More on TK's Car and the Craft of Writing

More about DC TV anchor Wendy Rieger. She wrote an email to Andy, complaining that Tony called her 50 the other day. She's probably "only" in her late 40s.

A brief discussion of Jeremy Bloom, who has been defeated again by the NCAA. TK doesn't really care about the story. He cares more about Leopold Bloom (from Ulysses).

TK is in the middle of writing a column, but having issues. He's the Steve Blass of columinsts. The Ian Baker-Finch of columnists. "I'm now writing like an old man on a cruise," TK says.

There's a digression here about being in the Catskills and the guy who wrote the newsletter for the hotel. A woman introudces herself and says "it's not Mr and Mrs Melbourne. It's DR and Mrs Melbourne."

When Czabe asked if TK knew how many columns he's written, TK said, "I don't know, but I've used all the words the good Lord gave me."

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Surfin USA

We begin with one of TK's favorite topics: The Beach Boys. One of the touring Beach Boys groups was in DC over the weekend, which led to talk about various BB incarnations and Brian Wilson's nuttiness. TK dropped some trivia, including the fact that Glen Campbell toured with the BB during one of the time Brian Wilson went a little crazy. TK then does some BB analysis.

TK had a car situation last night. LeBatard took the PTI staff out to dinner and coming backthere was an issue with the new security device. It ripped up the bottom of TK's Infiniti G35 Coupe. And today, the security device had been removed and, as of now, they don't want to pay the damages. Oh yes they will, says Mr. Tony. Or he will go on the radio and "name names" as long as it takes.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Everyone's back

Andy's Back. Tony's Back. All is right in the world. Well, Wilbon is still in Greece and LeBatard is on PTI. But it's good enough.

was Tony's vacation restful? No, but there was lots of golf. TK's index went from 19 to 15, which included about 12 days in a row of golf.

A brief discussion on Paul Hamm. "first, he shouldn't listen to Aunt Bea. You SHOULDN'T GIVE BACK THE MEDAL!" says Tony. TK does, though, say that the Korean should get a second gold medal.

TK also made fun of "putting salads on people's heads."


Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

thurasday show

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Wed show

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

PGA and gambling

Mr. Tony called in unexpectedly (since Andy is on vacation) to talk about the PGA and his trip to Atlantic City.

TK doesn't like Vijay, but gave him some DAP for his shots in the playoff.

TK also thinks Phil should Player of the Year instead of Vijay, mainly based on his performances in the majors this year. And Phil, Vijay and Ernie are all better than Tiger right now.

TK went to Atlantic City to play golf with some high school buddies. And then, he got rained on. Four rounds of golf turned into about 12 holes, so Mr Tony gambled. He gave a free shout out to the Borgata, where they stayed.

TK doesn't gamble for two reasons. One, he's now too well known. Two, he hates to lose money and doesn't get any joy from winning. So, on Saturday night, with nothing to do, TK gambled. TK was amazed at the knowledge held by the pit bosses in dealing with the crap tables. TK said he brought some money ($300) that was the cost of spending time with his friends, and with nothing else to do, he figured he might as well do some gambling. He gave his friend Eddie $200, which he lost before you could say "Wilbon" (or if you prefer, about 5 minutes). The last $100 and his friend Mark's $100 was gone in the time it took Mark (who is in a wheelchair) to go around the table.

The next day, TK found out that most of his friends made money after he went to bed. Including, of course, his friend Eddie. That's gambling for ya.


Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Back from Vacation (finally)

TK is finally back (although not on TV). He was in upstate NY and then Vermont, visiting relatives and playing golf. TK's cousin in Vermont is "the first Jewish goat farmer since the Old Testament."

TK came back just in time to watch the Redskins game on Monday night. TK complained about meaningless exhibition games and players getting injured. TK advocates the 18 game season and 2 preseason games, but knows it won't happebn, thanks to all the $$$ generated.

The Skins today brought back Ray Brown, who is so old that he was part of TK's Bandwagon columns in 1991.

TK's impression of a sheep, heard in Vermont: Mmmmmmah, not Baaaaaaa.

TK, Andy and Thom Laverro also discussed the Terrell Owens/Jeff Garcia brouhaha. TK quickly branded TO "a jerk," and probably not for the first time.


Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Vacation Hideaway

Tony is on vacation, as you may have noticed with Stephen A Smith and (the other guy) on PTI for the second straight week.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

From the golf Course

Tony called in today from the Golf Course. he's playing in the LPGA Futures Pro-Am, along with Lenny Shapiro, Christine Brennan and an editor for the Post. Tony's playing partner, a young Korean golfer, is wowing them today.

When TK had to putt, he handed off the phone to Aunt Bea. Czaban, of course, took some cheap shots. Christine agreed with Mr. Tony's comments yesterday about Chamiqua and her mysterious ailments that kept her AWOL for a few days.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Where is Shamiqua?

We start by talking about an article in the Post about kids flunking hs classes on purpose in order to help them in college. Don't ask me, I haven't read the story yet.

Also, where is Mystics "star" Shamiqua Holdsclaw? TK takes the opportunity to nail Wilbon, who wrote valentines to her before she came to DC.

Mystics coach Michael adams called her "jordanesque," to which TK said "So am I."

 
 
Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

The LaSalle scandal

TK discusses the brouhaha at LaSalle and an interview former coach Billy Hahn gave to the Philly Daily News.

TK says that a coach sometimes has to take the moral high ground, even when it means things might get blown up.  They should have gone to the police, rather than allegedly covering up the whole thing.

Knocke said that it's impossible to put yourself in Hahn's shoes and you can't ignore that his tenure as coach hasn't been stellar, which doesn't help matters.

TK also wondered if Gary Williams will bring back Hahn to College Park, if he can find room on the staff.

This segued into a discussion on the athletic dept.'s place on a college campus, where they might not always feel welcome. And maybe, if they were embraced more, things would not occasionally in such a bad place.
 
Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Ricky, Don't lose that number

Mr. Tony referred to Ricky Williams as "an imbicile."

He then quickly talked about his golf game today with big-time R*B DJ Donnie Simpson. TK didn't want to talk about what he shot, but he did say he now "has a swing."

TK then skewered the Hatable Dan LeBatard for being Ricky's "Baghdad Bob."

This turned into a rant about how he turned on Lance Armstrong and "Baghdad Sally Jenkins."

And then he came back to Dan, killing him for his pro-Ricky toadying.
 
Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Baseball in DC (again)

Again, there was talk about baseball in DC, based on the ESPN report yesterady.

Last night was a Mr. Tony night. TK went to an MPAA screening and dinner. The film shown was the remake of the Manchurian Candidate. And it was the last function in DC thrown by Ratings Fascist Jack Valenti.
 
TK said the original version (with Sinatra) was one of the 50 greatest movies of all time and one of the five best thrillers.  TK is normally not a fan of remakes and the movie has some great actors in it (Meryl Streep and Denzel Washington), but this movie is "a bucket of slop."

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Tony on TV

As mentioned yesterday, TK filmed his scene for that CBS sitcom "clubhouse" on the PTI set. TK "overthought" his wardrobe, by dressing too conservative according to the TV people.

TK also picked up from yesterday the luv for the Ali G show on HBO.

There's some comedy on PTI today, involving LeBatard and Stephen A Smith. But, if you're reading this, you've probably watched PTI already.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Tour De Excess

 
The people at PTI somehow ended watching the Tour today, which TK thinks was the first he had ever actually watched the coverage.

It only took about 25 seconds for the Breaking Away reference.

TK wondered about all the people lining the course, like where did they all come from and how come they don't cause more collisions with the riders.

BTW, Wilbon wrote a column today about auto racing, which someone who works with Wilbon on PTI, called "soft."

TK also did a press tour, via satellite, for "Listen Up!" TK was annoyed it took so long, since he couldn't go to the bathroom.

TK is also doing a cameo on a new CBS show, which is a big thrill for TK. Even though he's on TV every day, this is "prime time network TV."

There was also praise for the "Ali G Show," but Engineer Andy has to make the train run on time, so that will probably be on the agenda tomorrow.
 
Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

What's up with Tiger?

Tony finally returns to the radio, today, albeit in a different timeslot.
 
The topic of the day, here and in Tony's column, was about Tiger and his fall from Superman status on the golf tour. They talked about how he's no longer outdriving out everyone and he has no accuracy. Tony said he finally realized that Tiger really isn't TIGER anymore.
 
TK also played a local "replica" golf course with Wilbon, Bob Woodward and the Post's publisher. Tony said he did good on the Augusta holes, but lost plenty of balls on the British Open holes.
 
 
 
 
Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Where's Tony?

With Andy Polley on vacation this week on 980, there was no Mr Tony. He hopefully will be back on Monday.
 
Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Happy Birthday, Mr. Tony

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Different Time, Same Tony

The Sports Reporters was on a different time today (3-5 ER) and without both Andy Polley (filling in for Dan Patrick) and Czabe (still at the beach). On the plus side, the fill-ins were regular third guest Chris Knocke and ESPN's David Alridge. And with the show on during PTI's normal taping time, TK called in at the top of the show.

"Carlos Boozer is a snake" is what TK said, without mincing words. Hard to argue with that. TK compared the situation to what happened with Juwan Howard and Les Boulez.

According to DA, the people most angry about the whole thing were other agents, since this screws up things for everyone in the future.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Tour De Lance

IN Listen Up News, the first wive cast has been replaced. I'd never heard of either, so there's no need for you to worry about it.

Tony slams Continental Airlanes, as they were the carrier that TK's son Michael flew when he was in London. They told him he would have to wait 2 days to get a shuttle from Newark to DC. Apparently, the trip involved lots of golf.

There was also a brief discussion of Lance Armstrong and his popularity despite participating in a sport most people don't care about in the US.



Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine