The Chat House With Michael Wilbon

Welcome to another edition of The Chat House, where Post columnist Michael Wilbon was online Monday, June 8 at 1:15 p.m. ET to discuss the latest sports news, his columns and anything else that's topical.

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San Francisco, Ca: Five days have gone by since the NBA finals started and we're only two games into it. The start of the NBA playoffs feels like it was decades ago. One thing I like about March Madness is that it wraps up in 3 weeks. For the NBA, it's three months. I know you hate people like me for prefering March Madness over the NBA, but for me, the fact that it takes so long to decide a champion makes me lose interest.

Michael Wilbon: Hi Everybody. Are you guys in the D.C. area still in Biblical rain mode? I'm sitting by the Pacific Ocean for today's chat, can't bring myself to leave Los Angeles after last night's Game 2. Actually, there's no non-stop flight that could get me to Orlando in time to do this chat and PTI today, so I'm here until tonight when I red-eye to Orlando for Games 3, 4 and 5 of the NBA playoffs, which did start awhile ago ...

As for the first question, I understand your impatience. Same with the Stanley Cup playoffs, which began even earlier. MLB playoffs are now 2/3 as long. And the NFL playoffs, which used to be quick and painless, now go from New Year's Day until February and could go until late Feb if the NFL lengthens the season. This is what pro sports are. My point is, I enjoy both for what they are. College sports and pro sports don't need to be the same, and I get impatient with people who because they need one thing, decide something different is somehow inferior. My point, in comparing college and pro basketball, is that the pro game is light years better in terms of talent and execution. I enjoy each for what it is...I'm glad I could see Boston and Chicago (nearly two months ago) play more than once. I'm glad that lasted seven games. I'm glad Cleveland and Orlando got to play more than once. I don't need the quick resolution that some need. Where am I going? What's the rush. Hell, I need this Lakers-Magic series to go six so I can get back to the Ocean!

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Frederick, Md.: Going back to PTI last Friday, Tony remarked how small you look next Magic and Barry, which is understandable, they're NBA players. But I also noticed that you appear to be dwarfed by Stuart Scott. How tall is he? Is ESPN using some funny camera tricks?

Michael Wilbon: Stuart is sitting higher in the chair and he's in the foreground. That's it. Don't overthink it. Magic is 6-9, Jon Barry is probably 6-4 1/2 and I'm 6-2 1/2. Stuart is probably 6 feet, 6-1. But my can is also heavier and I'm almost certainly weighing that chair/stool down a few inches.

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Rockville, Md.: Tiger's approach on 18. Shot of the year, at least so far? I called it to my buds that he would need to birdie that hole to win and lo and behold he puts it a foot from the pin ...

Michael Wilbon: His entire round was spectacular. He started, what, four shots back? The whole round was so precise, so controlled. It was just a wonder to watch. There are hundreds of great shots by now, eagles and double-eagles, so I don't want to go shot-of-the-year ... There were some doozies at The Masters. But it does seem to be a warning shot fired just in time for the U.S. Open in two weeks by the best sportsman on the planet.

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Shirlington, Va.: Mike...

Would MLB ever consider some sort of set-up where the season would be split into halves and the first half winners and second half winners would somehow be arranged into a playoff system?

Also, what about a relegation system? Might give some of the smaller market and perenially mediocre teams a more realistic goal to shoot for every year.

washingtonpost.com: D.C. Sports Bog: If MLB Had Relegation (Washington Post, June 8)

Michael Wilbon: I'm sorry, you want to turn Major League Baseball, which has been played for 130 years in America, into soccer. Take a hike, pal.

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Mt. Pleasant, Washington, D.C.: The World Cup in South Africa is only a year away. Does it look like you're going?

Michael Wilbon: It was arranged that I would go a couple of years ago, and I'm dying to go. I've never really covered World Cup and I have been soooooo looking forward to it. But ... that was before a son was born into my life and I don't know anymore whether I'll be covering World Cup. Not only that, but since those initial decisions were made the world economy has changed and life at newspapers, including this one, rather dramatically. In other words, we'll see.

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Weston, Fla.: Regarding the top 50 all-time NBA players ... shouldn't you place the players as to Two different eras; everyone prior to 1960 and everyone else post 1960. It gives you 50 years each. How can one include Bob Cousey in today's list of fifty greatest players? He probably would be a fifth man at best. Two different eras, two kinds of players.

Michael Wilbon: Well, you don't need 50 greatest players for pre-1960 because that was only 11, 12 years. You could pick the five greatest players from that era and exempt them and take the 50 from the subsequent 50 years. Something like that. But I don't like that system. Basketball does seem to be the sport where today's athletes least resemble the greatest players from the game's inception ... I will say this: If you think there are big guys today any better than Wilt and Russell, who played pre-1960, you'd be nuts because there aren't.

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Magic's Pad: Does Magic have you stay at his pad in L.A. when you guys are out there? Maybe this will serve as a hint to him if the series goes back to LA ...

Michael Wilbon: A hint to him? Hint to what?

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Arlington, VA: In Peter King's monday morning quarterback column, he writes that it's ridiculous how many OTAs NFL teams have these days, and that some Browns coaches have been at the office until 7:00 pm for the better part of the off-season. Do you agree with him that NFL teams practice/demand too much from their players during the offseason? I have to be honest, I work until 7:00 pm most nights and I don't get an offseason--and I certainly don't make millions.

washingtonpost.com: The League: Should the NFL Make OTAs Official Practices? (Washington Post, June 4)

Michael Wilbon: Off-seasons are necessary so that players bodies can recover from the beatings they take during the regular season, both practice and games ... I'm not talking about just the hitting, but the pounding of running and jumping and hitting the ground. Money earned doesn't stop joints from aching, and ligaments from being sprained. The NFL Players Association, in my view, ought to move to stop these OTAs ... just don't agree to them. Players need physical recuperation time. I've talked to phyisicians and trainers about this and many are completely certain of it. And the lunatic coaches who would have players in pads every day should be resisted because they'll ruin the product without a second thought since perspective isn't a requirement for an NFL coach ... and is rarely seen.

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Little Rock, Ark.: Mike, I couldn't help but notice on the Lakers' final possession of regulation last night how open Ariza was as Kobe went in to take the final shot. I had flashbacks of guys like John Paxson and Steve Kerr knocking down open threes to win games(and I normally hate MJ comparisons, but couldn't help it here). Anyway, my question is, do you think Kobe has enough faith in his teammates, other than maybe Gasol, to take a big shot at the end of a game? And, really, does he need to have that trust for the Lakers to win, especially on the road?

Michael Wilbon: Great questions: No, he doesn't have as much faith in his teammates, other than Pau Gasol, as MJ had in almost all of his by the time the Bulls started their run. I'm not guessing at this; I've talked to both men enough to know exactly how they feel about this issue. And if the Lakers are going to be great, and not just really good, yes, Kobe will have to demonstrate a little more faith. But two things on this issue: One, Kobe has improved so much in this area. He's gotten better and continues to grow as a leader, specifically in the last two seasons. Two, his teammates have to justify that faith by coming through in the clutch, which is easier said than done.

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Woodbury, Minn.: Now that Brett Favre had surgery on his shoulder, do you you think he will be under center for the Vikings in Week 1?

washingtonpost.com: NFL News Feed: Favre Nearing Another Return? (Washington Post, June 8)

Michael Wilbon: Probably.

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Long Beach, Calif.: Hey Mike: have you gotten blow back on your column naming the Lakers as the premier franchise in sports? I always tell my pals that this is and will be a Lakers town until the Dodgers get hot for a string of championship appearances or wins.

Michael Wilbon: There's nothing to argue. The Lakers are the No. 1 franchise in Southern California without question.

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Washington, D.C.: Kaka to Real Madrid for 65 million Euro (biggest transfer fee in the history of soccer). He's 27, not as good as he was two years ago, suffers from a recurring knee injury. But he'll sell a lot of shirts in Asia. Worth it?

Michael Wilbon: What do you think this is, Soccer Corner?

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Oxford, UK: Hi Mike,

Are you ever concerned about how your criticism affects the athletes or sportsmen you're discussing on a personal level? Do you think journalists have a responsibility to take this into account, or is "tell it like you see it" a more important maxim? I'd be interested to know your thoughts.

All the best

Michael Wilbon: Those two interests aren't mutually exclusive. You can tell it like it is and be tactful and responsible, even sensitive. I don't usually find that balance too much to ask. I've criticized Terrell Ownes more harshly than most. He's also called me (and returned calls in the past) to have a conversation. He clearly doesn't like my view of him, but he also knows I'll quote him accurately and also give a fair hearing if there's an issue on the table and he feels he needs to speak to readers/viewers/listeners. The trash-and-slash approach so popular in today's culture is something, generally speaking, that I hate ... especially when the "reporters" in question never face the people they're discussing.

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Washington, D.C.: Mr. Wilbon, a bit of an 'inside baseball' question. You work for a few different organizations. How does it work when you learn something on PTI that then makes it into a column for Washington Post? How do you divvy up the hotel room, flight costs and meals? How do you deal with and then seperate the costs for your knowledge and then attribute them appropriately to the sources for whom you disseminate that knowledge? Not sports, I know, but something about which I have always been curious. Can we see you with Tiger on PTI after Bethpage?

Michael Wilbon: I can't sit here and give you some general percentage formula. Most of it is decided by what I hope is common sense. I'm here working for ABC/ESPN and The Washington Post.. Expenses will be divided based on who I'm doing more work for in a given stretch. If I have a conversation on PTI and use some of the interview that doesn't air in a column in The Post, I'll say that. You can go back and see how many times I say, "Doc Rivers told Kornheiser and me during a conversation on ESPN." When I've written stuff for The Post that was of national consequence, ESPN anchors have been careful to not just quote me or attribute to me, but to "The Washington Post's and our own Michael Wilbon" or something like that. I don't find it that hard, actually ... And hopefully my superiors find I'm doing all of it the right way.

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On OTA's: If the "O" in OTAs stands for "optional", why does everyone make such a big deal when a player misses one?

Michael Wilbon: will, it might be for "oragnized." I don't know, and don't care much. But it's obsessive NFL junk that ought to be banned.

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Chicago, Ill.: Mike I know you have sworn to never twitter ... but Tony Kornheiser is taking over the PTI tweets. Will you ever get a twitter? I promise to put you on text updates if you do ...

Michael Wilbon: Maybe ... Probably ... But not now. Like I don't have enough to do. I wouldn't read tweets, so I surely won't twitter, not now. What, people don't get enough of my musings as it is? Column, PTI, ABC/ESPN, radio interviews. Somebody needs to hear more of me? Heaven help 'em.

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Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C.: Michael,

Last week on PTI you said you would not have allowed Penn State to join the Big Ten. Care to give your reasons for that?

Thanks.

Michael Wilbon: It's midwestern schools of a general type, except for my Northwestern, the only private school and the only tiny school in the bunch. But Penn State isn't a Midwestern school. Their addition to the Big Ten was simply a money concern, nothing else. Penn State never belonged. Never. Not then, not now.

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Miami: With all the steroid talk, how does a player like Chipper Jones figure in all of this? Never on any reports or even talked about with this! Your feelings?

Michael Wilbon: I have my feelings, like most everybody else, about who might be on steroids and who I think is not ... and I have zero way of substantiating those feelings, none whatsoever. I have no idea, neither do you, and every time I think "Oh, he would never take steroids" or "Look at him! He's too skinny/lean/fat/etc" it comes back to bite me. So, who knows. I have developed a new "favorites" list of baseball players based largely on who I think has not done performance enhancing drugs, which includes Chipper Jones and Frank Thomas and Albert Pujols (even though he's a Cardinal) and Derek Jeter who was always on the list, actually. In the end, we still don't know, do we? That's what the users have done to this era in baseball, tainted the whole damn thing.

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Tropics: Chats on the web. You are just two steps from twittering

Michael Wilbon: I've been doing a chat on the web for more than 10 years. Tweeting is five minutes old. Nice try.

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PTI: Is TK in today and who's the guest?

Michael Wilbon: Yes, and none. Too much good Monday-morning stuff to discuss.

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Rockville, Md.: When people talk about the greatest NBA player of all time, people talk about Jordan, Magic, Wilt, Russel, Jabbar, and now Kobe and LeBron. The one guy who rarely comes up is Oscar Robertson. No one else has ever averaged a triple-double over the course of a season, and he did it three times, I believe. Is the Big O underated in these discussions?

Michael Wilbon: Yes, yes and yes. My starting five all-time (and don't give me this lazy argument that I have to do it by position...please) is Wilt, Russell and Bird, Magic and MJ and Oscar is no lower than sixth. Oscar can play three positions. The only reason I take Bird over Oscar is you'd need a great, great shooter and Bird was clearly better at that than Oscar. There was about a three-year stretch where Oscar was the best, period. He's like Ted Williams in that regard. You wouldn't really argue Ted was bette than Ruth or Mays ... but Ted Williams had some of the greatest years in MLB history. If we're talking greatest of all-time, just in terms of skill level and accomplishment, I guess I'd say, MJ/Magic/Oscar in terms of all-around play.

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Washington, D.C.: The Clippers and the Sonics/Thunder have been pretty horrible for a number of years, but the fans of the latter have reason for optimism and even jubilation, while he fans of the former, uh, don't. My question is: which of the two do the Washington Nationals more closely resemble?

Michael Wilbon: The Clippers. Come on, that's too easy.

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Washington, D.C.: Scott Boras is trying to get Strasburg a record $50 million contract. Do you sometimes think that the baseball writers are inadvertently helping him out by hyping up a kid who hasn't even been drafted yet? Especially since the baseball draft is such a crapshoot.

Michael Wilbon: Yes sir ... I do.

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Hammer Time?: What's your bet for Kobe's chances to put the hammer down on the Magic Tuesday night?

Michael Wilbon: Hmmm ... I'd say 40-60.

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New York, N.Y.: Michael, have you discussed with Magic, how he is doing with the HIV? It's been nearly 20 years since he was diagnosed and he looks really good.

Michael Wilbon: He looks great, he's like a nutritionist when it comes to meals, and he works out virtually every single day no matter how crazy our travel schedules are. He's an inspiration, for somebody like me who found out the hard way I have to eat better and excercize more consistently. We talk about that, but not the virus, actually. There's no need. But the man is a joy to be around every day during our season.

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Laurel, Md.: Simple question ... given that the two are now tied Slam-wise, who ya got head-to-head: R-Fed, or Sampras? (Both in their primes, of course.)

Michael Wilbon: Good question. I think Roger, since he's now won the French and Sampras never did. I don't know what else the tie-breaker would be, do you?

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Philadelphia: Tweeting sucks. Thank you for not degrading language the way all this instant news already has.

Who tweets? Losers. Think people. Try letting some thoughts roll around in your head awhile. It's nice.

Michael Wilbon: Okay, take that tweeters! I wouldn't go that far, but I like opposing views.

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Cabin John, Md.: Does the NFLPA have its eyes on the wrong prize?

I know every penny counts, but isn't it in the association members best interest to:

1) eliminate/reduce off season programs 2) fairly compensate retired players 3) shift wages to veterans from unproven rookies 4) get contracts or a greater portion of them guaranteed even if they are at a lower total $ figure 5) Higher vet minimum 6) Drug testing and medical policies that protect the players long term health

Yet always the negation seems to focus and end on total compensation (doesn't everything), how much the owners make, what percentage of revenue to get every penny they can no matter the form of compensation. Does't the union leadership owe it to the players to fix the system and the compensation asap (this round of CBAs) and worry about making them richer in the next round?

Michael Wilbon: You raise very, very legit issues, some of which union leadership is with you on, but gets overruled by the rank-and-file ... The players themsleves need to be as smart as the leadership.

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Ugh!!!: My wife forced me to watch Twilight (tenage girl movie) last night instead of the NBA finals. Is that legitimate grounds for divorce?

Michael Wilbon: No, you dope, it's grounds for a second TV or a DVR!

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Herndon, Va.: If Lee's shot goes in, does that elevate the block on Kobe's shot a few seconds earlier to this year's "all time something or other" list?

Michael Wilbon: Most importantly, it elevates this series to 1-1.

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Annapolis, Md.: Do you take Shaq at face value when he says he's pulling for Kobe? Especially considering the alternative is the Master of Panic and the Flopper (neither of whom are exactly Shaq's bosom buddies).

Michael Wilbon: Yes. Shaq is pretty normal people when it comes to this stuff. He said to me one day a couple of months ago, on camera (which might not have aired), "You know I just say this stuff ... I'm always stirring it up. I can't help it." Shaq likes to agitate and he knows it gets a rise out of people. You can't take all this stuff he says seriously, which he admits. Okay, a lot of the stuff with Kobe for about a six-year stretch was mean-spirited, but the street wasn't one-way. Trust me, I heard plenty of stuff from each about the other ... But yeah, I believe this.

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MLB Draft: Should the MLB do more to police the contract of rookies who had just been drafted? Doesn't the NBA have contract terms basically set depending on where you're drafted?

washingtonpost.com: NBA Rookie Salary Scale 2008 (My NBA Draft.com)

Michael Wilbon: Rookie wage scale, yes. And it's not up to the league. It's up to the league and union to negotiate such an arrangement. The NBA and its players union have seen fit to do that. The equivalent parties in baseball have not.

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Halifax, N.S.: Hey Mike, long time reader, first time submitter. I've read on this chat and others that some people find hockey hard to follow on TV. I've wathed hockey live and on TV all my life, so I'm baffled by this. You just follow the puck! Do you agree that hockey is easier to follow on TV than in person?

Michael Wilbon: Absolutely not. It's easier to follow in person. Look, I grew up watching hockey on TV because the Blackhawks games were sold out when I was a kid in Chicago ... I watched probably all the road games for about seven or eight years as a kid ... But hockey is an in-arena event, no question, while football is made for TV.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Is Gibert the answer at point for the Wizards?

Michael Wilbon: Is your question being asked in the context of wanting to see a good playoff team? Sure, yes. Conference finalist or beyond? If so, I think not.

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Workplace: Is it ever acceptable to wear a short sleeve button down shirt with a tie? My intern has worn one three days in a row

Michael Wilbon: An intern, presumably, has no money so whatever he wears that's appropriate is acceptable. For grown folks with a job? No. Button down short sleeve shirt with or without a tie is bad news, baby.

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Boston: Who was better, Bird's Celtics, Magic's Lakers or Jordan's Bulls?

Michael Wilbon: I'm from Chicago. You really want to ask me that question? If I try and put my neutrality cap on...I don't know. Bird's teams lost in the Finals twice I think, to the Lakers...So that was six Finals...But they also lost to the Moses/Doc '83 Sixers, which might be the greatest team in history...They probably lost a couple of times to the 76ers, and obviously they lost once to the Bad Boy Pistons. Michael's Bulls didn't have to go through teams that great. Cleveland was really, really good but not great when Michael kept beating them. The Knicks of Patrick Ewing were just short of great, as well ... Same with the Pacers of Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose and Rik Smits ... I don't know. If Jordan's 1996 Bulls that won 72 games had faced the '86 Celtics, who do I think would win? The answer might surprise you: The Celtics of Parish/McHale/Bird/DJ/Ainge/Walton ...Yeah, the Celtics. Pains me to say that. I gotta talk to Magic about this tomorrow night and see what he says since he played against both in the NBA Finals. Yeah, remind me of this next week ... I'll ask Magic tomorrow ... See, we wind up talking about stuff like this for hours during the week ... JB, Magic, Stu and me ... The greatest dinners ever, just listening to the stories from Magic and JB and talking about the modern history of the game. JB, though he's only 39, has a old man's sense of basketball history because he grew up in the game because of his dad, Rick. JB knows stuff from the time he was born about pro and college hoops. And Magic is like a museum. I wish I could just let people in on this stuff, let them hear a dinner. For hoops junkies nothing could be better. Nothing.

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Alma, Mich.: Where do you think Allen Iverson will land in the offseason?

Michael Wilbon: Charlotte. Is there any doubt? Allen to the Bobcats to play for Larry Brown? I think Charlotte will make the playoff if that move happens ... Okay, gotta run and prepare for PTI and walk along the ocean for 30 minutes ... That's my exercise today. See you guys next Monday either from Orlando after Game 5, or from back here if I can make it in time to chat, or from D.C. if the Lakers win this thing in a sweep or five ... Have a great week, everybody.

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Anonymous: Someone needs to tell Lamar Odom not to eat so much candy. That really has to be hurting him and possibly could give him diabetes.

washingtonpost.com: Video: Lamar Odom: The Candy Man (ESPN, May 27)

Michael Wilbon: I'm diabetic. I like Lamar Odom very, very much. I've told him, trust me.

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Laurel, Md.: Why do you think people get into a teesy when a young man tries to leave high school for the NBA but nothing is said when a high school drop out can play professional tennis, soccer & baseball without any argument?

Michael Wilbon: I've talked about this a million times, but I'll do it again next week if you remind me. Take care everybody. MW

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