The Chat House

Sports News

Welcome to another edition of The Chat House where Post columnist Michael Wilbon was online Monday, March 5, 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.: Mr. Wilbon -- I read today that Dwyane Wade has decided to try rehab on his shoulder and possibly come back to play this season. In any event, he will have absolutely necessary surgery at some point to repair the shoulder. I don't profess to be an expert on shoulder injuries, but I don't see much good coming out of this compared to probable reinjury, extreme pain and ultimate surgery with a later-dated recovery time. I realize that no pro athlete wants to appear to be anything but tough. But it would be nice to see an organization -- like the Heat -- which has gotten so much out of an athlete like Wade, and which will get so much more out of him in the future, to weigh in on the side of a player and express an interest in a permanent real-time solution to his injury rather than a temporary fix. Yeah, I know, it's a business. Your view?

Michael Wilbon: Okay everybody...we're actually going to start a few minutes early because at 2 p.m. sharp I have to bolt out to drive to the studio to start PTI. I'm in Arizona today, following yesterday's Suns-Lakers game on ABC...Dwyane Wade is the perfect place to start for me since I'm in 100 percent basketball mode now in March...Wade did announce about two hours ago he's going to put off surgery until the summer and try to rehabilitate the shoulder enough to play the end of the season, meaning essentially the playoffs. He knows it could pop out again...and it's no certainty he'll be in the playoffs for the long haul. After he ultimately has to have surgery, he'll be out 4-6 months. So, if he has surgery the first of July and is out five months he won't be back until December...I'm not surprised Wade is doing the unselfish thing for the team...I talked to Shaq and Alonzo Mourning a few days ago and while they're grateful Wade is going to give it a shot, each told me he told Wade to do what's best for him...Still, I would have been surprised if Wade had had surgery immediately. Miami's only chance in the playoffs is with Wade playing, even in a diminished capacity.

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Ann Arbor, Mich.:

Hey Mike, what did you think about the hit on Hansbrough in the UNC/Duke game? It looked like Henderson clearly intended to take a shot at Hansbrough, if not to bloody him up as much as he did. Coach K is calling it an accident -- what do you think?

Michael Wilbon: Just because something is an accident doesn't excuse it. Henderson came down recklessly and with force and should be suspended. "I wasn't trying to hurt him" isn't good enough. He didn't try to stop either. There was nothing in that video that suggests he tried to pull up and NOT hurt his opponent.

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New York, N.Y.: Who do you think will be the Loyola Marymount/Valpo/George Mason team this March?

Michael Wilbon: I don't know yet...But that is THE question this week as we watch the smaller conferences have their league tournaments. Maybe, if they win tonight, it's the George Mason Patriots again! How about that possibility? People are talking about Old Dominion, Winthrop, Creighton, Virginia Commonwealth...And there will surely be some teams from out west, somebody from the WAC, that catches the eye of coaches and former coaches and talking heads...This week, to me, is as good as the first week of the NCAA Tournament because of all the one-big leagues that have desperate, frantic tournament finals where the loser knows it's going home.

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D.C.: If Gibbs can welcome back Mr. Love Boat Fred Smoot, do you think they'd accept Pacman Jones if he gets cut?

Michael Wilbon: Nothing surprises me when it comes to coaches taking a chance on talent. I wouldn't blame the Redskins if they do, but then I don't want to hear about having "character" people. The Redskins probably should have held onto Smoot in the first place. Unlike a lot of people, I could care less about the Vikings "party boat" considering that goes on ALL the time with people hiring private boat tours and it's never discuss...Sorry, I'm not big on policing private events with willing adults...as long as everybody is willing, and that includes the crew, which might have been the real problem with the Vikings party boat...Question also is, can Smoot still play at a high level?

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Washington, D.C.: I'm constantly amazed at how little love the Mavericks get from the national media. Every time I watch "Cold Pizza" and they sit around talking about how Dallas is built only for the regular season (and yet Phoenix's run-and-gun style/seven-man rotation isn't?) I want to leap through my TV and strangle someone.

And Hollinger's Power Rankings that emphasize winning blowouts instead of fighting and winning close games? What is he smoking?

I'm clearly a bitter Dallas fan, but I just don't get how so many seem to dismiss the Mavs.

Michael Wilbon: Yo, the Mavs need to win the championship. That's the way it works in professional sports. It worked that way for Michael Jordan until the Bulls won, for Phil until he won a major championship, for the Buffalo Bills, for Peyton Manning, for everybody. Win and people shut up. Lose and they keep singing. The Mavericks are the best team for now, in the regular season. But they haven't won yet. It's up to them to prove it, not up to us to "crown their a.." to steal a phrase from Denny Green.

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Dallas: What the heck was Jerry thinking by giving Leonard Davis that insane contract? He's fat, he's lazy, and now he's paid. Even I hate this signing, and I loved the T.O. one.

Michael Wilbon: Maybe all he needs is a demanding coach and better surroundings?

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Maryland: Mike, what do you think about Coach K using the "Isaiah Thomas" defense (Hansbrough shouldn't have been in the game at that point)? I thought it was pretty lame.

Michael Wilbon: Very, very, very lame. Very.

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Washington, D.C.: Do you happen to see the two stroke penalty Mark Wilson (winner of the Honda Classic) called on himself after his caddy inadvertently gave someone else "advice" by saying what club he used out loud? What a dumb rule, but good for Wilson for calling it on himself and dude still shot 66 that day, winning the tournament in a playoff this morning.

Michael Wilbon: That, of course, is totally unique to golf, which in my opinion as a golf addict, needs to strike half the dumb rules from its culture.

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Washington, D.C.: Assume for a moment that you were not smart enough many years ago to choose to pursue a profession in which you were paid to watch the NCAA Tournament, among other sports. What excuse would you come up with to get out of work for the first two days of the Tourney?

Michael Wilbon: Illness, my brother. Illness. What, you considering "Dog at me homework." Do you love the tournament enough to use two vacation days? Can you work at home? How about coming up sick and still working at home?

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Silver Spring Md.: Did you see that bizarre ending to the Wizards/Warriors game? Thoughts?

Michael Wilbon: Yes, and the Warriors got hosed. There's no other way to put it. In fact, the Wizards got two gift-wrapped games in-a-row. Atlanta was called for at least one phantom foul that gave the Wizards free throws and the game...and then the Warriors. A team with serious aspirations shouldn't need gift-wrapped games from the refs to beat the Hawks and Warriors at home in March...The Wizards really need to find their game in a hurry. There were out-played by a pair of lottery teams at home, which is sad, even with Butler and Jamison just coming back off injuries to the lineup.

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Washington: Unrelated to anything, but saw you on TV last week ... you lose weight? If so tell me how, I need to drop 15.

Michael Wilbon: You want 60 hours of going from the bed to the bathroom to fight off either an intestinal virus or food-poisoning? I'd already some weight intentionally (12 pounds)...That took me down another 8 unintentionally...We'll see if I can keep it off...

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Burke, Va.: After suggesting on air that she go make him some bacon and eggs, Cedric Maxwell started off his "apology" to Violet Palmer with "If I said anything that might have been insensitive or sexist in any way...".

If he were working for you, would he still have a job after that?

Michael Wilbon: Only if he came up with a real apology, one that was sincere and heartfelt...and after I sent him to 100 hours of community service at a women's shelter and 100 more volunteering to help at a local high school with the girls' basketball team. I know Cedric, like him tons, but that was way out of bounds and not funny. And I know people who might say it and get away with it because "humor" is an expected part of what they do...But Cedric isn't one of those people.

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San Diego: Michael, with the recent questions regarding Cal Ripken's non-unanimous selection to the baseball hall of fame, and the issue of WHO could possibly not have voted for him, how about the recent induction of Mia Hamm into the soccer hall of fame without receiving 100 percent as well? She only gained around 98 percent, I think.

I would say that no one has ever done more for their sport than Ms. Hamm. Even non-soccer fans would recognize her.

Like with Ripken, those voters who did not vote for her, should lose their vote because obviously they have some non-realistic agenda/criteria for enshrinement.

And I love the daily clips but aren't they taped all on the same day, since TK obviously doesn't come in anymore?

Michael Wilbon: How can clips on that days news be taped? You think we're clairvoyant (sp)? Where doesn't Tony go every day? You don't seem to be connected to what we're doing...not that you need to be...As for the HOF, I'm not going to spend any time ranting about two percent of the voters not casting a vote for Mia or Cal, who of course are the definition of Hall of Famer...There are some quirky voters in every selection group, and I hate their self-absorbed reasoning...I really do. But after the fact, I can't waste time on their fools.

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D.C.: Since they can't meet in the BB & T or don't want to, any chance the committee puts Maryland and Georgetown in the same bracket?

Michael Wilbon: Yes...Are you new to D.C.? The selection committee did this a few years ago, put Maryland and Georgetown in the same region out west and they played each other...I think it was the first year Maryland got the Final Four, which would have been 2001. Yes, the committee has a sense of that stuff. They set up a Kentucky-Louisville game as a regional final back 20 years ago when the two schools refused to play each other. The committee has had a sense of humor and history. But with these pods and all the silliness, I don't know if the committee still has a sense of anything other than its own agenda.

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Orlando: Tampa.....has....three.....quarterbacks.....feeling.....dizzy.....confused....

Michael Wilbon: First, I hope nobody outside of central Florida cares about this semi-story...Second, if Jake retired (and the union says he filed retirement papers) then it's Chris Simms and Jeff Garcia and there's no controversy or reason to be dizzy or confused.

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Rockville, Md.: With all of the stress that the NBA is putting on cleaning up its image, what do you think about the report that LeBron James is expecting his second child? He's old (young) enough to be a senior in college and clearly a questionable role model. Can or will the NBA (or Nike) do anything in order to portray responsible adults as their image other then enact a dress code?

Michael Wilbon: Is LeBron's child out of wedlock any different than Tom Brady's or Matt Leinart's? And if so, why? Because one is 22 years old and another is 23 and another is 28? Why doesn't that mean the NFL has to clean up its image?

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Cooperstown, N.Y.: What do you think will be the most interesting baseball storylines this season?

Michael Wilbon: You'd be much better served asking Tom Boswell about the MLB top storylines...I care about the Lou Pinella and the Cubs and whether $300 million spent was well-spent. I'm interested to see whether the Dodgers can return to playoff form, the reaction to Bonds and his chase of Aaron's record. I want to see whether the White Sox decision to trade proven pitchers for several high-profile prospects will pay off, wither Dice-K is real or not, what kind of season Alex Rodriguez will have after the drama of last season in New York. I know many of you want me to say something about the Nationals. Sorry...I think I'll start paying attention to the Nationals when they move into the new ballpark...or if they're competitive like they were in their first season in D.C. But if they're as bad as forecast, I'm not going to be peering in on the Nationals. I guess if you are born and raised in D.C. and the Nationals are your team, then you'd be fascinated no matter what. But I'm not. Boswell, understandably since he's from D.C., will be on top of every detail, and our readers who are into the Nats will be so well-served, by Boz and by Barry who will be covering the beat again...But the sports universe is so, so small now. You're not bound to the local teams unless you want to be. The stories are national stories and they come into our living rooms every day and night, so you have to be good or entertaining or both to command attention, except in the case of the hard core loyalists.

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D.C.: What do you attribute to the Gators lack of dominance, given the fact that they are the defending champs, and didn't lose anyone to the draft. Boredom?

Michael Wilbon: They're not robots. They're not overwhelmingly great. And last year, en route to that NCAA Championship, the same Florida Gators lost three straight to end the regular season. I attribute it to competition. The other guy is trying, too. And if Florida is a little off its game or a teeny bit bored, Florida will get popped. There's a reason no team has repeated since those Grant Hill-Christian Laettner-Bobby Hurley teams of the early 1990s...Even when guys come back, it's very, very difficult.

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Washington,D.C.: First, to the comment about LeBron's child: He's been with that girl since high school and they are still together. Now, who are your four No. 1 seeds in the tourney?

Michael Wilbon: I don't know about # 1 seeds. Florida, UCLA, Kansas, Texas A&M, North Carolina are all in the running, I guess. So is Georgetown is the Hoyas win the Big East...We'll get to the No. 1 seeds soon enough. I don't care about that nearly as much as I care about the team desperate just to get into the tournament this week during Championship Week.

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Matt (D.C.): Michael -- your thoughts on Tiger coming to D.C.? A real coup for Washington area golf / golfers in my opinion. Have you had the chance to speak with Tiger about it since the news broke last week? Thanks for doing these chats.

Michael Wilbon: I have not talked to Tiger, and he'll be talking in D.C. apparently this week...I think Wednesday. I'm out on basketball assignment for ABC and will be doing the NCAA Tournament for The Post, so while golf is always on my radar I won't be front-and-center for Tiger's chat about why he's doing this and what he hopes to achieve.

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Washington, D.C.: NCAA play-in-game, yay or nay? I just don't see the purpose.

Michael Wilbon: I don't either...but it gives one additional school a chance and creates some excitement one night early...There's no harm in it, right? It's okay...People just want to be a part of it.

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Bethesda, Md. Re LeBron:

Is this guy kidding? Is he living in 1920? This is 2007. Fifty percent of marriages end in divorce. I don't know the numbers but I am sure the number of black kids born out of wedlock is probably only a small percentage higher than other groups. As long as he is going to care for his child what difference does it make if he is "married?"

Michael Wilbon: This is one of a number of comments that say essentially the same thing, so I'm posting this to let the group know what the general feeling is about that one question a few minutes ago. Thanks.

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Bowie, Md.: Mike,

Although I agree with you on many issues, I have to disagree on your assertion that Tiger is the most recognizable and popular athlete in the world. In my opinion, Roger Federer holds the distinction. Federer is universally loved by all tennis fans, has huge following in South America and Asia (not known for love of golf), and is such a great ambassador for the game of tennis. Is is because Federer is not American that he can't appear on magazine covers, win athlete of the year honors, and be amongst the great athletes here in the US? If such a poll was done worldwide, Federer would be the most recognizable athlete in the world.

Michael Wilbon: The fact that you think tennis is more popular in Asia than golf is laughable and really undermines anything else in your argument. Have you taken a look at the LPGA Tour? Golf not as popular as tennis in Asia? Please, stop. Tiger Woods is recognized anywhere in the world. Roger Federer, maybe the greatest tennis player ever, wouldn't be recognized if he showed up at public tennis courts in D.C. And I grew up playing competitive tennis, so don't come back with some lame comment about how I don't follow tennis. It's not close between the two, if for no other reason than a black-Asian golfer stands out everywhere. No advertiser in the world would take Federer over Tiger Woods, probably not even in Switzerland where Federer (according to a well-written magazine piece about a year ago) isn't always recognized in the local market walking distance from his home...Ali might still be more recognizable than Tiger...although, it's been a long time...I would bet Tiger is more widely recognized than even Ali at this point.

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Rockville, Md.: Mike -- aren't NFL signings pretty much of a joke? There are big press conferences announcing mega contracts, then a good chunk of the players are eventually released or asked to restructure. An excellent example is our own Stephen Davis, who signed a $90 million contract with the 'Skins and then was gone in no time.

Michael Wilbon: Thank you. Of course, they're a joke. They're announced for the benefit of the team, which wants to impress the local populace with phony numbers, and for agents who want to impress potential clients with phony numbers. It's a dog-and-pony show that the media is complicit in carrying out and the whole thing is disgusting and phony and a complete fraud. But the NFL can do anything it wants and people will swallow the thing whole.

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Love Boat v. Shoot Out: Mike, I think you were too quick to say that bringing in Smoot and Pacman are similar. Smoot's off field antics are bachelor party worthy and wouldn't preclude my brining him in if I were a GM. Pacman is a threat to society. He belongs nowhere near an organization that I run.

Michael Wilbon: I'm not saying I would bring in Pacman...Pacman sounds like a menace. I said I wouldn't be surprised if anybody signs him...not surprised at all.

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Manhattan Beach, Calif.: Hi Michael,

The big dance is almost here! Which team will go further and how far in the tournament...Maryland or Georgetown? And what does each team have to do to take it all?

Thanks.

Michael Wilbon: Okay, I've got to run and get started with PTI...I think Georgetown is a team capable of going all the way...Seriously, Georgetown is Final Four good. I think Maryland is capable of getting to the Sweet 16 but the lead guard, while so incredibly talented, is young and that makes it difficult. But if you can go 3-0 against Carolina and Duke, maybe I'm underrating Maryland and they can go further than I think at the moment. Just think, a week from today when we chat we'll have the Bracket right in front of us getting ready to roll..See you guys next week.

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