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The Chat House
With Tony Kornheiser
and Michael Wilbon
Washington Post Columnists
Friday, Oct. 5, 2001
Are you a sports junkie? Can't get enough of Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon fighting each other in the sports pages of The Washington Post? It's your chance to talk to both gurus LIVE!
Michael Jordan is in a Wizards uniform, Jaromir Jagr is ready to open the NHL season with the Capitals and Cal Ripken is ready to call it a career. And a new television season of Dark Angel has begun. All that and more in The Chat House.
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Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: Hi, we are coming to you LIVE from the new headquarters of The CHAT HOUSE. A studio in Washington somewhere near Chinatown. I feel like I'm in the bat cave. Tony is on his way and Mike is too, but Mike's on the phone w/me right now. --Mary
Hello. We are sorry for a change up on you guys w/regard to the time of today's chat. But, we are juggling a few balls at the moment. We have just come, as of yesterday, started rehersals for our upcoming ESPN show "Pardon The Interruption." We just started rehearsals and we are still trying to write our columns in my case or do a radio show in Tony's case. So we are a little scattered.... but it is a HUGE sports week as is always the case in October. --Mike
Lincoln Square:
So, guys, what's your agenda for tomorrow night? Saying goodbye to Cal? Or saying hello to Jaromir? (OK, well Mike will probably still be in Wilmington saying welcome back to MJ.) I'll be at MCI Center hoping for a successful and very extended season. We clearly won't be seeing Jagr on the golf course in April (since he doesn't play golf...), but I hope the others won't be there either. By the way, Tony, the Caps were choking dogs in 2000; in 2001 they just got beaten. There's a difference.
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: I will be at none of the above tomorrow. I will be attending a family wedding in the afternoon and evening and after that I will hopefully catch perhaps the 4th quarter of my Wildcats playing against Ohio State in Columbus, a game we have ZERO chance to win. On Sunday, I will go into the Redskins in NY agains the Giants. So the weekend will be full enough, but it is kind of strange to not be in on such a big sports Saturday. --Mike
I'll be going to the UVA-MD game. Go 'Hoos. --Mary
dc:
Yeah, what is it with that Dark Angel girl? She looked fine last year, but this year she's off the charts.
Hey, since Schottenheimer gets all teary about how much he loves teaching, how about we send him to Centerville High and let him teach (not sure what -- anything but ethics), and have them send us someone that can coach a football team.
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: I'm not listening to what Marty says anymore. It doesn't make any difference. That he somehow thought he could teach Darrell Green how to play CB after 18 Hall of Fame seasons. What he really did was piss off the entire for in effect embarassing Darrell Green in public. Whether it's teaching or coaching, NONE of it's working right now. Re: Jessica Alba. Oh baby. Last year some of the Chat House ferrets ripped me for lusting after young Jessica. I don't hear all that criticism now do I? People have climbed on board.--Mike
Re: Jessica Alba. I heard an ad for her show on the radio this am. Her genes are programmed to "kick some #%)!*." Go girl. --Mary
Arlington VA:
Who got the best jab in at the TK roast this past week?
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: I don't know about the best jab, but Ted Leonsis was BRILLIANT in killing Tony. He just killed him. He just wiped him out. It was spectacular. He had audio visual preparation! It should be aired on George Michael's show. It was SO good. So freakin' good. Hillary Clinton's was EXTREMELY funny and my stuff was lame compared to theirs. It was my first roast. I was a rookie. My inexperience showed. It was pathetic. I needed some reps. --Mike
Washington, D.C.:
With Jordan coming back, there is no talk at all about the number one pick in the draft. Do you think this will help Kwame Brown or is it possible he may feel a little bit forgotten?
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: He needs to be forgotten. And yes it will help him. Doug Collins very astutely said the other day that every player on the Wizards team was helped, not only b/c they will play w/Jordan but b/c he takes all the pressure off of him. The less anyone notices that kids, the better it is for him. Absolutely. --Mike
Still no sign of Tony. He'll be here. I swear. --Mary
WARRENTON, VA:
HELLO TONY AND MIKE; I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PLAY BEAT THE PROS THIS SEASON BUT CAN NEVER GET THRU; WHEN I SIGN IN TO PLAY IT ALWAYS TELLS ME THE CONTEST ENDED BACK IN 20/01. ARE YOU GUYS STILL DOING THE CONTEST? THANKS FOR YOU HELP. JOE
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: Yes, the contest is still going on I believe. We'll check into it for you Joe. Thanks for your interest. --Mary
DC:
You guys need to rehearse to talk to each other? Or will you be performing some song & dance routines to open and close the show...like Dinah Shore or Mike Douglas used to do?
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: No, like Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. Obviously, I'm Fred. --Mike
Atlanta, Ga.:
Before I get slammed, let me say that I don't take away anything from what Bruce Smith has done over his career, but how many of the 'Skins problems can be attributed to veterans grousing, resisting the coach, and maybe not giving the 110% they would if they accepted the system? This doesn't take away from the obvious coaching problems that have plagued the team.
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: Legit question. But, I will say w/great certainty that the players who intensely dislike Schottenheimer and most of his assistants include all ages. Let's not fool ourselves and act like this is about a few people. Don't believe that garbage Dick Vermeil served up last week. It's a whole boatload of players, not a segment. That's why this team is a disaster. Not b/c of some x's and o's flaws. The players, in general, don't trust their coach. Marty finally got hip to that this week after 3 months of trying to coach them, which is why he started calling all these meetings and started granted concessions and getting away from DUMB rules that would better apply to kindergarteners. --Mike
Rockville, Md.:
What's the deal with Channel 9? They have the chance to show the biggest local football game of the year, Virginia at Maryland, yet opt instead to show Georgia vs. Tennessee. Are they nuts?
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: Yes. Some idiot program exec who doesn't know a Volunteer from a Cavalier sits there and make a decision. This is why it is mandatory for you to go out and buy a dish. --Mike
Or go to the game, like I am. --Mary
.... so that you won't have to be subjected to the whims of some fool w/a sports IQ of 25. Get a dish! It's easy. If you live in an apt or a condo, you can still do it in many, many cases. -- Mike
Reston, Va.:
Why does everyone seem to think that 38 is to old to be competitive in American professional sports?
It has taken me a number of thought processes to rationalized MJ's comeback. This is the story of the Supernatural. MJ has proven that he is the Supernatural. People expect to see the old MJ. I expect to see the new MJ. The new MJ will display perspectives of the game never seen. Full Court awareness beyond Magic Johnson, half court execusion beyond Larry Bird. An acute basketball brain is the key, not a high circus flying act. The MJ story book is not closed but the saga continues. Knowledge Perspectives is the key. These Perspectives are what will be the differentiator between being 38 years old or the Supernatural.
-- Nate Bostick
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: Nate, how many 38 year old people do you see competing at the elite level in professional sports? A handful, right? Doesn't that tell you how rare it is? --Mike
Annandale, Va.:
Tony, Please name the program, the days and time you will be on ESPN so we can watch you.
We will log on Oct. 5 to find out.
Sorry about you leaving your column in the Sunday paper, my husband and I loved it. I used to cut it our and send it to my daughter in another state.
Last question, which one of the women you mentioned through the years is your wife?
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: Hi, I'm here. The name of the program is "Pardon The Interruption," a hideous name that I despise even before the show goes on the air. Here is the promo that I have suggested for the show: I'm standing w/my arm around Wilbon and I say "We're fat, we're bald, we're old and one of us is white." --Tony
I never mentioned my wife, btw. What's it to you? It's not your wife. --Tony
To answer your first question, weekdays at 5:30 pm Eastern time on ESPN and 7 pm Eastern and Pacific on ESPN 2. It's 30 mins. We will try to kill each other w/in those 30 mins just for your viewing enjoyment. Starts for real October 22. --Mike
Rockville, Md.:
I've tried everything I can think of to get you guys to answer my questions, even making up stuff I'm not really interested in just to see my name (ok, my city and state) in print. What does it take to get on?
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: $150 in tens. --Tony
You just got on. Congrats. --Mary
Charm City Wahoo:
Thoughts on the epic battle that will be waged in College Park on Saturday for first place in the ACC? I assume Mary is going with the Hoos, but I'm wondering what you guys think.
(As an aside, I'd like to thank Tony for the phone call he made to me about 7 years ago after I sent him a few things I had written. You were really encouraging and actually led me to believe that I had a chance to pursue a career as a writer. Of course now I'm an attorney, so go figure.)
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: Everyone seems to be thinking that MD is better, substantially better than they have been in 6 or 8 years, maybe more. --Tony
How about 16 years? --Mike
I think it's real early in the season, but I'm encouraged, now in hindsight, by the victory over NC I don't have a clue who will win. VA has been a GOOD football team for many years. But, I'm rooting for the fat guy even though I think this "punishment" for the defensive player w/the DUI is kinda dicey. It's kind of like a Florida State "punishment." --Tony
It's been a few years since VA-MD had any sizzle to it. MD could really set up a fascinating October and November if it can win this game. There are 3 games on the MD schedule that most of us (and by that I mean folks who are not affiliated w/MD) don't believe they can win: at Florida State, against Clemson and Georgia Tech. --Mike
I wouldn't have given them a dimes' chance against UVA 2 months ago before MD started. --Tony
MD needs to win this game and this NC State game to get to a respectable Bowl. --Mike
It would be a great accomplishment in Friedgen's first year to get to a bowl. --Tony
How about this anthrax deal though? Who is inhaling anthrax? Another horrible thing to think about. --Tony
Washington, D.C.:
Tony, PULEEZE tell me that you will continue writing for the Washington Post sports section or I swear to the gods that be that I am canceling my subscription today!
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: I'm going to write in the sports section and when the TV show is canceled by November 25th, I will be back in the Style section. Thank you. --Tony
Glen Allen, Va.:
Is it just me or does everyone else really not care if Bonds breaks the home run record?
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: Yeah, it's just you.
I don't much care either but I'm not going to be presumptious enough to think that b/c I don't, that everybody else doesn't. Let's not be that self-centered. You think the people in Northern California don't care? There is diminishing utility anytime something becomes common and if you think Bonds isn't getting that much attention relative to Sosa and McGwire 3 years ago, wait until you see the next guy who makes a run at 70. He won't even lead SportsCenter. --Mike
I think it's a great achievement that has been diminished immeasurably b/c of the events on Sept 11th. In a sense, Bonds' whole record, his whole chase has been deflated by that. --Tony
It was deflated before that. It was not Sosa/McGwire on Sept 10th. --Mike
That's right and it's been made less important since. --Tony
Alexandria, Va.:
Halfway throught The Chat House and we've only had one mention of Michael Jordan. How can that be? Wilbon, as a Chicago native, do you have mixed emotions about Jordan's return?
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: He'll get plenty of mentions once he actually plays a game. That's when the story will advance. For now, we've acknowledged a million times that he's practicing, the team is overjoyed to have him and the franchise is in the best shape it's been in in the 21 years I've lived here. --Mike
I disagree w/that about the 21 years. I think there was great optimism and great promise in the immediate days following Webber and Howard coming here. --Tony
I will use tickets sold as the ultimate barometer of optimism. And, what they sold in 1994 when Webber and Howard arrived ain't close to what they are selling now. --Mike
People are buying tickets to a circus now. Jordan has become what he didn't want to be... a show pony. I want to see him too, everyone wants to see him. But there is NO sense whatsoever of a of a long term dynasty like there was (however foolishly) in the first blush of Webber and Howard. And what is w/Jordan's Greta Garbo routine that no one is allowed to see him? What is that? --Tony
Potomac Falls:
If you where a coach looking to put in place a ball control offence, assuming your ego is in check, wouldn't you take a chance on an injury prone Tre Johnson rather than an injury prone decoy like Micheal Westbrook?
Note: In the millitary you aren't allowed to have a member of you imediate family in your direct chain of command. I wounder why that is? The players look, to me, so out of position on defence, I don't think that this is a player issue rather than a coaching issue.
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: Probably. --Mike
I would.Tre Johnson made the Pro Bowl. Westbrook is 17 million dollars worth of disappointment. --Tony
It's a moot point b/c Tre Johnson ....
He's hurt again! --Tony
was a free agent. Westbrook wasn't. But Westbrook will be a free agent after this season and then we'll see.... btw, Tre is hurt now. --Mike
Westbrook should GET out of here. However great he may still be, he should be it somewhere else. I don't believe he will ever be great here. --Tony
You're obsession w/Westbrook is starting to get a little freaky. --Mike
Like yours w/Jordan? --Tony
You think those obsessions are comprable? Following MJ or being obsessed w/ripping Michael Westbrook... if THAT doesn't indicate how neurotic you are, I don't know what does. --Mike
I'm not obsessed w/ripping him. --Tony
Oh, you are. --Mike
He is 17 million dollars and 6 years worth of disappointment. He is one of the highest draft choices the franchise has ever had. --Tony
So was Heath Shuler. You didn't rip him like that. --Mike
Yes I did. He wasn't here as long. Boswell once described Shuler and Westbrook thustly: one is bust and the other is a bum. --Tony
Oh, that makes it so nice. --Mike
Stop kissing his behind. He hasn't produced. Why can't you say he's a tremendous disappointment? --Tony
It doesen't make me angry. Your face is red b/c you can take his Lamborghini away from and you're pissed about it. You're red right now. It's like Junior and John THompson. Michael Westbrook is not important enough to get upset about. --Mike
Just say he's a bum. --Tony
No. I don't call people bum. Well, Albert Belle is a bum b/c he tried to hurt kids... b/c he's evil. A guy not catching passes doesn't make him evil. He's not important enough to obsess over. --Mike
The problem here is that now whenever I answer a question about Westbrook, Wilbon will say "There you go again obsessing about Westbrook." So....DON'T ASK ME ANYMORE QUESTIONS ABOUT WESTBROOK. --Tony
See there he goes. --Mike
Washington, D.C.:
The Chat is one hour old, and no one has mentioned Jaromir Jagr and the Caps? That is THE story of the week.
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: What are you an idiot? That is not the story of the week. Barry Bonds is the story of the week you nimrod. --Tony
Ahh. It's so good to have Tony back with us.--Mary
Michael Wilbon & Tony Kornheiser: Okay. They have the guys have to go off in the Bat Cave here to a show meeting... so here are their Week 7 Picks:
Tony:
Minnesota at New Orleans: New Orleans
Kansas City at Denver: Denver
Tennessee at Baltimore: Baltimore
Green Bay at Tampa Bay: Hmmmm....Tampa Bay must have this game.
Washington at NY Giants: Ohhh... The Giants... .laughter....
I'm taking all the home teams and the Redskins will lose by at least 20 points. My prediction Giants 24-0. --Mike
Some programming notes: We'll be here next Friday at 1:30 pm again and then the following week we switch days to MONDAYS at 1:30 pm. So Monday, October 15th, we'll be doing the show at 1:30 pm. The Chat House will be on Mondays from then on to accomodate everyone's new schedule. Thanks and have a great weekend. Go 'Hoos. --Mary
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