Michael Wilbon

Michael Wilbon, the longtime Washington Post sports columnist, is co-host of ESPN's Pardon the Interruption, the popular weekday sports debate and discussion program, as well as an NBA studio analyst for both ESPN and ABC. A pioneer in sports journalism, Wilbon was one of the first sports writers to broaden his success beyond newspapers to include television, radio and other media. Wilbon and fellow Post sports columnist Tony Kornheiser have co-hosted PTI since the show's debut on September 22, 2001. Highlighted by the type of contentious but good-natured verbal sparring that the two engaged in for years at The Post, the program has had increased ratings and viewership numbers each year since its inception with its unique, fast-paced, wide-ranging and humorous discussion of the day's most important and interesting news in sports and more. Wilbon and Kornheiser take PTI on the road on Mondays during the NFL season from the site of ESPN's Monday Night Football games. The duo also continues to appear on SportsCenter, which airs their "Big Finish" segment during the opening 15 minutes of the 6 p.m. edition. Wilbon was named an NBA studio analyst for ABC in 2006. During the 2007-08 NBA season, Wilbon expanded his role to include both the GMC NBA Sunday Countdown pre-game show on ABC and ESPN's Kia NBA Shootaround pre-game studio team. He currently appears on Countdown with host Stuart Scott and fellow analysts Jon Barry and Magic Johnson. Wilbon joined The Washington Post in 1980 as a general assignment sports reporter, and since 1990 has been a full-time sports columnist. In his 31 years at The Post, Wilbon has covered everything from local and national sports to Major League Baseball, the National Football League and the NBA, as well as professional tennis, soccer, and hockey; the Olympic Games, and any number of Super Bowls, Final Fours, World Series, and NBA Finals as a reporter and columnist.