Playoff baseball

TK loves playoff baseball and watches as much as he can (before going to bed, of course).

And TK is of an age that baseball holds a special place in his heart. And learning the strategy is not difficult.

Tk thinks that the Yankees were unlucky last night, like the GR Double and Gordon's inability to close the door meant using Rivera longer than Torre wanted.

Oddly enough, TK thinks the Sawks have the momentum, based on the last two nights. And for Schilling, it would be "Epic" and "Classic."

Tk says that "Listen Up" isn't doing as well as everyone had hoped. Andy brought up an interview done by Jason Alexander, where Jason said some nice things about TK. And TK is flattered that there IS a show, but he's still not emotionally invested.

A brief discussion of California Golf, as Czabe is in CA for FSR bidness. They talked up Pelican Hill, which is on a par with Pebble Beach. And the biggest celebrity Czabe saw was The Gnome, who is tight with TK, the same way Holyfield and Tyson are tight.

TK is also looking at fabric swatches, picking out samples for new solid-color blazers. TK is looking for black, gray and blue blazers, but wonders about if they come with gold buttons. Wilbon says all gold-button blazers are for dopes.





Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

More on Maggie and other topics

An emailer said that TK should get a baby-proof lock on teh frig. But as TK said, "I just don't want to have one of those."

TK then rapped poetic about the joy of having a dog. Mainly, you get love from the dog, even after you stop doing your radio show and writing your columns.

This nicely segued into a discussion of Qyntal Woods and his pitbull fighting story. TK thinks he needs to go for "re-education" if this story is true, to understand why this is a bad idea.

And this turns into a discussion on athletes and criminality. Leonard Little, Jamal Lewis.

And, the Boulez. Why did Antwoine Jamison play 52 minutes last night in a pre-season game? That, according to TK, is "idiotic." So what if they were going to lose to an expansion team in the pre-season? "They're going to lose to them during the regular season, anyway." Wilbon, of course, thinks they might have a good year.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

The Cavalry ain't coming.

TK told everyone that there are no magic bullets. Things have to be done slowly, which is contrary to how the owner has occasionally tried to do things.

Hard as it may be to swallow, the Skins have been more liek Les Boulez and less than the 1980s Redskins. And all the surprise winners of late have led people to expect a "mystery team" to win the Super Bowl.

TK also wonders about why Gibbs doesn't like Ramsey. And Riggo agreed, saying there's been a change in Ramsey after Brunell was brought to the team. And Gibbs is staying with Burnell partially out of loyalty and partially out of not wanting his hand-picked QB to fail.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

JOe BUck

We begin by talking about The PTI interview with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. Was Buck's comment about "selling out" mean-spirited or just tongue-in-cheek? Tk apologized if Buck was offended.

This leads to a discussion of whether or not sports journalists should do commercials. TK is against "journalists" doing them, if they are real journalists. Berman opened the flood gates at ESPN doing commercials, which led to Dan, KO, Schtu, Eisen and so on doing them.

The Post has rules about such things, so TK never did any in print or on the radio.

We then got a big discussion about Schtu, who "considers" himself a journalist. We all got a big laugh out of this.



Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

the return of Maggie and the Refrigerator

Ah, an old favorite.

TK had gotten the "invisible fence" to protect the refrigerator from Maggie. But, after seeing her get zapped one day, Tony had the voltage taken out of it.

But now, the collar has gone bad. And for the 3rd time in six nights, Maggie has gotten into the frig.

At least she hasn't gotten into the freezer (which not even Lupica could reach, let alone a dog).

Czabe suggests getting an old-time refrigetator, with a latch. His other suggestion is to get a frig where the freezer is on the bottom.

David Aldridge (today's guest) said that he thought the Maggie stories were fake, but after seeing a story in England where a dog was opening pens and a refrigerator.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Smile and the Redskins (not together)

Tk went to the Brian Wilson concert Sunday night. You can imagine how he raved about it.

As for the Redskins, eh, let's not dwell on the negative. Let's just say it's ugly and move on.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Tony vs a Bee

TK got stung on the 8th hole at Valley Stream yesterday. And now, a day later, it's starting to swell up.

Then, TK started to feel badly and went into the clubhouse for some medical attention. And TK wanted to go back out and play (since he shot 40 on the front nine).

So, if any doctors want to call and leave TK a voice message at the Post, feel free to do so.

And TK get to play Balthastral (sp) a few day ago and was as beautiful as expected.



Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

The Stern Sirius deal

Sirius is apparently paying $100 million a year. MR. Tony would like some of that cashola. It's a gamble worth taking for both Stern and Sirius, but will people pay for radio? People pay for sex, why not radio? ANd Stern is the only person who "moves" the needle.

TK said he'd like to be on XM or Sirius, since he's a fan of satellite radio.

And then, there's Wilbon's column on the Wizards today. (pucker pucker pucker) Andy discusses the current commercial campaign, where the players tout how great the other playesr in the league are and why not come and see them?

And who did TK play golf with today? Derek Whittenberg (now coach at Fordham), hero of the 1983 NCAA title. But he didn't have Lorezno Charles to help make his putts.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Now what?

We being by talking about TK's column today, which discussed Dan Snyder's tenure as owner and his misfortune.

TK's main point, which Andy has misconstrued, is just what can Danny do if the ultimate savior, Coach Joe, doesn't work. It was the right thing to do, but so did, at the time, the hirings of Marty and Spurrier.

TK has not talked to Danny in a while and doesn't know how he will feel about the column.

Meanwhile, we briefly talk about Les Boulez. Who really cares?

And Rodney? TK says he would be in the top three of greatest comedians. It would be Rodney, Pryor and Woody Allen. The dirty ones were funny and the clean ones were funny too.


Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Ouch.

The discussion of the Browns/Skins game was not prett (just like the game).

We'll just lie sleeping dies dogs lie for the moment.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Don't Forget the Orioles Now!

We begin by talking about the Indians pitcher shot while on the team bus and wearing the cheerleader outfit. The post ran a picture of the guy with him mom, while WEARING the cheerleader costume. TK wonders about why this guy's hazing took almost at the end of the season.

As for TK's column, he doesn't want Washingtonians to abandon the Orioles completely, even though the Expos are coming to town. While Baltimoreans didn't embrace the Skins when the Colts left, they do have an emnity to the District that folks in DC don't have back.

People apparently didn't agree with the column, with one guy leaving a voicemail telling him to "move back to China." that's funny, I thought Kornheiser was Swedish.

TK was on Mitch Albom's show in Detroit where nice guy Mitch was apparently nasty about DC getting a team (after losing a team twice).

The mayor was said today that the average ticket price at RFK would be $25, which TK thinks is a little high. Czaban brings up the specter of the PSL. But TK wonders just how many people will really want to go to the games and there won't be any buildings coming up around the old stadium.

And TK said that baseball is great in that you can leave early (in TK's case, to go home and go to bed) and no one minds, since there's always another game the next day.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

El Riggo

Since baseball is still topic du jour, TK talks with El Riggo about his baseball memories growing up in Kansas.

John was talking about watching the KC A's, and what a highlight it was a couple times a year it was to see them play live.

Riggo tells a story about shagging fly balls with Catfish Hunter, when he was at a try-out camp.

In other news, Listen Up was #25 for the week. If the show is successful, TK's job will be "to stand underneath and catch all the money." TK mentions how Chuck Yeager in the Right Stuff, and he'd like to make that kind of cameo, if it can be worked out, on the show.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

baseball in DC -- For Real this time!

Tony was on earlier in the day, during a show Andy Polley did about baseball returning to DC. They replayed it in TK's usual slot.

TK has been beating this drum for 6 months, so he's not surprised. HE still won't believe it until he actually sees them on the field. TK is tight with the chairman of the DC sports authority, so he's been hearing positive spin for a long time.

TK, who lives in the District, still plans to go to both stadiums.

As for what the Post will do? If TK were running the sports section, they would cover both teams, but the Washington team would get more coverage. If they cover the Ravens and the Redskins, why wouldn't they continue to cover the Orioles in the paper?

As for the name? TK think Senators is the logical choice, but if it were up to him he'd name them the Bullets. As long as they don't have "a phony, rigged contest" like Abe Pollin did when Lez Boulez became the Zards.

TK said, at some point in the future, he'd love to throw out the first pitch and possibly hit the mascot, as he did in Syracuse. And he would, of course, want to be someone's guest.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

They stink.

That was TK's initial reaction to the MNF game. The Skins lost to the two "easier" division rivals and don't look like they have any chance to beat Philly.

TK brings up Parcells' past by mentioning how Joe Morris and Dave Maggett used to throw the halfback pass,as Dallas FB Richie Anderson did last night.

Czaban wants TK to exert his influence and get the replay guy fired. TK said he might volunteer for the job, since he has nothing to do at night.


Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Bonus Tony

Tonight, we also get Tony on the pregame show before Skins/Pokes on MNF.

Topic 1 - Brunnell. Tony thinks they might be better off with Ramsey.

Topic 2 - Gibbs. Gibbs has been trying to deflect attention from himself. TK says that just won't happen.

Topic 3 - Tuna vs. Gibbs - Tk talks about the interview they did on PTI with Al Michaels. In terms of historical importance, how can you really choose between Gibbs, Walsh and Parcells. Each was successful in their own way and different than the other two.

