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Can't get enough of Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon? Missed the opportunity to witness the carnage live? Have no fear – the transcript of this week's edition of The Show follows.

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Good afternoon everyone and Welcome To The Chat House.

Wilbon is joining us via cell phone today. He's in Chicago for his nephew's christening. I'm here and so is TK. We have to end a little early today... at about 2:45 because I have to go and catch a plane down to Miami... so let's get started! –Mary

Let's go. –Tony

Lexington, N.C.: Hey guys,

What is your take on the release of Tre Johnson? I thought he was their most talented offensive lineman and he seemed to open up huge holes for Stephen Davis to run through. What part or parts of his physical did he fail?
Thanks,
Mark

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Everyone can fail a physical at any time. All these guys have things wrong with them and they play through it. I'm sorry to see him go for selfish reasons cuz he's a great talker. And I'm sorry to see him go because he's Pro Bowl lineman. And he probably will be that somewhere else, but he never stayed healthy here. The one great season he had was the one season he was healthy. –Tony

Silver Spring, Md.: Another top five team loses. It seems like this year anyone is poised to knock off a top team. It should make for an exciting month of March Madness. Tony, you're column on Gary Williams was great. Do you think the Terps can gain some real momentum going into the tournament?

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Well, to be honest, there is the problem of what they've done in recent NCAA. All is seeming to get horrifically blown out in the round of 16. So, it's hard for me to project them going to the Final Four. They have top 10 talent. I don't know if they have top 4 talent and they need MUCH more from Terrence Morris than what they are getting. I think the critical game for them is the home game against U-Va. If they win that, then even losing early in the ACC Tournament won't matter. –Tony

Go Hoos. –Mary

Woodbridge, Va.: Tony, what's the quickest way around I-95 in a snow storm with a 128 car wreck in the way?

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Obviously to go in the Fox 5 chopper and that would be you and not me. –Tony

Green Bay, Wis.: When Mark Chumura is declared elgible for the entire season, will Mr. Snyder consider him? Would you guys?

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Look. The guy went through the court system and was found not guilty so he's got every right to play in the NFL. Ray Lewis went through the court system and plead guilty to obstruction of justice and didn't miss a game. So how can you keep Chmura out? The Redskins have a Pro Bowl TE so they don't need him and there is a question to his physical capability. But he's got a card that says he's not guilty so what do you want to do to him? –Tony

Hi. I'm here from Chicago. Snyder doesn't need Chmura. The Redskins have no use for him. But some teams do. And I fully expect that someone will sign him. And last I checked, he's an innocent man. What more do you want from him? Do YOU personally want the right to throw out the court's verdict? Is somebody going to play God here? Is that what we want?–Mike

Alexandria, Va.: Have either of you two ever personally interviewed Juwan? What do you think of him? It's a shame that after seven years he leaves like this, especially since he seemslike the only player to have ever made it to practice on time. What do you think will become of Mitch and Rod?

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Both of us have had extensive talks over the years with Juwan Howard. I think he's mostly handled himself very well through the rough years with the booing. I think he has a great chance to be in Dallas what he was here in his second year-- an All Star player. As for Mitch and Rod, Rod should NEVER play another game in a Wizards uniform and if Mitch Richmond is lucky, he'll finish his career somewhere where he can at least get into the playoffs. –Tony

I agree with virtually everything Tony said. Juwan will help Dallas immediately, in part because he will be their 3rd or 4th option on offense. And he will do some of the dirty work the Mavericks don't have anyone doing presently. And in the Western conference, he won't be overpowered at that position like he sometimes was in the East when we went up against guys like Oakley. –Mike

Arlington, Va.: Mike,

You made a comment in your column about Juwan today that surprised me. You said:

"Of course, it was Pollin's fault for not locking him up for six years at $24 million seven years ago, but that's been so conveniently forgotten or knocked aside over the years."

Who forgot? I've heard few people who love basketball say nice things about Abe as a basketball owner in the last 10 years. I've heard lots of people say bad things.

As much as I (and many others) appreciate the MCI Center and bringing Jordan into the mix, the handling of the team in general has been TERRIBLE over the past five to 10 years. And the ONLY constant variables for the Wizards organization have been Abe, Wes (tho in different roles), and Susan O'Malley. So who else could you blame?

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: I was referring specifically and exclusively to the initial Juwan contract. Seven years ago is a long time. And a lot of people focus on the $105 million contract without realizing the loophole the Wizard management team for Juwan to climb through. Everything else you say I largely agree with. –Mike

Ditto. –Tony

Fairfax, Va.: The Post reported that Wilkinson could be released. Why would the Skins release him instead of Stubblefield? Just curious. Seems to me that Big Daddy has played better.

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Contracts. Numbers. And don't ask me what the numbers are because I don't go around memorizing that stuff for all 53 Redskins. But I'm sure if Mark Maske was in The Chat House right now, he would be able to tell you the difference between Big Daddy's cap numbers and Stubbefield's. Everything is about the CAP. The answer to every question is salary cap in the NBA and NFL. –Mike

I don't want to sound too old, but the salary cap has changed the course of basketball and football to such an enormous degreee that it almost ought to warn you against rooting for a team anymore against willingly giving your heart to a team anymore because teams are broken up SO quickly. I understand why a salary cap is fair, more fair than what's happening in baseball, but you'll excuse me for thinking that it stinks. –Tony

Boston, Mass.: GOod afternoon, Tony and Mike!

Tony -- Your man, Deion. YOUR MAN, DEION! All that shameless pandering and questionably objective fashion reviews aren't enough to keep Deion happy? I am sure he never got the attention you heaped by any hack in Dallas.

So my question to both of you: Is Deion ever going to play in a Redskins uniform again? And if not, and if Tre Johnson gets cut, who will you possibly quote next season? Are Ryan Kuehl and Scott Galbraith still Redskins?

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: All my go to guys are gone. The loss of Tre is horrible for me and if Deion goes too, I may have to take a monkian vow of silence and just not go to any Redskins games. The greater question here with Deion is how could he have the ability contractually to play baseball??? –Tony

The big question for me is whether Deion has a "My Man" in Cinncinnati? Is he cheating on TK as we speak in Spring training? –Mike

Niles, Ill.: Mr. Wilbon, I haven't a question for you, just a comment. I have seen you and heard your work when a member of the Sports Reporters on ESPN and have read your columns on the Internet. In my opinion, your column today on Dale Earnhardt truly captured the feeling of this tragedy. While the athletes of today generally are seen as selfish and dishonorable, NASCAR's drivers tend to appreciate and cultivate the fans to their profession. Sunday's race ending reminded me of the begining of ABC's Wide World of Sports, "The thrill of victory and the agony....". I felt the excitement and the thrill of one brother pulling for another to get over the hump to win and then the uncertainity watching a son run to check on the condition of his father. I found out later that evening of Mr. Earnhardt's death, and while not a follower felt the loss over a thousand miles away. Thank you for your insight and fine piece of journalism. Sincerely, Peter

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Thank you. I think that what Sally Jenkins wrote today was probably the most penetrating piece on the culture of NASCAR and auto racing as it relates to the late Dale Earnhardt as I have read all week. –Mike

Alexandria, Va.: She may not make you forget J. Lo, but I nominate Toni Braxton for the Best Least Dressed Grammy award. Your thoughts?

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Yeah baby. –Mike

The dress appeared to be a cocktail napkin and piece of duct tape. In that same category was Shelby Lynne and a woman who's name was Mya. I think that the new trend in women's fashion toward no clothing is all is significant step foward. –Tony

Thank God for new trends. –Mike

God help us all. –Mary

Washington, D.C.: Who gets the home town a championship first; Jordan and the Wizards or Schottenheimer and the Redskins?

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Neither. I don't think Jordan will be here long enough to get one. I think he will go back to Chicago, the city he loves and the city where he belongs ultimately. And I'm not sure the Redskins can put together a Super Bowl champion in the next 3 years or so. –Tony

The answer to your question about 1st to get a championship is Ted Leonsis, George Mcphee and Ron Wilson with the Caps. They can get to the Cup finals this year. The only team in the East I would take over the Caps today would be, of course, Pittsburgh. But anyone else in the East, I think the Caps can and will beat in a 7 game series.–Mike

Ex-Chicagoan, forever Sox fan: I'll save you the time, Mary: I'm a freak. At least I'm not hitting on you though. I just have a basketball question.

By the time you read this, the NBA trade deadline has passed and we know what teams will look like for the rest of the way. Who do you like for champ, MVP, coach of year, etc.? Any random rants about the game?

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: I now like Philly in the East and there are three teams in the West, four now with resurgent Utah that can get there. MVP of the league is with out question Allen Iverson. Coach of the Year in the league as of today is Pat Riley. The only random thought I have is why didn't Phil Jackson get a 3rd scorer before the trading deadline expired? Getting Toni Kukoc next year won't help him this year. –Tony

MVP is Iverson over Webber. Coach of the Year is Riley, but I have a hard time picking anyone other than Larry Brown right now... –Mike

My camp counselor, God bless him. –Tony

Team... Philly in the East and in the West, there are five teams: Los Angeles, San Antonio, Portland, Utah and Sacramento with Dallas a possible sixth. With a gun to my head, I would say Utah because for the first time the Jazz has six players, not 2.5. But, any of those five could win. I think Philly will win the championship this year and I thought that before yesterday's trade. –Mike

That would make Larry Brown of Camp Keeyumah in Orson, Pa. the only coach to win the NCAAs and the NBA championship. And that, boys and girls, puts him in the Hall of Fame. –Tony

He's going in the Hall of Fame anyway! –Mike

Yeah, I know, but I just wanted to be dramatic. –Tony

Danville, Kentucky./former D.C. resident of 40 years: Why is it that the Redskins don't speak about and you guys don't write about the biggest hole the Redskins have? Field goal kicker -- hello! With just an average kicker the last two years the Skins would have been in the thick of the playoffs .Please don't tell me that they're going with Eddie Murray again. I mean we've uncovered David Akers for the Eagles and Bret Conway for the Jets, now maybe we should put some effort into finding a kicker under 40 for ourselves. Who's available out there in the free agent market, who looks good coming out of school? Are there any European soccer kickers that could make the transition? I really think this is more important than writing about some has been cornerback who instead of spending his off season reconditioning himself at Redskin Park and studying the new playbook has decided to play catch with Barry and Jr.

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Because IT'S FEBRUARY KNUCKLEHEAD. It's February. Check your calendar. There are other sports, other teams, other athletes, other stories... some of it compelling. We are not paid by the Redskins. We don't get paid to follow the Redskins. We don't exist to chronicle the damn Redskins. So, I'm sure we'll be dealing the place kicker and the 3rd string tackle and the emergency QB at an appopriate time...which isn't a minute before August. –Mike

This sentence you wrote:"WITH just an average kicker, the Skins would have been in the thick of the playoffs," you thin of that all by yourself? We've been talking about this exact thing for as long as you've been noticing it. What is this groundhog day for you? –Tony

College Park, Md.: Tony and Mike:

As a Maryland student and a loyal Terp fan who gets to games six hours before tip to sit in the front row, I'd like to hear your thoughts on the Maryland administration's actions towards the fans in the wake of the Duke massacre. My personal, and a lot of my compatriots thinking, is that what a few people did was completely unacceptable and horrific, the reactionary measures taken by the administration have taken away any sense of home-court advantage. Did they have any of that at Northwestern or Binghamton? And one last thing, anybody who says Gary should be fired is a complete idiot.

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Binghamton, last night in a tragedy of unequal proportion took their game squad to Providence and lost by 61 points. That's right. 61. That is a number that usually NU loses by in football. I am heartsick. –Tony

Home court advantage is derived from noise and lots of it. Passion is not an excuse to throw stuff at people who are visiting your arena. If you think that constitutes home court advantage, you're way wrong. The administration was right. Debbie Yow was right to react the way she did. And it wasn't the first time. I remember Janet Hill, Grant's mother, telling me of similar episodes when Grant played at Duke... which has been 10 years. So enough of this garbage. If you have to throw stuff, you should be taken to jail. And another thing, booing of college athletes is intolerable. It's mean, it's stupid and it's petty. You want to boo someone? Go to the MCI Arena or FedEx Field where people get paid to perform. Leave college kids alone and I don't mean "you" the questioner, I'm just putting this out there in general. Thanks for giving me a chance to vent on that point. –Mike

New York, N.Y.: Tony & Mike -
After the All-Star Weekend, Tony is now a member of the hip hop nation. Given your new-found cultural diversity, what did you think about Eminem and Elton?

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: I thought Elton looked like a float in a Mardi Gras parade and I thought that Eminem was curiously tame and apologetic and if I was 30 years younger, I'd say he was a sell-out, but I yield the balance of my time to the much hipper, Michael Wilbon. –Tony

I'm too old to be particuarly hip. And while I have purchased the Eminem CD, I was disappointed in his performance because it didn't have any of the rage or anger that have made him what he is in the 1st place. I'm glad he made a genuine effort to clean it up for network TV. But the thing I liked most is the pairing of odd couples by the Grammys. They do this all the time. Didn't Vince Gill perform with Boys To Men a few years ago? Or how about Jill Scott with Blue Man Group and Moby? The Grammys show gives you couplings you would NEVER, EVER see in person and some of them work really well. Their attempts ought to be applauded loudly. –Mike

Hughesville, Md: Tony and Mike,

You both have given more attention to NASCAR the past several days due to the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt. I think you two gentlemen have handled it extremely well in light of the fact that you have not covered it all that much. I was afraid that the gravity of the event would escape the non-NASCAR sports fans and columnist alike. My question for you is that if you had found a difference in the NASCAR community as apposed to other sports.

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: I don't know the NASCAR community. I have just spent a week watching them grieve and it strikes me that their grief is genuine and for me to make any determination of them would be pretentious, foolish on my part. –Tony

Nothing about this tragedy is unique to NASCAR beyond the circumstances of his death. Grief and outpouring of affection over someone who was lost in the prime of his life have nothing to do with a particular sport or the people who follow it. Len Bias' death wasn't only about the basketball community. Clearly, people who follow NASCAR feel this more deeply than others. But, a journalist's responsibility to chronicle human tragedy isn't particularly specific. You don't have to be a NASCAR follower to have great sympathy for Dale Earnhardt, his family and drivers in all the auto sports. –Mike

Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon: Tony has to leave early too to get a new computer. He says bye and thanks for coming today. –Mary

Next week will be the last week of the regular season for college basketball. As well as the Caps are playing, I think we both expect college basketball discussion to reach the red hot level in The Chat House. So, rest up for the beginning of March Madness. Mary will give you details of the contest soon-- and we'll see you same bat time, same bat channel next week! –Mike

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