The Chat House with Michael Wilbon: All-Star Game, Shaq Dances and More

Sports News

Welcome to another edition of The Chat House, where Post columnist Michael Wilbon will be online Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 11 a.m. ET to take your questions the NBA All-Star game, the end of the Shaq era, the plight of the Wizards and the latest sports news and his recent columns.

The transcript follows.

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NBA 8 and counting?: Is this the year of the failed coach or the failed GM?

I can think of 2 GMs that have frankly blown it. Steve Kerr in Phoenix and Ernie Grundfeld in DC. Ernie for not being truhtful on his assessment of the team to fire Jordan; and Kerr, had the right ideas for success. he just did not have all the moves planned and deals in place. Instead of trading Amare Stoudemire, I would trade Nash, if possible.

washingtonpost.com: Michael Wilbon: NBA's Final Eight Weeks a Showcase for Four Teams (Post, Feb. 17)

Michael Wilbon: Hi everybody...I'm here for a couple of more days in ARizona, taking a day off from PTI in the wake of an interesting NBA All-STar break...I think the two gentlemen you mention here, Grunfeld and Kerr, have had a rough go of it lately with decisions that have not worked out, but I wouldn't cite the ones you mention.

In Ernie's case, I wouldn't have signed Gilbert Arenas to $111 million contract not knowing whether his health will ever again allow him to be the franchise player he was two years ago. If Golden State wanted him, I'd have tired to put together a deal involving Montae Ellis, for starters. And two, there's no chance I keep DeShawn Stevenson and let Roger Mason go. No chance, no how, no way. Ever. In Kerr's case, hiring Terry Porter instead of Alvin Gentry is going to cost the Suns the season. They're rejuvinated now, but it's going to cost them. This team, I thought, had one more run left in 'em. The guys love each other. Seriously, it's a love-fest locker room between the players...It's a bunch of vets who simply like being around each other and know how they want to play the game. Terry Porter had a different philosophy and it wan't going to work. Gentry already has re-installed the 7-seconds or less offense and they're thrilled. But it's late in the game. The Suns need to get to 6th place and avoid the Lakers/Spurs/Nuggets in the first round...

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Arlington, Va.: So the South Carolina sheriff is not charging Phelps after arresting nearly 10 others.

I'm all for this clown (the sheriff, not the swimmer) to move on and turn his attention and capturing real evil doers, but after all this, um, why not? Isn't this considered special treatment?

Michael Wilbon: If the sherriff says there's no sufficient evidence, then what's he to do. I don't think Phelps needs to be prosecuted for what we know about...If there was other stuff going on at that part of a criminal nature that's one thing but not for what has been reported.

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Alexandria, Va.: Mike, Maybe today isn't any different than any other day in the past 5-10 years. But how come the national media isn't calling for Bud Selig's job?

He was baseball's CEO during the steroid era and will forever be tainted by this. As Commissioner, he could have enacted a drug testing policy for the "good of the game" -- but he just turned his head.

Michael Wilbon: Fair question...There have been times when a lot of us have called for Bud's head and you're right to note this hasn't been one of them...It happened on his watch, andhis office wasn't vigilant enough, obviously. I think I've cooled on the idea, personally, because baseball's history is raught with cheating and deception and dishonesty...I don't want to make throwing spitters and taking steroids seem like the same thing, but the lnk is baseball's complete willingness, almost a permission, to cheat on any level. At the game's core is a spirit that says, "If you can get away with it, go ahead." That existed long, long before Selig, obviously.

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Mt. Lebanon Pa.: In a wrestling match on a mat in a neutral arena, who you got? DeJuan Blair or Blake Griffin?

Nice win last night for the Panthers, 'eh?

Thanks much.

Michael Wilbon: Hard not to take Blair, isn't it? What does this mean, the result in Hartford last night? That's what I'm trying to figure out? And is it a good thing for Thabeet to get thrown around like a rag doll? Maybe it is. Maybe we'll see what kind of determination and competitive spirit the kid has, especially since he gets another shot at Blair late in the regular season. Wow, big ups to Blair and to Pitt for taking out UCONN last night. How much does Blair's NBA stock climb after that one?

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New Orleans: If you were the GM of the Wizards and you had the number 1 pick in the draft this year, what would you do? Take Thabeet, Griffin, Curry, trade the pick for a player or more picks?

On a side note, it's too bad that when the Wizards do have a high pick, there are no true budding superstars available - e.g. LeBron, Durant, Rose.

Michael Wilbon: Ain't that the truth! It wouldbe either Griffin or Thabeet at this point and I'd spend the rest of the season trying to geta grip on just that, unless there's an international player somehere who is a beast. BUt those guys would consume me until draft night in late June.

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Chambersburg, Pa.: I loved your article on Shaq. I think most of the top players in any pro sport do it because they love competing, and few can best them at their sport. Too bad most do not show the joy that Shaq does. Someone should tell them the story of Lou Holtz, that he was fired from his first head coaching job because he was unemotional and did not inspire his players. He went home and decided that no one would ever say that about him again. He changed and made millions! Didn't you hint that Shaq's persona was a personal choice of his?

Michael Wilbon: Thanks...There are certain choices you can make in terms of whether you choose to publicly show you personality, but Shaq's been like that, as he said to me, since was 9 or 10 years old...It's not something he created as a teenager or young adult..

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Washington, D.C.: Is Kevin Durant the next NBA Superstar? He is scoring at a preposterous level for a 20-year-old. The Thunder are very quietly putting together a very strong young nucleus that rivals that of the Trailblazers.

Michael Wilbon: Yes, they are. Durant has taken a quantum leap in scoring. He's prolific. And he should only get better as he puts on some muscle, which there is very little of now. That roster is pretty darned good with Green and Westbrook...Shows you what must be done with the draft and draft-day deals.

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Reston, Va.: Hi, Michael. Just how hard do you think the economy will hit baseball this summer and basketball this fall? Aren't live sports suddenly out of reach for a lot of people who used to shell out $50-150 a ticket and $8 a beer? Or will that group always find a way to go to the games?

Michael Wilbon: It depends on when and how the economy recovers. A prolonged hit will make for more empty seats. We're seeing that begin now. There will, for awhile longer, be a baseline of fans who have the means to go and see sports but teams are going to have to become increasingly creative about ticket packages, about concessions. And we're going to, as a result, see more layoffs by leagues and teams even though players and owners will continue to accumulate wealth...for awhile. All the sports will be looking at their collectively bargained agreements. The NBA and its union are talking now. The NFL sides are heading for a showdown and perhaps a work stoppage. How much trouble is ahead depends on the recovery, presuming there is one relatively soon.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Mike, knowing that hindsight is always 20-20, do you think it was a mistake to let Eddie Jordan go when they did? I thought he did an average job and occasionally had some success, but now it seems we're in a real mess.

Michael Wilbon: It didn't make sense to me to fire Jordan and I said so in print before he was fired. Nothin could be gained. And why fire a guy who is missing his best player (Arenas) and his best defensive player/starting big man (Haywood). I didn't like the move then. The mess was created because the team's best player hasn't been on the floor in essentially two years. The team was built around Arenas, which now seems very possibly could be a major mistake. He needs to get himself back out there, in my opinion, for a month so that the team can see whether he's made progress physically and so the club will know how to address the draft and free agency...But yeah, it's a mess. Now, some luck in the draft and a dose of good health can swing that 180 degrees, but the Wizards have been short on both for a helluva long time.

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Washington, D.C.: Hey Mike - In your mind, how much sense does it make for the Wizards to keep up the hopeful attitude towards getting all the pieces back on the floor? I can understand the "on paper" optimism with the roster but dang, 10 wins? Would you consider pawning off Jamison or Butler to Portland or Cleveland or whatever for salary relief?

Michael Wilbon: I'd consider anything, yes. Everything and anything. Yep.

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Springfield, Va.: Will there be any media attention given to any baseball team other than the Yankees this year?

Michael Wilbon: Yes, if you live outside the I-95 corridor. People in Chicago/St. Louis/Detroit/Milwaukee/Dallas/S.F.-Oakland aren't fixated on the Yankees. ESPN's location--90 minutes from Yankee Stadium--creates what I think is a exaggerated sense of what the country is interested in regarding baseball. I'm not an East Coast kid. I care about the Yankees, but not their every single move, not in the minute detail my bosses think everybody does...I'm worn out on the Yankees already.

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Washington, DC: There are rumors flying about NBA teams in financial trouble, New Orleans, Sacramento, Charlotte, New Jersey, Memphis...do you think several of these teams will be relocating for next year, or even contraction in the league?

Michael Wilbon: No. You're not going to see anything dramatic for next year or the year after. I just talked about the time it takes the world economy to recover...If we're talking a prolonged malaise, then yes we could see dramatic action, and not just in the NBA but all leagues, and not just in the United States.

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Washington, D.C.: What is Scottie Pippen up to? I saw a brief shot of him on TV attending the All Star game, and realized I hadn't seen or heard a thing from him in about 10 years. How's he keeping busy? Is he out of basketball completely?

Michael Wilbon: He's around basketball, with clinics and programs...He lives in South Florida, though he spends some time in Chicago. I worked with Scottie briefly on some ABC telecasts. I like him...have for a long time. He was with his wife and beautiful children at All-Star weekend.

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washingtonpost.com: Wilbon on Eddie Jordan: They Should Keep Their Head

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Washington, D.C.: What's going Mike

Can you comment on the difference between Kobe and and his peers -- LeBron, D Wade, Carmelo, etc.

When you look at Kobe, he takes pride in playing defense, it's like he needs to be the best basketball player in the world at all times. Do you think that hurts him or helps him?

Michael Wilbon: Well, I think wanting to be the best at whatever you do rarely if ever hurts...Yeah, it can lead to pride getting in the way, but look at Kobe's career on balance. Look at the last year or so specifically, the way he's become a better teammate and learned to lead more effectively. D. Wade, three years ago, was the best player in the league in my opinion when he lead Miami to a title...Injuries took him back a bit, but he's coming back now to where he was. Thing is, he's got to become the kind of defender Kobe is...LeBron isn't as good defensively as Kobe, either. Right now, I'd give Kobe the slightest edge of LeBron as MVP but it's a long season and LeBron and D. Wade are just approaching their physical primes...

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Brooklyn: A lot of people are debating who's the better player: Kobe or Lebron. But I don't think it's even close. Kobe has 7 years more NBA experience and they are on par with each other. But let's have them swap experience. Imagine how good Lebron will be in 7 years (barring serious injury or Armageddon), and compare that to how Kobe was 7 years ago.

We wouldn't be comparing the two at all. At this moment in time, they may be equal. But when both careers are complete, I think Lebron will be on a higher plateau. What do you think?

Michael Wilbon: WEll, LeBron is in his 6th season...Kobe is about to start the slide down physically. I don't care that he's only 30; there are only so many games in any human being's legs. We're seeing that now with Tracy McGrady and Jermaine O'Neal, two guys who are 29 (I think) but who have played a dozen NBA seasons already because they came to the NBA straight out of high school...Kobe's not going to be, physically, at 33 what Michael Jordan was. There's no comparison between the pounding of three years of college vs. three years of the NBA...LeBron's best years ought to start right now...

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NBA trade deadline: What moves do you think are most likely before Friday? It seems like it's been hard to match up buyers and sellers this year, or are teams just waiting to get Gasol-like bargains from teams desperate to cut payroll?

Michael Wilbon: I'm not sure, with the state of the economy and teams trying to dump salary, that there will be any trades of consequence between now and Thursday's trade deadline...

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Arlington, Va.: Word has it that Portland has a shot at picking up Caron Butler, Gerald Wallace or Richard Jefferson by the trade deadline. Which of those three would get the Blazers onto your contenders list?

Michael Wilbon: Either Butler or Jefferson. Either. I love both.

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Herndon, Va.: Mr. Mike: ESPN's "crawl" this morning made it seem that Tiger is almost ready to go. Is it an almost sure thing he'll be playing in the Masters?

Michael Wilbon: Yes, he'll be playing in The Masters. I saw Tiger two weeks ago in Orlando and he told me then he felt great. The big smile on his face when he said it told me he wasn't joking. He says his knee is pain free for the first time in years. Can't wait to see him out there...Can't wait.

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Laurel, Md.: Can the Wizards just forfeit the last 30 games? I've been a Bullets/Wizards fan all my life, but this is the first time I refuse to stand by this team. I just don't feel as if the players care any more!

Michael Wilbon: I understand your frustration but, trust me, they care. Caring alone, however, doesn't win you games. If it did I'd be Michael Jordan. Just because you care doesn't mean you're good enough to beat somebody who cares the same and is a better team. Don't confuse the two. The Wizards aren't very good and won't be until they get Gilbert/Haywood back and that doesn't appear likely this season.

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Springfield, Va.: Why doesn't baseball also make teams forfeit a certain number of victories if players are caught using PEDs? Can you imagine a team missing the playoffs on account of this?

Michael Wilbon: Baseball has never cared to discourage cheating the way you care. Never. What in the sports history, since suspending the Black Sox, tells you baseball is overly worried about cheating. I believe baseball has used juiced balls intentionally...Cheating is at the very core of baseball's culture, something I talked about in an earlier question.

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Uniontown, Pa.: Did you get a chance to catch up with Sir Charles when you were in Phoenix for the All-Star game? How is his swing now that Butch is working with him?

Michael Wilbon: I've talked with him more than once but he wasn't actually here for All-Star weekend. I hope Charles has been working on his new swing and I hope he's back on TNT this week, or at the very least, next.

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Re. Phelps: Unless a sheriff plans on prosecuting every 19 year old in the county that has a photo of themselves on Facebook drinking a beer I don't see how declining to prosecute Phelps is "special treatment."

The fact is was even considered was only due to who he is.

Michael Wilbon: Thanks for that.

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New York: Can we have Shaq dance in the opening of every All-Star game from now on? It was eerily hypnotic and trippy to see that monster body in that blank mask. And he's got moves.

Michael Wilbon: Yes, he does. How great was that! It was the singular highlight of All-Star weekend.

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Tiger redux: Man, does the PGA need him back. Don't you think the tour is off to a lackluster start this year?

Michael Wilbon: The PGA Tour has barely been on the radar so far this winter. I'm a fanatic and I've barely watched, though I'm happy that my man Nick Watney, who endured me during the Earl Woods Pro-Am at Congressional, won a couple of weeks ago...I got a thrill out of that. Nick was great to play with and just spend 4 1/2 hours with...

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Reston, Va.: The subject of Michael Vick reared its ugly head again this past week.

I'm begging you, please explain the appeal of this guy and the lovefest he still seems to get from the media. What I mean is, they still talk about what a great player he was, dynamic, etc. From my perspective he was a marginal QB at best. I don't care how good of an athlete he was. In addition, even before the dogfighting happened, his bad character was on display often. He always blamed his coaches and his teammates when he performed poorly. I read more than one article about how he was the last to practice and the first to leave. I guess he got a pass on his bad character because of his athleticism but it really drives me nuts, mostly from the media.

I'd be devastated if my Redskins picked him up.

Michael Wilbon: Your emotions are way too tied up in any ability to assess Vick as a player; that much is clear. So, you've got him being the worst thing to ever put on pads, yet, he led his team past Brett Favre and the Packers in Lambeau and to the NFC Championship game (where they lost to the Eagles)...How did he do that if he has no redeeming football qualities? I wouldn't make him my starting QB but I'd sign him in a minute...Your morality is yours; it doesn't mean he can't play football. And talent evaluators get paid to know the difference.

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Anonymous: Sports talk ("The Sports Reporters") once again demonized NBA basketball for it's pageantry and entertainment approach versus "the game". Now I have issue with Stern not promoting the sport of basketball versus promoting individuals, but for an all-star game I had no issue with Shaq's intro dance, etc.

Michael Wilbon: "No issue"? I'd make Shaq's attendance a requirement. Most reporters, particularly those over 40, are in love with the NFL, usually to a slobbering degree. The NFL and NBA don't approach entertainment the same way. The NFL wants the game and only the game to be spotlighted, which is why they have rules against helmet removal on the field and how they can stage replacement games that are accepted by the general public in most cities even though the quality of the games was a sham (1987)...The NBA product has always put a premium on personality and access and individuality...You like what you like. Pro football is kind here in the U.S. Basketball is infinitely more popular worldwide...

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Lexington, Ky.: Mr. Wilbon - Just wanted to get your thoughts on the All-Star festivities this week in Phoenix. Namely, was it more subdued than we've been told All-Star weekends have been in the past? I ask this given the state of the nation's economy (Phoenix has been especially hard bit by foreclosures) and what we've been told about the more low-key nature of the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500 this year? Thanks for taking my question.

Michael Wilbon: Events in Arizona are always different from, say, Atlanta or Chicago or Philly, because metropolitan Phoenix is spread out over miles. Downtown has really come along, but so many of the resorts where players/owners/sponsors/media stay are out in Scottsdale, 20 minutes or so away from downtown...So you don't have the glut of people (other than downtown Scottsdale). The parties were cut waaaaaay back, but there were still plenty parties, just hosted by the players themselves and not the media entities, as has been the case in the past 12-15 years...It was still a festival. There were still an incredibly number of recognizable A-list celebrities here (Did I mention I got a hug from Eva Longoria Parker and got to meet Gabrielle Union?) and people had a wonderful time...Was if over the top, like Las Vegas two years ago? No. I didn't expect it to be. That would have been inappropriate given where the country is today...

Okay, gotta run...I mentioned it's a day off. Trying to split it between a round of golf, a workout and a movie tonight...See you all next week, from (of all places)...home in D.C.

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