The Chat House

Sports News

Welcome to another edition of The Chat House where Post columnist Michael Wilbon was online Monday, Aug. 13, at 1:15 p.m. ET to take your questions and comments about the latest sports news and his recent columns.

The transcript follows.

Discussion Archive

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Arlington, Va.: What are the odds that Sweet Lou doesn't flip out this week and get tossed by an ump? After a 2-5 roadtrip for the Cubbies, he's got to be ready to erupt. It kills me to say this, but is it possible that the Cubs and the Brewers will play hot potato with the NL Central lead until the Cards sneak in with 82 wins this year?

Michael Wilbon: Hi everybody! Welcome to the dogs days of summer...The PGA is over, baseball isn't truly hot yet (don't tell the Yankees and Cardinals that), I refuse to go ga-ga over the NFL preseason, and the U.S. Open is two weeks ago. These are, to me, the worst two weeks of the sports calendar...yet, there's tons to talk about because of the weekend of Tiger Woods in Tulsa.

As for the NL Central, how pathetic can that division be? The Cubs simply don't have enough to be a really good team, just a test. And you know it kills me to say that. I think Sweet Lou Pinella is doing a fabulous job, and no, another tirade isn't going to do the trick...I don't think so. The handwriting is on the wall, isn't it? The Cardinals aren't very good either, but they're champs. They know how to close and God knows the Brewers and my Cubbies do not. I'm hopeful, but I don't like seeing the Cardinals 5 games back...

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Sterling, Va.: I recently listened to the podcast you did with ESPN writer Bill Simmons, and I really enjoyed it. Are you going to be on Simmons's "show" again, and/or will we ever see Simmons on PTI? You guys had surprisingly good chemistry.

Michael Wilbon: I like Bill's work. I enjoyed the give and take...He's obviously a very, very bright man and curious and has stuff worth talking about...I don't presume he wants me back. He's got a million people out there I'm sure he wants to talk to, so I'd love to join him again...But when it comes to PTI, Tony and I are the ones giving the opinions, so when we're joined by a member of our fraternity it's usually somebody who's expert in a given field (Richard Justice, baseball, for example, though Richie's an expert at everything, to be honest...Peter King on the NFL). But if I'm invited back, I'll be there with a smile.

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Washington, D.C.: Wilbon, love your work. As I'm sure you read, Norm Chad gave you and Kornheiser a playful smack today in his column. I know Chad aims to be funny and sarcastic but I wanted your take on his overall point. Since TV pays better (and presumably the hours are better) than newspapers, do you think newspaper sports journalism has suffered by this brain drain?

Michael Wilbon: Norman Chad and I started our careers together in 1979/1980 and have been damn good friends for 27, 28 years. There are a lot of people who THINK they're funny. Norman actually IS funny. He's funny in print, funny in person...particularly funny during Sunday eat-fests at Uncle Bill's Pancake House in Manhattan Beach, Ca., which we hit from time to time when I'm out there...I'm incredibly happy for Norman and all his success in the world of poker, and sorry that has taken him away from us here at PTI, where he really was our first consistent sub.

As for brain drain, I don't know. Many of us (like Norman and me) continue writing for newspapers or magazines. John Clayton still writes, lots of guys still do. Peter King writes more than he's on TV and he's always must-read...I wonder if Peter would agree with this: I think all of us know more now than we did pre-TV because of the access TV gets us. People know who we are when we arrive, and some old-school newspaper people might argue that's not good, and perhaps that's true. But I know I'm better informed now than I was, say, 10 years ago. I hope that comes through in the columns I write now, even though there are fewer of them.

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Alexandria, Va.: Michael, I heard that you did some on-air commentary during the D.C. United/L.A. Galaxy match Thursday night. Since I was at the game, I missed you. However, I was curious as to your opinion of the atmosphere and the crowd during the game. That was certainly quite the spectacle, especially to hear the crowd get louder as the rain began to fall. Were you impressed by the passion, by the constant standing and singing and chanting?

Michael Wilbon: I was impressed by everything that night (you can find the column I wrote for Friday's newspaper on Washingtonpost.com), mostly 46,000 people sitting in the heat and rain to watch Beckham. Maybe some of the curiosity seekers watched their first game or watched D.C. United for the first time in person and now want to go back, or found something in the evening beyond Beckham's 21 minutes of play compelling. But it was an exciting event in a city that has had very, very few of them on summer night's the last 35 years.

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Columbia, Md.: Mike, did anybody ask Rory Sabbatini if he's had a chance to re-assess Tiger's vulnerability? Just curious...

Michael Wilbon: Sabbatini is a moron; that's been established. Woody Austin disappointed me; he turns out to be just another fool who can't look at the guy who beat him and say, "He beat me. Hats off." Austin's a fool, too. What happened to golf? I've been under the impression all these years that golfers pride themselves on integrity and sportsmanship. Where's it been this summer. One fool after another (Sergio, Sabbatini and now Austin) can't bring themselves to be men and say, "That guy is getting it done." Instead, Austin says if it wasn't for his lunatic personality he could have won yesterday. That's like me saying, "If it wasn't for my lack of talent, I'd whip Michael Jordan's Bee-hind." Please. Shut up, all of them, and go away.

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Barry and Hank: After hitting 756, Barry seemed moved/appreciative while watching Hank's recorded message on the big screen. Seconds later, he's thanking the fans, thanking his family, thanking his teammates, and even thanking the Nationals. But no words for Hank on the field. Who knows how any of us might get caught up in the emotion of breaking THAT record but what an opportunity missed for Barry who had a LOT of people pretty caught up in the moment.

Thanks for all your work.

Michael Wilbon: I'm critical of Barry on a number of levels, but not of the way he's handled himself the last few weeks. I think he's done very, very well and been awfully gracious. He thanked Hank profusely during interviews after the home run that night. I'd give Barry an A on the way he's handled himself all summer.

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South East Jerome: Wilbon --

It's been a while, hope you had a great summer!

I wanted to touch base with you about my health.

Are the Skins being cautious with me, or do you think Betts is going to get a lot more work this year?

Super Bowl prediction?

Thanks!

Michael Wilbon: I'll admit to you guys: I didn't watch the Redskins game the other night, and I'm not going to watch this week's game against the Steelers...It's the Steelers, right? It's preseason. There's too much to do (go to a movie, read, hit balls under the lights at Olney Golf Park, dine) to waste my summer nights watching football games that don't count. I was going to watch my Bears on NFL Network, then decided that was a waste of time, too. So I have NO idea how the Redskins first-team or second-team or third-team players looked...I'll watch the final two games to get an idea. I've got Eagles-Bears in the NFC title game, with an eye on the Saints and Seawhawks killing my prediction. I'm not sure about the AFC yet...perhaps Patriots-Bengals, but we'll see about that in the coming weeks.

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Arlington, Va.: With respect to the D.C. United game, I have to bristle at the characterization of 46,000 people being there to see Beckham. I was there to see D.C. United. Since the team averages in the neighborhood of 18-19K that means there were 27K there "to see Beckham." Still a lot of people, but for many of us who are D.C. United fans it is insulting to say we were there for Beckham when that was not the case.

Michael Wilbon: Fair point...But at least you acknowledge that the majority of the people were there to see Beckham...because that's the truth.

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Power of the Press: Columnists, like yourself, write to express an opinion or perspective on a particular issue. One objective, I am sure, is to generate some thought with the reader. Sometimes when you take on bigger sports institutions in your column, say the NFL, NBA, MLB, etc., it seems you are trying to influence their future course of action concerning the issue you wrote about. We know that the power of the press is formidable. Do you know of any instance when one of your columns has had the desired effect with the institution you were opining about?

Michael Wilbon: Great question/comment. Yes, I decided a few years ago -- it might be 10 years ago by now -- to take on local institutions to donate enough money to prevent the boys' and girls' high school championship basketball game from shutting down and people responded. And yes, I had an agenda that morning when I woke up and read the games were in peril. It was calculated and it worked. I can't say I've ever done it before or since. I'm never writing to get the attention of commissioners or coaches or players. I presume 99 percent of them never see the columns in the first place.

I'm not naive, though. I know Bud Selig is going to call me if I rip him or if he just wants to comment, and I thank him for that. But do I expect people to take my opinions to heart? No, not really. I want to start or enter the discussion, try to convince people to believe what I believe, or at least see another side of the issue, then move on to the next day. When people react to the column intentionally, I'm always surprised...pleasantly. But it also reminds me of the responsibility involved in making these opinions public.

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Baltimore: Re cleaning up athlete's quotes: Michael, what is your take on the issue of the Clinton Portis quotes, which were reported verbatim by one Post writer, but grammatically cleaned up another. The Post's Ombudsman's column in Outlook dealt with this on Sunday.

Michael Wilbon: Yeah, I have 1/2 of Sunday's newspaper at the nightstand, as of yet untouched...so I'll get to that...My position is to not quote Clinton Portis. Paraphrase. There are too many quotes in newspapers that say nothing. We're not stenographers. I can tell you what Clinton Portis said without confusing the reader with his quotes; in fact, that's my job. I love going back and reading sportswriting from 60, 70 years ago when the only quotes were ones that made you laugh or made you angry or gave some insight into something. Now, an entire generation of young sportswriters don't even watch the damn games; they just write "notes" for their publications during the games and go to the locker rooms for "quotes" afterward. I go to the locker room to hear what the hell just happened. And there are plenty of players, grammatically challenged or not, who can help you understand that if you rely on your ears and not your notebook.

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Washington, D.C.: I went to the O's/Sox game yesterday, and as an Orioles fan I must say I am completely embarrassed by the way we let Red Sox fans take over Camden Yards. There were more boos than cheers when Kevin Millar hit a game winning home run in the bottom of the 10th. Josh Beckett got a standing ovation a day earlier. I felt like I was at Fenway Park. It's the same way when the Yankees are in town. It's disgusting, pathetic and embarrassing.

Michael Wilbon: I like a good vent. Thank you.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Hey Mike, since it seems slow I thought I'd toss in a basketball question: do you think Reggie Miller trying to make a comeback with the Celt's is a bad idea too? Thanks!

Michael Wilbon: I think it's a great idea. I talked to Reggie at length the other night on the phone and told him that...not that he needs my opinion. Remember, Reggie still has something very few of today's players have: a great jump shot. It's nearly extinct in the NBA. And Reggie, even approaching 42 years old, is a better jump shooter than 3/4 of the players half his age. And look at the roster. If you're a defense, and you've got to guard Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, that means you've got to find another perimeter defender to put on Miller? You think Reggie Miller can't hit open jump shots at 42? I do. I'd bet on it. For 15 minutes a night, he can't come in and can three jumpers in six or seven attempts? I think he can. And since the Celtics are obviously rolling the dice and trying to win right now, why would you bring in a young shooter to play with the other geezers? And what young shooter would you try and get? Michael Redd? He's newly re-signed with Milwaukee. I think it's a great idea. The only better idea might be Reggie Miller playing with Steve Nash. Think Reggie would get some open shots with Nash feeding him?

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Bud Calls You?: What does he have to say for himself?

I thought his blank expression, standing there with his hands in his pockets, was perfect: "Yeah, I gotta be here, but I don't have to cheer."

Michael Wilbon: I'm fortunate to have a good relationship with the commissioner, even if I am critical. It was an off-the-record conversation; I shouldn't even have mentioned it. But it was productive and he wanted to make some points about several things, and did. I'm hopeful he might talk on the record in the very near future...

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New York, N.Y.: I was only 6 at the time, but I think, even in this over-hyped culture, Hank Aaron breaking 714 was a bigger deal than Bonds (even taking away the taintedness of it all). I am pretty sure it was simply a BIGGER deal.

Michael Wilbon: Well, I was 14 or 14 at the time and I think it's a bigger deal, too, but we're of a certain generation which looks at the record differently than somebody, say, 28 years old now, born after Aaron broke the Babe's record. I think many of these sentiments are purely generational.

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Detroit, Mich.: Is Sergio Garcia imploding? After his incredibly classless display following his choke at the British Open, he follows up with a DQ at this week's PGA. Could he be the Anna Kournikova of golf? The only thing he has been successful at are Budweiser commercials and Ryder Cup.

Michael Wilbon: Goodness, that's a fair question. I've been critical of Sergio for precisely the reason you seem to be. He's all style and very little substance...I hope he does win. Seriously, he's good for the game because of his personality and quirky-ness, and his charm...But he needs to stop making excuses when he loses...That's probably a bigger deal right now that not having won a major. He's only 27. Phi didn't win any majors in his 20s and he's got three now. Not everybody is Ernie Els or John Daly or Tiger, getting on the board early. But Sergio needs to be a man when he loses (as does Woody Austin) and say, "Hey, I wasn't good enough today." That's lacking in the PGA right now, at least with three of the guys who've been in the spotlight lately.

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Kansas City: Are the Braves the most under-appreciated franchise in sports and does the City of Atlanta deserve them?

Michael Wilbon: Yes, and no. Great question. Atlanta's a joke sports town. People with a lot of mouth who don't actually support their teams. It's all hype, Atlanta. The Braves don't even sell out for playoff games. And we're not talking about a poor city. I'm so tired of the Atlanta hype. And it's a second home to me since my dad is from Georgia and probably half my family lives in Atlanta. They'll kill me if they see this, but hey...

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Washington, D.C.: What do you think about the NFL's decision to make sideline photographers wear vests with Cannon and Reebok logos on them? Journalistic ethics aside, one gets the sense that some in the NFL look longingly at Nascar, and won't rest until they figure out a way to sell advertising space on the players themselves.

Michael Wilbon: The NFL's arrogance these days is boundless. Their whole act is, "Do what I tell you or I'll pop you." You wonder if and when the chickens might come home to roost. The NFL is riding high right now and doesn't want you to even took it squarely in the eye.

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New York City: I just don't like Tiger. Don't like his demeanor, don't him eating on the golf course, don't like Steve, don't like his faux-humbliness, just don't like him......on the Tour with players that don't particularly care for Woods, how much is it jealousy and how much is it Woods demeanor?

Michael Wilbon: You think guys don't eat those bars or fruit on the course during their rounds. I like it that Tiger keeps sticking it to people who like to find reasons not to like him. I get a thrill out of that.

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Leesburg, Va.: "Columnists, like yourself, write to express an opinion or perspective on a particular issue"

So why do so many sportswriters believe it is their duty to campaign against soccer? Are they that xenophobic?

Michael Wilbon: Sure some are, and their rants are often sickening. But every criticism of soccer isn't a xenophobic rant. Often, fans of soccer are simply apologists who want to back down anybody who isn't kissing soccer's hinny...

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Bethesda, Md.: Hi Mike,

Have you met Pacman Jones and do you have any opinion on his recent venture into the world of wrestling?

Michael Wilbon: I haven't met him. I think he's a total moron. And I think this wrestling thing is so very cool. Somebody smarter than The Pacman came up with it, but it's fabulous. I love it.

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Washington, D.C.: Can you confirm if Vick has been suspended for the season?

Michael Wilbon: No, I cannot.

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Was Aaron a bigger deal...: I think BASEBALL was a bigger deal back then, so by definition, baseball records and those who set/broke them were a bigger deal.

In other words, more a reflection of the influence of the game than of the particular player.

Michael Wilbon: I could argue with you on this, considering attendance has quadrupled since the 1960s, but you make a decent point...

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Quarterbacks: Wilbon,

I know you are not a fantasy person. Trust me, this is not a fantasy question. However, during my preparation for my fantasy draft it just occurred to me that 2/3rds of the league is starting a qb this year with huge question marks.

Is this just a cycle or are we at a low in QB play in the NFL? What does this say about the most important position in football?

Michael Wilbon: It's always that way. Trust me. Go back and look at the league standings 20 years ago, figure out who the starting quarterbacks were and tell me there's a difference. I'd bet you it's pretty consistent.

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Boo Who???: Michael,

You know a lot about golf, so I ask you, who is Boo Weekley? Where did he come from (he's not young)? Is he really that daft, or is it an act?

Michael Wilbon: I think Boo Weekley is good for the game...that thing with his kid on TV was pretty funny. Personality in golf is a good think. By the way, he went to Abraham-Baldwin Agricultural College. How about that?

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sports:"Often, fans of soccer are simply apologists who want to back down anybody who isn't kissing soccer's hinny... "

follow-up question:

And this make soccer fans different from fans of other sports?

Michael Wilbon: Yes, because they're louder about it and they actually expect they can back you down, which I find hysterically funny. They think they're going to intimidate columnists and editors into treating things the way THEY want to. I covered soccer at the start of my career and LOVED it...loved every day of it. I covered the old Diplomats for two summers back in the Johan Cruyff days, and it was fabulous. But I'm not going to say that soccer is the future of America. I've been hearing that junk for 25 years and it's a lie. It's a fine sport, with great athletes, and internationally it's the world's No. 1 without question. Here, people largely don't care. It's past the NHL to move into fourth position, without question. But it's not going to challenge the NFL or MLB in my lifetime, not the NBA either. And people who don't see that, to me, have an agenda they need to keep away from me. Eric Wynalda agreed with me the other night during my ESPN segment that soccer needs to cater to its fan base and grow that gradually, instead of trying to be everything to everybody.

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20008: What Vick has been accused of is heinous, without a doubt. But isn't it a little...odd...that the moral outrage seems greater than when Ray Lewis was accused of involvement in a double murder, or Leonard Little killed somebody driving drunk?

Michael Wilbon: Ooooooooo, good question. Very, very good question/observation. I think you gave me a column idea, sir/madam...

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Phoenix: We never really got a clear explanation re whether the Wizards actually traded Juan Carlos Navarro to the Grizzlies and if so, what exactly did the Wizards get in return? I have heard some reports that we got a future first round pick...do you know if it's a conditional pick, lottery protected, what year it's in, etc.?

Thank you

Michael Wilbon: Conditional first-round pick and I must admit I don't know the conditions. I like Navarro...I've watched him play internationally, in person. I really, really, really like him and think he's a big-time playmaker. That deal took place while I was in Alaska and I haven't yet talked to Ernie Grunfeld about the whys of the deal...I'm sorry he won't be in a Wizards uniform, but I should quickly acknowledge that Ernie Grunfeld rarely ever makes a bad deal.

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Alexandria, Va.: To dovetail one of your previous points about golfers making excuses for not winning (Garcia, Austin, etc.) -- I thought it was somewhat refreshing that Phil went out of his way to state that his injured wrist was not a contributing factor in his pedestrian performance at the PGA. Although it is still hard for me to shake all his whining about the rough at Oakmont, nice to see someone on tour man-up.

Michael Wilbon: Thanks for the point.

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Florida: In your terrific article about Bonds's home run record, you (rightly in my view) express ambivalence about home run records from the juiced ball era (mid-'70s on) and chemistry (late '80s on) as well as those records that were set in segregated times, when nobody was playing against the best competition. (Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in '47 but baseball didn't become fully integrated until the mid-50s.)

Doesn't the logic of your argument mean we should be that much MORE impressed by the great hitters who played from the early '50s to the mid '70s, players whose records weren't aided by segregation, juiced balls or chemistry? Players like Aaron, Mays, Mantle, Robinson, McCovey, Mathews and Banks.

Michael Wilbon: Yes, thanks for playing that thought out even more. I DO have more admiration for those players, no question. Again, it's probably generational. Those were the players of my youth. But I think there's less to object to in the 1950s and 1960s and 1970s than any other 30-year period of baseball...

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Baltimore: Hey Mike,

How do most of the golfers on tour treat Tiger. Is it similar to the way that Jordan was treated or different?

Michael Wilbon: Boy, that's a great question. I pop into golf tournaments now and then, but haven't covered the PGA Tour the way I did the NBA. I knew all the details and nuances of how the frat members felt about Jordan, but I don't know similarly how they feel (behind closed doors with microphones off) about Tiger Woods. The guys I do know (only a handful) seem to both respect and like him...

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Washington D.C.: I read your article after the D.C. United game and was glad to see you attended the game and also wrote your reaction about it. Based on what you saw, is it fair to say that soccer and most importantly, MLS, are here to stay in this country for a long time?

Also, do you think that you personally could start covering and writing about soccer more often like the fantastic Mr. Steven Goff over there at The Post?

Michael Wilbon: Thank you for the compliment. You're most likely a young reader, and didn't know of my early history covering soccer, which I just talked about. Yes, I think MLS is here to stay because it's been more fiscally responsible than NASL was when it went out and bought a ton of expensive European players. Me cover more soccer? Not likely. I'm a columnist now, writing approximately 110-125 columns a year now about what people are talking about passionately or what I'm interested in commenting on. Only a couple of times a year is that going to be soccer, not with all the teams, issues, stories that confront us every day.

Okay, gotta run and prepare for PTI. Tony is in San Francisco (yes, he flew) for Monday Night Football tonight and probably a nervous wreck. See you guys next week...MW

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