Topic 4 - Listen Up. It is monday, right? 8:30 ET.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

golf tournament, the aftermath

Today was all about the Golf tournament.

If you read my report (and I assume you did, since you're reading this), you got the gist of most of what TK talked about today.

Well, TK and Czaban did get geeky, talking about golf formats, which you really don't need to read about today, now do you?

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

The golf tournament

Sorry this is a day or so late. Had to spend time at work to catch up for when I was gone and then today was football.

Friday was the second annual TK/MW Golf tournament, created by the Post's Don Graham, for DC Cap program. There were plenty of celebrites there, from Riggo (who again drove the beer cart) to MD coach Gary Williams to many sportswriters, like David Aldridge and (Aunt Bea) Christine Brennan.

Since TK had a full compliment of people in his foursome this year, I didn't get to ride in the cart with him. I was, however, literally, a hanger-on, as I clung to the back of the golf cart as Mr. Tony and partners went around the back nine.

I missed going on with them on the front nine, so I sat at the Clubhouse and listened to James Brown do his mid-day talk show heard on Sporting News radio. I also spend some quality time talking with Andy Polley, ranging from his newly-licensed daughter (did that account for all the gray hairs he'd gotten since I saw him last) to some "inside baseball" radio gossip to how all the Jewish folks at the tournament were going to make it home before Sundown (since the tournament was being played on the beginning of Yom Kippur).

I can say that Mr. Tony played much better than last year. Quite a few times, he ended with the best drive or fairway shot for his partners to use (the format was scramble at the tournament). However, he didn't make any super-long putts, as he did a year ago.

Also, the weather was much, much nicer. You may recall, listeners of TK's late radio show, that the tournament had to be rescheduled after Hurricane Isabel. (the make-up day was in October and it was chilly and dank that day.) This year, it was in the 80s and sunny and I was NOT the only person wearing shorts this time. (see picture for TK and MW showing some skin)

After the golf, there was a GREAT lunch, done by the fine folks at Outback Steakhouse: some beef tips, grilled chicken and a sickeningly-rich chocolate cake. Then there was a silent auction, headed by Wizards broadcaster (and Sports Reporters regular) Steve Buckhantz. There were many great prizes (including going to a PTI taping and then dinner with the boys) auctioned off. I was bidding for a Capitals sweater signed by the team, but quickly got outpriced.

Then, there was the horror of the Beltway. You DCers know this all too well. Let's just say that I spent almost all of The Reporters on the Outer loop, going from 270 to the Mixing Bowl. It was not fun, especially considering how much iced tea I had drank while eating lunch.

And a special shout out to Maureen and her assistant (whose name I still don't know) for scoring me a golf shirt. I promise that my donation to DC Access will be in the mail this week.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

baseball in DC (again)

TK is not yet on the DC baseball bandwagon (pardon the use of the word bandwagon). He defers to Bos on the matter.

TK is under the weather , thanks to the difference in climates between DC and upstate new york.

And the topic briefly turns to the Shawn Green brouhaha (Again). Why do we discuss this every year? it never changes. TK doesn't think you should criticize a player for missing games for thinks like the birth of their children. And religious reasons are the same thing.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

The post-mortem on Listen Up!

Andy's review of the show: "Not as funny as I hoped."

TK's whole day was spent dealing with people talking about the show. And, to Andy, he said lovingly "shove it."

TK's thoughts on the matter.... He was pleasantly surprised, since he feared for the worst.And he was happy so many people called to wish him well, even though he really has nothing to do with the show.

TK told Jason Alexander that "I don't see myself in you, but I HEAR myself in you."

And the character can't be as "mean" as TK in real life, especially for a family sitcom.

But TK's daughter ... "not too thrilled" about the whole thing.

"It's so weird to see someone playing you on TV." So, TK talked to Mitch Albom it today, since he had Hank Azaria play him in the "Tuesdays with Morrie."

Most importantly, it won its time period.


Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine

Listen Up!

Listen Up! debuts tonight at 8:30 ET on CBS (and CBS HD where available). The reviews, including TK's own Post, were not kind. But who are we kidding? We're all going to watch anyway.

TK was on this morning, discussing the Skins' debacle in the Meadowlands. Much like Czaban, TK would not be adverse to giving more snaps in practice to Hasselbeck. (Brunnell is officially out for the +MNF showdown with the Pokes.)

Talk also quickly turned to the Ryder Cup, where TK joined the mob in killing Hal Sutton (for teaming Tiger and Phil), Phil (for the equioptment change) and Chris Riley (for bagging the Saturday PM matches).

Remember, 8:30. Check your local listings.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine