PTI - Lindsey Vonn Plans to Ski Despite Torn ACL?!

Episode Date: February 4, 2026

Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser discuss Lindsey Vonn, Robert Kraft, and the latest trade news in the NBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey, sports fans, the ESPN app has all of ESPN all in one place. The ESPN app is your home to thousands of live events, ESPN shows, and originals across every ESPN network and service. And now you can check if you already have ESPN Unlimited as part of your TV package for no additional calls. Visit activate.esPN.com to learn how to access your account or sign up, then start streaming in the ESPN app. It's all of ESPN all in one place. Sign up or activate now. Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. The White Sox are adding bidets to their clubhouse. Tom, do you have a bidet?

I'm Tony Cornizer now. But I've got a bucket and a garden host. Okay, that's starting off the show the wrong way. I just, I thought this was some sort of prank. No, they're actually doing this. I know the Japanese players are used to bidetes wherever they are in Japan. And so more and more American clubhouses, as they become more and more Japanese players, are having to facilitate this so good.

Good. Yeah, it's a good idea. Yeah. It actually is a good idea. Welcome to PTI, boys and girls. In today's episode, Bob Kraft does not make the Hall of Fame. The Grizzly Trade Jaron Jackson Jr. and Jeff Saturday joins us for five good minutes. But we begin today with the news that 41-year-old skier, Lindsay Vaughn, has indeed, quote, completely ruptured, unquote, her ACL.

You would think that would keep her out of the upcoming Winter Olympics, and you would be wrong. Vaughn, who was in the middle of a brilliant comeback after six years of retirement, plans to ski anyway in this Sunday's downhill. She said, quote, it feels stable, it feels strong. I will do everything in my power to be in the starting gate, unquote. Wilbon Lindsay Vons was a hugely compelling story before this injury. What is it now? An inspirational story.

I mean, it just aren't that many people. who would want to try this, much less be able to try this, in the Olympics. I mean, when I hear of that injury, Tony, and then a willingness and a courage to play through it, I think a Reggie White, I'm sure there's a few people in various sports

over a long period of time, particularly back 60, 70 years ago, when you didn't have the ability to deal with a wrecked knee as you do now, come back in a year. People just had to play or go away. Retire. I think of Reggie White.

But then when I heard this about Lindsey Vaughn, I'm just like, yeah. I mean, this seems to be who she is. One, the knee, the good knee is titanium. So what are we talking about? Yeah. She just seems to be, I'm going to say this, maybe I'm going to say it anyway.

She's a badass. Lindsay Vaughn. Who's cooler than Lindsay Vaughn? I can't wait to see if she's out there. If she's not, God bless. If she is, can't wait to see it. Okay. So my feelings are similar to yours.

If the question is, what is her story now? Her story is now a movie. It's a blockbuster comic book movie. If she skis, Jeanette, the win. If she skis, it's going to be the biggest story in Winter Olympics. The only Winter Olympic story that I remember being bigger than this was in Lillehammer with Tanya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan. I was there. I wrote about that every day for two weeks. If she skis in this, she's on that level. The slight difference is the downhill is actually this

Sunday, Super Bowl Sunday, where with this figure skating, which came at the end of the Winter Olympics, there was a two-week build-up for it. I feel like you do. How could you not root for Lindsey Vaughn at this point? Especially since where they're going to compete on that course in Cortina, she has won 12 times, which is a World Cup record. And to your other point, to your other point, downhill skiers are crazy as looms, and you cannot take your eyes off them. Remember Franz Klammer?

Remember what he flew off the mountain? Off the mountain? Yes, I mean, it's just breathtaking. Tony, the Super Bowl thing is amazing. Look, so in this country, her home country, that's the only place where you won't be the number one attraction for eyeballs and intelligence. because the rest of the world ain't caring about the Super Bowl

no matter what the NFL and all his sick of fans wants to tell you. They'll be watching Lindsay Vaughn. Let's move to the report. The Patriots owner Bob Kraft will join Bill Belichick in not being inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this coming August. Like Belichick, Kraft reportedly did not receive

the 40 votes necessary from the 50 Hall of Fame voters. The Patriots have won all six of the Super Bowls under craft, of course. Tone, what do you make of this? So when I first heard this, my initial reaction was to think that it was somehow conspiratorial, that voters, when they realized that Bill Belichick didn't get in, they not craft out so that they could stay on the same level.

And I said, what are you talking about this? Voting was weeks ago. Nobody knew when they voted that Bill Belichick was not going to get in. So what I think we have is this incredibly weird coincidence that two of the big three of the Patriots now, the coach and the owner of the team with the most Super Bowls in NFL history, they are not in the Hall of Fame. It got me to thinking, are they going to keep Tom Brady out when he becomes eligible?

They'll knock him out for a year as well. I mean, I find it, it's just, what are my notes? I said that it was just so odd. You've talked about this. I know your feelings about this, the voting, that you can only vote for three out of five, and a lot of people want to vote for players, players who they think are wronged by not being in at this time. So I think it's maybe overblown what we're talking about,

but I think it's very good for TV. It's just easy to talk about. I thought of that tone. Look, I know how this works. And the more people I listen to on television, I know 95% of them don't know how it works. And I don't even know how it works because I've been gone from that room too long

and they've changed the voting, the system. But this system seems as screwed up as the one I was in the room. room under for 10 years. And that system, like this one, that system sometimes forced you to keep alive the eligibility of someone you thought was worthy.

And the only way you could do that was to not vote for someone you also knew was worthy you could vote for next year. That's it. That's the deal. And people don't understand it. Players don't. Talking heads on television don't. And so now

it's changed slightly like you mentioned the people who were involved in the Kraft Belichick. So, Tony, you know what? I'm annoyed with the whole thing. The hall should be embarrassed. They should change the voting. Change it, damn it. Just change it. If this doesn't embarrass you, what does? I had no idea that Roger Craig wasn't in the Hall of Fame. No idea. Of course I would have voted for Roger Craig. Of course. I would have voted for L.C. Greenwood and I would have voted for Bill Bellington because I think that halls of fame, you vote players and managers and coaches in ahead of owners. There are some great owners

who are in the Hall of Fame, but I would have gone the other, and you know what, Mike? I just assumed that the three of them, that Brady and Belichick and Kraft are going to get statues outside the stadium in Foxborough. I just assume they'd do that anyway. We move on. The NBA trade deadline is two days away, but we've already got deals to discuss

Wilbon. Your Bulls sent sent to Nicola Vucovic to the Celtics from Guard, Anthony Simons. The Grizzlies sent Jaron Jackson, Jr., I know you love, and spare parts to the jazz for a package of four players and three first rounders. But more intriguing to me is the ESPN report

that the Clippers in their Star Guard, James Harden, are working to find a deal before the deadline. So, Wilbon, you go. Where do you want to start? Tony, I guess I'll start with this. None of this stuff is going to make much of a difference on the season. These aren't impact trades.

They just aren't people can go crazy. They can scream and holler about the deadline's coming. It doesn't mean a damn thing. They just aren't players. unless you tell me onto Tacompo is going to be traded somewhere like Golden State or San Antonio or wherever he, Minnesota, then we're on to something. Okay, so that's my first take.

I'm like you. I like Vouch going to the Celtics. Good for him. I don't like giving him up for the Bulls, but they need to do something. The Jaron Jackson trade sounds ooh, ooh, ooh, doesn't mean much going to Utah, not this year, maybe in future years. So I'm going to go with you.

I know how much you are one of the guys, one of the few guys 10 years ago who loved James Hardin in. Love them. I know you've been very consistent. And you know what, Tony? Hardin has a certain value now, which I think is even greater than his value a few years ago because he does less. But even less he's averaging 25 and 8. And I think Cleveland could actually use them. And they get better in some ways with size and things that Hardin can do, that Daren can do.

Garland doesn't really do as well. So maybe I'll back off of it just in the case of James Harden. Yeah. So my feeling about this with James Hardin is I want to know, did he initiate this? Did he go to the Clippers and say, get me out of here? I don't want to be here anymore. Did the Clippers come to the conclusion that he's a long-term liability on some level and they wanted to get rid of him? His history indicates that he initiated it. Didn't he force his way out of Houston in order to go to Brooklyn? He forced his way out of Philadelphia. in order to go to the clippers. He's on his fifth team already.

His fifth team, which is really a lot for an MVP and a superstar player, but so is Kevin Durant. You know, so this happens in the NBA. He's a Hall of Famer. There's no team in the league that isn't going to be better for having him. 25 points, 8 assists a game is third in the league, right? It's really good. And he plays every night.

But here's the butt, Mike. In the playoffs, it hasn't been there. In the regular season, for his career, 24.7 assists, six rebounds, shoots 43.8% from the floor, 36 from three. In the playoffs, 22.5.6.6 assists. Five and a half rebounds, 42.5 and 34. He's down in all categories.

Yeah. So you have to know what you're getting. If I thought I could win right now, I would want James Harden. But I have to acknowledge what his history in the playoffs have been. So let us take a break because I went through the bell coming up. We will talk Super Bowl with Jeff Saturday. How does a team show resiliency after a big play goes against it? We'll ask him which team he's leaning towards to win the actual game.

Tony, I think that Hardin a little bit less is more. I think we might be at a stage for Hardin, even in his advanced age where he can help a team this postseason. You know I've loved Hardin for a long time. I know. But you've got to look at the whole of it. You know, no rings. No rings, right, one final.

He's not Mr. Octobos. The PTI investigative team has learned that it's Super Bowl Week, which makes it a perfect time for a visit from our great friend ESPN NFL analyst Jeff Saturday. Let's start with this. Robert Kraft reportedly did not make the Hall of Fame. You worked closely with him on the collective bargaining agreement in 2011, and you two famously hugged. People remember that.

How do you see Kraft's importance to football? Oh, Mike. I mean, how do you describe football in the past three? decades without Robert Kraft being in the mix of it. This is ludicrous to me. You're talking about a guy who's owned the team for 32 years. This is his 11th Super Bowl with three different head coaches and three different quarterbacks. If there's anybody that you can't describe the league over the past three decades without them, it's Robert Kraft. And that's set aside all that he's done for the NFL growing the game with the media outlets and all the conversations we have with the CBA.

just as an owner, strict owner, he's been by far the most dominant. How he did not get in, it baffles me again. This is another black eye to the Hall of Fame. Bill not going in, first ballot, and now Robert Kraft, it's embarrassing. And the worst part for me, fellas, is this. When the guys do get announced on Thursday or whatever day they finally get announced, the things we're all going to talk about is the two who didn't get in. And that's not the way it should be. Our game should be defined by the guys who get rubber stamped first, and those two guys should have. It's just, it's disappointing to me. Point well made, Jeff.

Let's go to the game, and we'll stay with the Patriots. So I'm going to ask you about defensive tackle Milton Williams, who had eight pressures against the Broncos. So what's Seattle? That game film didn't get thrown away. They know exactly what he did. What the heck are they preparing to do this week? Oh, you better buckle that chin strap. I mean, listen, here's the issue, too, for the Seahawks in the internal part with Bradford,

anti-Bredford, their guard, the movement, right, that the movement, the head shakes, the movement that the setting up your moves kind of gets Bradford kind of off his market point at times. And that Milton Williams is going to come at you. And the one thing I will tell you about Mike Vrable coach football teams, if they can't get home with four, they're going to bring extras. They're going to move Sam Donald off his spot. And if you think about the way the Rams played them in the championship game, you know, you're rushing for you're going to kind of play coverage behind it. The Patriots aren't going to do that. They trust their corners. Milton Williams is going to be a circle for that offensive line. Make sure that internal presence gives somewhere for Donald to step up, not get pressured. It's going to be a heck of a matchup. I'm fired up to watch that one. I want to tap into your personal feelings and memories about the Super Bowl for a second. Jeff, you, of course, crushed my hopes.

when you beat the Bears in the Super Bowl. But that game starts off. Here's where I want to go to ask you about recovery. Devin Hester takes the opening kick. I watched it again the other night because they're just talking about it. You can't kick to Devin Hester. You can't, you can't, you can't.

Boom, and he breaks it, and he starts the game in that manner. Were you back on your heels? Did you chuckle? What do you remember about that historic moment? Okay, you're going to love this. And I know you being a Bears fan. So we talked about it as a team.

Tony, you know, he stood in front of the real. You know, we're going to kick it to him. We're not afraid of anybody, right? We're going to play aggressive. We're going to kick the ball deep. We're going to let them return. Our special teams are going to rally. We're going to do this thing.

Rain is pouring, right? Ball gets kicked, you know, flashes, all that kind of stuff. You're seeing him. You see him catch it, and Peyton are standing side by side. And you watch him break the first tackle. You watch guys miss, and he's housing it. And I remember looking over that, I was like, well, God, I hope we don't kick it to him again,

because he'll keep hanging them on us, you know what I mean? And that was really, and we're like, boys, it's time to strap it up and go to work. Like, we totally knew that was their best chance to beat us. It was that special team's group, and he was so lethal, and he starts it off that way. But, you know, anytime you have something to happen to you that early in the game, you know, that's the beginning of a fourth quarter or even what happened to us against the Saints with the onside kick in the beginning of the second half, it wasn't quite as deflating because we hadn't even touched the field yet.

So, you know, but it still was a gut punch, but thankfully Tony realized Hester's not going to be part of this game playing the rest of the game. We're going to avoid him at all cost. Blame that one on Dungee. That's what I always say. That is a great story. That is a great story. I will get you out of here on this as long as we're going to talk about the game. How do you see it right now? Which way are you leaning right now and why? Oh, I think this is an awesome matchup. And I think as you're looking at this thing, my heart kind of goes. Patriots, right? I got a tar heel at Drake May being a quarterback and Mack Hollins, who's a receiver for them, so I want them to play well. But you look at this Seattle team, and they are just loaded up. And I love both, I think both defensive lines have the advantage, especially when I look at the Seahawks line, and you look at the Patriots. They've

get up 15 sacks and three games, and 11 of them against a four-man rush. So it's not like you're having the blitz to get home. They're going to have to bolster up and play through that offensive line to give Drake makes of time to get a sore shoulder. And it's all about big plays. If the Patriots can make big plays down the field that they've done this season, they'll have a shot at it. If Seattle squashes that and makes it a drive it, you know, five yards and hope for some, some, you know, long drives. I think the Seahawks walk away with it. So, but I'm fired up for it. I haven't picked yet. I'm still thinking about it, but it's going to be a heck of a game, fellas. I'm fired up. Jeff, thank you.

As always, thanks all year. Much appreciate it. Heck yeah, had a blast. Let's take one last break still to come is Matt Nagy, the man who can help the Giants get Jackson Dart to the next level. Will Bond's boy, Matt Nagy. You want me to answer that? You don't want my answer. The Cardinals deal away yet another star.

Is there a strategy to make any sense? It makes you so happy to talk about Devin Hester, doesn't it? Devin Hester is one of the three most exciting Bears players in history. Gail Sayers, Walter Payton, Devin Hester. Happy time, people. Happy 86th birthday Fran Tarkinton. History lesson, kids.

