On this episode of The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins, the guys
chat with legendary sports-media personality Michael Wilbon, who
works as an ESPN NBA analyst and the co-host of Pardon The
Interruption. In 2021, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame honored
him with the Curt Gowdy Award, which is given to outstanding
basketball writers and broadcasters. Follow Michael on Twitter and
Instagram. 05:30: Wilbon's early impressions of Rex 07:00:
Growing up on the Southside of Chicago with African-American
Athletes playing on the Northside in Chicago 10:30: When he
realized he wasn't going pro (when Kirby Puckett took him deep in a
travel ball game 013:30: When he knew he could marry his
love of sports and his skill of writing 18:00: When he had
the confidence that came with the skill - writing on deadline will
develop it or break it 21:00: Wilbon became a columnist
around the same time Rex became a Bullet 24:00: Michael
feels like sports has done a better job of embracing diversity
quicker in the writer & media world than in other areas
26:30: How the seeds of PTI and becoming a TV presence became
planted starting with The Sports Reporters 31:15: Wilbon's
friendship with Tony Kornheiser and why they became good buds
39:00: Michael doesn't ever go into the comments section on
his stuff, hates the purposefully decisive stuff
44:30: He feels honored when former athletes ask him to write
things for them -46:00: When Michael felt uncomfortable with
the fame and advice he got from Charles Barkley -48:50:
Wilbon was in Hawaii for a Holiday Bowl and had 3 huge stories
happen to him in one trip there -53:40: Taking us through
some of the big events MW covered - the one that stands out most
was an event when Kathy Freeman won at the Sydney Olympics Learn
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