76ers against the Lakers?

Or does it matter at all?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: No, it's not assists. It's the ability to control the basketball game on at least one end of the floor and Kidd does that better than Iverson, in my opinion. I think NJ will win one game, could win two, but no more. Kidd controls the entire game. Iverson distorts the game w/his incredible talents, but he's not big enough to rebound the way Kidd does or play half court defense the way Kidd does. Iverson is a great, great, great player. But I think Kidd is his equal, at the very least. --Mike

America: Mike --

When you say "Americans" aren't going to embrace soccer, which "Americans" are you refering to?

I know plenty of "Americans" who do embrace soccer, and follow it as regiously as others do football, basketball or baseball.

Soccer may not be a big as the Big 3, but take a broader view of "Americans" an you may find may more soccer fans out there than you thought.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I'm talking about the great majority of Americans who follow sports in this country. Do you want to dispute that statement? There are plenty of soccer fans. I just said it's not going to rival the big 3. Soccer people have to stop being so defensive all the time. Don't try to compare yourselves to other sports and their acceptance in America. --Mike

Tampa, Fla.: Tony, why does NBC insist on forcing Jim Gray into our homes? He's the worst sports interviewer in the business.

And why have they taken away our Hannah Storm?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I like Jim Gray most of the time actually. I think he's aggressive and properly aggressive. I think he asks the right questions. I've seen him do good work under terribly difficult circumstances at big fights for example. Tyson fights. I thought he was bad w/Pete Rose a few years back when he started asking the same question. But, by and large, I think he's one of the few sideline guys who asks the right question at the right time, even at his own peril. I think that what people don't like about him is that they perceive him to be squirrely. --Tony

Washington, D.C.: C'mon, Kobe is a fraud! Where's the beef?

Stick anyone in the backcourt -- Pierce, T-Mac, heck, even Wilbon -- with Shaq up front getting all the whistles and they'd put up much better numbers than Kobe.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: You are an imbecile. I'm not going to waste a lot of time w/this. Kobe Bryant is the best all court player in basketball today. Yes, it is to his benefit to play w/Shaq, but his game is also hampered by defering to Shaq. If you honestly think he is a fraud, you should not be allowed to watch the games. --Tony

The electricity in your home should be cut off. --Mike

Simsbury, Conn.: I am a Philly sports fan so I could be biased in this whole comment. The whole ordeal with Mrs. Kidd is a joke. If she was in Philly, she would have had hotdogs and ketchup thrown at her in addition to the comments that only Philly fans can dispense. If she doesn't want it in the public spotlight, then stop posing for pictures, stop sitting in the front row, and stop showing us your house on "Cribs." Just like when you go to a baseball game and if you are hit on the head with a foulbal, on the back of the ticket there is a statement there which states "assumed risk". Don't wear an Emmitt jersey in the 700 level of the Vet is just known. Sit in the box and route on your husband.

I hope the Nets win.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: This is an increasingly held position that Joumana Kidd is mainly interested in a TV career. --Tony

But even if she is.... --Mike

But, what bothers me about this is it's a little like -- and please forgive me for equating 2 unequatable things -- but it's a little like saying of a woman "She asked for it." --Tony

That's exactly what it's like. --Mike

So while I may think that Joumana Kidd may have other aims than just rooting for her husband's team, I find it almost descipcable that notion that she is to blame for incurring this wrath simply by sitting in a prominent seat. --Tony

My deep suspicion is that you are squirrely. And if I saw you squirt ketchup on Joumana Kidd who I barely know, I would come off my seat on Press Row to kick your #@!$!. Are we straight? --Mike

Next question b/c he's going to go crazy. --Tony

Bethesda, Md.: So I went to the Zone this past Wednesday to get Tony's book signed for my mother-in-law but it was only 10:15 so they would not let me take care of business or leave the book and come back to pick it up. I know Tony mentioned something about funky mail at the Post. My office is two blocks from the Post. May I bring the book in a clear bag with a SASE to the Post, addressed to Mary's attention c/o the Chat House (as originally instructed to do) with ANY hope of getting it back signed? Thank you!

Maureen

(If my MIL knew the lengths that I am going to, perhaps she wouldn't treat me like the worst thing that ever happened to her son.)

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Maureen, sorry about that. --Tony

Bring it to the Post. Leave it for Mary w/the TV project at the 15th Street entrance and I'll get it signed for you. --Mary

Washington, D.C.: Tony: I know you get up early, so are you going to be watching the U.S. play Portugal this Wednesday at 4:55 a.m.?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Yes, I'll be watching b/c I'll be up. Me and my dog Maggie are going to sit in front of the TV until the US actually shoots at the goal, which I'm hoping will be in the first 40 mins of the game. You know, I root for Bruce Arena b/c he is a Long Island boy like me and I found out he is a Cornell graduate where he played lacrosse, as well as soccer. Or maybe, just lax for all I know. --Tony

Washington, D.C.: What are your Stanley Cup predictions? Canes in 5? 6?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I believe that Stanley will continue to hold his own cup. And I think the real problem is when others try to drink from it when Stanley is holding it. --Tony

Philly, Pa.: There was a lot of discussion on Bob Levey's chat on Friday about how Tiger Woods is really bringing in a lot of new people to the game of golf (read: minorities and people who normally regard it as a rich white man's game).

I made the point that this is a GREAT step forward BUT it's almost impossible these days to find a golf course that doesn't charge you more than $40 bucks a round just to walk! If the USGA is serious about bringing in people from all different walks of life, it really has to start providing good courses with reasonable green fees.

(Maybe I'm dating myself here, but I used to play at a course where I could pay $30 for a card, then pay only $6 per round afterwards. I got a LOT of playing time in while I was a teenager and even rode five miles my bike to get to the course.)

Your thoughts?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: You're from Philadelphia, so maybe it is different there, but in Washington at the 2 public courses I've played at inside the city, Rock Creek and East Potomac Park, you can play 18 during the week for $20. So, I'm unfamiliar w/your argument. Plus, I think it's possible, you have a warped view of economics in America. I think it's possible that many more people have much more disposable money than you think they have. I grant you that poverty is increasing and that the gap between rich and poor gets steadily larger. But I don't think $40 means the same to kids today that it meant to you when you were a teenager, which sounds like that was a few years ago. No offense. --Tony

Charlottesville, Va.: Bruce Arena was an All-American in soccer at Cornell and is in the Lacrosse Hall of Fame. The U.S. has a tough first game. I thnk a tie would be great.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Thanks. Good to know. --Tony

Las Vegas, Nev.: Oh, we're wagering on the World Cup out here!

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Thanks! --Mike

America: "Don't try to compare yourselves to other sports and their acceptance in America." -- Mike

Aren't you doing that exact thing when you say it will never be a big as football, baseball and basketball? If soccer fans are defensive, major sports fans have a similar trait called denial/fear of the unknown.

And surely you have to admit there are many sports fans out there of varying national backgrounds that don't fit into what an "average American sports fan" is. That's all I was saying. Jeez.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Okay. Okay. Gotcha. --The Chat House

Washington, D.C.: Why people don’t like Kobe: I’m a basketball fan, have been for my whole life, and while I recognize that Kobe is probably the best player on the court every night, I can’t cheer for him, and I have alot of friends who don’t either. He has an air about him that seems somehow artificial. Every time I see him talk, its like I can hear him thinking “What would Jordan say?” It always feels like he’s trying to sell himself as The Next Jordan.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Those are valid and insightful observations. I don't disagree w/the Jordan stuff you mentioned. I think you are really on target w/that. But, why is it okay for Tiger to talk about how he wants to be next Nicklaus, but it's not okay for Kobe to emulate Jordan? Maybe, as our PTI producer Matt suggests, it has something to do w/Kobe and Jordan's careers overlapping and there being time between Jack and Tiger. But, my goodness, go easy on Kobe. There is nothing offensive or mean about him. He just seems like a sweet kid. He's having his growing pains in publc. --Mike

Silver Spring, Md.: Tony,

Do you have an alternate address for us to send books, since the status of the radio show (by your own admissions) seems tenuous and prickly? Can we send them to the "PTI" office?

I was hoping to come to the Sports Zone (ESPN Zone) in a week or two, but if there's no show, what will I do?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Send them to The Post. 1150 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20071. Attn: Mary, TV-Project and I'll get 'em to Tony. Please make sure you include a SASE. --Mary

Ok. We have to go. See you next week. --Tony and Mike

washingtonpost.com:

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