The Chat House

Kornheiser	Wilbon
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With Tony Kornheiser
and Michael Wilbon
Washington Post Columnists
Friday, September 7, 2001;
2 p.m. ET

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!

Tony and Mike are both back in The Chat House TODAY and ready to take your questions!

Submit questions before or during today's discussion.

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: Welcome. This is Lissy in The Chat House -- geez, don't you guys ever clean this place? What a dump. Anyway, Mary is scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef or doing something equally made up, but she will be back next week.

Tony is playing hooky. But here's here to chat for a few minutes. Mike is in San Diego and will join us shortly.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: While I admit I am playing hooky to take advantage of this beautiful Friday afternoon, Wilbon has gone to Las Vegas to watch his alma mater, Northwestern, play football tonight. So stories that he's "en route" to San Diego for the Redskins are outright lies. He is en route to San Diego, but HE'S IN VEGAS!
--Tony

Gaithersburg, Md.: Tony, Your points on the air about Ralph Friedgen are well-taken. Friedgen is the man most likely to make the words "Maryland football" no longer an oxymoron.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I saw Boom Esiason the day before Maryland played North Carolina, and he told me that he told Debbie Yow to hire Ralph Friedgen after Mark Duffner was fired. Boomer said Yow refused to even interview him. So it's good that however she came to this decision to hire him, she did so. Maryland went out and in an opening game didn't lose to a I-AA opponent. They beat a legit team that wasn't Duke or Wake, and Friedgen should be congratulated.

A new coach can make an enormous difference. Look at Lou Holtz.

--Tony

I covered Friedgen when he was an assistant to Bobby Ross. Ross would go to great lengths to talk about how much of what Maryland under Boomer and Frank Reich and Stan Gelbaugh
was influenced by Freidgen. He's been outstanding for 20 years.

--Wilbon

Arlington, VA: Tony, Mike, which players are you two most interested in watching in the new NFL season? What teams do you guys find most intriguing? Who'll be the most fun to watch?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: The most fun to watch will be some of the teams from last year that were really good -- Baltimore, Tennessee. Oakland too. Everyone will be intrigued to see what Tampa Bay can do in the last year of many of these guys' tenure with TB if they don't win. As for players, I'm going to watch Michael Westbrook this week, because you never know with him if there is a next week. --Tony

The answer to all your questions? Donovan McNabb. That is who I want to watch. I'm also interested in Brad Johnson and Warrick Dunn play offense on a team with that kind of defense. And obviously, Ray Lewis bears watching as the premier defensive player in the league. As long as he is healthy and on the field, Baltimore is a threat.

One more thing, I want to see if the Rams were a one-year wonder. I think they were. It wouldn't surprise me if they don't make the playoffs.
--Mike

Woodley Park: Can't we just play a soccer game at RFK without everyone getting their knickers in a knot about ticketing policies? Stadiums in other countries make it nearly impossible for fans of the opposition to even get in the door. Don't you think the soccer committees and Justice Department should just cool their jets and let the boys play?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: The seating arrangement that the U.S. Soccer Federation tried to use to ensure that Hondurans would be seated somewhere in Row 780 didn't work, did it? This is America. You let people buy tickets and set in whatever seat they can afford. It was wrong -- it was like redlining at a bank. It was even worse than what Ted Leonsis did last year to prevent people from Pittsburgh from buying tickets to Caps games. This xenophobic nonsense has to stop. I'm glad it backfired.
--Tony

Boston, Mass.: In this whole Danny Almonte thing, doesn't the kid deserve some of the blame? He knows how old he is. The adults have rightly taken all of the heat, but I'd like to know what the two of you think of the kid.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Absolutely. The kid knows how old he is. Even if the father told him to keep his mouth shut, the kid knows how old he is. As one of his teammates said when asked if he felt bad for Danny, "No. He knows how old he is." While most of the blame goes to the adults, Danny is not without blame. On the other hand, if he's good enough to become a professional pitcher in baseball, I wish it to him. I would hate to see him banned or punished in some way from pursuing a Major League Baseball career.
--Tony

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: The rest of the questions appear to be directed to Wilbon. I'm not hurt. I'm not offended. I, too, would direct all of my questions to Wilbon. But next week I will be back.
--Tony

(Tony exits stage right. Lissy sits here by herself, as Wilbon disconnected her when he tried to get his rental car).

Delray Beach: Hey Mike,

You have not "earned the right" to be so constantly negative about the Skins. Why don't you ease up and realize that Redskin fans buy newspapers too?

Wow, you really went out on a limb predicting the Ravens to win the Super Bowl.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: First of all, I don't know what the hell you are talking about. If you read tomorrow's newspaper, which you claim to buy, you'll realize I'm one of the few people who haven't picked the Skins to go 6-10. I think they'll go 8-8, with one game of leeway either way. And if that's not good enough for you, realize that I'm not here to be a cheerleader for the Redskins. I'm not emotionally vested in whether they win or lose.
--Wilbon

You tell 'em, Wilbs.
--Lissy

Fairfax, Va.: I don't want to sound like a spoil sport but what is the deal with athletes now announcing their retirement at the beginning of the season?

We've had to listen to all the Ripken accolates for too long, and now a whole football season listening to those goofy announcers (and the sprts writers) telling us how we have to idolize Green.

Do the athletes get more endorsements and better gifts if they warn everyone in advance?

What was wrong with waiting for the end of the season and everyone would have a good cry and a week later we could move on to other things?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: It's better for the guys to announce as early as possible, because, to the contrary of what you're saying, if there is just speculation all season about an athlete retiring, it becomes a major circus. A guy like Darrell Green can be celebrated, toasted if you will.

Let me ask you a question: You have a problem with Ripken and Green, two Hall of Fame athletes having one last victory lap?

--Mike

Vienna, Va: Do either of you know what Dr. Jack Ramsey is a Dr of? They always call him that on ESPN so he must have a PHD. In what?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: It might be physical education, but I'm not certain anymore. File this under I Once Knew It But Forgot. I no longer have any recollection of exactly way.

He should be Doctor Jack, professor of hoop.

--Mike

Centreville, VA: Wilbon: about your column today: I think you are dead wrong. Absolutely off base. Didn't you see "On Any Given Sunday"? I'd much rather have Jamie Foxx at QB then Samuel L. Jackson.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Touche. Very good! That's about the only place I'd rather have Jamie Foxx. Certainly not in any role that matters. Sam Jackson is one of the great actors in America today.
-Mike

Did you know what Samuel L. Jackson was in more movies in the '90s than any other actor?
--Lissy

Lissy, enlightening the chatters!
--Mike

Someone's gotta raise the intelligence level in this dump.
--Lissy

Columbia, Md.: Hi guys and lass,

How many games do you think should Marty win to keep his Job? Surely they can't lose 10 games and blame it on Norv or on rebuiding? Or is he safe no matter what the record?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Can't we NOT start out talking about saving people's jobs? He just got here!!! My god!!! I think they'll win 8, regardless of his job status. The guy has won more games than any active coach, except Dan Reeves. So, let's not talk about his job security before the first game of the season. Geez.
--Mike

25th Street: It seems the homerun race is being largely neglected by the media this year. Do you think it's Mark McGwire hangover, or do you think it's because the three sluggers (Bonds, Sosa, Gonzalez) are not white? Sometimes I feel like the major sports pages neglect talented baseball players who are Latin. Look at Roberto Alomar, who has stats comparable to Ichiro but is rarely mentioned in stories about who is an MVP contender this season.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: It's because it's a three-year-old record! A three-year-old record is not a 37-year-old record. It's 3 years! How important can it be? It was a big deal three years ago when Sosa was in it. Did he turn white? Did I miss something?
--Mike

DC: How can you be wondering about the Rams being a one year wonder, and not thinking the same thing about the Ravens?

They only got through the playoffs last year by knocking out the opposing QB's with late hits. Any defense would look great against backups.

The Ravens are overrated, mainly because they're guaranteed 6 wins a season from their lackluster division.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Because there is a difference between defense and offense, as any season football fan knows. The Rams relied last year on offense. And that's flawed. The Ravens rely on defense, which, in any sport is lasting.
--Mike

New York, N.Y.: Michael, with all do respect, when did Elvis Grbac become John Elway? The Ravens may be good, but don't over exaggerate what Elvis brings to the table. He is just another middle of the road replacable QB like 85 percent of the QBs in the NFL.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Do you think 85 percent of the QBs in the NFL ever threw for 4,100 yards in ONE SEASON? That's what Elvis threw for last season. I think you better consult your NFL statbook.
--Mike

rockville, MD.: "Slate Magazine" this week has an article about how bad a sports town Washington has become. They lay some of the blame on the Post and their "cheerleading sports section" for not running guys (like Norv and Wes Unseld) out of town a la Philadelphia or NY. Do you think writers have any influence oncoaches or GMs being hired and fired?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: None whatsoever. Because if that was the case, and if you read my column, you would know that Marvin Lewis would have been hired last year. So, whoever wrote that Slate magazine piece is an idiot. A complete idiot. When I become the GM of a team, then you can blame and credit me. And Tony.
--Mike

I vote for blaming Tony.
--Lissy

Sydney, Australia: G'day Tony and Mike and Elissa,

Hope you're enjoying the Chat House today. I miss you and I'll be back next week!

Mary

PS: I passed my SCUBA class. I'm now a certified diver. I dove off of the Great Barrier Reef. No worries mate... no sharks! Thank God!

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I was just gonna say that we need ya Mary. No time to become shark bate.
--Mike

Springfield, VA: I thought it was a special week for tennis fans with the Sampras/Agassi and Hewitt/Roddick matches. Now we have the Williams sisters to look forward to on the weekend. What are your thoughts?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I agree. My thoughts are that it was spectacular tennis with perhaps more to come. I played competitively as a teenager, and I love this stuff. The Sampras-Agassi match was as good as anything I have seen since the late '80s.
--Mike

Did you have hair in the late '80s?
--Lissy

I had some hair, yes. But not big hair.
--Mike

Arlington, Va.: Since the NFL officials want to be paid on par with the officials of other major sports, how do you think they compare with the NBA and NHL officials, and MLB umpires? I've always thought the umpires, for all their arrogance in the Richie Phillips days, were the best. Since the NBA went to three refs, I think they've passed the NFL, too. Do you think fans in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers last year had three games directly affected by calls the NFL admiitted were blown, are worried that replacement refs will undermine the integrity of the game? Will the zebras really be missed?

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: They aren't going to undermine anything. They just will be prone to screw up. Let's not make this sinister. These guys will just be inadequate.
--Mike

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Well, Mike had to leave me, too. I guess Sin City and his gold card were calling. No, not Gold Club, you idiot. Geez.

So, I leave you with Mike's picks for this first week of football. Como se dice "DirecTV Sunday Football Ticket" en espanol?

Week 1

Chicago at Baltimore: "It’ll be the Ravens, 73-0."

Indianapolis at New York Jets: "New York. Edwards will be a good coach."

St. Louis at Philadelphia: "Philly, in a close, great game, with defense, as usual, winning."

Miami at Tennessee: "Tennessee. I think the Titans are a team on some kind of mission."

Washington at San Diego
"I don’t know how to call this game, but I guess San Diego will win. Norv should have a distinct advantage in being able to attack this defense, because he knows most of the starters. And Flutie will cause the Redskins problems, especially in first half. He is 16-3 as a starter in his last 19 games."

Enjoy the weekend.

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