Tarkington was the original mobile quarterback. That's why his nickname was Fran the Scramm. Tarkin started out with the Minnesota Vikings and played there for six years. In those years, the Vikings never made it to the Super Bowl. Tarkington was then traded to the New York Giants, played there for five years without ever making the playoffs. Tarcinton went back to the Vikings and started in three Super Bowls without winning. 1973, 1974, and 1976, all under Bud Grant.

Tarkington led the NFL and passed completions three times, once each in passing yards and passing touchdowns, on his way to the Hall of Fame after nine Pro Bowls. One thing great about living in the Midwest, with that being my division, I got to see Fran Tarkington as a kid all the time. Real quickly, Tony, who was the fourth quarterback of the Vikings who led them to a Super Bowl?

Not Fran Tarkenton, but... Joe Cap? Was it Joe Cap? Joe Cap. Oh, I got that one. Very nice. Oh, I got that. A tip of the cap to me.

Happy anniversary, New York Giants. On this day 18 years ago, while trailing New England by four points and approaching the final minute of play, Eli Manning somehow avoided what looked like a sure sack, and he had the desperation passed to David Tyree. Tyree fought off Rodney Harrison and secured the ball to his helmet to set up the game-winning touchdown in the giant's shocking upset of the 18-0 Patriots. Years later, discussing this with his brother Peyton, Eli, revealed that he was a guy. Tyree had an historically awful practice session that Friday, the final practice before the game.

Eli recalled Tyree dropping seven of eight passes. But as Alan Iverson said, practice. We talk about practice? You like Tyree or Lynn Swan better? You got a favor of those two? Over the course of the career, it's Lynn Swan. Over the course of a career, of course it is. Happy trails for the Cardinals for Brendan Donovan. St. Louis sent their All-Star Infield to the Mariners in a three-way deal that also involved the Tampa Bay Rays. The 29-year-old Donovan hit 287 for the Byrds last season, but now joins Nolan Aronado, Sunny Gray, and Wilson Contreras, in getting sent packing by new team president, Chaim Bloom.

Bloom picks up three prospects and two draft picks, all part of his plan to rebuild the team, which is finished under 500 in two of the last three seasons. Prior to that, the cards fielded winning teams in 22 of the previous 23 campaigns. St. Louis's projected payroll is now on, $100 million for the first time since 2010. You'll have to forgive me for a certain skepticism. Whoever the Cardinals put in a uniform in April or March or February,

by the time we get through spring training end of the season, by October, they're great. So I don't believe any of this. The Cardinals don't rebuild. They put people out there who win games. By the way, with the Brewers and Cardinals allegedly rebuilding, runway from my Cubbies to a division title. But I don't trust the Cardinals.

I don't believe it. Let us go to the big finish, Mr. Doubtful. The Giants are hiring your boy Matt Nagy as their offensive coordinator. Is that a good fit with Jackson Guard? Yeah, I love it. The top 10 finishers in a live golf event will now earn official world golf ranking points. Is that a big deal? It is a big deal.

It's one of the ways you qualify for majors to have ranking points. Yes, it is a big deal. The Hornets beat the Pelicans for their seven straight win. Do you find that significant? I think that's the longest Hornets winning streak in 25 years. That would be significant. They can make the playoffs. Credit to Charles Barker for calling this out a couple of weeks ago.

Hornets in the playoffs, who would think? Pro Bowl games are tonight. You're going to watch that junk, aren't you? I didn't know that they were on, but I will watch. The Pro Bowl itself was terrible. The skill competitions, flag football is better than that. Last one, unbeat Miami of Ohio at Buffalo tonight. Do you smell an upset?

No, they played a close game. already this season. Buffalo's having a so-so season. No, I'm going to go chalk and go with the phase. College basketball time. We're out of time. We're out of time. We'll try to do better the next time.

I'm Tony Cornhuy. And I'm Mike Wilbonne. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads.