The Chat House With Michael Wilbon

Welcome to another edition of The Chat House, where Post columnist Michael Wilbon was online Wednesday, June 24 at 1:15 p.m. ET to discuss baseball, the NBA, the NFL the latest sports news, his columns and anything else that's topical.

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Grand Rapids, Mich.: Michael, since you know Tiger, do you think the fact that he has not come from behind to win a major entering the final round bothers him? Has he been asked this question recently?

Michael Wilbon: Hi there everybody, thanks for joining me on a Wednesday. Monday got a little dicey because of the U.S. Open golf and I wanted to see if the Wizards would make a deal, which I thought they would.

So, here we are. We'll get to the Wizards trade in a second but we'll do a little U.S. Open golf first especially since Tiger Woods will be here next week in Washington to host the AT&T National at Congressional. I know Tiger a little, not like I know Charles Barkley or Magic or Michael Jordan, but I know him enough and have talked to him enough to know that it doesn't bother him in the least.

You think Sergio Garcia would like to have one major championship, whether he won it from behind or not? Golf tournaments, major championships specifically, are way, way too difficult to win to get caught up in the silliness (that's my word, not his) of whether you do it by coming from behind. It's sports talk radio junk, not something a competitor who just wants to win actively thinks about.

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Washington, D.C.: I saw a shocking stat stat yesterday: Ben MacDonald has the fifth-most wins of any number one pick in MLB history. And he has the most wins of any number one pick over the past 20 years.

For a game that has so much emphasis on playing the percentages, this doesn't bode well for our hapless Nats, does it?

Michael Wilbon: No, and that's why I wrote the column I did saying I wouldn't have drafted the kid. The Nats have too many things to address to drop $30-$50 mil on kid pitcher who, history says, won't change the fortunes of the franchise.

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Falls Church, Va.: What's your take on the Wizards' trade? Are there any potential free agents you see coming here now?

Michael Wilbon: It's not possible the Wizards are done dealing, is it? Okay, the trade for Randy Foye and Mike Miller makes them better because those are two big time offensive players. Foye is 25 and already averaged 16 points a game last season for Minnesota.

That said, the Wizards shipped out three big men and a pick, the No. 5 overall selection, that could have been spent on a big man, say Jordan Hill. But right now the Wizards have three legit big men: Brendan Haywood, McGee and Blatche. Only one of them, Haywood, is a proven NBA player. And Blatche just seems to be running in place; he hasn't gotten a lick better the last 18 months or so, at a time when someone of his skill level should be improving by leaps and bounds.

Anyway, it seems to me that some of the Wizards' perimeter players have to be packaged and traded for a legit big man who can score and rebound. Right now the Wizards have Gilbert Arenas, Nick Young, Javaris Crittenden, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler, Mike James plus Foye and Miller and that's not even counting Juan Dixon and DeShawn Stevenson. How many guards/swing players is that? It's ten. Okay, you don't want to count Jamison, who gets 9+ rebounds a night, as a perimeter player, fine. Then it's down to nine. How many perimeter players can you have? My guess is somebody's going out to make room for some size. Ernie Grunfeld ain't that in love with Small Ball. All of those guys are scorers and basically from the perimeter. So, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop here, maybe this afternoon maybe tomorrow on draft day. Stay tuned.

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Richmond, Va.: It's Bowden's team on the field, but Acta will take the fall. What percentage do you give to Manny being out by August 1st? 75%?

Michael Wilbon: Look, Acta is going to go at some point because managers are hired to be fired. We know that. He knows that, and has articulated it. I don't follow the Nationals nearly as closely as you do, certainly not during the NBA playoffs, which have consumed me for 8 weeks. So, you'll have to excuse me for not being day-to-day tuned into the worst team in baseball. I'm not even tuned into the Cubs yet, and I live and die with them.

Here's the grand total of complete baseball games watched so far for me this season: none. Okay, I've watched snippets of 50 games this spring, largely because the guys I'm with 24/7, Jon Barry and Magic Johnson, are fanatic baseball fans. Baseball's always on in the room when we're watching basketball, wherever that is, but never the Nationals. Sorry.

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Washington, D.C.: In last week's chat, you praised Stan Van Gundy. What, then, do you think of Alonzo Mourning's severe criticisms of him as an inadequate coach in his book, Resilience? 'Zo states that the Heat would have beaten the Knicks in those epic playoff series had Stan not screwed up the substitution patterns. Thanks.

Michael Wilbon: Zo and Shaq have essentially the same criticisms, and those observations had to be a big reason Pat Riley moved Van Gundy out and took over the team himself. I used to really crush Riley for doing that, but the more I hear (some of it from the players themselves) the more I have to believe Riley was doing something he knew he had to do, whether he wanted to selfishly or not. Still, Van Gundy has gotten one team to the Finals, and was a D. Wade rib injury from getting two teams to the Finals. And look at Orlando! Is that a Finals team when you look at the roster? What, Stan gets no credit for that? I have to talk to Zo and Shaq more about this and get some back-and-forth going to see what, if anything, they thought Van Gundy did well.

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Baghdad, Iraq: What's the difference between college ball and the NBA? Is it just a matter of bigger, stronger, faster?

Michael Wilbon: Bigger, taller, faster, stronger, quicker, tougher, better concentration, full-time profession, full-time coaching, more practice, more required, more at stake. That's a start.

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Sammy Sosa: Hall of Fame?

Michael Wilbon: Not anymore. All of the performance enhanced guys are going to be out a long, long time; maybe for good, who knows? Let's just say, not right now, how about that? I don't know how the next generation of voters is going to perceive the steroid era.

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Columbia Md.: Mike, With Red Sox Nation taking over Nats Park, practically making it a home game for Boston, shouldn't the Nats bat first???

Michael Wilbon: It's going to happen again when the Cubs come in July. So embarrassing for those of us from places where people who LIVE THERE actually go to the games. But I'm not blaming fans. The product stinks, it's so awful I understand why seats are available.

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Vienna, Va.: Mike - before we turn to the draft and the Skins, a little NBA Finals chatter.

Did you get to cast a vote for Finals MVP? I understand that Kobe is the natural pick, but based on stats and importance, I thought that Ariza should have gotten some notice. The kid shot lights-out virtually throughout the playoffs, had 3-4 defensive highlights per game, and was the key 3rd guy on that squad. Kobe was always going to get his, and Pau was always going to get his points/boards, but I honestly think that without Ariza's consistency and contribution, the Magic win that series. It was a lot closer than a 4-1 series looks. Thoughts?

Michael Wilbon: First, no I don't vote for Finals MVP. I get your point about Ariza. But if Ariza is out there doing exactly what he did and Kobe has three or four bad games do the Lakers win that series? No. With two games in OT? No, no chance. The MVP was Kobe.

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Washington, DC: Michael, I have always been a big Shaq fan, yet lately I have seen a lot of references in articles and columns hinting at grumblings about him.

What is Shaq's reputation in the league these days among players, coaches and league executives, and why?

Michael Wilbon: Great question. It's complex. Some players, coaches, executives think Shaq has taken too many games off, has gotten too much slack from referees, and gets too many breaks from the media (guilty here) when he takes shots at other players. The other side of that is that Shaq has won 4 championships and gotten to the Finals 6 times, that like other 7 footers his body we don't know what's going on inside anything that large, that Shaq takes more pounding than any player in league history, and that he understands the value of entertainment in pro basketball better than any player in the league's history and plays to that.

Some people subscribe to some or all of it. Some people mix and match and have conflicting views about Shaq. Some players change their minds about him, depending on whether or not they play with him. He's still the most fascinating guy in the league, without question. And pro basketball is going to miss him desperately when he's gone, silliness and all.

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Washington, D.C.: What has Patrick Ewing been teaching Dwight Howard? It doesn't look like his game has changed since high-school where he would just dunk the ball all the time.

Michael Wilbon: Howard actually has some moves. Did you see the left-handed hook and right-handed hook he sank in consecutive possessions during one of the Finals games in Orlando? Ewing has worked with him on that, and Howard shoots them fluidly in practice and workouts, but rarely goes to those moves in-game, which he needs to.

He's a great, great player defensively but just adequate on offense. That's fine, but he's not a serious MVP until he can get the ball and score in one-on-one situations or kick it out quickly when double-teamed. Ewing is working quite patiently with him on all this stuff. Remember, Howard should be an NBA rookie or second-year player.

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Richmond, Va.: So, as I'm reading your chat, someone emails me that Phil Jackson is considering just coaching home games next season. Your thoughts (assuming this is true)?

washingtonpost.com: Jackson Weighs Coaching Options (ESPN June 24, 2009)

Michael Wilbon: It's crazy. I can't see it working. Seriously, doesn't this sound like the beginning of the end? I've talked to Jeannie Buss (Phil's significant other) and Phil enough to know of the health concerns they have. He has issues. We've talked about them, things that range from heart disease (which we both have) to hip and knee ailments. Who could blame Phil Jackson if he said "enough" after winning a 10th championship? This is sort of a "wow" story to me. I was made aware of it about 30 minutes ago.

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It's going to happen again when the Cubs come in July: Please don't put your beloved Cubs fans in the same sentence with Red Sox fans. 500 plus straight sellouts and the Red Sox fans completely take over Camden Yards and Nats park. Cubs fans don't do that anywhere.

Michael Wilbon: You don't have any idea what the hell you're talking about. I wonder where you live or what television you watch or any idea of anything other than sucking up to the Red Sox. Get a clue. Go and read something about average attendance at Wrigley Field (and compare it to Fenway if you want; the numbers are probably close to identical) and then come back when you know even a little nugget about this topic.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Michael, what is it that keeps super star athletes like Michael Phelps, Kobe Bryant and others going when they've already accomplished everything they've set out to do in their professional lives. Since they already have accumulated vast sums of wealth and have reached the pinnacles in their respective sports, where do they draw the motivation from? Surely, the strain of the continuous practices and grind of the long road trips take their toll on them.

Michael Wilbon: They love to win. They love to compete. They love their respective sports. It's a calling. It invigorates them. It's in their bones, in their souls. Anybody who has ever truly loved doing something, anything, knows that feeling. It's just that sports reward people in ways other disciplines do not. Why do great teachers continue on into their 60s and 70s? Why do great scientists keep doing research or successful salesmen keep selling. It's what's in them. Most people need to keep working to earn a living. The world's greatest athletes don't need the money, in a great many cases, but they love doing what they've done all their lives. Look at Michael Jordan; his own induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame bothers him because it symbolizes the official end of him being able to physically do what he has loved doing more than anything in his life.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Hi Michael,

For the upcoming NBA draft, what player/position do you think the Wizard should draft as priority?

Michael Wilbon: Perhaps you need to log in or pick up a newspaper. The Wizards have traded their first round pick, the No. 5 overall selection, to Minnesota. The draft isn't what the Wizards seem interested in.

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Denver, Co.: I know you hate it when people refer to their sports teams as "we", and normally I do too. However, I was wondering if using "we" for national teams is okay. I would never refer to the Phillies or Eagles as "we", but can't help my self when it comes to the U.S. teams at the World Cup or Olympics.

Think our boys have any shot against Spain today?

Michael Wilbon: I think "we" needs to be used carefully and judiciously. "We" when it comes to U.S. teams seems fine for most people, though not for people who do what I do. The only "we" for me is Northwestern, where my parents paid enough tuition for me to say "we" comfortably forever, and the teams in Chicago I've rooted for since I first knew of sports, and I don't even do it all the time. But you can't use "we" on adopted teams because you like the uniforms or some such foolishness.

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Tokyo, Japan: Mr. Wilbon,

In your opinion, what sport requires the most intelligence from the average player?

I say baseball -- there are so many variables for each player to consider, not to mention the mental work of pitching/hitting. But I have also heard convincing arguments for tennis and football. What are your thoughts?

Michael Wilbon: I don't believe in any such generalizations and think, frankly, they're dangerous and play to too many stereotypes. I know smart players, average and above average and below average, in every sport I've ever covered. I can't think of any truly great player who was a dummy, none come to mind.

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Rockville, Md.: Not counting the Washington Post (since you're biased), what is the best sports section in America, either in the newspaper or online?

Michael Wilbon: There are lots of good ones that I read frequently. The New York Times, USA Today, Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, Dallas Morning News, New York Daily News. I look at U.S. Sportspages.com so that I can see whatever I need or want to see that day, based largely on the news of the day. The list of the great sections has changed because the industry has had such shakeups.

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Alexandria, Va.: Do you have any good excuses I can use to get out of the office and go watch the US vs. Spain semifinal match at the Confederations Cup?

Michael Wilbon: Sorry, I never had to practice those since I have a job where not watching is what would get me in trouble! TVs on in here in nine minutes.

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Poplar Bluff, Mo.: Michael, thanks for the chat. Why is Tyler Hansbrough not getting enough love from the sports media in regards to the NBA draft? Tyler was a National Player of the Year, took Carolina to two Final Fours, and won the National Championship. Being from my hometown, I know Tyler is a good kid and will give 110% to any team that drafts him. Thank you.

Michael Wilbon: The sports media doesn't draft anybody. Love comes from the teams drafting. It doesn't matter what reporters think about where he should be drafted; it only matters what the NBA executives think. He'll go in the first round, probably 15 or so, somewhere in there. And effort won't make you a great player, which is what teams are hoping to find. It means, only, that you'll give effort. There are lot of guys who can give effort and not make a difference. We know he'll work, but so will a great many others.

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Washington, D.C.: As a Nats fan who shakes her fist at those infernal Cubs, I can attest that they take over my park. Someday it will change. But in the meantime, all those Sox shirts I'm in for tonight! I may have to perch my Dmitri bobblehead on my shoulder. Like a little angel.

Michael Wilbon: Thanks for that.

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More Likely to Keep Their Job Next Year: Joe Girardi, or Lou Pinella?

Michael Wilbon: Good question. Lou can keep his job, but the question is, will he want to?

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Michael Wilbon: Okay, gotta run and prepare for PTI...We'll do one more chat before adjourning for the summer break...Monday, we'll be able to look at the NBA Draft, Wimbledon, Tiger's arrival in town at Congressional, etc. See you guys Monday...MW

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