The Chat House

Welcome to another edition of The Chat House where Post columnist Michael Wilbon was online Monday, June 19, at 1:15 p.m. ET to take your questions and comments about the latest sports news and his recent columns.

The transcript follows.

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Alexandria, Va.: How about that Ryan Zimmerman? Wasn't it so sweet to see the Yankees walk off of RFK? It made my weekend for sure.

RYAN ZIMMERMAN FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR!!!

Michael Wilbon: Congrats to the Nationals for taking 2 of 3 from the Yankees...But we won't spend a whole lot of time on the Nats in The Chathouse today simply because I didn't see any of it. Baseball, until the playoffs, is regional and not national so it's not like the Nats are being televised in Dallas and Miami, which for obvious reasons is where I've been the last 10 days. But I was following the scores on the crawl on whatever ESPN thing I was watching...I couldn't believe the Nations came from 9-2 down to win...or that they rocked Mariano Rivera...Very, very impressive.

But you'll have to forgive me....Baseball wasn't on the radar this weekend nationally. It just wasn't. It comes way WAY after the U.S. Open, Mavs-Heat, World Cup, and the fight between Winky and Taylor. It was one of the great sports weekends EVER, from Thursday through last night's OT game in the Finals. It's one of the 10 great games I've ever attended/covered.

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Arlington, Va.: I know there is a lot of talk about Game 7 tomorrow night, and deservedly so, but did you get a chance to watch US-Italy?

Will you be watching Thursday morning?

Michael Wilbon: oooh, and I forgot Edmonton vs. Carolina, which has turned into high drama...good stuff. Now, Yes, I've watched every second of both U.S. World Cup games, plus every second of both Brazil games, plus selected minutes of other Cup games. And yes, I'll be watching Thursday morning from my hotel room in Dallas most likely. There's no Game 7 tomorrow night. Game 7 of the NHL is tonight and Game 7 of the NBA, if there is one, will be Thursday night.

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Herndon, Va.: Hi Mike, Another playoff basketball classic last night. Now that the Heat are up 3-2, do you think they've demoralized the Mavs enough to take one of the next two in Dallas?

Michael Wilbon: That, of course, is THE question of consequence and I just don't know...I don't know. One minute I'm convinced the Mavericks will win Game 6 and force a 7th...The next minute I'm convinced Miami is going to close the series out tomorrow. It's that kind of series.

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Reston, Va.: Thanks for answering, Michael. Were you as amazed as I at the finish of the U.S. Open yesterday? Ogilvy wins due to a whole PACK of choking dogs! Really thought with all of Phil's prep work that he wouldn't revert to the reckless style that has hurt him in the past. Think he's finally learned that lesson?

Michael Wilbon: I think what got Phil and all the others more than anything else was fatigue. That golf course, difficult as it was to negotiate, was an opponent. It was like a human being fighting you back. And by the 65th hole or so, Winged Foot had simply worn down everybody. Their brains had turned to mush, they were tired and challenged to concentrate. In other words they were fried, all of them. Phil gave everything he had and his tank hit "E" on the tee box at 18. Is that a choke? Probably...It's easy to make the case. Even so, what made them all choke (except Ogilvy?) I think they were all fried mentally. How else do you explain a guy like Monte, maybe the most accurate iron player in the world, come up so badly from the middle of the fairway from 172 yards? Fatigue. Yes, fatigue.

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Denver, Colo.: It worked out for Wade to drive into triple coverage and draw the foul (if it was a foul). Is there no Kerr/Harper/Paxton on Miami (to use a Jordan era Bulls analogy) for Wade to pass to? He did have the hot hand and it all worked out in the end, but with three guys drawn to him, there are two others that should be wide open!

Michael Wilbon: Wade had to take that shot because he'd been so hot down the stretch. But I don't see the foul no matter how many times I see the replay. And I'm a HUGE Wade fan. He's a good south side of Chicago kid like yours truly. AND I've been saying all season Wade is the best player in the league and he's showing it now. Not MVP. I'd have voted Steve Nash MVP. But if I had my pick of any player in the league, I'd take Wade first. Not Kobe, not LeBron, not Shaq, not KG or AI but D. Wade.

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Herndon, Va.: Michael,

Thank you so much for your Len Bias column. I grew up in this area and attended Flint Hill Prep, which by virtue of its standing as a basketball powerhouse, instilled in me a love for the game. I tell younger people all the time about Len Bias in the same vein that you do in your columns. I know this wasn't the first time you wrote about Bias. I know it won't be the last. Thank you for keeping his memory alive.

Michael Wilbon: Thank you. I am fascinated by Bias as you can tell, in life and in death. His death is one of the defining events of my life, as is the case with so many people about my age. I don't know how many times I'll ever write about him, though, because fewer and fewer people know who he is or know his story...which is so incredibly sad,

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Washington, D.C.: Hello Mike Please rank in order the most exciting sporting event from the weekend:

US vs Italy, Last five holes of the Open yesterday, fourth quarter of the Mavericks/Heat game last night, Nats vs Yankees yesterday

Loved every minute of it !!

Michael Wilbon: 1) Fourth quarter of Mavs-Heat tied with final hour of U.S. Open

2) U.S.- Italy World Cup

3) Winky Wright vs. Jermaine Taylor

4) Edmonton beating Carolina in Game 6 to stay alive in the Stanley Cup Finals.

5) Anything that happened on Miami Beach

Remember, I couldn't see the Nats- Yankees game, though I must tell you there is NO regular season baseball game that would have diverted my attention from all of the above. It simply isn't baseball's time yet. We'll get there But those other events are determining champions and baseball has 100 games to go before we get there.

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Burtonsville, Md.: Mike, It seems like the Mavs are pointing fingers, but who is really to blame for calling the timeout last night? Do you blame the refs, Avery Johnson or Josh Howard?

Michael Wilbon: Josh Howard is the person the refs paid attention to...You could hear Avery Johnson at courtside yelling "Call timeout after the second free throw!" I flew from Miami to D.C. today with a 15-year NBA veteran who said referees take back timeout calls ALL THE TIME...virtually every night in the NBA and to claim otherwise is totally bogus. He says they simply should have waved off the timeout and called it after the second foul shot by Wade which put Miami ahead by the final margin, one.

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Washington, D.C. : On the morning of June 19, 1986 I was attending a summer class at UMD. the professor was a huge Celtics fan who the day before was so excited that they drafted Bias. On the way to class I heard the news and thought for sure the professor would have heard as well. When my classmates and I broke the news to him, it was all he could do to hold back the tears. I went by Cole after class as was struck by the number of people just sitting in the stands in silence. A memory I will never forget.

Michael Wilbon: Thank you for sharing that. I was sitting in my parents' home in Chicago, packing to take a flight to California. I was in my sixth year at The Post, covering college sports, mostly the Big East in basketball and national college football. My friend and then co-worker Gary Pomerantz called me in Chicago and said, "You have to sit down to hear this.' I had covered Maryland during Bias' freshman and sophomore seasons and grown to really like him. I'll never ever forget feeling cold the rest of the day, as if my body temperature had dropped. It's still chilling.

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Ann Arbor, Mich.: Hey, what do you think the chances are of a Wright-Taylor rematch...in DC?? Seems like pretty neutral turf to me, so why not?

Michael Wilbon: I don't know about having it here but there ought to be rematch. Was that not a great, great fight? I want to see the re-mix of that.

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Chicago, Ill.: Michael,

There is a clear foul on Devin Harris on that last play. Here is the link . Harris hits Wade on the right elbow as he is about to release the shot. Now the foul shouldn't have been called on Nowitzki but Wade was hit. Dallas got beat fair and square. You can't employ a foul Wade and Shaq everytime they get close to the hoop and then complain about the disparity of calls. I've been watching Shaq for 13 years, that strategy has NEVER worked.

Michael Wilbon: Thanks for making that point and I will go to the site to see the photo.

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Region the Post claims to cover: Baseball is not on the radar? What! It is here, in DC. RFK was filled with people who might have enjoyed more than play by play coverage of amazing games. Seems a nice feature on hometown hero Zimmerman would be more meaningful to the DC audience than anything on the NBA - where do you recommend a DC fan go for local sports coverage?

Michael Wilbon: There's no place where you see the sentence "Baseball is not on the radar." So don't make up some garbage and attribute it to me. Are you literate enough to go back and read what I said about the Nationals not being on TV where I was, and since I'm conducting this chat I'm obliged to honestly talk about what I did and didn't watch, or might not have had access to. Please shut up. Go to The Washington Post today where the Nationals are in the lead news hole of the front page of Sports.

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Pleasanton, Calif.: Friday. Saturday. Sunday. And only one NBA game? It's so long, like a good two hour movie stretched to three hours. This is the reason the NBA postseason is the weakest out of all sports' postseasons.

Michael Wilbon: That's your opinion. What, baseball games that last 3 1/2 and sometimes 4 hours are justifiable?

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Silver Spring, Md.: "But those other events are determining champions and baseball has 100 games to go before we get there." Does that mean that baseball doesn't deserve attention during the pennant races but only during the playoffs? Baseball's not like hockey or basketball, or even the NFL where so many more teams get in. (And I'm not talking specifically of the Nats who aren't likely to be in a pennant race like they were last year).

Michael Wilbon: Let's try and get this straight: Baseball is not going to get my attention (and that of many others) while championship events like the World Cup, and U.S. Open and NBA Finals are in play. I'm seasonal. I don't care nearly as much about the NBA in January when the NFL playoffs are being staged or in March during the NCAA Tournament is being played. And I don't care about stupid NFL mini-camps when the U.S. vs. Italy is on...If you can't agree with that, surely you ought to understand the logic of sports fans who are not locked into one thing. Last year this time the Houston Astros were under .500...yet they reached the World Series. I'm certain that no matter how argumentative you get the point.

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Richmond, Va.: Dirk isn't the only who should be kicking chairs and throwing stuff. I would like to see Avery Johnson throw stuff at the Mavs! If they lose after being six minutes away from a 3-0 this has to be the biggest choke in NBA Finals history!

Michael Wilbon: That case will be made if the Mavericks lose...but Avery has thrown the kitchen sink at those guys. Remember, he took them out of their luxury hotel on Brickell Ave. and sent them 45 miles north to something more spartan where they each had a roommate.

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Upper Marlboro, Md.: Mike,

Really not a question but a tribute, I had just graduated from Largo Senior High School in Upper Marlboro, MD almost a week and a half before Len Bias died. As a Tarheel fan, I've had the pleasure of being able to watch UNC/MD games on local Channel 20 where all the ACC games were being showed, and UNC/MD was the biggest rivalry in the ACC before Duke came to power. Even though Bias was always a thorn in Dean Smith's, UNC, and my side, I've thought that besides Jordan, Johnny Dawkins, and Christian Laetner, Lenny Bias indeed is still one the best college basketball players I've ever watched and had no doubts he would have carried it to the next level.

My prayers and admiration still go out to Mrs Lonise Bias. For being the strong person she is to survive not only losing Lenny, but his younger brother Jay several years later to the senseless violence that still plaques the Washington Metro Area daily.

Michael Wilbon: Thank you very much.

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Arlington, Va.: Do you have any qualms about watching boxing? It can be really entertaining, but it really is just two people hitting one another, and we've all seen so many fighters left severely damaged at the end of their careers. I can't help but fell conflicted nowadays when I watch.

Michael Wilbon: I've reconciled myself with having this conflict some years ago. Tony K. actually has a phrase which speaks to how conflicted we are for being so thrilled at seeing something so violent which has left so many men mangled...."God help me, but I love it so." It's a guilty pleasure...very guilty.

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Boston, Mass.: An off topic tennis question. Why is it that the women should get paid as much as the men as so often comes up when the the majors are coming up? They only play best of three instead of best of five. Why are the women players so vehement about it?

Michael Wilbon: Well, that's the primary case against the women making the same purse. The case in favor of equal pay is that in many tournaments the women are the bigger draw, the bigger personalities. The women are much better known and bigger gate attractions.

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Denver, Colo.: I say its a conspiracy. The NBA wants this thing to go to seven so they call the foul on Wades drive, don't take back the timeout, and call everything and the kitchen sink on the Mavs (49-25 in foul shots or something like that).

That said (in jest) I love Wade and he does remind me of another guy that used to play in Chicago. When Wade stops, fakes, pivots and shoots its almost as if he lulls the defender to sleep and then hits his shot. It looks so effortless. Poetry in motion. Nothing else, just love watching that guy play.

Michael Wilbon: Thanks for expressing two sentiments on the minds of many in and out of The Chat House. I know you jest, but others are serious about the conspiracy stuff. It's all part of the drama of the NBA.

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Boston, Mass.: I thought the Taylor Wright fight was great, and I was a bit surprised at the outcome. Sure it was close, but Winky Wright made Taylor look like a fool with his defense. I have never seen so many different types of punches and combo's so easily brushed aside. Do they not give points for great defense? Should Wright have been looking to counter more after blocking punches instead of picking his spots?

Michael Wilbon: Wright should have fought and not backed off in the 12th...Had he fought, he'd have won the fight by split decision. The judges cards show that. And Taylor, if you listened to the post-match comments, said HE thought Taylor would have won the decision had he actually fought all 12 rounds instead of 11.

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Arlington, Va.: Mr. Wilbon: Thank you for doing these chats, and thank you for telling the Nats fans to be quiet. All year long they draw 20,000 a game and now they act like they won the World Series, because they took two out of three from the Yanks, and they actually sold out one game. Congrats on the wins, but give me a break.

Just a quick comment: The World Cup as a whole and the US-Italy game in particular is just riveting stuff. We had a house full of people on Saturday afternoon, and nobody moved for the last half of the game. Not a question, just further proof that it was a great weekend of sports.

Michael Wilbon: Thank you...Ooooh, did you get in the face of Nats fans...And you did it with a little shimmy...Thanks.

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Rockville, Md.: What's up with the tiny US soccer players?? I'd LOVE to see a Kevin Garnett or Tim Duncan-sized soccer player scoring off headers that not even the outstretched arms of the goalie could reach.

What other NBA players could you see being world cup stars had they grown up playing soccer instead of hoops?

Michael Wilbon: Think guys like Allen Iverson and Devin Harris wouldn't have been great at soccer if they cared as much? Those are two names that come to my head. Remember, Patrick Ewing was a prospect as a goalie until hoops got him for good. And of course, Steve Nash's favorite sport, even now, is soccer. His brother is an accomplished player.

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Md.: Last night, D-Wade looked like he was forcing shots down the stretch and to me anyway seemed to be playing selfish.

If Kobe were to have played like that, he'd be ripped to shreds by every columnist in America today.

What gives?

Michael Wilbon: Those plays were drawn up for Wade to shoot. Kobe is, at times, resented by his teammates. And we all know what his coach wrote about him in a book. Wade defers to his teammates...until they prove they're not up to the moment, like late in Game 3 when he took over and kept the season alive. Surely, you can see the difference.

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Des Moines, Iowa: It's one thing to be a passionate owner, but is Mark Cuban possibly crossing the line by chewing out the refs in the Finals and allegedly "staring down" the Commish (per news reports)?

Michael Wilbon: I like Cuban a lot...but yeah, you're probably right. It is crossing the line.

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RE: Boxing: Tony K's line is from "Patton."

No charge....

Michael Wilbon: You mean he stole that line? He must have attributed it years and years ago and I just forgot it. But thanks anyway.

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Herndon, Va.: I was reading over a couple earlier questions and saw your response about very few people knowing the Len Bias story. Would you consider doing a book on him? Might be a good way to keep this very important story alive for future generations of young athletes.

Thanks

Michael Wilbon: The subject has come up, even recently. I don't know...I'm fascinated with him but it doesn't mean enough people are to justify writing a book...But it's been mentioned and talked about.

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Washington, D.C.: Thanks for taking my question. So many topics to address from this weekend. The NBA Finals, the US Open, the USA V. Italy game, and yes the Nats v. Yankees game (For those of us who saw the games on TV/in-person). But, I need to talk about the US Open. I'm a huge fan of Phil. I just can't get over the fact he did not play it safe on the 18th hole. Actually the whole round, I was just watching him make remarkable rescue shots, and knew his luck had to end sometime. He admitted afterwards, "I'm such an idiot". Do you think this will just motivate him more and think before gripping and ripping it, or will this have a lasting effect on him?

Also, I got tired of NBCs coverage. So many times, they just focused the camera on him and not on the ball. I'm also tired of the knuckleheads who yell and holler at the Tee, even if its obvious that the golfer did not hit a good shot.

Michael Wilbon: I just love this e-mail...We (in the PTI studio) have been debating the question of what this will mean for Phil for two hours...I don't know. I think it could have scarred him for a long time had he not won majors already. But maybe he'll just shrug it off and keep trucking. I can't believe he hit driver but even WORSE I can't believe he tried that second shot that hit the tree...Insane. And I love Phil. I love watching him play and I've had occasions now to interact with him and he's a wonderfully engaging man who's impossible not to like...I don't know how he'll respond to this. I hope he bounces back quickly.

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Falls Church, Va.: What do you think about Entourage so far this season? They need to focus more on Ari and Lloyd.

Michael Wilbon: I've TiVo'd two episodes but haven't watched yet because I've been a little busy on Sunday evenings...(NBA hoops?) so don't spoil it for me...I'll be able to comment on this next week.

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Ellicott City, Md: Would you care to speculate on how many more NBA titles the Celtics might have won with Len Bias joining Bird, Parrish, McHale, et. al.? They last won in 1986, of course, and only made it to the finals one more time (1987) after that.

Michael Wilbon: Alonzo Mourning says two titles for sure, perhaps three. I'm with Zo.

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Denver, Colo.: Not enough people to justify a book? Who cares! (ok, maybe your pocket book which is understandable) It would be so fascinating to read that book. If Pat Conroy can write a book about his playing days that did fairly well, there must be enough interested to make it worthwhile.

Michael Wilbon: I said maybe you're right. Maybe you are.

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Herndon, Va.: I think you have to have a passion for what you are writing. In the case of Len Bias it sounds like you do.

Write the book and then see if a publisher wants to pick it up.

Just a thought!

Michael Wilbon: No, no, no. We (that means I) don't do things "on spec" which means on speculation. But I'm flattered so many people have just now written in and think I could pull it off...thank you.

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Baltimore, Md.: Speaking of basketball players who could be great soccer players...Hakeem played as well. Now that many of the best European athletes are playing basketball, do you think this will help the United States catch up to the rest of the world in soccer? Soccer is still like the fourth choice among the best athletes here, while soccer was always # 1 overseas.

Michael Wilbon: We're chasing Europe in soccer like Europe and Africa and Asia are chasing us in baseball. When will we catch up? Who knows. Maybe in 10 years, maybe 20, maybe never...

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Fairfax, Va.: When I first heard about Roethlisberger's motorcycle accident, I couldn't help but think about Derrick Thomas's car accident (thank goodness, this one turned out differently). I also remember the column you wrote after Thomas's accident and the effect it had on whether you wear your seat belt. I hope Ben's unfortunate accident has a similar effect on people and their decisions to wear a helmet while motorcycling.

Thanks

Michael Wilbon: This is a very good way to close. I'm glad Big Ben seems to be on the road to recovery. The tragic accident involving Derrick Thomas led me to put on a seat belt each and every day from then on. I've never once since driven without it fastened. And I never fastened it before Thomas died.

Okay, gotta run to prepare for PTI. We'll talk about the U.S. Open, the NBA Finals, the World Cup, the Stanley Cup and who knows what else. Thanks everybody. Back next Monday. Have a great week.

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Takoma Park, Md.: Len Bias went to my elementary school, and during his sophomore year in college he came by the school to visit with old teachers. I remember him holding court on the recess blacktop, signing autographs, shooting baskets with the older boys, and in general laughing and enjoying himself. Soon after he would be dead, but Len was a god to kids in P.G. county who dreamed of playing ball and nothing else. I will always remember him standing there incredibly tall, well dressed, smiling and full of life.

Michael Wilbon: I had to slip in this one last Len Bias anecdote...Thanks

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RE: Bias: Mike -- I was 6 in 1986 when it happened, and I am still fascinated by the whole thing. I think you underestimate today's youth, and Bias's lasting legacy.

Michael Wilbon: Thanks again.

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