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Wise Versus Kornheiser

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By Harry Jaffe   Published Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Photograph of Wise by Matthew Worden.

Want smash-mouth, trash-talking chin music? Coming to the sports-talk airwaves this month is Tony “Doctor Neurosis” Kornheiser versus Mike “I Wanna Be Tony” Wise. The plot is thick with money, bad blood, bruised egos—and a touch of irony.

“I’m bald and got issues,” Wise tells me. “That’s the only thing we have in common.”

Kornheiser needs little introduction: He’s the loved and hated New Yorker turned Washington sportswriter turned humor columnist turned TV-sports-show host. Recently relieved of his gig on Monday Night Football, Kornheiser is scheduled to begin hosting a sports-radio show on WTEM-AM (980) September 8.

Wise, who followed Kornheiser’s path from the New York Times to sports columnist for the Washington Post, plays the upstart in this impending radio brawl. In July, he started a four-hour show middays on WJFK-FM (106.7), which just switched from music to sports talk in order to challenge WTEM.

Comments

Tony K has long played the bully behind the mic, attacking anyone he feels is threatening him. He has moments of brilliance obscured by hours of self absorption. The schtick was funny for a few years, but has now run it’s course. He hit an all-time low when he did what he said he’d never take - take a job working for a team owner. In contrast, Mike Wise a breath of fresh air. Get it?

Posted by: mrblash, Nov 28, 2009 04:16:43 PM

I find Tony’s schtick on PTI entertaining, I found his columns hilarious, I enjoyed his old radio show and even though he was miscast on SNL, the effort and professionalism was there (save the Joe Theismann bashing). But there is absolutely no defense for his treatment of Mike Wise. I’ll never understand why Tony felt it was necessary to undress him like that and not even have the common courtesy to use his name. It’s not like Wise pulled a Jayson Blair or wrote something racist like Scoop Jackson. Wise stuck his neck out in a column and echoed the sentiments that many Redskin fans felt. Tony assumes that because we love our team, we would never wonder out loud or "in print" that we might not win again going into that bye week. I think Wise was on point with his concerns. Who cares if he was wrong? Tony admits two to three times a week on PTI that he made an inaccurate prediction, yet you don’t see anyone taking him to task other than the loveable ribbing from Reali and Wilbon.

Posted by: B McEvoy, Nov 19, 2009 08:42:28 AM

TK is a paid shill for Dan Snyder. Plain and simple. He criticized him for years until he got on the payroll. I used to listen to him for years, but his ego soared out of control on MNF, and by the way, ALL of his material is retreads. He just isn’t funny, and was painful on MNF. If the reason he "Left" the job was he was scared of flying, that didn’t seem to matter when he applied for the job. That’s a lie to cover up that ESPN wanted him out. Wise writes a very good column, and is a journalist. TK has become a joke. This isn’t an age thing, I’m 51 and Wise is just better.

Posted by: Pete, Nov 17, 2009 10:10:11 AM

Tony K is a professional d-bag, a Larry David wannabe without David’s talent, creativity or sense of humor about himself. He has made himself rich at the expense of many others - aside from a tiny cult of feverish message board geeks, he has few fans. Watch the ratings for proof. Not saying Wise will do any better. Truth is, most people don’t give a ---- about either of these talentless hacks.

Posted by: surefire, Sep 04, 2009 11:10:07 AM

TK is good, but he defintiely attracts the over 40, has kids, understand New York references crowd.

Even at 35 I think he’s a little too stuffy.

Posted by: Alton, Sep 03, 2009 04:04:40 PM

Mr.Tony is going to kill Wise!! Wise’s show really does stink right now. Maybe he needs a little more time on radio to get comfortable.However, Mr.Tony has a huge following (see www.thiswebsitestinks.com) a website dedicated to the radio show.
Also, didnt Tony go to Radio after a few years in the area. This guy really is trying to copy Tony’s career.

Posted by: Vick, Sep 02, 2009 02:16:59 PM

Wise self proclaims himself as a "goofball," and just by listening one could tell he would be lost without Rohland.

Posted by: Ricardo, Sep 02, 2009 12:14:04 PM

Why all the hoopla over Mike Wise? His co-host Bill Rohland is the sports genious of the two.....

Posted by: Fred Odom, Sep 02, 2009 12:11:02 PM

Tony walked from MNF because his contract was up and he wasn’t offered a new one. Gotta give it to him though, for a sports writer with minimal sports insight, and a humor writing who wasn’t funny, he certainly made out like a bandit.

Posted by: $ & Sense, Sep 02, 2009 11:15:32 AM

Kornheiser is going to CRUSH Mike Wise because Wise’s show is pure and utter dreck...only slightly better than the black-hole-of-personality that is the LaVar Arrington show.

Posted by: Dave, Sep 02, 2009 10:56:48 AM

Wjfk was not a music station in the midday.. It was guy-talk radio. I don’t know if jfk ever played music. This journal obviously did 0 research before typing up this article.

Posted by: Rob, Sep 02, 2009 08:35:23 AM

There are few things incorrect in this article. Kornheiser walked from MNF. Two, WJFK was NOT music when they switched to sports. They were male oriented talk programming before switching on July 20th.

Posted by: Elwood, Sep 02, 2009 08:30:34 AM

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