The Chat House
Washington Post Sports Columnists
Monday, April 22, 2002; 1:30 p.m. ET
It's time for another edition of The Chat House! Join Wilbon and Kornheiser LIVE to talk about the Wizards, the Caps, the NFL and anything else that strikes your fancy.
Submit your questions and comments before or during the 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.
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Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Good afternoon everyone and Welcome Back to the Chat House. Sorry we are late. It's my fault. I take the Metro over to Chat House headquarters/also PTI's home downtown and I missed the train. So sorry. Let me round up the guys. --Mary
Annandale, Va.: I was very taken with the story yesterday in the Post on Kwame Brown. What did you think of it and what it says about the young man? I was especially taken by the following quote:
"One evening, early this season, Brown drove to a Wizards game with Lopez in his Mercedes S500. In the midst of a chat about his halting pro career, he suddenly started talking about his childhood. Lopez asked him what his dreams had been.
"Did you ever imagine?" Lopez asked.
"Yeah," Brown said, "I used to imagine I was full."
Whoa. Heavy
washingtonpost.com: Story:
Growing Pains (Post Magazine, April 21, 2002)
Post Magazine discussion with Sally Jenkins (Today!)
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I'm sick. I've had a virus of some sort for a week now. And I'm sorry. Let's just start. I didn't read the Kwame Brown feature. I heard it was great. I heard it basically said how utterly unprepared Brown is for the life of an adult on his own and by implication how foolish Michael Jordan was to pick him. I will read it tonight. --Tony
College Park, Md.: Hey guys. I and two of my colleagues at The Diamondback chased Chris Wilcox around last night once we found out he was moving out; we reported it this morning. Now a bunch of people are whining that we crossed the line journalistically. Your thoughts?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: You didn't cross the line journalistically. You reported that he was moving. The only way you would have crossed the line is if you were wrong. If you were right, you did fine. People are mad at you b/c at Maryland they don't want him to go. You're okay. --Tony
Washington, D.C.: So guys Wilcox turned Pro. Did either of you think he wouldn't? Will he go higher in the draft then Quan or Baxter?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Who is Quan? ---Tony
Wilbon is on his way, btw. --Mary
Beltsville, Md.: You'll probably get this question at least 469 times today but just in case:
Why didn't the Patriots want Washington's First Round pick next year? Were the Redskins not offering that? Is there something else in the works?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I am unaware that the Redskins offered their first pick next year. But if I had to bet, I'd bet that Washington finished ahead of Buffalo so Buffalo's #1 pick is more attractive. --Tony
Richmond, Va.: Hey, you guys never answer my questions. What's up with that? Make my day and answer this one. What do you think the skins should do with their first pick? Move up to get Harrington, stay at the 18th pick and select the best player available, or move down and try to get some value out of the pick. With as many needs as they have, moving down seems like the sensible choice, but with Snyder you never know.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Your question is old Richmond. It is moot. You look like a fool. I feel bad for you personally. --Tony
How is your day going now? ---Mary
Washington, D.C.: Wilcox announced today that he's entering the draft. Good idea? Bad idea? And if you're the Wizards, and he's there for the taking, do you draft him?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Wilcox is not ready right now to play in the NBA, but he has vast potential. I'm not surprised he went, particularly if he has been told that he will be a Top 10 pick. What is the incentive for staying now that he has already been on a national champion? I think the spectre of what happened to Terrence Morris his senior year was not lost on Wilcox. If I were the Wizards I might take him at 11 or 12. Not at 1, 2 or 3. Actually, I might take him at 3. --Tony
Baltimore, Md.: Would it not make more sense for the Redskins to trade down and select Ramsey? This way they could get, by all accounts, a bright, mistake-free quarterback and possibly pick up some lower round picks to fill other needs like safety, defensive or offensive line. I think trading up for Harrington is too costly and plus Danny has gotten his big press in Trotter.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: They did this already. You look like a genius. When did you submit this question? --Tony
West Covina, Calif.: First off, I enjoy Tony's show on ESPN and also "PTI." You guys are great. My question is How does Steve Spurrier justify adding all his old Florida players to the Washington GatorSkins roster and expect to win especially with Danny (Awful) Weurffel?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: It obviously has something to do with personal comfort on Spurrier's part. He's new to the pros and his experience tells him that he can win w/Danny Wuerffel b/c he won w/him before. This is Spurrier's first year. Things will change rapidly. --Tony
Washington, D.C.: Gentlemen,
What's your take on the Mystics draft?
And how in the world have they and the Wizards drafted so badly throughout their history? (Kenny Green over Karl Malone? The Muggsy and Manute show? Coco Miller, picked #10 in the first round, and barely makes it off the bench?)
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: The Wizards have made unfortunate picks, but they have rarely been in position to make a great pick. They were this year and picked Kwame Brown. A pick that can not be judged for at least three years. The Kenny Green pick was bad, but it's not like it was a 1,2 or 3 pick. The Mystics have drafted terribly b/c they always have a new coach. Now, finally, they have Pat Sumitt making their picks. And I trust her more than anyone else they've had. --Tony
Herndon, Va.: Tony, please stop wearing the sunglasses on the show, there's too much of a YMCA thing, and it's killing your image.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Herndon, please stop watching the show. I wear sunglasses for a specific bit called "Good Cop, Bad Cop." Sunglasses suit the character. I'm not one of the Village People, don't worry. --Tony
Washington, D.C.: Hey guys -- Later today your pal Bruce Arena will be naming the 23 soccer players who will make up Team USA at the World Cup. A couple of the bubble players are either veterans who are old and slow, or faster young guys with no international experience whatsoever. What's your preference -- experience or potential?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: This is Bruce Arena's first time at the World Cup and I suspect that for bubble players he will want people he is familiar with and comfortable with who will not be disruptive. So, I suspect his preference will be experience and I agree w/him. --Tony
College Park, Md.: Tony, I love your radio almost as much as Wilbon's columns (j/k). Anyway, I was wondering who, or rather, what won the snackdown on your show? I agree with the caller who thought there was great upside for the upside-down pineapple cake.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: We didn't have a winner for the snackdown, but I would have also argued for the upside down cake b/c of the line "this snack has so much upside." --Tony
College Park, Md.: You guys rock!
What's your overall assessment of the Redskins draft? Can they make it to the playoffs with the quarterbacks they have on their roster?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: No, you ROCK. --Tony
Arlington, Va.: Who would you rather have at power forward on your team this fall, Kwame Brown or Chris Wilcox? What about 3-5 years from now?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: This fall I think I would take Kwame because of his full year of experience in the NBA. And 3-5 years from now, we could all be dead. --Tony
Uh, great. --Mary
Washington, D.C.: Tony, from your radio show today. I was living in San Francisco and was talking to my friend on the phone in San jose (40 miles south). She suddenly told me on the phone that an earthquake was starting. It wasn't a big one and we stayed on the phone to make sure she was OK. About 15-30 seconds later, I then started to feel the earthquake. It was amazing how fast it moved.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Earthquakes are scary. I have no idea how fast they move. But I have been in two and they have scared me out of my socks. --Tony
Where were you? --Mary
California. --Tony
Alexandria, Va.: How come you will only entertain questions on the Wizards, Caps or the NFL? Don't you guys know it's a World Cup year? (I suppose being mainstream media type guys you don't.) Time to learn something new fellows and take your heads out of the sand and take in the world's game. How about a little coverage on MLS and our local club D.C. United?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: We don't do anything, so to speak, on the local soccer, b/c not only do we know very little about local soccer, but very few people seem to care, relative to the number of people who care about the Wizards, the Caps and the Redskins. We appreciate that it's a World Cup year. I regularly have Bruce Arena on my radio show. So, get off my back about this. Find an outlet that talks about soccer to your satisfaction. I'm not going to be able to make you happy on this. --Tony
Washington, D.C.: Practically the entire NBA playoffs are on television between TBS, TNT and NBC. I know hockey doesn't have the same following, but why can't ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC televise the entire NHL playoffs? Early season baseball is a non-entity, so the MLB contract with ESPN should give way to the NHL. What do you guys think?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: The reason ESPN doesn't televise all the hockey games is b/c nobody watches the hockey game and ESPN has to justify its ratings to advertisers. Hockey is a terrible, terrible, terrible TV sport. Great live. Bad on TV. And baseball outdraws it 5-1, every game. I can't believe you didn't know that? --Tony
Washington, D.C.: Wouldn't an earthquake knock you offline? Just wondering.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: No, it wouldn't as long as it didn't blow out the whole Internet. We can access the chat anyway from a Web connection. --Mary
Terp Alum: To the Diamondback reporter from a former Diamondback reporter:
You did the right thing. Actually, by doing that, you scooped everyone else. I read your story (which basically indicated that he was going to go for the draft) at 9:00 this morning. The Post didn't have it until 11:30.
(As a journalist, I say you did nothing wrong, you got the facts right, nothing wrong with that)
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Thanks for the comment. --The Chat House
Alexandria, Va.: You know, the thing about these chats is, the link shows up several days in advance. Naturally, people are going to start asking their questions as soon as they see the link. They skip right over the part that says "Tony and Mike will be online on such-and-such date and time". That's human nature. So they're made to look like fools. Your IT folks shouldn't include the link until a few minutes before the chat. Just an observation. - Steve
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Thanks Steve. Good point. We post the link in advance b/c usually there is not a conflict like the draft. And I read a lot the questions that are submitted in advance and make sure Tony and Mike get to read them. So, we do answer a lot of the questions and comments send in in advance so people shouldn't be discouraged. --Mary
Arlington, Va.: This is an apology rather than a question to Mike Wilbon. A number of people hav maligned you for showing up late to this chat. In my mind at least, I was one of your detractors. Last week I was stopping by a place to get lunch near the Post and noticed you were eating lunch there, chatting amiably with a group of at least 5 total strangers. Somebody said you do this all the time, and often spend quite a bit of time with people. Stuff like this sounds like a pretty good reason to me to be late to this chat.
Best wishes and have a good day.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Hi. Thank you for making the observation. That is not the case today, however. I was in a mandatory harassment seminar for all Post employees. Mary informs me she did hers a year ago and I think Tony did his last week. If I didn't do mine today, sources said I was going to be fired. So, it was a toss up: Chat House for the final time or Chat House forever. I took the seminar, I passed the quiz and now you people are stuck w/me. --Mike
Columbia, Md.: I will admit, up front, that I am disappointed that Wilcox is going pro because I want to watch him dominate one more year at MD. For someone like Chris, is the goal to "make it" to the nba or become one of the best in the game? If the latter was his goal, then someone should tell him he could be one of the best if he stayed in college and developed his skills.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: You're expressing my sentiment EXACTLY. So many times all these kids see is the initial check and the first wearing of the uniform. I'm trying to put myself in their places.... I wonder what I would have done. But, I didn't grow up w/out anything, and I grew up w/parents who helped direct my life rather than AAU coaches and sycophant relatives and friends on the corner who had no future. So, this is beyond anything I can imagine. --Mike
Washington DC: Hey guys, just wondering what you thought of the Sunday Post Magazine feature on Kwame Brown. Thanks!
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: It's a great piece and really gave us insight into both how bright this kid is and how in over your head any 19 year old is. Sally did a great job. --Mike
Park Ridge, Ill.: Michael,
From a Northwestern student from Chicago to a Northwestern alum from Chicago, whats with the pro-Cub propaganda you spew on national television? Can't my White Sox get some love? They're the team in town with knowledgeable fans who go to the ballpark to, get this, actually watch the GAME.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: The White Sox are the ones playing like they've got some aspirations, aren't they? The Cubs STINK. They are an embarrassment. The only salvation for them is that its early. I don't know that the White Sox have the pitching to sustain a real run at the division title. But, the White Sox seem to have some guts and some fight. And the Cubs don't. --Mike
Washington, D.C.: This is an outdated random comment, but I just came across an interesting fact that I forgot. The Wizards changed their name from the "Bullets" in 1997. Their 1996-97 season was their last playoff season. Does the name carry any superstitious bad luck, along with their ugly uniforms and non-traditional name? Whatever happened to "the fat lady sang"? I say, bring back that name, and bring back the tradition.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Tony and I were both in favor of keeping the name Bullets. We didn't see any moral sin in the nickname. I know there are people in the organization now that would like to go back to the name Bullets. --Mike
Alexandria, Va.: First off I want to say it's great to see two of my favorite sports reporters from D.C. on ESPN with a great new show. My question is: What do you think of the Redskins picking up every former University of Florida player available? I mean they were all great in college but there is a huge difference between the SEC and the NFC East. Hopefully good ol' Steve knows what he is doing and if nothing else just beats Dallas twice. Thanks guys.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: First thank you for the compliment. Second, every coach, when he moves to new location brings in a bunch of people he had at his previous stop. Remember how up in arms people here were when Norv Turner brought in a bunch of the ex-Cowboys? Like James Washington, Alvin Harper, Scott Galbraith.... and of course, Marty brought in all these ex-Chiefs people last year, coaches and players. All coaches do this so Spurrier is right in line. The problem is they are college people in a lot of cases. And in the case of the QB, Wuerffel, he hasn't proven he can play in several years in the league. Now, Tony is a lot more optimistic about this than I am. I'm not in doom and gloom mode, but I want to see if Spurrier will tap any magic from these marginal Florida players. --Mike
Arlington, Va.: Why do you even try writing hockey columns Wilbon? In your latest attempt at a column you mentioned that Carolina won in an upset on the road. While I can buy the upset portion of that sentence (though they are the 3 seed), they certainly didn't win on the road. It's hard to take your NHL writing along with the Post's NHL coverage serious when you can't bother to take a minute to check up on the latest boxscores.
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: My bad. I apologize for the home ice mistake. Obviously, Carolina is the #3 seed and opened at home against the Islanders. Is that not good enough for you? Do you want me shot? Or lethal injection? What do you do for a living? Maybe I'll get your supervisor on the phone and see if you've EVER made a mistake. --Mike
Herndon, Va.: Mike,
When will you be appearing at a Smithsonian Resident Associates program. I see Tony's is scheduled for June. ($10 to $14 for a ticket!!!)
And what's the deal with Mary taking the Metro? With all the $$$ you guys are pulling in, you could at least spring for a cab, if not a limo!
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Thanks Herndon. The Metro is actually faster b/c of downtown traffic and I don't mind it. --Mary
I haven't been invited. That shows you who is bigger. I'm a lightweight. --Mike
Owings, Md.: Tell me whether or not you agree with Chris Wilcox's decision to join the NBA Draft is beneficial or detrimental to his career. Is he a complete idiot for passing up another possible NCAA Championship?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: You are never a complete idiot when you decide to accept $5 or 6 million dollars as opposed to playing for nothing. But, if he had waited for year, improved his game, and played on another Elite 8 or Final Four caliber team, then he could have been the #2 or #3 player chosen next year and made $12 million in his first contract. No to mention he would have made himself a much better ball player going into the NBA. I don't know how good he's going to be early on b/c he's so raw. --Mike
Washington, D.C.: Mike, Carolina is playing New Jersey, so that's another mistake...the Islanders are having their own problems with Toronto. Do you really like hockey?
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: I thought I said New Jersey. So I can blame this one on Mary. --Mike
Didn't I type New Jersey? Apparently not. My bad. --Mary
Los Angeles, Calif.: How come there are no stories about Tony Parker and Pau Gasol's transition? I think that they are also 19 years old...
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon: Great question. The difference is they played professionally. They were playing w/grown men before they came into the NBA. Maybe European kids at 19 are much more prepared than American kids are. I don't know. I've got to go now. Sorry I don't have time for more questions. Have a good afternoon. --Mike
See you next week. --Mary
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